Wizard starting from shoeing donkeys Chapter 1535 - 528: Aberrant Spider Swarm (Part 2)

"Be careful!"

Those spider webs possessed a distinctive quality, incredibly adhesive in nature. Brighton fighters ensnared within them thrashed about like they were trapped in super-strong adhesive, their actions severely restricted.

The slick green poison proved far more damaging, much like concentrated acid. Despite the robust builds of the Brighton folk, their flesh turned red, bubbled up, and started rotting right away when it touched them.

"These webs and poison cause the biggest headaches," Anna muttered irritably.

Yet she felt little concern overall. True to form, as the frontrunner among the Brighton youngsters—Anna's sibling Antaruka—flushed crimson and expanded in size, the fight was drawing to a close.

"True enough, having even a trace of giant bloodline can tip the scales in a minor clash like this," Rein evaluated Antaruka's skills with a quick look.

"Huh? That subtle energy feels like..."

Rein narrowed his eyes a bit, his face showing contemplation.

Being a late-stage Dawn Wizard, Rein's perceptions were remarkably sharp. He picked up on how, once the black-striped spiders met their end, amid the foul-smelling gore and guts, a subtle and recognizable energy lingered.

So faint was this energy that Rein almost overlooked it initially, yet with additional mutated spiders falling, it caught his attention.

"It matches closely with the energy Staven left behind on his previous visit," he pondered quietly.

Following a brief reflection, Rein grew convinced.

"Are these mutated spiders generally weak, or does a more powerful one lurk in their midst?" Rein inquired.

"Yes, sir. These mutated spiders vary in power; certain ones pack a real punch," explained a Brighton elder stepping closer.

"Still, their quickest breeding rate poses the real nightmare. They haul victim bodies down into underground lairs to deposit eggs, and before long, fresh spiders hatch out."

"Mutated spider lairs must exist close by."

"Oh? Would you guide me there to check them out?" Rein wondered out loud.

"Certainly," the elder answered warmly, maybe intrigued by Rein's prowess as well.

"I want to join! I've never laid eyes on a mutated spider lair before!" Anna burst out with thrill.

"Sister!"

Antaruka hurried over fast, smeared with gore and dirt, gripping his war axe tightly.

"Brother, having you and the elder along means I'll be protected, doesn't it?" Anna begged, tugging at her brother's arm with enthusiasm.

"Fine, but stick close to me and don't stray away," he gave in, shaking his head.

The sight brought a faint grin to Rein's face, evoking thoughts of his own sister, Anna.

Right at that instant, a massive eagle wheeled through the skies to the northwest, as if indicating the direction.

"That way!"

Before long, Rein along with the Brighton elder, Antaruka, and a handful of companions arrived at the edge of a stretch of rusty soil.

Spanning about several hundred square meters, the zone featured a landscape where the former hilly pasture had died off completely, supplanted by pale yellow-brown withered blades. Most striking were the countless holes the size of fists, packed tightly across the ground like ugly blemishes.

At the same time, clusters of small gray spiders kept emerging from a single opening now and then, just to vanish swiftly into a different one, moving without pause.

"Sure enough, this ties back to Nayu Break Back," Rein determined inwardly.

In this spot, the energy grew a touch thicker, though it stayed almost undetectable for anyone short of a Dawn Wizard's rank.

"This land once belonged to the Isodre school. While regular school wizards might miss the hidden truths of the mutated spider horde, Stuart—as a Dawn Wizard bearing the 'Shield of Rock' moniker—can't possibly overlook what his underlings report!"

"So why would he permit the Tutkash school's doings?"

"Could it possibly be..." Rein's gaze sharpened, a hazy idea forming in his mind.

At that point, a Brighton elder next to him commented:

"Sir, though these holes look tiny, they're amazingly profound, shrugging off even scalding water tactics. Eradicating the mutated spider horde demands top-tier earth wizards employing earth witchcraft."

Rein gave a nod without speaking, but in his thoughts, he decided to handle the lair now that he'd stumbled upon it.

In the end, it amounted to an easy chore for someone like him.

He advanced, crouched slightly, and softly pressed his hand against the soil.

Witnessing Rein's move, the elder and the rest, Brighton elder included, observed with interest, puzzled over the foreign wizard's plan.

All of a sudden!

Dark silver waves spread out from the youthful human wizard's hand, blanketing the expanse widely and swallowing the entire zone.

The instant after!

Shrill noises rang out while keen dark silver metal spikes shot up swiftly across the surface and inside the burrows, forming a spiked woodland!

"Hiss hiss!"

From the countless burrow entrances came the final cries of the mutated spiders, replaced quickly by utter quiet.

With the deed done, Rein stood up with a smile, noting how everyone—from the Brighton elder onward—appeared frozen in place, jaws dropped, stares fixed, lost in awe at the spectacle unfolding.