6. Ate my fill. No regrets.
※ Note: There is a feeding scene. The depiction is blurred, but those uncomfortable with such content should proceed with caution.
Perhaps reassured by the new dwelling, he had dozed off, swaying in and out of sleep.
Vibrations traveled up from the string tied to his feet. He snapped awake.
No dream. Nothing but a cavern spreading before his eyes.
Well. Yes.
Expected.
He stretched his body with a low groan.
Eight legs extended in a flurry.
Even to himself, it was grotesque.
Regaining composure, he focused on the string still vibrating.
The end of the string connected to the lower web in the passage to his left.
Something had caught there.
First prey.
Approaching cautiously.
Approaching until the net came into view, something with vivid, iridescent patterns was entangled within it, struggling.
‘Frog.’
Hmm.
This is truly shaped like a frog.
Same size as me, shimmering in rainbow hues, but otherwise unmistakably a frog.
The first鉴定 result I’ve found genuinely convincing, aside from my own—where I was identified as a spider.
Frog, huh.
Not a bad first catch.
In Japan, such creatures aren’t consumed, but apparently eaten as food in certain regions.
Reported to taste similar to chicken, easy to eat.
Considering the likelihood that I’ll have to consume far worse things to survive, this could be a reasonable introduction.
If I can’t eat this, I may not be able to eat anything at all from here on.
If there is an issue, it’s that this frog—by all appearances—carries poison.
No way a creature with such a vivid, sickly hue lacks poison.
What to do…
Then, while idly considering, the frog retaliated in desperation!
It spat a viscous, noxious liquid directly at me!
Ah—crap!
Despite the thought, I was caught completely off guard—no time to dodge—and took the liquid straight to the face.
Aghh—aaaah!?
W-what is this!?
Pain—pain!?
Poison?
Is it poison!?
The area where it landed burns intensely!?
Ow—aaaah!?
Second shot incoming!?
Wait—wait—!?
Gyaaah!?
Hit again!?
Pain—this isn’t funny anymore!?
Retreat—retreat!
Struggling to free my legs, I barely managed to retreat beyond the frog’s range.
Ugh…
Seriously painful.
What would it feel like to be doused in acid?
You're not dissolving, are you?
Unsure, but no mirror exists—cannot see.
Damn.
A failure.
Being caught in a trap did not mean the opponent was a monster—carelessness was never an option.
A cornered rat bites a cat.
Even a frog stared down by a snake does not get eaten without a fight.
Ah—painful, yes, but not life-threatening.
The primary exposure to poison was on the left half of the body and the back.
A portion of the field of view is missing, as if something has entered the left eye.
Hm?
The left eye is crushed, yet only part of it is missing?
Ah!
Could it be that I have many eyes because I am a spider?
Perhaps.
This is a new discovery.
And now, such matters are irrelevant.
The pain refuses to subside.
Level of proficiency has reached the threshold. Skill 'Acid Resistance LV1' acquired.
What?
Slight relief from the pain.
Skills... can be acquired without spending skill points?
Wait.
Then what was the 100 points I spent on鉴定 for, exactly?
...Better not dwell on it.
Regardless, I seem to have acquired a skill called Acid Resistance.
The condition for acquisition was likely the attack from that frog.
Hmm. Not immediately after taking damage, though, so other conditions probably apply.
Most plausible: prolonged exposure to acid damage, given the term "proficiency."
Postpone analysis.
Thanks to the acquired resistance, the pain has significantly diminished.
With that, anger toward the frog surges.
That frog—daring to challenge me over mere food!
Unforgivable!
Decided.
Whether it has poison or not is irrelevant.
I’ll eat that thing no matter what!
Once the decision is made, there’s only one path forward!
As long as I don’t let my guard down, it’s already just a pitiful prey caught in a trap!
A frog spitting venom three times over!
Hah, if I knew it was coming, avoiding it would be simple!
Dodging the oncoming venom with grace, I charge straight at the frog.
Take this—my finishing move!
Gulp!
Bite!
Hahahaha!
Don’t think it’s just a simple bite!
I am a spider!
My fangs carry poison!
Just like when I first unleashed my thread, I understood this fact naturally.
Hahahaha, let your body rot from poison!
Pfft, splat!
Hyaah!??
Poison sprayed directly at close range!?
Painful! Painful!?
Even with resistance, it still hurts!
I didn’t mean to pull my fangs out like that!
Level-up achieved. Skill 'Poison Resistance LV1' upgraded to 'Poison Resistance LV2'.
Ah, so that's how it is.
But now isn't the time for that!
This frog—once, twice, three times now—has sprayed its filthy poison directly at me!
No more tolerance!
I never intended to forgive from the start, and now I won’t forgive!
Letting rage dictate another bite attack.
The frog writhes in agony.
Hahahaha!
Suffer—more, suffer more!
Overconfident, I bite down again and again.
After struggling and flailing for a while, the frog’s movements weaken, then cease entirely.
Phew.
Finally brought down.
This is my first kill—future prospects are grim.
But still, I did it!
Quickly begin consumption!
Munch, munch.
Glug, glug.
Hmm. Bitter. Painful.
Is the bitterness from poison?
The pain likely from acidic components.
Still, thanks to the resistance, I can endure it.
Not pleasant, though.
[Skill level reached threshold. Skill 'Acid Resistance LV1' upgraded to 'Acid Resistance LV2'.]
The taste is unpleasant, but the effect was satisfying from a skill perspective.