The team continued deeper into the second floor, the red glow pulsing steadily from somewhere ahead. The cavern walls were narrower now, forcing them to walk single file. The air was damp and heavy, carrying the faint metallic scent of old blood.

Lisa, who was walking behind Hope, spoke up curiously.

"Hope... if you don’t mind me asking, is there any monster that you’ve had a really hard time defeating?"

Hope glanced back with a thoughtful expression. "Hmm... there was one. A Hydra-class monster in an S-rank gate a few years ago. It had seven heads, and each time we cut one off, two more would grow back. It took our entire team nearly six hours to finally bring it down."

Sein scoffed, walking a few steps ahead. "And why don’t you ever ask me something like that? I have more experience than half the heroes in this city."

Sarah, walking behind Sein, immediately responded in a flat, teasing tone.

"Because you’d probably just brag about it for ten minutes and then say something like ’that monster was too weak to be worth remembering.’"

Sein turned her head sharply, glaring at Sarah.

"That’s because I’m speaking the truth! Most monsters I’ve fought really were that weak. If they were stronger, I would’ve remembered them."

Lisa, trying to change the subject, asked gently, "Sein... is there any monster that was particularly difficult for you?"

Sein paused for a moment, then shrugged arrogantly.

"No. Every monster I’ve faced was easy to defeat."

Sarah let out an exasperated sigh. "See? I told you. It was a waste of a question."

Lisa’s shoulders slumped slightly, looking a little disappointed.

Andrey, walking at the front, spoke without turning around.

"Sein, you might want to work on that attitude a bit. It’s not always about winning easily. Sometimes the lessons come from the fights that are hard."

Sein crossed her arms, her voice slightly defensive.

"And I’m saying there were no hard fights."

Hope chuckled softly, glancing back at Sein with an amused glint in her eyes.

"Sein does have that kind of personality, sure. But she really is experienced, you know. Especially when it comes to... bed matters."

Sein’s head snapped toward Hope, her face turning bright red. "What the hell did you just say?!"

Sarah burst out laughing, nearly stumbling over a loose rock. "Oh my god! Hope, that’s the first time I’ve heard you say something like that!"

Lisa’s cheeks turned pink, but she couldn’t help a small giggle. "Hope... that was unexpected."

Hope blinked, looking genuinely taken aback by Sein’s reaction. "I... I was just saying you’re experienced in general? I didn’t mean it in a bad way..."

Sarah snorted loudly from behind. "Oh, this is rich. Even Hope is calling you out now."

Sein’s jaw tightened. She turned her glare toward Sarah. "Shut up, you’re not helping."

Lisa quickly stepped between them, her hands raised in a placating gesture. "Okay, okay! Let’s not fight! We’re in the middle of a dangerous gate, remember?"

Andrey, still walking at the front, let out a quiet sigh.

"Sein, no one is questioning your abilities. But you need to learn to take a compliment without assuming it’s an attack."

Sein clicked her tongue but didn’t argue further. She crossed her arms and looked ahead, her steps a little heavier than before.

Hope glanced at Sein, her voice softer this time.

"I really didn’t mean anything bad, Sein. I respect your strength. Both on and off the battlefield."

Sein didn’t respond, but her shoulders relaxed slightly.

Sarah muttered under her breath, just loud enough for those nearby to hear, "Tch. Smooth recovery, Hope."

The team walked in silence for a few more minutes, the narrow cavern walls gradually widening into a larger chamber. The red glow pulsed steadily from ahead, casting long, dancing shadows across the damp stone.

Sarah was the first to notice. She stopped abruptly, her hand raised. "Wait. Look."

Ahead of them, the walls and ceiling were covered in thick, pale webbing. Strands of silk stretched across the passage in intricate patterns, some as thick as rope, others fine and nearly invisible. The faint shimmer of moisture clung to the threads, and here and there, small dark shapes were suspended—wrapped cocoons, some still twitching faintly.

Lisa’s eyes widened. "Spider webs... and those cocoons... are those—"

"Don’t get close," Andrey said, his voice low and sharp. "Some of them might still be alive. Others might be traps."

Sein stepped forward, flames flickering around her fists. "I can burn through them. Clear a path."

"Wait." Andrey held up a hand. "Fire might trigger something. We don’t know what’s on the other side."

Hope gripped her greatsword, scanning the webbing above. "I’ve seen this before. Spider-type monsters. Usually they’re accompanied by smaller scavengers."

As if on cue, a soft, wet croaking echoed from deeper within the chamber.

Then another.

And another.

From the shadows beyond the webbing, shapes began to emerge. Large, bulbous bodies with slick, mottled skin. Wide, unblinking eyes that reflected the red glow like polished gems. Their mouths opened and closed slowly, revealing rows of small, sharp teeth, and from their throats came a low, guttural sound—a wet, rattling hiss.

[Corrosive Toads.]

They moved with slow, deliberate steps, their bodies leaving faint trails of sizzling moisture on the stone floor. The air around them shimmered faintly with acidic vapor.

And from above, skittering along the webs, came the spiders—long-limbed, bristling with coarse hair, their multiple eyes fixed on the intruders below.

Andrey’s voice cut through the tension. "Spiders on the webs. Toads on the ground. They’re teaming up."

Sarah raised her wand, pink energy crackling. "Those toads look like they spit acid. Don’t let them get close."

Lisa’s hands glowed with mint-green light. "I’ll keep the barrier up. Focus on the ones that break through."

Hope stepped forward, her greatsword gleaming. "I’ll take the front."

Andrey extended his staff. "Spiders are the priority. They control the high ground and will try to trap us in the webs. Toads are slower—we can kite them. Sein, focus on the webs. Sarah, pick off the toads from range. Hope, hold the line. Lisa, keep us mobile and protected."

The monsters advanced.

The first spider dropped from the ceiling, landing in front of Hope with a soft thump. Its legs spread wide, fangs dripping with venom. Hope met it head-on, her greatsword swinging in a powerful arc that cleaved through its first two legs. The spider screeched, recoiling.

Sein launched herself at the nearest web cluster, flames roaring. "Crimson Impact!"

Her fist ignited the webbing, flames spreading rapidly and forcing the spiders to retreat from the burning strands. But new webs were already being spun from above.

Sarah fired a Pink Rain volley, pink projectiles slamming into the corrosive toads, forcing them back. One of them spat a glob of acid toward her—she dodged, the acid sizzling where she had been standing.

Lisa expanded the barrier to cover Sarah’s position. "Watch out for the acid! It’s eating through the stone!"

Andrey moved through the chaos, staff extended, striking down a spider that had tried to flank Sein. His Ki senses tracked the enemies’ movements, predicting their attacks before they landed. He deflected a glob of acid with his staff, the liquid sizzling against the metal.

His Ki pulse flared. "Two more spiders incoming from the left. Sein, burn the webs above them!"

Sein didn’t hesitate. She leaped, flames roaring, and set the overhead webs ablaze just as two spiders dropped. They landed in the burning strands, screeching as the fire caught their legs.

Hope pressed forward, her greatsword carving through the retreating monsters. The corrosive toads were getting bolder, closing in from both sides. One of them spat a stream of acid toward Lisa, aiming for her exposed side.

Andrey’s hand shot out. A Mana Thread wrapped around the acid glob mid-air, redirecting it into a nearby web, which dissolved instantly. "Lisa, keep the barrier tight. I’ll handle the acids."

The battle raged on. The spiders were relentless, dropping from above and skittering along the walls. The toads pressed forward, their acidic spit forcing the team to stay mobile.

Sarah fired another volley at the toads, her aim precise. "We’re holding, but we need to push through! If we stay here, we’ll get overwhelmed!"

Andrey’s staff connected with a spider’s head, sending it crashing into a wall. "We need to break through the web wall. Sein, can you burn a path through the center?"

Sein grinned, flames roaring. "Watch me." She charged forward, flames blazing hotter than before. "Crimson Cataclysm!"

A massive wave of fire erupted from her, scorching the webs and forcing the spiders to scatter. The flames cleared a path, revealing a narrow passageway leading deeper into the chamber.

"Now!" Andrey shouted.

The team sprinted forward, leaving the burning webs and retreating monsters behind.