142 Spider vs. Earth Dragon Alba⑤

Wait a moment.

That’s going too far.

I thought, even if bound by threads, it might not be possible to bring it down.

For instance, firing a breath attack at myself.

If it’s a full-powered breath, I doubt even my threads could withstand it.

In that case, I’d take some damage, but as long as Alba has Earth Immunity, it can’t suffer a fatal wound.

Compared to being hit by magic while defenseless, that seems far more realistic as an escape method.

I came up with that plan—so it wouldn’t be strange if Alba executed it.

But what Alba did was something I didn’t anticipate.

Completely off target.

And in the worst possible direction.

Skill Points are gained through level-up.

But it seems there might be other ways to acquire them.

The reason is clear when comparing Skill Points with beings of the same race, such as Arkataratekt—my own are noticeably fewer.

The difference in Status can be explained by the disparity in years lived.

Status increases gradually with each passing day, even without Level-Up.

Since I actively pursue Level-Ups, unlike wild monsters, I have grown rapidly over a short period.

As a result, my Status gains outside of Level-Up are lower.

But ordinary monsters do not typically seek combat unless hunting prey.

Thus, their Level-Up progression is slow.

The exact duration of their growth is unknown, but judging by the gap in Status compared to me, it must have been substantial.

The difference in Status, excluding Magic and Speed, between Ark and myself exceeds 2,000.

Even if Status increased by one point per day, the difference in years lived between me and him would amount to two thousand days—approximately six years.

Status does not increase at a rate of one point per day, so in reality, far more time has passed.

Therefore, Skill Points should also be awarded based on the length of time lived, should they not?

For example, one hundred points upon reaching a birthday.

No, probably not, but still.

Yet the hypothesis that points are granted over time seems correct.

Otherwise, the gap in Skill Points between us cannot be explained.

Perhaps there exists an unknown condition for acquiring points, one I am unaware of.

In any case, what I am suggesting is that the Earth Dragon Arava, who likely lived for an unimaginable span of time, must possess Skill Points commensurate with that duration.

Just like the monsters we've seen before, Arava likely never used a single Skill Point since birth.

No skills gained through point expenditure are visible. Moreover, the sheer volume of unused points makes that conclusion unavoidable.

Wasteful, perhaps, but no monster would understand if told to use them. As long as they remain unused, they might as well not exist. So I stopped concerning myself with it.

Now, the Skill Points of Arava have decreased.

Drastically. As if all remaining points were spent in one effort.

Four hundred and eleven thousand points reduced to just one hundred.

And the newly added skills left me breathless.

"Infernal Flame Magic LV1," "Fire Enhancement LV1," "Fire Resistance LV1," "Darkness Resistance LV1," "Spatial Perception LV1."

My weakness. The highest-level fire magic—Infernal Flame Magic.

A higher-tier skill to enhance that magic: Flame Enhancement.

To prevent injury from my own magic, I further increased my innate Fire Resistance, acquiring Flame Resistance.

Darkness Resistance, developed to resist my primary weapon—Dark Magic.

Spatial Perception, believed to be a countermeasure against teleportation.

All skills were assembled exclusively for me.

Skills designed for absolute focus.

Skills acquired solely with the intent to defeat me.

Gathered over a long period, accumulated through effort, expended entirely for my sake.

Moreover, some skills awakened through combat, independent of skill points.

"Concentration LV1," "Prediction LV1," "Parallel Thinking LV1," "Computation Processing LV1," "Heretic Resistance LV1."

Must have seriously considered how to escape this crisis.

It is unlikely that my thought acceleration and predictive golden combo would evolve mid-battle, yet the complication has undeniably increased.

Since Heretic Resistance has reached its peak, it may be best to assume Heretic Magic will no longer be effective.

Except for Soul Disruption—using that is unthinkable.

But this is bad.

This is bad.

There has always been some disparity in compatibility.

But I have never faced a countered strategy before.

Alava was never a naturally favorable opponent.

Yet this formidable foe has now countered my strategy.

The thread restraining Alava burns through.

The ground around Alava heats to crimson.

The earth is burning.

Hellfire Magic Level 1: Scorched Earth.

A zone-elimination spell that transforms the terrain into a scorched wasteland, saturating the area with fire.

Moreover, the terrifying aspect of this magic is its sustained effect.

I have already escaped to the upper air.

Yet the land below is entirely consumed by roaring heat.

The earth was originally Alaba's field.

It has now become entirely my disadvantage.

Flames consume everything.

The heat alone is unbearable.

The corpses of Greater Talatects remaining on the ground burn to ash.

Ah, ah!?

My meal!?

After the fierce battle with Alaba, numerous corpses had been scattered, but now, thanks to these flames, nothing remains!

What a disaster.

You've done well!

I shall repay this grudge over my meal!

Countermeasures?

I’ll surpass even that!

Come at me, then!