n

n

nThe Giant spider who John had lost sight of, broke it. She stabbed it with four of her legs and made a big hole, through it.

nJohn pushed Ariel and Serena Out of the way and leapt back to avoid its legs after it had penetrated through the sphere.

n

"I know you two are scared. I am too... But if we don't do something... We'll die. So face your fears head on, I know I'm asking for much, but I can't do this without you guys!

" John shouted.

nThe two who realised they were dragging John down, got up. They were still shaking but faced their fears.

n

"S-Sorry, for dragging you down.

" Serena said with trembles in her voice.

n

"D-Don't worry about us john, W-We'll back you up.

" Said Ariel who also had trembles in her voice.

n

"T-That's the spirit. I'll keep it company, you guys deal with the other spiders. Make sure you use these wisely.

" John said as he threw 10 Magic stones each at them.

n

"B-But john! You'll need these to fight the queen!

" Said Ariel.

n

"It's fine, besides there's no way I'll be able to carry all 30 of those and fight at the same time.

" John replied.

n

"D-Don't die...

" She said with tears in her eyes.

n

"Who do you think you're talking to? I'll become the best advent-

"

nBefore John could finish, the spider broke the remaining ice and tried to stab him with its leg. He evaded it by leaping forward and was directly under it. In that instant he cast Glacies, and made a really big one with the cost of two magic stones.

n

"Die.

" John said as he propelled the Ice Spike at the Spider.

nDespite being right under it, the Spider managed to dodge his giant Glacies by jumping back.

n

"Oi... Are you serious? You're able to dodge something at that range? You're like 10x my size.

" John exclaimed.

nJohn was acting like he wasn't at all threatened but deep inside, he could barely breathe straight. Not only was it big and fast, but it's also intelligent. It seems to really care about its life.

n'Thank god, the other spiders aren't attacking us, but watching us as if they are waiting for the giant spiders' orders.' John thought.

n

"John, can I have my wand back?

" Asked Serena.

nThe spider wasn't attacking and was only observing so now would be a good time.

nJohn leapt back and dashed towards Serena before handing her the wand.

n

"Start Chanting.

" John said.

nShe nodded and began to chant.

nThe spider, again, stayed still and just quietly watched them.

nJohn leapt back to my current position and stared at it.

n

"How about a deal? Let us go and I won't kill you.

" John said.

nThe spider seemed to have been smart, so it should be able to have understood what John meant.

n

"What do you think good deal righ-

"

nBefore John could finish, the Spider leapt forward and tried to pierce him with one of its legs, he barely evaded it by jumping sideways, but while he was in the air, it used its other leg to attack.

nBeing midair John wouldn't be able to dodge, so he cast 'Scutum Glacies' Right before it hit him.

nAfter being hit, John was sent flying straight to the door they had entered from. Before he reached the door John created an ice wall to cushion his hit.

nIt didn't help much. After all the pain from getting hit by the spider and hitting the wall was unimaginable. John couldn't even breathe.

n

"T-that's a-all you g-got?

" John said as he coughed out blood.

n'It hurts, I'm scared, I want to cry, I want to leave. I want to give up, but what's going to happen to these two if I do? I'm scared but I'm even more scared of losing the people close to me. I'm hurt but not being able to help them would hurt more.' John thought to himself.

nJohn stood up but his consciousness was beginning to fade. He was starting to lose focus over his senses from the pain and his head was spinning.

nJohn looked towards Ariel who was running towards him and Serena who seemed to be casting a fireball. He then looked at the spider who appeared to be rushing to him, while shouting something.

nJohn then realized that the spider who had been watching most of the time, was rushing at him.

n

"Ignis

" John muttered.

nIn the instant he said that a blue flame was formed above his head. The spider who was rushing at him stopped after seeing the flame he had formed. John signalled at Ariel to wait and she understood.

n

"Bigger.

" John said.

nAnother stone broke and the Blue Flame got bigger.

n

"Bigger, Bigger, Bigger.

" John repeated over and over again.

nThree more magic stones broke and the Blue flame was even bigger than the spider itself.

n

"BIGGGEEEERRRRRRRR!!!!

" John shouted with all his remaining energy.

nIn that instant, 2 more magic stones broke and the flame's size and heat increased. It looked 3x the size of the spider and the light from the brightness nearly covered the entire room.

n

"Magnum Ignis

" John said.

nWith this flame formed above his raised hand, John slowly walked up to the spider.

nWith this size, it wouldn't be able to dodge it, but John didn't want to get Ariel and Serena caught up in the attack, so he walked and approached the spider who was slowly retreating after seeing the giant flame.

n

"Die!

" John shouted after he was far enough so that Ariel and Serena wouldn't get caught up in the attack.

nThe moment he shouted that, the Giant Blue Flame which was formed above his head, propelled itself towards the spider. After contact, everything around it was set on fire. The spider's web and nest including all the spiders there began to burn. John couldn't see any traces of the big spider as the fire was too big.

n

"They should be all dead

" John muttered to himself.

n

"John!

" Shouted Ariel as she ran up to him.

n

"Yes, that's me.

" John replied.

nAfter she finally reached him, she jumped to give him a hug.

n

"I told you to be careful!

" She said as tears streamed down her face.

n

"Yes... Yes... I know... I like hugs but i think my bones are broken so it really hurts, so could you please let go.

" John asked.

n

"No!

" She said as she continued to cry.

n'She looks just like a baby. I'm so glad I didn't give up. I can't even imagine what life would be like without her.' John thought.

nAfter a few more seconds, Ariel finally let go of the hug and John looked over to Serena. He waved at her and she gave him a thumbs up.

nWhen John was about to shout and ask her if she was fine. The expression on her face changed to fear.

nJohn turned around to see what she was talking about but before he could, he felt Ariel pushed him out of the way. It had quite a lot of power in it, and since John had no strength he was pushed to the side and fell.

nWhile John fell, he turned to Ariel to see what happened, and the sight shocked him.

nAriel was sent flying back, with a wound on her stomach thanks to the spider's attack.

nSeeing this, John realized. This wasn't some sort of fantasy playful world where everything is filled with excitement and enjoyment. This was reality, a reality where he and anyone he cared about life could die at any time.

nJohn deeply regretted not listening to what the receptionist had said at that time.

nAnd as he watched the spider move, its hand with Ariel on its mouth, he felt rage... So much rage that he couldn't hold it in. But at the same time he felt powerless.

n

"Ah- AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!

" John Screamed as he stared at the motionless Ariel after she hit the wall.

n

"I'll kill you... Magnum... Ventus...

" John muttered as he cut off the arm it used to attack Ariel.

nThe spider was in bad shape after taking his attack head on. It had lost 2 of its left legs, one of the right and the left side of its body was burnt. Thanks to being weakened, it wasn't able to completely evade his Ventus and lost one of its front legs.

nIt backed up to see what sort of move he'd make next, but in that moment he didn't care. John took the opening it gave him to rush to Ariel.

nJohn didn't know what sort of expression he was making, or didn't know how he looked as he ran towards Ariel. But he didn't care. Tears streamed down his face as he made the most powerless figure. But John didn't care. All he could think about was how she was doing.

nJohn ran and ran. It was the hardest run he had ever done in his life. The pain, the spider, his wounds. He couldn't care less.

nAfter reaching Ariel, John checked her wound. It was bleeding, but it wasn't deep. Before she was hit John could feel wind gathering up, so she probably used it as a shield. She was breathing, but it was slowly getting weaker.

n

"Ariel... Stay with me okay... Please...

" John said as he began to cry.

n

"John... I'm sorry...

" She said as tears streamed down her face.

n

"Don't waste your energy talking. Don't fall asleep. Stay with me!

" John said.

nThe spider who could barely stand, slowly began to approach them, meanwhile Serena cast the fire lion and ran towards them.

nMeanwhile, John was thinking of how he could close the wound on Ariel's stomach.

nJohn began to gather his mana on Ariel's stomach and imagined the wound closing. The remaining magic stones broke as he began to use the energy within them to close Ariel's wound.

n

"Close... Close!

" John repeated over and over again.

nBut nothing happened. John was pouring magic into the wound, and imagining it closing. But it didn't work.

nTears streamed down his face as he punched the ground thinking about how useless he was.

nMeanwhile, Serena was keeping the spider at bay by casting fire spells at it. It was weakened so Serena wasn't having any problems. But it wasn't dying, it constantly evaded her attacks. John felt a deep desire to kill it but couldn't leave Ariel's side.

nJohn took off his shirt and cut it so that he could use it as a bandage. John then tied it over Ariel's stomach wound to prevent the blood from flowing out. It wasn't much help but all he could do now was hope that it would slow down.

n'At this rate, she'll die... The only reason she's lasted this long was because she was able to create a wind shield at the last moment. It wasn't perfect, but it prevented it from completely piercing her stomach.' John thought,

n

"S-Someone... Please... I don't care who... please save her... SOMEONE PLEASE HELP!

" John shouted as hard as he could.

nIn that moment, the door where they came from, opened and from the outside John could hear a female voice.

n

"Man, Looks like there are people already fighting the boss. I thought we were the only ones who came to this floor,

" Said a red-haired lady as she walked in.

nJohn and Serena looked confused as a party composed of a Swordsman, a tank, a mage and a Priest walked in. The spider also stopped fighting Serena to watch.

n

"I did, have you ever seen anyone on the tenth floor aside from us?

" said the tank.

n'10th floor? Did he just say 10th floor?' John thought with shock.

n

"Of course not, we're the strongest party in the city.

" Said the tank.

n

"Hey kid, what happened here?

" The Red-haired lady asked as she walked in, with her party.

n'By the kid, does she mean me?' John wondered.

n

"Are you deaf?

" She asked as she looked at John.

n

"U-uh... We had fought against that monster and one of my comrades got injured.

" John said.

n

"Luke.

" She said

n

"I'm on it.

" Said the blue-haired priest.

nHe walked up to Ariel, and John stopped him.

n

"What are you planning on doing?

" I said with a cold look in my eye.

n

"Don't worry, I just want to see her condition.

" He said.

nWith no choices left, John let the man see Ariel.

n

"Her condition?

" The girl asked.

n

"If we leave her as is, she'll die. But it's nothing I can't heal. You'll have to give me some time.

" He said.

n

"Huh? Who do you think you're asking? I'll give you all the time you need. If that monster gets moves a single step closer. I'll kill it.

" She said.

nFeeling the bloodlust, the spider retreated even further back.

n

"Hey kid, you and that red-haired girl were fighting this thing, right? That means it's your prey. We'll watch over your friend. Go finish that spider off.

" She said.

n'My ribs are broken too... Either way.' John thought,

n

"Thank you very much.

" John said as he bowed to her in deep gratitude as tears streamed down his face.

nWhen she walked in, John remembered a feeling he had long lost after the death of his parents, hope. John hoped that they would be able to do something for Ariel, and now that they offered to, he felt an insane amount of gratitude. John was really happy.

n

"You can thank me by finishing off your prey. Avenge your friend.

" She said.

n

"Yes!

" John replied with a relieved smile on his face.

n

"You... you have a few broken bones, I'll heal you.

" Said the priest.

n

"It's fine, please focus on helping my friend. Today I realised something. I'm weak, I'm truly weak. So I need to get stronger. To protect the people I care about. Besides, I'd rather finish our fight without healing. To make it fair.

" John declared.

n

"Well said. Now go. I have a few questions to ask so don't die.

" Said the Red-haired lady.

nHearing those words John leapt towards Serena, she was closer to them thanks to the pressure of the spider.

n

"Hey, Serena. Thanks for protecting us. I'll take it from here, you must be tired right?

" John said after reaching her.

n

"Hey John, Yeah, a bit. I'll leave it to you. Who are those people?

" She asked.

n

"My hope

" John replied before heading towards the spider.

n

"What's that supposed to mean?

" She muttered.

nThe spider seemed quite disturbed by his presence.

n

"Hey spider, it's been a while. Could it be, you're scared of me? Haha, funny. But it doesn't matter, because this fear will be the last thing you have in you before death.

" John said.

n

"Hey Ria, why didn't you let me heal him? Are you just going to let that kid fight that thing alone?

" The priest asked.

n

"Don't worry, the captain has a good eye for things. Besides, if it gets dangerous we can always save him. It's just a spider after all.

" Said the tank.

n

"I wasn't able to detect a shred of magic power from that kid.

" Said the mage.

n

"Yet he and his party were able to do that much damage to the spider queen? Just watch, he'll surprise you.

" Said the red-haired lady.

nThe spider let out a shriek as it felt John's killing intent. Perhaps it realized that it's life was in danger

n

"I'm feeling really angry right now, You hurt someone precious to me, and would've killed her if these people didn't arrive.. Can you feel it? My bloodlust?

" John asked.

n