Chapter 228: The Broodmother.

Thoren had already returned all his undead servants to his undead space. His boots echoed faintly against the cold and hardened ground.

Each step produced a dull sound that lingered briefly in the tunnel. He lowered his gaze slightly as he walked.

The texture beneath his feet felt strange. It was not entirely solid, yet it was not soft either.

It felt somewhat like sand, but at the same time it resembled hardened stone. There was also a faint stickiness to it.

The sensation was unsettling, but he chose not to dwell on it. His attention remained focused ahead.

The tunnel he now walked through was different from the previous ones.

It was larger and more structured. The walls were smoother. The path felt more refined.

Even the air had changed. It was no longer heavy or suffocating. Instead, it felt fresh and breathable.

This difference caused Thoren to crease his brow. Something about this place felt unnatural.

His instincts stirred quietly.

Without realizing it, his pace increased.

His heartbeat grew faster. A sense of anticipation built within him.

The tunnel curved gently ahead.

As he followed the bend, the view before him changed.

Faint light appeared along the walls.

He slowed his steps slightly.

Embedded within the walls were glowing crystals. They emitted a soft radiance.

The light was not intense, but it was enough to illuminate the tunnel.

Thoren came to a halt.

His eyes fixed on the crystals. They were small in size.

Each one was no larger than a baby’s fist. Despite their size, they were captivating.

Their glow carried a subtle allure.

“This must be a rare crystal,” he murmured quietly.

His thoughts began to shift.

He recalled his need for resources.

The Abyssal market required wealth.

Without sufficient funds, his growth would be limited.

Looking at the crystals, he wondered if they held any value.

Slowly, he stepped closer to one embedded in the wall. He reached out and attempted to pull it free.

The crystal did not move. It remained firmly fixed in place.

Thoren frowned slightly.

He increased his strength and tried again. Even with greater force, the crystal did not budge.

“Hard,” he whispered under his breath.

After several attempts, he stopped.

There was no point wasting time.

He shook his head lightly.

“After I deal with the Broodmother, I will return to mine these,” he said quietly.

His eyes flashed with determination.

With that thought settled, he resumed walking.

The deeper he went, the more crystals appeared. They lined the walls in greater numbers.

Their sizes also began to increase. Some were significantly larger than those near the entrance.

Their glow was brighter. From this observation, Thoren concluded something.

The larger crystals were likely of higher quality.

This realization caused a flicker of greed to rise within him.

If he could harvest them, the rewards would be immense.

For a brief moment, he considered stopping. However, he quickly dismissed the thought.

The Broodmother remained his priority.

Suddenly, the air around him shifted. A faint tremor passed through the space. The temperature dropped noticeably.

A chill crept along his skin.

Hmm.

Thoren’s expression grew serious. His senses sharpened instantly. He stared ahead into the tunnel.

There was nothing visible.

Yet he did not relax.

He remembered the abilities of the Purple Arachnes. They could conceal themselves effectively.

He did not dare lower his guard as he continued forward with measured steps.

Each movement was deliberate.

His earlier thoughts about mining the crystals vanished completely.

A sense of danger pressed against his instincts.

Without hesitation, he summoned several undead servants.

The undead Elite Jackal Beastman moved to the front.

It took the lead position.

Behind it, the undead Storm Tyrant followed closely.

The undead Royalty Stonewall positioned itself behind Thoren.

It guarded his rear.

With this formation, he advanced deeper into the tunnel.

After several minutes, the path opened suddenly.

The narrow tunnel gave way to a vast cavern.

Bright light filled the space.

Thoren paused at the entrance.

His eyes widened slightly.

The cavern was enormous.

Glowing crystals covered every surface.

They lined the walls. They extended across the ceiling.

They spread across the ground.

The entire space shimmered like a sky filled with stars.

The sight was mesmerizing.

For a brief moment, he was stunned. However, his attention quickly shifted.

At the center of the cavern stood a massive figure.

The moment he saw it, his expression changed.

He swallowed slowly.

The Broodmother.

The creature was enormous. It stood nearly four meters tall. Its body was grotesque and terrifying.

Its abdomen was swollen and massive. It dragged heavily along the ground behind it.

The surface of its abdomen pulsed faintly. It resembled a grotesque fusion of silk and flesh.

Its upper body retained a humanoid form. There was a twisted beauty to it. Yet it was unnatural and disturbing.

The flesh appeared rigid.

It merged seamlessly with the spider body below.

Four massive purple eyes dominated its face.

They glowed with an eerie and oppressive light. Its gaze carried immense pressure.

Extending from its body were eight long legs. Each leg was thick and powerful.

They stretched outward like sharpened spears. The tips were razor sharp.

Though its movements appeared slow, its strength was undeniable. Each limb carried enough force to crush its enemies.

For a moment, both sides remained still.

They observed each other in silence. Thoren felt his throat tighten slightly.

He swallowed again as he focused on the creature’s status.

[Purple Arachne Broodmother (Elite Apex Beast)]

[Level: 28]

[Attributes: Strength 72, Constitution 90, Agility 28, Spirit 12, Defense 88]

[Traits (1): Broodmother Bulk – Massive body greatly reduced movement speed, but granted +30% damage reduction and high resistance to knockback.]

[Traits (2): Abyssal Mental Shroud – Suppressed enemy perception within 25 meters, causing delay reactions and reduced accuracy.]

[Trait (3): Endless Silk Reservoir – Constantly generates thick, durable webbing that slows enemies and reinforced her defensive zone]

[Skills (1): Dominion Web Nest – Spread a large, layered web field around her which allows the enemy inside to suffer heavy movement reduction and gradual drain in stamina.]

[Skills (2): Grasping Silk Pillars – Thick web strands erupt from the ground, binding and immobilizing enemies for a short duration.]

[Skills (3): Brood Release – Spawns multiple smaller arachne that harass enemies and protect the broodmother.]

[Skills (4): Brood Venom Saturation: Release a cloud of dense toxin around her body, dealing damage over time and weakening enemies.]

Huh.

A slow breath escaped from Thoren’s lips.

The Broodmother was not the strongest enemy he had ever encountered.

However, it possessed overwhelming survivability.

Its defensive capabilities were extraordinary.

Defeating it would not be simple.

Before he could act, a movement stirred.

From the swollen abdomen of the Broodmother, shapes began to emerge.

The surface split slightly.

Dozens of smaller Arachnes crawled out.

They dropped onto the ground one after another.

Each one carried a dangerous aura.

None of them were weak.

Each was comparable to at least a Level 21 beast.

They gathered around the Broodmother.

Their presence intensified the pressure within the cavern.

****

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