Athena in Tower Defense Game! [LitRPG]

Chapter 74: Armored Spider

The enormous black spider was a grotesque and terrifying sight. Its body was covered in dense, dark hair, and its head was adorned with three pairs of green eyes that radiated an aura of revulsion and fear at a mere glance.

This monstrous creature moved slowly, its massive form supported by eight long legs bristling with sharp spikes, which scraped the ground with a faint, unsettling noise.

Its gaze was fixed intently on Athena, eyes brimming with confusion and shock. How had this small prey managed to close the distance so rapidly and get behind it?

But prey was prey, no matter how surprising. It could never change its fundamental nature as a target.

Athena, too, was focused on the fearsome monster before her. Gripping her black abyss axe tightly, she gathered her strength and charged. The giant spider suddenly opened its gaping maw, releasing a putrid stench as it shot a thick, resilient web straight at her.

Athena deftly dodged to the side as she sprinted, closing the already short distance in an instant. With a powerful swing of her axe, she struck the spider, but only managed to inflict a shallow cut—a mere flesh wound.

This was the first time the black abyss axe had failed to penetrate an enemy’s defense. Until now, no monster or human had been able to withstand its armor-piercing strikes.

Yet, Athena remained calm, her mind steady. Even her companion, Mikmik, lay sprawled behind, indifferent to the battle at hand.

Due to its massive size, the Armored Spider’s mobility was limited. Its primary attack method involved entangling its prey with its webs—a tactic that Athena’s agility could easily counter.

Despite its high defense, its strength wasn’t particularly formidable, not even matching the giant wasps outside. Defense, however high, would eventually fall to relentless attacks.

The Armored Spider scoffed inwardly at the shallow wound Athena had inflicted. The fierce aura of her initial strike had startled it, but such minor damage could never breach its defenses.

The path ahead was blocked, and with Athena behind it, the spider had no escape. Yet, in its world, it was Athena who was the trapped prey.

As the spider launched another volley of webbing, Athena agilely dodged again, landing another powerful blow on the same spot, deepening the wound.

After repeated strikes, the wound finally began to reveal the spider’s flesh and blood. The area behind Athena was now cluttered with webs, and the ground was a chaotic mess.

The pain in the spider’s body grew more intense. Though not overwhelming, the wound caused it significant distress. Such pain was a new experience for the Armored Spider, plunging it into a state of panic and fear.

As time passed, the spider’s anxiety grew. Its instincts as a monster screamed that it had to flee this place immediately!

Once the thought took hold, the urge to escape became irresistible.

But the path ahead was blocked by Athena. There was no way out for the Armored Spider. Every charge forward only resulted in Athena landing another blow on its wound.

The spider’s attacks weren’t entirely ineffective. The sticky webs covering the ground limited Athena's movements to some extent, but it wasn't a major hindrance.

While the Armored Spider grew increasingly uneasy, Athena felt that progress was too slow. With one hand gripping the black abyss axe to inflict another strike on the spider's wound, she reached into her spatial backpack with her other hand and retrieved a moonlit arrow.

Taking a deep breath, she focused her energy on her left hand and released the arrow with a sudden burst of force! The moonlit arrow didn't penetrate the spider's flesh as expected; instead, it remained lodged in the skin. Yet, this seemingly inconsequential strike was enough. The moonlit energy, irrational as it was, penetrated the spider's body through the skin, exploiting its power.

Even in this situation, the moonlit energy proved effective, hastening the progress. Athena didn't resort to using fireball directly into the spider’s mouth because she had only nine fireballs left, intending to save them for later. For now, she had other means.

As time passed, the battle's outcome became clearer. The Armored Spider felt a chilling sensation coursing through its body, freezing its blood in its veins.

Unable to move, it lay on the ground, awaiting the embrace of death. Even its six eyes ceased to emit their eerie green glow, dimming until it finally fell into eternal slumber upon its own heap of bones...

Athena sheathed her black abyss axe. Despite the sticky webs covering the ground, she paid them no mind as she approached the massive spiderweb nearby. It was a huge cave, yet there was nowhere to rest.

Surveying the webs on the ground, an idea struck her. She picked up some bones and, using the webs, fashioned a makeshift chair. The Armored Spider's corpse couldn’t be dealt with immediately; at least not until the outside quieted down a bit, making it easier to drag it out.

Fortunately, the spider had been consumed by the moonlit energy, which meant its body could last longer, and there wasn't much blood to worry about.

As the colossal creature fell, Mikmik, curious, began circling it, pawing at its head one moment and its legs the next. When his paw was pricked by one of its sharp spikes, he jumped back in surprise.

Amused, Athena gathered materials from the cave and lit a fire with her lighter. Although they could see clearly without it, the flames brought a sense of comfort and warmth. In the depths of the cave, where ventilation wasn't an issue, she decided to rest for a while.

Regional Chat Channel:

"The center of the Black Forest is swarming with giant wasps. Luckily, I managed to slip away quietly."

"This feels like the prelude to a war. What are we players supposed to do? The system couldn't have picked a worse time!"

"Oh god, how come your place is so eventful? So many incidents in just one day."

"Doesn't matter. Let's find a place to hide and stay out of this mess."

"A bunch of cowards. I'm going to check it out!"

"You're insane. If you want to go, go on your own. No need to tell everyone here. I hope you come back alive, although I doubt you will."