Chương 12: Claim What is Yours

A quest screen materialized before Joe, the words glowing faintly. He began to read. Party Leader Kairos Athanasiou has shared a quest with you. Quest - City Building, Claim what is yours. A City Pillar has appeared in Wembley Stadium. You must claim possession of the Pillar or lose your chance to be your world's first true City Builder. This is a mandatory quest and can not be ignored. If you fail to claim the Pillar in one hour, Integration to the Multiverse will be cancelled, and you will lose your Class.

Good Luck. Expand the secondary tab for more details on what comes with your new City Pillar. Time limit of Quest - 1 Hour to contest the Pillars Area"Joe! Are you listening?" Kai's voice cut through his focus.

"No, sorry. You shared the quest screen with me, and I was reading it," Joe replied.

"I did?" Kai looked puzzled.

"I think it was when you said the quest's title," Joe offered, remembering that Hakeem received a notification when he said his quest's title.

"Oh," Kai muttered, still looking perplexed.

"Sorry to interrupt," Sarah interjected, her voice barely above a whisper.

"What are you guys talking about?" Joe quickly explained to her about Kai's party skill and a brief rundown of the quest.

"Wembley Stadium is on the other side of London," Sarah said, concern colouring her tone.

"It's at least ten miles from here."

"I could probably make it there in about twenty minutes if I run," Joe replied.

"We definitely can't ignore this. You saw what the quest said." Kai nodded in agreement.

"Wait a second," Sarah said, her brow furrowing.

"Can you really run that fast? Using your teleport skill from earlier?"

"No," Joe said, shaking his head.

"I can only use that on grass; I'll just run the old-fashioned way. My Agility is just over sixty now, so it won't be a problem." Sarah gaped at that statement.

"How do you have Agility over sixty? Mine is in the mid-twenties, and I am at a much higher level than you. Is your Farmer Class Agility-based?" Joe had to suppress a smile. He decided against mentioning that Agility was actually one of his lowest stats. His intellect and Wisdom, both comfortably over one hundred, were his best stats.

"Erm, lucky Class." Joe paused to think for a minute. Time was slipping away, and this quest felt far too crucial to delay.

"Are you both okay to run there? If one of you takes my egg, I could probably carry you," Joe suggested, glancing at Kai as he spoke.

"Why are you looking at me when you say that?" Kai shot back, pointing angrily.

"I won't slow you down. I have spent more time in the gym than you ever did." Joe smiled.

"How much of that gym time did you spend doing Cardio?" Kai faltered, a sheepish grin spreading across his face."Heh, you got me there." Sarah rolled her eyes at the banter, her exasperation evident.

"Are you both done comparing egos?" She cut in sharply.

"This is serious." Joe turned to her, focusing on the current situation.

"Can you handle the run across London? I'll take point and clear our path as we go. If we keep the pace up, we should be able to outrun most wolves. I'll deal with the high-level ones." Sarah frowned, doubt etched into her features.

"I don't think it's doable. There are far too many beasts between here and Wembley Stadium. I don't think you both realize how far that is and what it's like in the city." Joe met Kai's gaze. He knew her concerns weren't baseless; it was a wild idea, even reckless, but he also knew his capabilities. So far, nearly every Beast he'd encountered fell with one strike. They didn't have time for debates, and convincing Sarah with words seemed unlikely. Before Joe could respond, Kai stepped in.

"Sarah, I know this requires a lot of trust," Kai said, his tone calm but firm.

"But I promise you, Joe is just as strong as you saw he was. We just spent the last two hours taking down wolves. He is not even winded. If anyone can get us there, it's him. Can you believe in that?"

"But what about the Lion?" Sarah asked, her hesitation lingering.

"We have mini map skills," Joe said.

"We can see anything coming our way, so avoiding the Lion won't be an issue." He did not mention that the Lion was already dead, he still doubted she would believe him without evidence.

"Minimap?" Sarah repeated, clearly puzzled.

"Kai, invite Sarah to the party," Joe said.

"It will be easier to show her." Sarah Monreau has joined the party. Sarah's eyes lit up as she took in the new interface, her surprise quickly shifting to fascination.

"Kai gets a mini-map as the Party Leader; I have my own map skill. We have a chat function that just requires you to think to leave a message, so we can communicate without talking. Plus, you'll get experience for everything I kill along the way." He paused, his voice firm.

"But we have to go now. Otherwise, you can stay here, and we'll come get you when we are done." Joe noticed Sarah fidget at the mention of being left behind. Her uncertainty was written all over her face, but the idea of being alone seemed to tip the scales.

"So, are you in?" He pressed. His voice softened, but the urgency remained. Sarah hesitated for just a moment longer before nodding.

"Okay," she said quietly.

"Great. Follow me, and keep up," Joe said, setting off at a brisk jog. He kept the pace steady at first, gauging both his own speed and how well the others could keep up. This would be his first real chance to stretch his legs. On the way to Kai's house, they hadn't pushed themselves too hard, still adjusting to fighting wolves and their enhanced physical abilities. But now, they were racing against the clock. Joe glanced at the quest screen again. Fifty-four minutes.

The timer ticked down relentlessly, a reminder of what was at stake. His mini-map only displayed a small area around them as they jogged, which sparked an idea. Testing his legs, he leapt with all his strength, aiming to reach the roof of the nearby building. He severely underestimated his strength, sailing over the roof entirely and crashing into the gardens beyond. The sound of splintering wood echoed as he tumbled through at least four fences before stopping. [Shit, sorry. I'm okay. I just need to adjust my jump. Keep going.] - Joe. Joe got to his feet, brushing dirt and debris from his clothes. With more control, he jumped again, landing squarely on the rooftop. From this elevated position, he came back into view of Sarah and Kai. He smiled and waved reassuringly before his attention shifted to a cluster of distant dots on his mini-map. The expanded view from above allowed him to see more roads, buildings, and the approaching wolves. Without hesitation, he dashed off to intercept them.

"Is he always like that?" Sarah asked, her tone one of disbelief as they jogged behind Joe's fleeting figure on the rooftops. Kai let out a long sigh.

"He gets much worse. He's holding back because he doesn't know you very well yet."

"Oh," Sarah muttered, starting to regret her life choices. Joe soon returned, dropping back into step to lead them through the empty streets of North London. They pushed steadily westward, the imposing silhouette of Wembley Stadium looming somewhere ahead. After five minutes, Joe picked up the pace, forcing Kai and Sarah to transition from a jog to a run. Two minutes later, his sharp signal spurred them into an all-out sprint, their breaths quickening as the city blurred around them.

__ Sarah focused on the figure of the cloaked man running effortlessly ahead of her. Did he ever get tired? She had been sprinting at her maximum speed for ten minutes straight, her body drenched in sweat, her breath coming in quick, heavy gulps. Every step felt like a test of her endurance, yet Joe seemed unaffected, his pace as steady as when they'd started. Her eyes flicked to the chat window hovering at the edge of her vision. A new message appeared. [Two packs of wolves to the right, stay left.] - Joe veered sharply, his movements precise. [Stay on course; engaging now. Don't stop.] - Joe. She watched as he leapt onto a nearby building, disappearing over its edge. Moments later, the guttural growls of wolves echoed from the direction he'd gone. Though she couldn't see the fight, the sounds alone were enough to make her shudder. This wasn't the first time he'd done this. Throughout the run, Joe had intercepted threats, clearing their path before the wolves even came into view.

Despite her limited role, she had somehow gained a level just from the shared experience. It was both awe-inspiring and unsettling. How was he this strong? Her mind wandered to a question that had plagued her since earlier in the day. Joe was only level ten, lower than her, but his power far outstripped hers. Was it his class? She wondered what rarity he had gained. She knew a few rare class Divers back at camp, and they had much higher stats than hers. But she felt that there was something else to it.

Compared to them, Joe seemed like a monster. Her thoughts returned to the strange result she had seen when she first used Identify on him back at her house. Instead of labelling him as human, the system classified him as High Human. She had never met anyone with a different Race before. Was he even Human? The idea seemed ridiculous. She had met him years ago. He wasn't an alien… was he? She shook her head, trying to dismiss the thought.

It had to be another curveball from the system, just another strange addition to their world. Her thoughts were interrupted by a flashing notification in the chat box. She hadn't noticed someone else was in their party until now. The message was from Hakeem. [So, there's a City Pillar you have to claim? And you are all running over to Wembley Stadium as we speak?] - Hakeem. [Yep.] - Kai. [Okay, I'll leave you guys to it. Good luck.] - Hakeem. Kai slowed down, matching Sarah's pace as he ran alongside her.

"You okay?" He mouthed. She nodded, forcing a small smile. Her body ached, and her breath came in shallow gasps, but she could tell they were close. That knowledge gave her the strength to keep going. [Slow down, guys, I see the Stadium.] - Joe. She exhaled a deep sigh of relief as they eased into a jog. Kai glanced at her and mouthed 'good job'. This time, she managed a genuine smile. Moments later, the imposing shape of Wembley Stadium loomed ahead.

Joe reappeared, leaping down from a building to join them as they came to a stop. Sarah leaned against the side of a nearby building, trying to steady her breathing and recover.

"You guys rest here," Joe said, setting his bag down beside Kai.

"I'm going to check what's waiting for us inside. Kai, look after my egg for me." Without waiting for a response, he dashed toward the stadium doors, moving with the same energy he'd had at the start. Sarah watched him go, shaking her head in disbelief. He didn't even look winded. Does he ever get tired? She wondered, glancing at the bag and the peculiar egg now in Kai's care.

"What's with the egg?" She asked, curiosity finally getting the better of her.

"The egg… I have no idea. He got it during the Gate we were in. That's all I know," Kai replied. Sarah noticed that even Kai was out of breath, which made her feel slightly better about her own state.

"I'm sorry for dragging you into this," Kai said suddenly, his tone softer.

"I hate this as well. This whole system, the quests, all of it. I feel like I have had no control over my life since it all started." She looked at Kai and saw the weight of his words reflected in his expression. The pain, the frustration, it was all there.

"We all feel that way, Kai, " she said softly. She wanted to say more and offer comfort, but the words wouldn't come. Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. A sudden, deafening bang echoed from within the stadium, making the ground beneath them tremble.

"What was that?" she asked, her eyes widening. Before Kai could respond, an earsplitting screech tore through the air. The sound was so intense that both she and Kai instinctively clutched their ears, grimacing in pain. It was unlike anything she had ever heard, a piercing, primal noise that sent shivers down her spine. A moment later, a message popped up in the party chat. [Holy Shit! It's a GIANT FUCKING SPIDER!] - Joe.

__ Joe had always been the kind of person to wing it, charging into situations without a second thought. It was how he lived, spontaneous, reckless, and unbothered by consequences. But today, that carefree side of him felt like a curse. Regret had become a familiar companion since the day he'd foolishly jumped into the mysterious magic Gate that had appeared before him months ago. Yet, nothing compared to the wave of regret crashing over him now. As soon as he stepped into the stadium's centre, he felt it. Eyes.

Blood-red eyes locked onto him. No, not one pair. Three pairs. Six massive pupils bore into him, piercing through his very soul. His breath hitched as he stared, frozen, at the monstrous beast before him. It stood impossibly tall, an eight-legged nightmare towering above him. The sheer size of its legs alone dwarfed any living being he'd encountered, each one capable of crushing him like an insect. One of those legs moved. Fast.

Joe snapped out of his daze, scrambling to dodge as the colossal limb crashed down toward him. He dove to the right just in time, the impact sending cracks spidering across the wall beside him. His heart pounded as he hastily activated Mana-Coating, but he was a split second too slow. The Beast let out a deafening screech, reverberating throughout the stadium. It was so loud and sharp that Joe felt blood trickling from his ears as his eardrums tore.

Pain shot through his head, disorienting him, but he forced himself to act. His vision blurred as he barely managed to focus enough to use Identify before breaking into a sprint. Identify: Monstrous Spider Queen Level?? [Holy Shit! It's a GIANT FUCKING SPIDER!] - Joe sent to the Party Chat as he sprinted across the stadium's centre with the monstrous spider hot on his heels. He felt his Nature's healing kicking in, gradually mending his ruptured eardrums.

Every footfall jolted his body, but he forced himself to focus, glancing at his mini-map as he ran. The grass in the middle of the stadium lit up as part of nature, an unexpected advantage. The map also showed a massive red dot close behind him, tracking the spider's relentless pursuit. Something else caught his attention. A towering structure was floating near the stadium's centre to his right. It was a colossal, twenty-metre-high stone pillar, its design reminiscent of ancient Roman architecture.

It exuded an aura of power, and Joe guessed it had to be the city pillar mentioned in the quest. But he couldn't stop to inspect it. He ducked just in time as the spider swiped at him, its massive leg carving through the air with frightening speed. It was gaining on him, far too close for comfort. Joe's heart pounded; there was no way he could outrun this huge monstrosity. Grinding to a halt, he spun on his heels, gripping his quarterstaff tightly.

Mana-coating shimmered faintly as he raised it just in time to intercept the spider's next attack. The Beast's leg slammed into the staff with a force that rattled his entire body. The impact sent him hurtling backwards, crashing into the stadium wall with a bone-jarring thud. He grunted in pain, gasping as the breath was knocked from his lungs. His reprieve was short-lived; another spider leg descended toward him, shattering the wall where he had just landed.

He rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding the crushing blow. It was relentless. It was too fast. The fight was going horribly wrong, and panic clawed at his chest. Joe's eyes darted toward the grass near the City Pillar, his mind racing. He needed space, just enough time to think. Nature's Step. It worked. Nature's Step propelled Joe faster than the eye could track, and in an instant, he appeared next to the Pillar.

The sudden shift left him slightly disoriented, but he seized the brief moment to open his status screen. Without hesitation, he dumped all his free stat points into Agility. A surge of energy coursed through him. His muscles tightened and flexed, his entire body humming with newfound speed. He felt faster, much faster than he had been moments ago. Maybe now I can keep up with that thing, he thought, though a glance at his mana bar quickly sobered him. Nature's Step had drained a substantial chunk of his mana.

He could use it maybe two more times before he ran dry.

"Where is a mana potion when you need one?" He muttered under his breath, though the words were muffled to his ears; his hearing still hadn't fully recovered. The spider finally spotted him again. It's many blood-red eyes locked onto his new position, and it began charging toward the Pillar. Break time's over. He darted behind the towering structure, putting it between himself and the beast. He hadn't yet devised a plan to deal with it, but at least the Agility boost gave him a fighting chance.

So far, all he'd done was run and get tossed around. He needed to go on the offensive, but how? The spider leapt into the air, its massive body arching toward the Pillar. Joe's heart clenched as he braced for impact, but the Beast was stopped mid-air. A shimmering blue barrier snapped into existence around the Pillar, throwing the spider backwards with a thunderous crash. Joe exhaled sharply. The Pillar was protected. He was immensely grateful he hadn't tried touching it himself.

The barrier didn't just repel the spider, it seemed to hurt it. The massive Beast screeched in frustration, its legs flailing as it scrambled back onto its feet. [Guys, any idea how I deal with a Giant thirty-metre-long spider?] - Joe. [Holy shit, dude. What level is it?] - Hakeem. [All I see are question marks, so maybe over level fifty.] - Joe. [What! Are you kidding?] - Sarah replied, disbelief radiating from her message. [Nope, I wish I was.] - Joe.

Joe's focus snapped back to the spider as it rose, its legs moving with an unnerving precision. It began circling the Pillar, tracking his movements. Joe mirrored its path, running in a wide arc to keep the Pillar between them. The Beast, however, wasn't so easily fooled. It slowed momentarily as if calculating before bursting into sudden motion. It darted around the Pillar with terrifying speed and unleashed a string of webs toward him. Joe barely registered what was happening before he was ensnared.

Strands of sticky, white webbing attached him to the ground. His Mana-Coating protected him from being completely immobilized, but the thick, rope-like strands still clung stubbornly to his arms and legs. It was enough to slow him down, a dangerous mistake. The spider wasted no time. One of its massive legs slammed into his torso, driving him to the ground with brutal force. Pain exploded through Joe's body as he felt the breath ripped from his lungs. Blood filled his mouth, spilling out in a harsh cough.

The pressure pinned him down, the weight of the leg crushing and unrelenting. His panic spiked as he saw the spider lift another leg, aiming directly for his head. In desperation, he cast his eyes around the stadium, searching frantically for an escape. His gaze locked on a patch of grass a hundred metres away, and he poured all his remaining focus onto it. Nature's Step. A split second before the spider's leg crashed down, Joe vanished.

He reappeared with a hard tumble, slamming into the ground and sliding several metres before stopping. Dazed and battered, he spat more blood onto the dirt. The pain was excruciating, but he forced himself to lift his head and scan the stadium. The spider was on the far side of the Pillar, its head swivelling as it searched for him. He had a momentary reprieve; the Beast hadn't spotted him yet.

The fight had lasted no more than two minutes, but it had already drained two-thirds of his mana pool and left him in a terrible state. His hearing was starting to return, but that was a small comfort. He had escaped death twice now, but he knew he wouldn't be so lucky again. He needed a plan. His eyes darted around the stadium, seeking anything he could use. Spotting a nearby tunnel entrance, he dashed toward it, hoping to find cover and a moment to think.

The sudden movement, however, caught the attention of one of the spider's many eyes. It let out an ear-splitting screech and began pursuing him once more. [Shit, it spits webs. Guys, I'm fucked.] - Joe wrote in a panic as he bolted into the tunnel. [We just saw. We entered the Stadium when you were pinned down. That was super scary, Joe! DON'T DO THAT AGAIN!] - Sarah's response came through loud and urgent. [I'm trying, but it's fast,] - Joe.

He emerged from the tunnel into a corridor lined with half-looted, dishevelled shops. Broken glass and scattered debris littered the floor. He darted to the side, finding a spot to crouch and hide near one of the stores. Behind him, the spider began squeezing out of the tunnel. Its massive legs stretched forward awkwardly, scraping against narrow walls as it forced its way through. The constricted space gave Joe precious seconds to stay hidden and catch his breath.

His mind replayed how the Beast had used its web to pin him earlier as he crouched out of sight. An idea began to form. [Is there any rope around? Or something I can use to wrap up one of the spider's legs? I need to slow its movements,] - Joe. [We'll look; warn us if it heads our way,] - Kai. Joe glanced around the corridor, searching for anything that might help. The spider was moving closer, so he pressed further into the shadows.

His face brushed against the dusty floor, and he noticed something peculiar: no grass. Understanding struck him. Grass didn't grow indoors, and it hadn't appeared in Sarah's house earlier. It only works outside, he thought. Good to know. He froze, holding his breath as the Beast crawled past his hiding spot, its legs clicking against the hard floor. His mini-map showed the red dot moving away, and he silently thanked the system for the skill.

The map was proving invaluable, allowing him to track the spider while remaining hidden. The dot inched further down the corridor, its movements deliberate and slow. After about one minute, Joe carefully stood, his heart pounding, and crept back toward the tunnel entrance. Just as he reached the tunnel, a loud crash echoed behind him. Whipping his head around, he saw the spider stuck in the corner of one of the shops, its legs tangled in shelves and debris. It hadn't noticed him yet. He didn't waste a second.

He turned and sprinted into the tunnel, his feet pounding against the floor as he headed back to the Stadium's centre. [I think we have a few moments before it comes out. Any luck?] - Joe asked, emerging into daylight once more. [Nothing here. Kai and I are heading inside on the opposite side from where you and the spider went in,] - Sarah. [Be careful,] - Joe. He ran over to the Pillar as he tried to devise a plan.

Standing near the towering structure, he pulled up his status screen and focused solely on his skills. There had to be something, anything, that could help. Skills - Basic Farming(Common). Basic Cooking(Common). Diabolical Quarterstaffmanship(Magic). Seeds Will Grow(Magic). Advanced Identify(Uncommon). Mana-Coating(Rare), Skill Nature's Touch Passive(Magic). Skill Nature's Steps(Magic). Skill Nature's Keeper Passive(Magic). Skill Eternal Moment(Bloodline). Skill Light of Uriel(Bloodline).

Skill Light Affinity(Bloodline). Skill Space Affinity(Bloodline). Skill Light's Guidance(Bloodline). His gaze lingered on one skill: Seeds Will Grow. He reread the description carefully. Skill Seeds Will Grow(Magic) - As a farmer, you excel at making plants grow. With but a touch, you can now plant a seed and make it grow. Vine seeds. They were the closest thing to rope he had, and if nothing else, they might slow the spider down. But would vines be strong enough?

He wasn't sure, but he had nothing to lose by trying. Placing the tip of his quarterstaff on the ground, he focused on the skill, trying to figure out how it worked. He closed his eyes and imagined planting a seed. A soft ding echoed in his mind, and he suddenly knew with absolute certainty that a seed had been planted where his staff touched the grass. Excitement surged through him. He didn't have time to celebrate, though; the spider wouldn't stay tangled forever.

He couldn't help but grin as he darted around the stadium, planting seeds wherever he went. Each step left another tiny, invisible promise in the ground, and after a few minutes of frantic movement, he paused to catch his breath. The red dot on his mini-map was moving again. The spider had freed itself and was heading back up the corridor toward him. Joe positioned himself at the stadium's centre, raising his hands dramatically. A huge smile spread across his face as he indulged in a moment of Chuuni.

"Grow!" he shouted, his voice echoing through the empty stands. …Nothing happened. His arms dropped, and his shoulders slumped.

"Come on, system. You can't play along just this once?" he exclaimed, tilting his head to the sky as if expecting an answer. There was no response.

"Fine," he sighed, focusing instead on the seeds he'd scattered. He had planted at least a hundred by now, and to his surprise, there seemed to be no limit to how many he could plant. Do I have infinite seeds? Did I just solve world hunger? He shook the thought away, focusing. Shifting his attention inward, he concentrated on the ground beneath his feet. A strange sensation flowed through him, a connection not just to Nature but to the earth itself.

It was as if his Farmer Class resonated with the seeds, urging him along the right path. Then he felt it: a pool within him, half-filled and thrumming with power. His mana. Tentatively, he reached out with his mind, guiding the energy toward the seeds. The response was immediate. Mana surged from him and into the ground, flowing like water into each seed. Half of his mana drained in an instant.

"Oops," he muttered, his stomach tightening at the sudden depletion of mana. Planting more seeds would have drained him completely, and he knew full well that running out of mana now would mean certain death. A loud crack emanated from the tunnel, filling the air. He turned in time to see two massive legs emerge, fur-covered and bristling, followed by another pair. Then came the Beast's enormous body, squeezing its way out of the narrow tunnel.

The concrete walls groaned and fractured under its bulk, sending vibrations rippling through the stadium. The spider was free. It's many blood-red eyes locked onto Joe, their gaze filled with an almost tangible fury. A shiver ran down his spine as he took in the sight. The Beast was monstrous, plucked straight from the depths of a nightmare. Joe gripped his staff tighter, every instinct screaming at him to run. The spider sprang forward with terrifying speed, but Joe was ready, his stance firm and his focus sharp.

He prepared to evade, every muscle coiled for action, when the ground beneath them began to rumble. The sudden tremors made the spider hesitate, its pace slowing as it tried to make sense of the shifting terrain. Joe didn't wait. For the first time, he had an opening, and he seized it. Throwing caution to the wind, he charged straight at the Beast. The nearest leg was fifty metres away, and he closed the distance in seconds.

The spider, distracted by the rumbling ground, hadn't noticed his sudden approach, giving him a rare chance to strike first. He reached the massive leg and swung his quarterstaff with all the strength he could muster. His Mana-coating shimmered around him. Crack! The impact resounded through the stadium as the spider's leg buckled under the force of his strike. Snap! The leg broke, and the Beast released a piercing screech of pain.

Joe's hands throbbed from the recoil, but he gripped his staff tightly, refusing to let go. He jumped back out of the spider's reach just as the ground around them erupted. Dozens of vines shot up from the earth in a chaotic burst. One massive vine, thick as a tree trunk, emerged directly beneath the spider, slamming into its underside and knocking it off balance. Joe stared in disbelief at the scene unfolding before him. The sheer size of the vines was staggering.

They coiled and twisted with unstoppable force, two sprouting under the spider's legs and tangling as they grew. The Beast thrashed, trying to free itself, but the vines only tightened their grip. He could only watch the chaos for a moment, stunned by what his skill had unleashed. [Joe, what's going on? We can't see anything; where did all these vines come from?] - Kai. [It's my skill. I have the spider pinned down!] - Joe replied, grinning as a surge of triumph filled him.

The spider screeched again, its voice a mix of fury and agony, as it struggled against the vines. Two of its legs were completely ensnared, the thick coils refusing to budge despite the Beast's frantic efforts. Then Joe felt it, a connection to the vines nearest to him. It was subtle but undeniable, like an extension of himself. Tentatively, he focused on one of the vines and willed it to move. To his amazement, the vine responded, shifting slightly in his direction.

Holy shit, I can control them, He thought, awe washing over him. Stretching out his arms, he focused on two larger vines, sending them crashing down onto the spider's body. The beast screeched again as the massive tendrils slammed into it, blood spurting from its mouth and the wounds opening across its body. Joe's grin widened. For the first time since the fight began, he felt he had a real shot at winning. The Beast could no longer move freely.

The vines had it completely pinned, its remaining strength ebbing away with every second. This was his chance. He rushed to its side, gripping his Mana-Coated staff tightly. Each strike landed brutally, blood splattering across the ground as the spider released deafening screeches. Joe didn't relent. He shifted his attacks, targeting what he thought might be vulnerable spots, keeping the Beast disoriented as it thrashed weakly against the onslaught.

Slowly, its movements became sluggish, its massive body trembling as its lifeblood poured out in thick rivulets. With renewed determination, he circled to the spider's head. Its blood-red eyes glared at him, full of a feral rage even as its strength waned. Standing just outside its reach, he gripped his staff and prepared to deliver the final blow. But then the Beast's eyes slowly closed, its body sagging as the last remnants of life drained away.

System Message You have slain Monstrous Spider Queen Level 54 You have reached the level cap of levels achieved per 24 hours. You have lost experience. You cannot gain experience for 9 hours, 3 minutes, and 9 seconds. Joe stared at the notification, his triumph evaporating in an instant. He had forgotten entirely about the experience cap. A wave of frustration surged through him, and he fell to his knees, gripping his staff so tightly his knuckles turned white.

"Damn it…"