Chapter 23 - Teamwork Against A Bunch Of Spiders!
Shade shrouded himself in the darkness within Veronica\'s soul as he began to absorb her Mana in moderate quantities, readying spells for her.
"Alright, team!" said Veronica, expanding her senses with the use of her mana, creating waves all around. By using her soul and the \'Special Five Senses\' skill, her senses were acuter than most beings.
She braced her fist, armor, and shield with mana, and received head on a large spider that commanded the rest, its claws hitting her shield with powerful strength.
"Iron Wall!"
Clash!
"Grisha?"
The spider seemed to become dazzled by hitting such a firm object as Veronica\'s shield with the \'Iron Wall\' technique activated, Veronica used this opportunity to release the Light Ray spell on the fiend eight eyes, alongside a Shadow Ball into its thorax.
Feeling its eyes burning due to the bright light, the spider shrieked in agony and moved away, Aqua from within Veronica\'s shoulders, proactively used \'Projectile Fire\' to launch several bullets made out of its body. The projectiles hit the surrounding spiders, blocking their eyes and giving Veronica some time to eliminate them one by one.
"Not going to let you go!"
Veronica decided to take care of the spider that had attacked her first, rushing towards it with \'Charge\' and bracing her fist with Mana and her Materialized soul.
"I should use this opportunity to use my newest technique, Slashing Claws!"
Clash!
"Griisshaaaa…!"
Veronica shaped her hand as if it were a claw by using her materialized soul, releasing a new Unarmed Fighting Technique that she learned by herself. Unlike the previous techniques that she had used, this technique was invented in this life and was not relearned with \'Memory Retention\'.
The spider received the slash right into its head, which was slashed into pieces, its green innards flying all over the place, the spider\'s body kept moving around for a few seconds before falling into the floor motionless.
Veronica felt the surge of Experience Points flowing through her body as well as Aqua, it seems that she tamed monster was able to share her experience gained. However, she had no time to look over her system notifications, she quickly ran towards her next target, while Shade helped her out by launching a barrage of Light Rays at the three spiders that tried to jump over her from the ceilings. Their eyes burned as they shrieked in pain.
Flash! Flash! Flash!
"Griiisha!"
"Griiii!"
"Griiaaa!"
It seems that bright light was especially effective against the monsters in this dungeon who were accustomed to living in complete darkness. Their eyes burned and their jaws, which were already covered in Aqua\'s slime could not use their own poison to fire projectiles.
However, one of the spiders fired another type of projectile! Spiderwebs rained over Veronica who was trying to finish the three ambushing spiders. Her movements were stopped by the sticky yet firm substance.
This gave some opportunity to the other spiders to make a move, however, Aqua was there to support Veronica while Shade conjured Light Rays to blind them momentarily.
Having to exert a large amount of strength by enhancing her body with Mana and abusing \'Hardworking\', she managed to free herself from some of the spiderwebs to release a barrage of punches towards the closest spider, which was trying to munch on her torso!
"Charge! Hammer Blow! Spear Attack! Slashing Claws!"
Crash! Clash! Slash!
Veronica\'s right hand became as heavy as a hammer, breaking the spider\'s silver-like exoskeleton, then her left hand became a spear, piercing through the flesh! Afterward, her right hand became sharp claws, slashing the weakened spider into pieces!
"Grishaaa…!"
Veronica exerted this same \'combo\' against the other two spiders that had tried to attack her from within the ceilings, their bodies were crushed, pierced, and slashed into pieces!
The other spiders glanced at the scene with concern, they had not expected that the \'easy prey\' would be so merciless!
From within Veronica\'s helmet, the spiders could see the intimidating presence of a dark creature, which glanced at them voraciously.
Some of the weak-willed spiders tried to run but were quickly stopped by Aqua\'s sticky projectiles, sticking their claws over the floor.
Veronica, while still using the effects of \'Charge\', jumped from the floor towards the running spiders, using her legs as if they were lethal weapons, she unleashed a piercing kick towards the abdomen of an unfortunate arachnid!
Clash!
"Griishaaa…!"
With the cooperation of Veronica, Aqua and Shade, the tables seemed to have been suddenly turned into Veronica\'s party favor!
However, some of the more aggressive spiders could not accept this, and while still having their eyes mildly blinded and their jaws covered in Aqua\'s slime, they rushed towards Veronica while shooting spiderwebs projectiles.
"Aqua, help me out!" shouted Veronica.
"Blob!" said Aqua, as she unleashed several slime projectiles, intercepting the spiderweb bullets.
Meanwhile, Shade unleashed Light Rays sporadically to blind once again the spiders.
Veronica used \'Charge\' again and used the speed boost to rush and smash the nearby spiders\' heads with her powerful blows.
However, there were many spiders, and some managed to hit their spiderweb bullets into Veronica\'s legs, sticking her into the floor, she suddenly fell over her helmet.
Clash!
The spiders used this valuable opportunity to finally end her!
"Grishaaa!"
As one spider jumped over Veronica\'s torso, a dark and phantasmagoric presence surged from within the living armor, shaping into a claw, and then dividing itself into many, they began to slash the spiders while unleashing Unarmed Fighting Techniques!
"I didn\'t want to abuse this because it cost a load of Mana to materialize my soul and then divide it into several limbs, but it is worth a use in these situations!" said Veronica.
"Blob!"
Aqua decided to support Veronica by extending its body like a long tentacle, while borrowing one of Veronica\'s sharp gloves, punching the spiders away. Unknowingly, Aqua was beginning to imitate Veronica\'s Unarmed Fighting Techniques!
"Aqua, you\'re more talented than I imagined!" said Veronica, as Shade released her from the spiderwebs with a concentrated ray of light that melted the sticky substance.
Her soul and Aqua\'s support had managed to massacre several spiders, but there were still a few lefts, three went ahead and tried to jump over her helmet, while the others tried to stay at a long distance while firing spiderweb bullets.
"They\'re more intelligent than I imagined! They can even use tactics such as these… If I could, I would tame one"
???Bloooob!"
Aqua was immersed in the fighting, by borrowing one of Veronica\'s armored gloves, it punched the spiders by extending its body.
Clash! Clash! Clash!
Although her strength was not enough to crack their exoskeletons, it was enough to send them away.
Veronica intercepted the spiders through the air, jumping and unleashing a powerful piercing kick towards one of the arachnids.
Clash!
"Griii…!"
The remaining spiders seemed frightened, and the ones behind the \'defenders\' fired their last spiderweb projectiles before trying to run away!
"Blob!"
Aqua extended her body for several meters, punching the running spiders and making the dizzy.
Veronica rushed through the floor with \'Charge\' and intercepted the offensive spiders with her shield, afterward she used her \'Soul Claw\' so slash them away.
"I\'m not leaving you ago! You\'re valuable Experience Points!" shouted Veronica, with the aid of Shade, she fired Light Rays that pierced the spider\'s exoskeletons and mildly burned their insides, the agony made them stop their movements as Aqua imitated Veronica and used her own Mana to enhance the armored glove she had borrowed, unleashing a powerful blow towards one of the spiders and crushing its head!
Clash!
Veronica kicked the other with her legs by unleashing a technique that made her legs seem like sharp lances, piercing the exoskeleton without many issues and making the arachnids innards explode to the outside of the body.
The floor had suddenly become a graveyard of spider corpses, with only a single Armored Spider left. Its legs were stuck to the floor by Aqua\'s slime. The fiend which seemed straight out of a horror movie trembled in fear as it glanced at Veronica slowly approaching it.
Her body was not unstained but filled with holes, slashes, and scratches. Even after using her Armor Technique, she still received a fair amount of damage through the battle and wanted to end things quickly.
However, the spider desperately hissed towards Veronica, grasping any opportunity for survival, even if it was slight.
"It seems terrified, you could tame it…" said Shade.
"I only have one slot, and it\'s occupied by Aqua. Also, I only need a bit more Experience to reach the max level." Said Veronica, raising her leg and crushing the spider mercilessly.
Crush!
"Griiiii…!"
After crushing the fiend, Veronica finally checked her System notifications.
[Experience Points have reached the required level!]
[Individual \'Rank\' has increased from level 34 to level 100!]
[Furthermore, the Individual\'s \'Job\' has increased from level 34 to level 100!]
[The Levels of the [Charge; Level 2], [Coordination; Level 1], [Shield Technique; Level 1], [Armor Technique; Level 1], [Mana Control; Level 1], [Cursed Wounds; Level 1], [Soul Materialization; Level 1], and [Spirit Magic; Level 1] Skills have increased!]
"I suppose I shouldn\'t have pitied a monster, even more, when their souls get constantly reincarnated in the dungeon…" said Shade.
"Don\'t worry, I\'ll get you a spider pet whenever I get another slot" said Veronica.
"No… I didn\'t mean that I desire a spider pet" said Shade.
"Your tone of voice says otherwise~," said Veronica.
"Stop! Don\'t tease a spirit!" shouted Shade, angered.
"Haha, what do you think, Aqua? Should we get you a spider companion later on?" asked Veronica.
"Blob?" asked Aqua.
"Don\'t involve her into this!" said Shade.
"Okay, okay… Relax, I\'m sorry, oh, grand spirit" said Veronica.
"Hm… Apology accepted. Now quickly absorb these exoskeletons and feed Aqua, we must leave this floor before more monsters come for the corpses" said Shade.
"Alright, boss!" said Veronica.
"I\'m not your boss!" shouted Shade.
"Blob?"
Flash!
Out of nowhere, Aqua suddenly began to shine in white light!
[Name: Nameless (Veronica)
[Race: Cursed Living Armor.
[Age: 0
[Titles: Monster Tamer (New!)
[Type: Undead/Ethereal/Material
[Rank: 2
[Level: 100/100
[Job: Soul User.
[Job History: Armored Unarmed Fighter.
[Level: 100/100
[Health Points: 145/145 > 215/215
[Mana Points: 180/180 > 225/225
[Strength: 118 > 176
[Defense: 190 > 260
[Magic: 82 > 117
[Resistance: 57 > 89
[Agility: 65 > 100
[Passive Skills]
[Memory Retention; Level 4]
[Special Five Senses; Level 6]
[Soul Form; Level 2]
[Mana Enlargement; Level 5]
[Magic Enlargement; Level 5]
[Abnormal Status Immunity]
[Strengthened Physical Power; Level 3]
[Physical Damage Resistance; Level 2]
[Armor Rearrangement; Level 2]
[Absorption Healing (Mineral, Materials, Armor); Level 1]
[Active Skills]
[Hardworking; Level 7]
[Appraisal; Level 6]
[Charge; Level 3]
[Coordination; Level 2]
[Unarmed Fighting Technique; Level 3]
[Throwing; Level 2]
[Shield Technique; Level 2]
[No-Attribute Magic; Level 1]
[Mana Control; Level 2]
[Spirit Magic; Level 2]
[Cursed Wounds; Level 2]
[Soul Materialization; Level 2]
[Armor Technique; Level 2]
[Tame; Level 1]
[Unique Skills]
[Armory; Level 1]
[Current Armory Slots: 2]
[Slot 1: [Venomous Crimson Dusk Living Armor] [Armor]
[Slot 2: [Medium-Sized Silver Centipede Carapace Shield] [Shield]
[Befriended Spirits]
[Shade, Spirit of Shadows and Darkness (Light-Attribute)]
[Tamed Monsters]
[Slot 1: [Rank 1: Blue Slime, Aqua]