Riven decided to come back for the corpses once this whole situation was over.
With that, they moved on.
Deeper.
The cave grew denser with webs, the path narrowing and widening unpredictably as they advanced. The air thickened further, and the faint movements ahead became more frequent.
More spiders appeared.
They dealt with them the same way.
Clean.
Fast.
No wasted effort.
Riven kept his movements controlled, avoiding anything that might stand out too much. At the same time, he watched the others closely.
The taller boy's sword moved with fluid precision, each strike placed exactly where it needed to be. The girl fought in a similar style, quieter but just as efficient, her timing almost perfect.
And the broader one—
Riven paid the most attention to him.
He rarely moved forward unless necessary, that hidden crossbow appearing from his sleeve whenever there was an opening. Each shot carried immediate, decisive force, ending fights before they could fully develop.
They were used to this.
Used to working together.
That much was clear.
After a while, the path curved again, sloping slightly downward into a wider section where thick webs stretched across the way like a curtain.
The taller boy slowed slightly.
Then spoke.
"Are you sure this is where the map leads?"
Riven didn't react immediately.
But internally—
…What map?
He let the question pass without showing it, answering just enough to keep things moving.
"…This way."
It wasn't a real answer, but it was enough.
The taller boy watched him for a moment longer, then gave a faint nod, as if accepting it for now. None of them pressed further, and they continued deeper into the cave.
The environment shifted gradually, but noticeably. The webs grew thicker with every step, no longer just scattered strands but dense layers clinging to the walls and ceiling, some strong enough to resist when brushed against. The air turned heavier, carrying a sharper scent that lingered longer in the lungs.
The spiders changed as well.
It wasn't just lesser ferals anymore.
Occassionally they came across some greater ferals.These were larger, faster, and far more aggressive. Their attacks came quicker and more coordinated, forcing actual responses instead of simple reactions.
Riven adjusted without thinking.
His movements tightened, becoming more deliberate as he began to rely on Vaern's Basic Martial Arts now. Fighting these with just his physical body alone wouldn't enough to kill them easily anymore. Each strike flowed into the next, his body no longer forcing motion but following it. He still held back, but not as much as before.
The difference was visible.
He noticed it immediately when the girl's gaze lingered on him slightly longer than before. There was no accusation in it, but something else—uncertainty, perhaps confusion.
She didn't say anything.
Riven didn't react either.
Instead, he focused on the fights and, more importantly, on them.
With stronger opponents, it became easier to judge their strength. The way they moved, the speed of their reactions, the control behind each strike—it all pointed to the same conclusion.
Mid Inner Condensation.
All three of them.
Close to late stage.
That realization settled quietly in his mind.
At the same time, another sense guided him. The predator spider inside his beast pouch had grown increasingly restless, reacting to the presence around them. Through that faint connection, Riven could feel the general direction of nearby spiders. It wasn't precise, but it didn't need to be.
It was enough.
They moved deeper, the path narrowing before opening again into a darker section of the cave. A thick web stretched across an entrance ahead, layered multiple times over itself like a barrier.
Riven slowed.
He felt it immediately.
Stronger than anything they had encountered so far.
His gaze lifted slightly toward the wall above the entrance, where he felt something on the opposite side.
A spider.
A strong one.
Waiting.
Behind him, the taller boy clicked his tongue softly, impatience creeping into his voice.
"When are we there?"
Riven kept his expression steady.
"It's in here."
Without waiting for a response, he stepped forward and cut through the web, pushing into the space beyond.
His awareness remained fixed upward.
On the spider.
Waiting for it to react.
A faint layer of sweat formed at his temple as he crossed the threshold.
For a moment—
Nothing happened.
The spider didn't move.
Riven stepped fully inside.
Still nothing.
Good.
The moment he cleared the entrance, he accelerated, moving deeper into the chamber to create distance.
Behind him, the others followed immediately.
"Wait—"
The taller boy entered first.
And that was when the spider moved.
Clearly the spider didn't tolerate him like it did Riven.
It dropped from above with terrifying speed, its body slamming down as its legs spread wide. Its iron fangs snapped forward and clamped into him before he could fully react.
The impact drove him straight to the ground, the force echoing through the chamber. The curved fangs pierced through cloth and flesh, pinning him beneath the spider's weight.
The creature was massive—nearly half their height—and far stronger than anything they had faced so far.
The boy's expression twisted instantly, the earlier ease gone as pain replaced it.
Behind him, the other two reacted a fraction too late, their movements sharp as they jumped back in shock.
The spider's many eyes flashed.
It barely stilled for half a second before it moved again.
It's massive body catapulted forward again.
The two reacted immediately, their instincts kicking in. The girl darted to the side while the broader boy threw himself backward, both narrowly avoiding the heavy body as it surged across the stone floor.
For a split second, they thought they were fine.
Then they realized what had actually happened.
The spider had repositioned.
Its legs spread wide across the cave floor, its massive body now blocking the narrow passage they had come through. The thick webs lining the entrance trembled slightly as the creature settled into place.
Only now did they get a full view of their opponent.
The spider's carapace was darker and thicker than the others they had encountered, its surface carrying a dull armored sheen as if the chitin had hardened through countless molts. Strands of web clung heavily around it, layered so densely that parts of the creature were almost hidden until it shifted.
Its fangs were different as well. Instead of the dull iron color of the smaller spiders, they darkened near the tips into a polished black curve, shaped like hooked blades meant to punch through armor rather than flesh.
Fresh blood still clung to them.
The girl's expression tightened as she steadied herself, sword already raised. The broader boy had his crossbow up, a bolt sliding into place with practiced efficiency.
They both backed away slowly.
This fight had just become something else entirely.
That spider was smart.
Riven looked at the tall boy still lying on the ground. Blood already began to soak through the side of his robe where the fangs had struck. He was conscious, but barely, his breathing uneven as he struggled to move.
The other would have no choice but to fight as two.
He backed away even further, finding a safe spot to watch the conflict.
Then the spider moved again, its legs scraping against stone as it adjusted its stance. One of its forelegs lashed out, forcing the girl to parry and retreat while the broader boy fired a bolt that struck deep into the creature's side.
It barely slowed.
They were strong—both of them.
But the spider was stronger.
Both of them were pushed back step by step as the creature pressed forward, forcing them deeper into the chamber.
Then the broader boy glanced backward toward Riven.
"What are you doing just standing there?!" he snapped.
The girl's eyes flicked toward him as well.
"Help us," she added sharply. "Or you're not getting out either."
But Riven didn't move.
For a moment, neither of them understood why he wasn't reacting.
Then the broader one clicked his tongue in irritation.
"Tch."
"Useless."
They must have thought he was frozen.
Afraid.
But he wasn't.
On the contrary, his mind was working in overtime.
This might be the perfect chance for him.
The trio had been vague with their words until now.
About Alric.
About the map.
About whatever had happened before.
If he acted to help them, he would lose the opportunity to glean information.
But if he waited too long…
His gaze shifted briefly to the spider again.
Either way—
They can't leave here alive.
The thought came naturally.
Almost too naturally.
Riven shivered.
He watched the fight unfold in front of him as the two disciples struggled against the spider's relentless pressure. The girl's blade flashed again and again, precise and controlled, while the broader boy fired another bolt that buried itself into the creature's joint.
Even injured, they were dangerous.
But they were still losing ground.
Riven's thoughts slowed for a moment.
Was that enough?
Enough reason?
They had clearly not meant well for him.
The threat earlier.
The way they had boxed him in.
Still…
Was that enough to decide their fate?
He hesitated.
For the briefest moment.
Then his jaw tightened.
If he let this chance pass…
If they survived this and he learned nothing…
And they somehow didn't choose to silence him...
He would return to the mansion with even less understanding than before.
And he didn't like that—
Alric was hiding a secret.
And he didn't want to die for it.
Images surfaced in his mind without warning.
The people he had already seen die since entering the cultivation world.
The chaos.
The blood.
The red running down his hands...
He knew there was no point to keep pretending.
He wasn't some innocent kid anymore.
Death wasn't strange to him.
Neither was killing.
Riven exhaled slowly.
Then he stepped forward.
"I'll help you."
His voice cut through the chamber as he moved toward the fight.