Natsuyu's right hand swung a semi-circle from behind him, the Grey Stone Axe leaving an afterimage as it violently whipped forward. Released from his grip, it whistled through the air, spinning as it shot out like a bolt!
Yukinoshita Yukino, witnessing this display of primal physical power, widened her eyes slightly in shock, then fixed her gaze intently on the flying Stone Axe.
"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh~~~"
The sound of breaking wind startled the Round-headed Spider napping on the web.
"Sssvvv---!!!"
The Round-headed Spider let out a piercing hiss and spread its eight legs.
Coarse black hair grew across its surface; its rounded head and abdomen were covered in a carapace, and its belly was equally bulbous. Its limbs extended to a full meter, swelling it into a massive creature—a terrifying Spider Monster that assaulted the visual senses of Natsuyu and Yukinoshita Yukino.
The next second.
Thump—Splat!
The Round-headed Spider had no time to dodge. It was struck squarely in its massive abdomen by the sharp blade of the Stone Axe. Its belly split and exploded into two halves right down the middle, green blood splattering everywhere. Wailing, it was sent tumbling by the massive force, landing on the distant ground, devoid of life.
[Congratulations on achieving the Achievement "It's Strike Time!"]
The Round-headed Spider hit the ground in a burst of gore, its green blood scattering like rain from the heavens.
From around the Round-headed Spider's corpse, a thick, long White Silk Thread and a large pile of Green-purple Meat Chunks dropped.
Faced with this visually jarring scene, Yukinoshita Yukino pursed her lips, feeling a wave of revulsion.
Natsuyu also found it disgusting, but his attention was quickly focused on the system prompt.
[Congratulations on achieving the Achievement "It's Strike Time!". Please shout the incantation "I am already invincible under heaven~" loudly to receive the rewards: Weapon Crafting, Armor Crafting, Experience Gain, Experience 10.]
[The Basic Achievement Tree has unlocked new achievements:
...It's Strike Time! — Lower-level Monster Hunter (Hunt 3 lower-level Monsters) — ?]
"Sssvvvv!!!"
The spider nest, now drenched in green blood, vibrated. Two Round-headed Spiders crawled out, their limbs treading on the silk threads as they let out ear-piercing screams. Multiple crimson insect eyes locked onto the pair as they crawled rapidly toward them.
"I am already invincible under heaven~"
At the critical moment, Natsuyu did not hesitate at all and shouted aloud.
[You have received the rewards: Weapon Crafting, Armor Crafting, Experience Gain, Experience 10.]
[Natsuyu: Level 4—]
'Add points to Physique!'
A warm current surged through his entire body, and the sensation of his physical fitness improving appeared once again.
[Natsuyu: Level 4 (Experience 5/30)
Physique: 1.3 (Top-tier human constitution)
Soul: 1.3 (High level of mental fortitude)
Charm: 1.3 (Hostile to All Living Beings)
(The average optimal attribute for an adult is 1)
Abilities: Resource Acquisition, Experience Gain, Armament Crafting, Item Crafting, Construction Crafting (Click for details).]
His body had grown stronger once more.
With a thought, a Stone Axe appeared in Natsuyu's hand. Watching the giant spiders charging toward them on eight legs, he didn't hesitate and threw it violently!
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh————!
This time, he didn't build up power, yet the momentum of the Stone Axe flying out was not at all weaker than the previous powered-up throw.
"Sss—!"
The Round-headed Spider targeted by Natsuyu was different from the one he had ambushed; it actually rolled nimbly across the web to dodge.
However, its body area was too large. Even though it avoided a vital hit, it was still struck in its limbs on one side by the Stone Axe.
The heavy Stone Axe smashed through four limbs like a hot knife through butter, its residual force unabated as it slammed into a large tree behind them, splitting the trunk. The entire axe sank two-thirds of the way in.
Such terrifying power gave Natsuyu a pleasant surprise, and beside him, Yukinoshita Yukino's eyes also widened in disbelief.
From a distance of over ten meters, a thrown flying axe had almost pierced through a tree trunk thirty to forty centimeters in diameter.
Was this the strength of a human?!
"Vvv—! Sss, sss—!"
The Round-headed Spider that had lost its limbs on one side tumbled to the ground wailing. The other Round-headed Spider panicked, digging its limbs into the ground to brake. Its crimson eyes stared deathly at Natsuyu; then, it raised its belly, opened its mouthparts, and spat out white spider silk!
It actually had a ranged attack.
Natsuyu was slightly surprised. Looking at the flying spider silk, he did not panic.
Too slow.
The weight of the spider silk was insufficient; as it flew through the air, it was hindered by air resistance, following a parabolic arc at the same speed as a beanbag thrown by an old grandmother.
With Natsuyu's previous Physique, he could have dodged it with a little attention.
Now, Natsuyu's Physique was as high as 1.3, a top-tier human attribute. Even if the speed of the spider silk flight were twice as fast, he could still dodge it.
After all, it was just a ranged attack spat out by a creature with a Physique attribute of 0.7.
"Watch out!"
Natsuyu felt his waist being grabbed.
A somewhat familiar scent of shower gel wafted into his nose as Yukinoshita Yukino's body pressed close, and the sensation of the Backpack pressing against his back came from behind.
Then, Natsuyu was pulled into a leap by Yukinoshita Yukino, dodging the spider silk.
"Phew~ avoided it."
Yukinoshita Yukino let out a slightly warm, moist breath that blew against Natsuyu's ear, making it itch.
Natsuyu looked down at the two small hands clutching his waist and turned his head in surprise.
With Yukinoshita Yukino's physical fitness, how could she manage to leap so far while just grabbing his waist?
He weighed over a hundred jin, after all!
Soon, Natsuyu understood how Yukinoshita Yukino had done it.
He saw that atop Yukinoshita Yukino's head, amidst her long black hair, two pointed, furry triangular ears had grown. In the middle of her brown eyes, black vertical pupils had appeared, as clear as gemstones.
"Stop looking at me and watch out for danger!"
Yukinoshita Yukino's vertical pupils glared fiercely at Natsuyu, her earlobes turning a deep crimson, looking like a little black cat hissing.
A cat, a catgirl!
Yukinoshita Yukino had truly turned into Yukino-nya!
Natsuyu looked at the cat-form Yukino in surprise and couldn't help but activate Appraisal.
[Yukinoshita Yukino: Level 0 (0/10)
Physique: 1.2 (0.8) (A girl possessing cat-like strength and agility)
Soul: 0.9 (Slightly low level of mental fortitude)
Charm: 1.2 (Hostile to All Living Beings)
Ability: Cat Body.]
Her Physique attribute had directly increased by 1.5 times!
He wasn't sure if the boost was this large because her base was poor, or if it truly multiplied by 150%.
Natsuyu pushed down the thought of investigating whether his teammate was a "large cup" or a "medium cup."
She was right; settle the Monsters first.
He hadn't even looked at the rewards from just now.
Yukinoshita Yukino stared at the two Round-headed Spiders, her cat-like eyes narrowing seriously:
"You have the strength. From here on, you attack, and I'll defend."
Actually, I'd be fine without you too...
Natsuyu flashed a bright smile:
"Alright, Yukinoshita, I'll leave my safety to you. Don't let my trust down!"
Natsuyu liked teammates like Yukinoshita Yukino who took the initiative to work.
Since Yukinoshita Yukino was actively participating in the battle, Natsuyu naturally wouldn't dampen her enthusiasm.
He was counting on them to work hard and share the load in the future so he could comfortably slack off.