"Biggest spider I've ever seen, eh," Yao Jing said, the spear he was using for this battle held casually in his arms. The big muscular man knew his job. After all, they had discussed what needed to be done days ago when they started this expedition, but facing their foe in flesh, so to say, was another thing entirely.
If nothing else, the fact that they would have to make their way through the webbed undergrowth to get anywhere close to harm the spider was telling. If not for the fact that previous groups had undertaken some of the necessary preparations, he might even have chosen to run away.
"It is," Arthur said, looking at the sprawl of webs that lay between the shattered stumps, the fallen logs and that reached upwards to the cocooned bodies of fallen Climbers and other foodstuff propped around to offer the surrounding, solitary intact grove where the spider lay additional cover.
The land reaching the end of the slope, the ritual site where individuals could collect the mark that would allow them to teleport had returned to its default state. That meant a lot of webs and the lurking platform boss in the center of the grove. Previous attempts had seen that grove cut down, but that had resulted in the Tower reproducing the trees everywhere. As such, the teams had worked out a rough spacing that did not trigger the Tower and then cleared that area. Leaving the spider a place to rest it's truck-sized body. American-sized truck too.
You'd think, even with the general ban and high prices for gasoline and diesel, that the Americans would have shrunk the size of their vehicles. If nothing else, due to how much it decreased the distance electric vehicle range. Instead, they'd demanded as large, if not larger, trucks and that their corporations fix the charging problem.
And, credit due where it was gained, the companies had capitulated to both. Now, the world made do with more efficient batteries all over, even if the majority of those sold were from stolen and improved tech being made in low-cost countries in Africa and the Indian sub-continent.
"Ready or not lah?" Jan asked, hefting the pair of torches she held higher. Standing a distance to the right, she was one of two people in charge of starting the blaze. The other, of course, was Karen with her flaming hand on the other side.
"Let's do this," Arthur said. He could have started the attack by blasting the spider, but previous attempts at finishing the battle at range had almost always ended in failure. The creature was smart enough to hide behind webs and move rock or stone in the way or, worst case scenario, add additional webs.
In the end, it always came down to this.
The flames raced along dry spider web, catching against the edges, warming his face. He winced a little at the heat, swearing he could feel the sweat and moisture in his skin wicking away. It plunged deeper, reaching for fuel with its grubby little hands and coming across the tendrils of spider silk. Flames raced across the webs, burning merrily as Jan set fire to those nearby and then tossed her torches aside.
Together, the group stepped back, watching. At first the spider boss waited, as though it hoped the flames would go out. Then, it acted, loosing webs from its behind, spinnerets working overtime to coat the land. They doused some upon contact, but caught moments later, fire racing onward.
"t's coming," Arthur spoke, softly. Energy coursed through him, the Heavenly Sage's Mischief giving him strength for when it was needed, the trickle of power that gathered not at his hand but at his third eye. He had shifted the spot of the Refined Exploding Energy Dart once again to his forehead, confident now that his experimentation was stable. Bad enough, to lose a hand. He wasn't about to lose his head if he was jostled wrongly.
"Loose!" Mel barked out, and slings rotating at speed released. Stones arced through the air, even as they were replaced. They struck, hard, powered by the full strength of the climbers and shattering skin and bark. One hit so hard, the tree itself exploded, portions falling only to be caught as webs pulled tight, holding it aloft.
No scream, for the spider had not the voice box. Instead, it moved, crossing the flames, crossing the ground between them. At the last moment, before it plunged deep into the box, it spun around and released. Arthur looked up as the arc of web flew overhead, striking a tree and then tugged tight.
And suddenly, a giant spider was flying through the air, pulled tight as a creature the size of an SUV was yanked forwards. Through and over flames, tiny hairs on its body crisping.
Mel, acting fast and Jan - having finally gotten her sling working - released their stones. Mel missed, Jan's own stone striking a leg and cracking it, forcing to hang wildly.
Then, no more time for such things, as the spider was falling down among them, behind their lines. Rick stumbled backwards, the sawed off shotgun he had pulled out for this particular exchange letting out a single bark, a loud thump that saw the slug tear a hole deep in the creature. It shrieked, but such was it's size it was insufficient to kill it.
Or perhaps it was a mortal wound, but one that would take a while. It mattered not, as the spinning spider, grey black body and white feet and eyes and tendrils caught Rick in the side, sending him tumbling through the air.
Yao Jing was next, jumping through the air, spear slamming into the twisting body, sliding downwards as the spear plunged deep within the body. It caught, his body jerking to a stop moments later. He struggled, forcing himself upwards, legs scrambling to find purchase as he hung from the spear dug deep within.
Karen and her daughter, ducking in now, their paired swords slicing fast and thick, cutting at legs and deflecting attacks. Those legs were thickened, protected at the bottom half against easy damage, easily able to pierce body and armour if caught unawares. The pair battled, even as the spider spun, loosing web to catch and grab, no flames in play. Not unless they wanted to get caught in the flames themselves, and no one wanted that.
Least of all Arthur. He came in fast, unable to catch a moment to unleash his own ranged attack. Not daring to fire into the melee and catch Yao Jing or the girls. Instead, he moved fast with his spinning spear, slicing a leg off with the empowered attack. Slipped under, stabbing upwards to a joint, popping his spear head through a joint and driving it upwards.
No boar spear this, no cross-guard to stop the spear from sliding upwards, to kill. To injure. He had no chance with either of those, but it didn't matter. It wasn't what he was going for anyway. He knew not the anatomy of the spider, not well enough to end it with a single strike.
This was a battle of attrition then, and in the case, he shoved harder, staying in motion with the creature. Timed it, so that he ducked down and low, crab-walking for a moment as he yanked the kris out and stabbed. Left the blade upwards as he cut, and cut, and cut into the softer underbelly.
Watching, sensing the curse drive deep into the creature. A twisting movement and it was gone, and he was struck himself, losing grip of his weapon as lancing pain ran across his back and shoulder. He rolled aside, coming up, panting desperately and wondering if perhaps leaving both his weapons behind was a bad idea.
Only to see the kris float upwards on a tendril of shadow and plunge forwards, flung ahead by a shadowed arm as Uswah came alongside him, hand held outwards as she controlled the shadows.
"Showoff..." Arthur grumbled. The creature was fleeing, Yao Jing on the forest floor, knocked off as the spider tried to escape. As it scrambled upwards, feet on groaning trees, he focused.
Released.
The Refined Exploding Energy Dart missed it, by feet. Close enough to its face to send splatters of bark and sap into its face. But as it kept going, already straining tree broke, shattered under the weight. The boss spider fell, only to catch itself with its web. It held, for a moment, before wood snapped again, the creature plunging the rest of the way.
Only for it to be intercepted. Mel, Karen, Jan, even Rick and Yao Jing rushed in, weapons held aloft. They swung and blood splashed the air. A leg went first, and then another, the end of the spider damaged and gummed up. The creature fought and attempted to flee, but the poison was slowing it, causing to slow. Marginally at first, but that was all that was needed.
All that was required amongst warriors as great as these. Arthur smiled, as he trotted in after the group, snatching his kris from the shadow tendril as he passed it by and joined them. Ready to finish off a battle and then, afterwards, to acquire the first of their platform teleportation tokens.
First part of the fifth floor done. And only two more to handle.
Sometimes, it seemed, handling the humans in the Tower was as much, if not more trouble.