39 Spider vs Bee ②

On the third day, just as I was beginning to think about going to sleep, a message arrived from the Heavenly Voice (temporary).

《Mastery has reached the required threshold. Skill 'Pain Tolerance LV9' has upgraded to 'Pain Nullification'.》

《Condition met. Skill 'Pain Reduction LV1' has been derived from 'Pain Nullification'.》

Pain Tolerance had increased again.

And apparently it had jumped from 8 to 9 without me noticing.

Likely it increased while I was asleep.

The name changed from level notation to 'Nullification'.

Exactly the look of a skill that has reached its maximum.

This was now the second skill to reach maximum, after Dark Vision.

Dark Vision had been high-level from birth, so this was the first time I had reached level 10 equivalent through my own efforts.

Whether the pain I endured was worth it remains debatable.

Perhaps the derived skill is one that genuinely alleviates real pain.

No, pain resistance isn't fake either.

At Level 1, there's little change.

The pain in the back still asserts its presence.

If the skill level increases, the pain might lessen. I'll hope it rises during sleep.

Thus, good night.

Day four.

Stamina is dwindling steadily. It's time to act.

Target: a stray bee.

Attacking the group carries high risk.

I might win, but—

caution is better here.

Multiple opponents could trigger unforeseen outcomes.

Strays are easier to handle.

Strays lack a queen's command, so their decisions are ambiguous.

Yesterday, while observing, I noted individuals entering narrow side tunnels—places the unit would never enter under any circumstances.

The individual I once captured at the hive likely wandered into an unusual passage, became disoriented, and ended up here.

That said, I doubt the individual could have reached the location where I previously built a hive. Therefore, another colony must have been nearby.

The strays appear to lack intelligence.

Perhaps that is why they were not integrated into the unit and remain as strays.

Regardless, if they are strays, provocation might draw them directly toward us.

Still, I have no intention of relying on such unpredictable, chance-based tactics.

I retrieve the new weapon I devised yesterday.

A thread, hardened into a ball like a gem, attached to its tip—named, the Spider's Star!

Heh heh.

I'll strike it toward the bee hovering in midair using my arm strength and thread manipulation.

Probably—more precisely, nine out of ten times—it won't hit.

But that's fine.

Once they recognize me as an enemy, that's all that matters.

Then they should come charging at me on their own.

A hit would be lucky. Success if I can lure them in.

Then, all I need is for the rogue to wander near the hive.

From yesterday's observations, the rogue visited the hive fairly frequently—so it should work.

[Skill Level Reached. Skill 'Pain Reduction LV2' upgraded to 'Pain Reduction LV3'.]

My Pain Reduction skill level increased while waiting.

Hmm?

Pain Reduction level increases far more slowly compared to Pain Tolerance.

Expected it to rise to around five during sleep, but progress was minimal.

Hmm?

Different conditions for experience accumulation?

Or perhaps varying experience requirements between skills?

Unclear.

But at least the level increase is confirmed.

Pain Reduction is definitively a skill that alleviates pain.

Thanks to it, back pain has significantly diminished.

The wound on my back is severe.

On the first day, I wrapped thread around the injury with Thread Manipulation as emergency treatment—yet a gaping hole remained.

A wound this severe would have been fatal for a human.

Survival is miraculous—whether due to my spider nature, or my status as a monster.

Either way, living through this injury is improbable.

The pain was so intense when I cleaned the wound with thread that I thought I might die from it—presumably to expel whatever poison had been injected.

I must level up as quickly as possible. I have to do something about this wound.

If I leave it untreated, it will inevitably worsen soon.

Suppuration. Necrosis. Bacterial infection.

Even though I cleaned it with thread, I did not use clean water. I did not disinfect it.

I must act before any of these symptoms manifest.

And then, the opportunity arrived.

One stray approached from that direction.

No other bees were nearby.

If another bee had been present, it might have rushed to aid its companion.

With no such risk, this was the perfect moment.

I swung the spider thread in wide arcs.

Focus. Focus.

Aim carefully—there it is!

[Expertise has reached threshold. Skill 'Concentration LVL 1' acquired.]

Ah, hit it.

Thought so—and the acquisition of a new skill occurred simultaneously.

Oh.

Did not expect to land it.

The thrown spider thread struck the bee’s body perfectly.

Immediately, the thread wrapped around the bee’s body.

Guided the struggling creature into the hive.

Made it prey for the fang.

Yes.

Perfect execution right from the start.

This bodes well.

No.

Must not become overconfident.

Learned that lesson painfully before.

Remain humble.

For now, simply acknowledge the first step taken. A meal, long overdue, is in order.

Then, I shall eat.