55 Defense Battle at 100 Meters Above Ground①
Ah… slept.
Yeah.
Slept, that’s for sure.
But… what is this?
Felt like I woke up suddenly, even though I’d planned to sleep deeper?
Hmm?
This sensation—like every hair on my body is standing on end.
Could be bad.
Peered out slightly from behind the rock, glancing downward.
‘Anograt Lvl 6 Status Assessment Failed.’
‘Anograt Lvl 3 Status Assessment Failed.’
‘Anograt Lvl 8
HP: 165/168 (Green)
MP: 38/38 (Blue)
SP: 127/127 (Yellow)
AP: 109/118 (Red)
Status Assessment Failed.’
‘Anograt Lvl 5 Status Assessment Failed.’
……
A troop of apes was arrayed below.
Roughly fifty of them.
Wait?
No way.
They definitely recognize us.
Why!?
The rock camouflage should be flawless.
I know, having seen it from outside.
It should look like nothing more than a slightly protruding wall at first glance.
Why why!?
The only explanation is the previous fallen ape of the same species.
Did it do something?
Some kind of scent?
Unknown.
But the apes are here, waiting for me, in reality.
They're preparing to scale the wall.
In fact, they've started climbing.
Ugh, bad.
Even apes struggle with vertical ascent, judging by their slow pace.
It should take several minutes to reach this point.
I must take action before then.
The best option is to flee along the ceiling.
Fighting that many apes is impossible.
Good, then let's get out of here quickly.
Wait?
The ceiling color changed midway?
No way!?
It's incredibly slippery!?
The thread barely sticks at all!?
That's impossible...
The ceiling's rock composition changes about one to two meters above the wall.
A smooth, slick surface so resistant even my maximum-adhesion threads fail to adhere.
I can't use the ceiling to escape.
Then I must retreat along the wall sideways.
They'll likely follow, but this is a test of endurance.
Alright, let's go... GAN!?
Ugh!?
What's this!?
Stone!?
Oh no, they're throwing rocks at me!?
Wait—how is that possible? The ground is far below, yet it reached me!?
Oh no, they threw another one!?
I dive into the rock face for cover.
The stone strikes the spot where I was a moment ago.
The stone, thrown from the surface to this height, likely lacks significant force.
Yet, if it strikes vertically against the wall, it will probably dislodge.
The precision of the hit suggests mastery in either throwing or aiming—or both.
A cold sensation prickled.
This cannot be avoided.
What now?
No—only one path remains.
Counterattack.
Fortunately, a makeshift home exists here, even if basic.
Must reinforce this position as much as possible before the ape arrives.
Though both combatants are adhering to the wall, unlike the previous encounter with the bee, the opponent has no terrain advantage this time.
In fact, the presence of the makeshift home grants us a stable footing and a defensive position—territorial advantage is ours.
No choice.
Begin by scattering the thread.
Then use thread manipulation to affix it to the wall.
Simple, but this should make climbing the wall difficult.
Avoiding the thrown stones makes progress slow.
Before long, the first wave of apes has climbed halfway up the wall.
Problem.
Apes are scaling the wall faster than expected.
The amount of thread I scattered is insufficient to stop them all.
What to do?
Ah—something that allows attacking from this side as well?
We have throwing and accuracy. If only there were something to throw...
Ah—no need to throw it. Something that can be dropped?
I extend my face from the rock and activate poison synthesis.
Not weak poison.
The potent venom I have refined through my entire spider existence—spider venom.
The sphere of spider venom that appears before me falls directly downward, pulled by gravity.
The monkey climbing the wall cannot avoid this.
It strikes true to the face. The monkey writhes in agony before falling.
This is working!
Quickly check MP consumption.
MP used: just one.
Meaning up to forty shots possible.
Considering MP reserved for thread control, approximately twenty-five.
If all land true, about half the monkeys will be eliminated.
Immediately release the second shot.
It lands true. The monkey falls.
Keep going.
Such opportunities must be seized when they arise.
[Proficiency has reached threshold. Skill 'Poison Synthesis LV1' upgraded to 'Poison Synthesis LV2'.]
Skill level increased. Verification deferred.
Regardless, spider venom remains stronger than any newly added toxin.
Successfully dropped a substantial number of apes, but the apes adapted in response.
Avoided the area directly beneath the nest and began moving sideways.
Before completing the lateral shift, released all remaining poison.
[Proficiency has reached threshold. Skill 'Accuracy LV2' upgraded to 'Accuracy LV3'.]
Good, good.
Apes fall with unnatural precision.
But they’ve shifted considerably sideways.
Poison drop is no longer viable.
MP reserves were already questionable—timing was perhaps ideal.
Extended thread in the direction the apes had moved laterally.
This battle has only just begun.