12. A Reunion Filled with Emotion (Laughter)

Ah, I'm hungry.

But I can't eat without prey caught in the net.

There's nothing to do but sleep.

Conserving stamina through rest.

Yes, I'm not thinking of laziness at all?

I intended to sleep thoroughly, but I was forcibly awakened.

Vibration traveled through the rope tied to the net.

Had prey been caught?

That moment of joy turned to anxiety in an instant.

The sensation was clear—like holding it in my hands.

The feeling conveyed was unlike anything experienced before.

Something was touching the net.

That was certain.

But it wasn't caught in the net.

Because it was walking on top of it.

Impossible.

I had considered the possibility of someone breaking through the net. But I had not imagined someone walking calmly atop it.

Caught off guard by the unexpected, I delayed my response.

The figure had already crossed the net and entered my home territory.

Danger.

I had resolved to flee without hesitation if anyone breached the net. But I had confronted the intruder directly.

Careless.

My mind was sluggish from sleep. I had been disoriented by the unforeseen.

The first time since retreating to my home that I felt true threat.

'Small Lessa Tarract'

The entity that appeared was another monster of my kind—spider.

As kin, it had passed through my net without difficulty.

Hello, brother.

I believe, likely, this one is my sibling.

I don’t know if it’s brother or sister or younger brother or younger sister.

Reunion with a long-lost sibling—emotional, yes.

But life-threatening.

Wait—wait—wait.

Calm down, me.

It hasn’t been confirmed yet that this one is an enemy.

Even if it’s a monster that eats its own kind at birth, perhaps it’ll spare me out of sibling kinship.

Tik-tik-tik. Shh!

Ah, yeah.

Enemy confirmed.

It’s threatening, but hasn’t attacked yet.

It seems to be observing me.

What now?

Fleeing isn’t a viable strategy.

It’s of my same species—thus, same physical capabilities.

I’ve survived before by sheer speed, but I can’t guarantee I’ll outrun someone with equal speed.

And if it turns into a chase, even if I escape, safety afterward is uncertain.

The outside of my home is overrun with monsters.

To flee at full speed while starving, exhausting my stamina, then be cast out into an unsafe environment.

Even finding a new residence will require physical exertion. More importantly, I must locate favorable terrain.

Searching for suitable land while utterly drained is tantamount to suicide.

The mere thought is terrifying.

So what is the solution? To defeat this creature.

Can I manage it?

It feels like an uneven match.

Since we belong to the same species, physical differences should be minimal.

Assuming equal levels, of course.

If this creature is a sibling born around the same time as me, level disparity should be negligible.

Probably identical, or perhaps only one level higher.

After all, it has traversed the very places I avoided and reached this far.

It would be better to assume its level is higher than mine.

The worst-case scenario is if it was born far earlier than me—truly ancient.

In that case, its level would undoubtedly be vastly superior.

It would have already reached the level I aim to achieve: one where I can walk freely outside without restraint.

Victory is impossible from the start.

Either way, it is a fight to the death.

Then, the strength of the opponent no longer matters.

Do my best.

If even that fails, then this brief spider-life ends.

I dislike dying, but reincarnation exists. The afterlife may not be so worthless after all.

Make up my mind.

Focus on the battle.

Clear my thoughts.

Fix my gaze on the enemy before me.

The enemy appears to understand I have entered combat readiness. It tenses.

Slight shift of weight backward.

It was as if preparing for a sprint.

As I anticipated, the enemy surged forward with force.

Jump.

I cast a look of pity upon the enemy, its front claws raised high in the air.

I backstep while simultaneously launching a thread toward the enemy in midair.

This one chose the wrong option.

Leaping into the air with no place to flee, and choosing claw-based attacks instead of our greatest weapon—the fangs.

A claw attack is not without merit.

Not unfavorable, but it should be used solely as a deterrent.

Not suitable as a primary weapon.

Our weapons are thread and fang.

I could not lose to someone who failed to understand that.

My elder brother caught effortlessly by my thread in midair.

Tangled in the thread, it fell effortlessly to the ground.

I immediately ran toward it.

Gabh!

The fangs drove mercilessly into his body.

Just as I did, this one should have Poison Resistance.

But that doesn’t matter.

Once restrained by the thread, the outcome was already decided.

Only need to inject a quantity of poison exceeding his Poison Resistance.

《Proficiency has reached threshold. Skill 'Venom Fang LVL 2' upgraded to 'Venom Fang LVL 3'》

The continuous infusion of poison had raised the skill level.

Almost simultaneously, the breath of my brother ceased.

Brother—I won’t forget you.

As the fool who first breached my home.