The spider moved like a shadow given form, its massive legs skittering with unnerving precision across the cavern floor. Every time one of the goblins lunged with a jagged rock or an Orc swung its crude blade, the creature evaded effortlessly, leaving only a gust of air and a cloud of dust in its wake. Its eight gleaming eyes seemed to taunt them, reflecting the faint light of the cavern as if mocking their efforts.

Volk growled deep in his throat, his frustration mounting as the fight dragged on. The horde attacked relentlessly, but the spider’s speed was unmatched. Every movement was calculated, every counterattack aimed to disorient and divide them. It lashed out with its front legs, sending an Ogre crashing into a wall with bone-rattling force.

“Stay together!” Volk barked, his voice cutting through the chaos. “Don’t let it split us up!”

The horde regrouped, forming a loose circle around the creature. Goblins scrambled over the rubble, flanking it from the sides, while Orcs and Ogres closed in from the front. The spider hissed, its fangs clicking as it realized it was surrounded.

But even as they tightened their formation, the spider’s movements grew more erratic, almost playful. It lunged at an Orc, forcing the warrior to duck, then skittered backward before an Ogre could land a crushing blow.

“Damn it!” Volk roared as his claws swiped through empty air. “It’s too fast!”

He could feel the frustration radiating from his horde. The goblins snarled in frustration, their attacks missing by inches. The Orcs gritted their teeth, their weapons scraping uselessly against the cavern floor. Even the Ogres, usually so confident in their brute strength, hesitated, their massive fists unable to connect.

The spider, emboldened by their struggle, suddenly lunged forward, its fangs aimed directly at a goblin. The small creature let out a terrified shriek, its body freezing in fear.

“No!” Volk’s voice thundered as he dashed forward, grabbing the goblin and pulling it out of harm’s way just in time. The spider’s fangs snapped shut on empty air, its hiss of frustration echoing through the cavern.

The horde’s morale was wavering. They couldn’t keep up with the spider’s speed, and every failed attack only seemed to embolden the creature further. Volk’s mind raced as he tried to think of a strategy. Then it hit him—a memory from one of their earlier hunts, where they’d cornered a smaller but equally slippery predator.

“Enough!” Volk’s voice boomed, silencing the cacophony of battle. He pointed a clawed finger at the horde, his eyes blazing with determination. “We’re not going to fight this thing on its terms. We trap it!”

The horde looked at him, confused but hopeful. “Trap it?” an Orc growled, dodging a swipe from the spider.

“Yeah, trap it!” Volk shouted, his mind working quickly. “Goblins, you’re the bait. Keep it distracted. Orcs, Ogres—start moving those rocks! Block its escape routes!”

The goblins exchanged nervous glances but obeyed, darting around the spider and throwing small rocks to keep its attention. The creature hissed angrily, its legs twitching as it turned to face them. Meanwhile, the Orcs and Ogres began moving the larger stones scattered throughout the cavern, forming a crude barricade around the spider’s position.

“Hurry up!” Volk yelled as he joined the effort, his claws digging into the rocky floor as he dragged a massive boulder into place. The spider seemed to realize what they were doing. It lunged at the goblins with renewed aggression, forcing them to scatter.

“Stay on it!” Volk roared. “Don’t let it get through!”

The horde worked with desperate urgency, their movements a chaotic symphony of shouts, grunts, and the grinding of stone against stone. Slowly but surely, the barricade took shape, forming a rough circle around the spider.

But the creature wasn’t going down without a fight. It skittered up the side of the barricade, its legs clawing at the rocks as it tried to climb over.

“Not so fast!” an Ogre bellowed, slamming a massive rock into the spider’s side. The impact sent the creature tumbling back into the enclosure, its legs flailing.

Volk saw his chance. “Now! Close it off!”

The horde moved as one, shoving the final rocks into place and sealing the spider inside the makeshift trap. The creature screeched in fury, its legs slamming against the barricade in a frantic attempt to escape.

Breathing heavily, Volk stepped back to survey their work. The spider was trapped, its massive body pacing angrily within the enclosure. The horde let out a collective sigh of relief, their exhausted faces breaking into triumphant grins.

“It’s done,” Volk muttered, his claws flexing as he stared at the captured creature. But deep down, he knew this wasn’t over yet.

The horde’s cheers of triumph echoed through the cavern, but Volk’s eyes remained fixed on the trapped spider. The creature wasn’t panicking as he had expected. It wasn’t throwing itself against the walls of its rocky prison in desperation. Instead, it paced, its eight legs moving with eerie precision, its sharp claws clicking against the cavern floor. Its multiple eyes glinted with a malevolent intelligence that made Volk’s stomach churn.

“Don’t get cocky!” Volk growled, his voice cutting through the celebration. “This thing isn’t done yet.”

The horde quieted, their weapons raised as they closed in on the spider. An Ogre stepped forward, towering over the others, his massive club resting on his shoulder. “Let me at it, Volk!” the Ogre bellowed, his voice full of confidence. “I’ll crush it in one blow!”

“Wait—” Volk began, but the Ogre had already charged forward, raising his club high.

The spider didn’t flinch. It waited until the last possible second, then lunged forward with terrifying speed. The Ogre swung his club with all his might, the air around it whistling as it came crashing down.

CRACK!

The club struck the spider’s exoskeleton with a deafening impact, but instead of splintering or cracking, the tough, black armor absorbed the blow. The force reverberated back through the club, making the Ogre stumble.

“What the—” the Ogre muttered, staring at the unscathed spider.

The creature retaliated instantly, one of its legs lashing out and slamming into the Ogre’s chest. The giant warrior was sent flying backward, crashing into the barricade with a thunderous BOOM!

The horde froze, their confidence shattered as they stared at the unyielding spider.

“Is that all you’ve got?!” Volk roared, stepping forward to take command. “Get back in there! All of you!”

The Orcs and goblins hesitated for only a moment before charging. The cavern erupted into chaos as weapons clashed against the spider’s impenetrable exoskeleton. Axes and swords bounced harmlessly off its armored body, leaving only shallow scratches. Goblins hurled stones and spears, but the projectiles either missed or glanced off the creature without effect.

The spider hissed, its massive legs moving with deadly precision as it deflected attack after attack. An Orc lunged at it with a battle axe, aiming for one of its eyes, but the creature twisted its body, the blade sliding off its carapace with a screech.

“Keep at it!” Volk shouted, slamming his clawed fist into the spider’s side. His own strength, formidable as it was, barely left a dent. “It can’t hold out forever!”

But the spider could. Its movements were deliberate, calculated. It was a predator toying with its prey, waiting for the right moment to strike.

The Ogres, growing more frustrated by the second, launched an all-out assault. They attacked from every angle, their massive fists and clubs raining down on the spider like a thunderstorm. The cavern shook with each impact, dust and debris falling from the ceiling.

Still, the spider remained unbroken.

“It’s too tough!” one of the goblins screeched, dodging a swipe from the creature’s clawed leg. Discover stories at My Virtual Library Empire

“It’s like hitting a damn mountain!” an Orc growled, his blade snapping in half against the spider’s side.

“Shut up and fight!” Volk roared, refusing to admit defeat. He leapt onto the spider’s back, digging his claws into the gaps in its exoskeleton. For a moment, he thought he had found a weakness, but the creature reared up, throwing him off with a violent shake.

The battle raged on, but it was clear they were losing ground. The spider moved with increasing confidence, its strikes growing more aggressive. It swiped at a goblin, sending the small creature flying into a wall. An Ogre attempted to pin it down, only to be thrown aside like a rag doll.

Then, with a sudden burst of speed, the spider launched itself toward the barricade. The horde scrambled to block its path, but it was too fast. Its legs tore through the rocks, scattering them like pebbles.

“No!” Volk shouted, his voice echoing through the cavern.

The spider skittered out of the trap, its massive form disappearing into the shadows. For a moment, there was only silence, the horde staring at the broken barricade in disbelief.

Volk clenched his fists, his jaw tightening as frustration boiled within him. They had underestimated it, and now it was loose.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep