My body moved on its own even before I could consciously realise what was going on.
In my hand, I was already wielding my light blade with my mana infused with it, my sword swinging down in an arc and cutting through the leg of the spider like it was made of paper.
I then picked up Henri who still had his eyes wide in shock before leaping back, retreating from the spider that was shrieking from losing one of its legs.
I laid Henri down gently, my other hand grabbing onto the spider leg that was still embedded partway through his body so that it doesn’t do any more damage to him.
“BROTHER!!!” Jules screamed, only to be stopped by Tika.
“Jules!! The monster is still not dead yet!! Turn your back on it and you will compromise everyone’s safety! Trust Aster to take care of him and concentrate on your role!!”
Jules seemed reluctant but the Spider boss let out another shriek and tried to lunge towards Tika, the young woman barely leaping out of the way in time to avoid the blow.
He was forced to redirect his attention to the Rock Spider in front of him instead, leaving me to take care of his brother.
I quickly casted [Low Anaesthesia] on him to numb the pain before his shock wore off and he starts feeling the pain from being skewered.
“Odeta! Help me with this!”
“You got it!”
The Amrap did not hesitate in grabbing the spider leg with both hands before pulling it out of Henri in one swift motion.
I immediately started casting [Close Wounds] on him, hoping that this would be enough.
I already had a Minor healing potion prepared just in case as well but it seems like I did not need it as the gaping hole in Henri’s abdomen started to close itself up.
I needed to cast the spell a few more times but it was definitely working as he was restored back to health.
Unfortunately, he still lost quite a bit of blood and this spell doesn’t replace blood loss so he’s not exactly in peak condition right now.
“Are you alright?” I asked, sitting him up.
He patted his abdomen, and felt the hole in his armour.
“Was I… Dead?” He muttered.
“Well, not dead but dying. Sounds the same but it’s different. My Iatromancy isn’t at a level that can revive the dead yet. Do you think you’re good to finish the fight?”
He still seemed a little out of it which I guessed must be him still being shell shocked by his near death experience.
Well, I doubt that anyone could easily just shrug off the fact that they almost died and just continue like normal. He did feel himself dying after all and that must have been an experience he wouldn’t be forgetting anytime soon.
Henri’s gaze then shifted to his two companions that were still fighting the giant spider in front of us. They were obviously having a harder time now since they were down one man but the boss was still being kept in check for the moment since it was now missing one leg.
He seemed to resolve himself and I thought he would rush to help his team when he suddenly turned to me, “Aster! I like you! Would you please go out with me?!”
What.
Dude, do you not see that giant spider your brother is fighting over there? What the hell are you even saying at this time?
Actually, I didn’t even know that you even had feelings for me! And let’s not even talk about our age difference! You’re… Oh wait… We’re almost the same age in this World.
I guess I should point out our difference in physical maturity then? Actually, is that even a point of consideration? I’d think the people of this World would even say something like ‘a cat is fine too’.
I coughed, “Ahem… Erm… Sorry, but I like girls.”
“I see… Thank you very much!”
Why is he thanking me? Actually, can you get your ass back into the fight? Those two are struggling right now.
As though reading my mind, Odeta came up and picked him up by the scruff of his neck with a single hand.
She growled at him, “Hey! Where do you think you are right now?! We’re in a Dungeon! Do you think you have time to do something stupid like wasting sister Aster’s time while there’s a boss in front of us?! No?! Then get your ass back in there!!!”
She then threw him like a ball with no remorse, causing the boy to scream out in surprise as he was launched towards the Rock Spider like a missile.
At least he managed to hold on to his sword even while being launched…
I watched as the poor boy landed on the Rock Spider’s abdomen and he would have slid off of it if he hadn’t stabbed his sword into the spider below him to act as a handle.
Oh? The sword actually pierced through it instead of bouncing off like it did previously? I’m guessing that’s its weak spot.
Tika seemed to have noticed this fact as well, though it’s hard to ignore since the monster let out a screech of pain that was loud enough to make them cover their ears.
She quickly pointed behind, “Quick! Jules! Go and help your brother at the back! I’ll distract it!”
Jules nodded and ran to the spider’s back without hesitation with his sword ready.
The Rock Spider was trying to shake Henri off who was clinging to his own sword for dear life, but the fact that Tika was still in front of it and attacking its face made it unable to concentrate on doing so.
“Brother! Hang on!!” Jules shroud.
“What do you think I’m doing?!” He shouted back, trying his best to not get shaken off by the spider.
Come on… It’s not even that high up… The spider’s just the size of a car… You can just slide yourself off or even just get thrown off without too much of an injury…
Jules slashed his blade at the spider’s abdomen and this time, a large cut opened up and blood poured freely from the wound.
Yep, that confirms the back of the spider is not as hard as the rest of its body.
The spider jumped into the air again in an attempt to do another smash, but this time Tika and Jules saw it coming so they managed to leap out of the way in time.
Henri unfortunately got shaken off from the force of the impact, the boy losing his grip on his sword and bouncing off the back of the spider’s abdomen to roll onto the ground.
Sensing the weight was gone from its back, the Rock Spider spun around and screeched at Henri.
That was a mistake since it had now presented its vulnerable abdomen to Tika.
She wasted no time in rushing up to the spider’s behind to deliver a flurry of strikes against its back, cutting open several large gashes in seconds.
In its panic, the spider backed up against Tika and would have ran her over had she not hit the dirt to let the spider skitter over her at the last second.
Henri quickly got up, his hands now devoid of a weapon so he was resorting to his magic now.
“Bend and mend the earth shall form, move as I ask the unyielding stone to yield to my form! [Earth Ball]!”
A small ball of earth gathered in front of him before he shot it towards the spider, the projectile exploding into a shower of debris when it hit its head.
The attack seemed to do no real damage and only served to annoy it, given how it was currently screeching at Henri. 𝚘𝔳𝑙xt.𝓒𝒪𝔪
But damaging it was not his concern since it allowed the brief pause Tika and Jules needed to circle around behind the spider.
While Jules stayed on the ground to attack the Rock Spider’s weak abdomen from the side, Tika had leapt on its back and pulled out Henri’s sword that was still stuck in the spider.
With the two swords in hand, she then started slashing away indiscriminately at the spider’s exposed back before plunging both blades deep into the spider.
The Rock spider thrashed around, trying and failing to shake her off as she continuously stabbed at it.
It gave out a last wail before it finally collapsed onto the ground in a heap, it’s legs curling back to tuck into its body.
As expected of a boss on the fortieth floor, it was definitely a tough match for them.
Still, I think they might have managed to beat it on their own even without me here since they still have their potions after all. But I guess the fight would have lasted longer and they would definitely taken much more damage than they have here.
Tika got down from the spider and tossed Henri’s blade back to him, “Good work. Thank you for saving us again, Aster.”
I waved at her, “Ah! There’s no need to thank me, I’m here precisely to support you aren’t I? Plus, you were all doing quite well facing such an opponent too!”
She nodded in acknowledgement of my words before she turned back to Henri, “But you… Seriously… If you want to confess, could you wait until the boss is dead instead of doing that while the rest of your party is stuck fighting the monster?!”
“So… Sorry…”
“In the first place, you got too carried away thinking you can just rush up to the monster like that! Have I already not told you to always be cautious?! What were you thinking?!”
“Sorry…”
Whoops, looks like he’s going to get a sermon from Tika on top of being rejected by me.
Tough luck you have there, Henri, but I agree with Tika though.