Free Web NovelChapter 203: Shadow Weaver Queen
The mist thickened, swallowing the chamber in a pale, choking haze. The Shadow Weaver Queen’s new form moved within it like a ghost—silent, deadly, its multiple eyes glinting through the fog. Its legs scraped against the stone floor, and from its abdomen, more webbing shot out, not to trap, but to spread the mist further.
"Everyone, stay together!" Andrey shouted, his voice cutting through the fog. "Don’t let it separate us!"
Sarah coughed, waving her hand in front of her face. "This mist is spreading fast! I can barely see a few feet ahead!"
Lisa’s barrier flickered, struggling against the corrosive haze. "The mist is acidic! It’s eating through my barrier faster than before!"
A shadow moved in the fog—a leg, sharp and barbed, sweeping toward them. Hope reacted instantly, her greatsword swinging in a wide arc. The blade connected with the leg, sparks flying as the impact forced the spider back. But the Queen was already moving, circling them in the fog, its presence felt more than seen.
Sein’s flames blazed, pushing back the mist around her. "Come out and fight, you coward!" she roared, her voice echoing through the chamber.
The Queen answered with a screech, and from the mist, a barrage of webbing shot toward them—thick strands coated in venom, aimed directly at Sein. She dodged, flames burning through the strands that came too close, but more followed, forcing her to retreat.
Andrey’s staff pulsed with Ki as he swung at a strand that shot toward him, severing it mid-air. "It’s using the mist to mask its attacks! We need to clear the fog!"
Lisa’s hands glowed brighter. "Purifying Aura!" A wave of mint-green energy pulsed outward from her, pushing back the mist in a small radius around the team. The air cleared briefly, revealing the Queen’s silhouette at the far end of the chamber.
"Now!" Andrey shouted, charging forward. But the Queen was faster, its legs carrying it across the ceiling with unsettling speed. It dropped down behind them, releasing a web that pinned Sarah’s foot to the ground.
Sarah yanked at the web, her face contorting in frustration. "Ugh—it’s sticky! I can’t move!"
Hope turned, her greatsword cutting through the strand in one clean motion. "Watch your feet! Don’t let it trap you!"
Sein launched herself at the Queen, flames roaring. "Crimson Impact!" Her fist connected with the Queen’s side, sending the creature skidding across the floor. But the impact also released a burst of venomous mist from the spider’s body, and Sein recoiled, coughing as the fumes burned her lungs.
"Tch—! This thing’s poison is getting worse!" she gasped.
Andrey analyzed the situation as he moved, his mind racing. The Queen’s poison was spreading through the mist, filling the chamber and eating away at their strength. Lisa’s barrier was struggling to hold, and the team was being worn down slowly.
’We need to immobilize it long enough to finish it off. Mana Threads might hold it, but I need an opening.’
Hope, her golden light blazing, stepped forward, a fierce grin spreading across her face. She planted her greatsword in the ground, and a surge of golden energy exploded from her, pushing back the mist in a wide radius.
"Everyone, fall back! I’ll handle this!" she called out, her voice carrying a note of authority. Her eyes were fixed on the Shadow Weaver Queen, her grip on her weapon steady.
Andrey hesitated. "Hope, you can’t—"
"I can." Hope’s voice was firm, warm, but resolute. "I’m an S-rank hero, remember? I’ve faced things worse than a giant spider." She glanced back at them, her blue eyes glowing with determination. "Trust me."
She turned to face the Queen, her greatsword raised high. The golden light around her blazed brighter, pushing back the mist further.
Sein, still coughing from the poison, watched with a mix of frustration and respect. "Tch... fine. Show us what you’ve got."
Hope charged.
Her greatsword swung in a blur of golden light, each strike faster and more precise than before. She moved through the fog like a beacon, carving through the webbing and deflecting the venomous strands with practiced ease. Every time the Queen lunged, Hope was already there, her blade intercepting the attack and driving the creature back.
The Queen screeched, its legs lashing out in a frenzy, but Hope met each blow with a swift counter. She ducked under a sweeping leg and drove her greatsword deep into the spider’s side, twisting the blade before pulling it free. The Queen recoiled, black ichor spraying across the stone floor.
The team watched from a distance, their breath held. Lisa’s barrier flickered as she struggled to maintain it. Sarah’s hands were trembling. Even Sein had stopped coughing, her eyes fixed on the fight.
Andrey stood at the front, staff ready, watching Hope’s movements with sharp attention. He saw the rhythm in her attacks, the way she predicted the Queen’s strikes before they landed. It wasn’t just strength—it was experience. Years of fighting, years of trusting her instincts.
Hope was holding her own.
She rolled under a sweeping leg, came up inside the Queen’s guard, and drove her greatsword upward, carving a deep gash across its underside. The Queen screeched, stumbling back, its legs twitching as dark ichor dripped from the wound. Hope pressed the advantage, her blade swinging in a devastating arc that severed one of the Queen’s legs.
The creature let out a piercing shriek, its body convulsing as it struggled to remain upright. The mist around it began to thin, its power waning.
Hope stood in front of the wounded Queen, her greatsword raised high. Her breathing was steady, her eyes fixed on the creature’s remaining legs. "It’s over," she said quietly, her voice carrying across the chamber.
She leaped and brought her greatsword down in a final, crushing blow.
The blade struck the Queen’s core, and golden light exploded outward in a brilliant flash. The Shadow Weaver Queen’s body convulsed, then collapsed—its legs folding, its glow fading, its body dissolving into pale, shimmering particles that scattered across the chamber floor.
Silence fell.
The mist began to clear, revealing the broken webbing and the scattered remains of the smaller spiders. The team stood in the aftermath, their breathing heavy, their bodies aching.
Hope lowered her greatsword, turning to face them. A small, tired smile appeared on her face.
"...See? I told you I could handle it."
Sarah let out a shaky breath, a grin spreading across her face. "... I’m glad you’re on our side."
Lisa’s barrier flickered and faded, her shoulders sagging with relief. "That was incredible, Hope..."
Sein crossed her arms, a hint of grudging respect in her voice. "Not bad. You’re not just talk."
Andrey walked toward Hope, his staff lowered. His voice carried a note of seriousness. "That was reckless, Hope. You could have been seriously hurt. Fighting an A-rank threat alone isn’t something you should make a habit of."
Hope’s eyes softened as she looked at him. She sheathed her greatsword and stepped closer.
"I know," she said quietly. "But I trust my instincts. And I trust you, Andrey. This team wouldn’t let me fall." freёwebnovel.com
She reached out and gently placed her hand on his shoulder, giving a small squeeze.
"I’m not alone anymore. And neither are you."
A pink System window appeared in front of them.
System: Second Floor Boss Defeated!
Shadow Weaver Queen – Eliminated.
Performance Rating: S
Rewards Calculating...
Andrey Thompson:
+3500 EXP | Level 71 → Level 75!
Ki Manipulation Lv16 → Lv18 (Ki flow efficiency +100%, Ki Pulse range and damage increased significantly).
Damage Absorb capacity increased to 25 hits.
Overdrive cooldown reduced: 2.5 minutes → 2 minutes.
New Passive Unlocked: Toxic Resistance – Reduces damage from poison and venom-based attacks by 40%.
Sarah Chen:
+3500 EXP | Level 67 → Level 70!
Heartstorm Apocalypse damage increased by 20%.
Pink Nova upgraded (now creates a small shockwave on impact).
New Passive Unlocked: Venom Ward – Poison effects on Sarah are reduced in duration by 50%. ƒгeeweɓn૦vel.com
Lisa Sadine:
+3500 EXP | Level 67 → Level 70!
Aegis of Dawn upgraded (now reflects 35% of physical damage, +15% resistance to elemental attacks).
Gentle Radiance healing increased by 20%.
New Passive Unlocked: Mist Cleanser – Lisa’s barrier now passively purifies harmful gases and airborne toxins within its radius.
Sein Alphis:
+3500 EXP | Level 67 → Level 70!
Crimson Cataclysm upgraded (damage increased by 15%, burning ground duration increased to 25 seconds).
Flame Purge upgraded (now also provides a temporary 20% damage boost to allies standing in the purged area).
New Passive Unlocked: Toxic Burn – Sein’s flames deal 30% bonus damage to enemies afflicted by poison or venom.
Additional Reward: Shadow Weaver Venom Sac acquired.
Description: A pulsating, venom-filled organ harvested from the Shadow Weaver Queen. Contains highly concentrated neurotoxin. Can be used for crafting potent poison-resistant equipment or alchemical reagents. Handle with extreme caution.
