Chapter 9 - Web of Strategy.

  The fire had burned low, glowing embers crackling softly in the cool night air. The scent of roasted meat lingered, and Nix leaned back, feeling the rare comfort of a full stomach.

  Layla, Aria’s Shadowfang Lynx, had curled up beside her, tail flicking lazily as she listened to the sounds of the forest.

  For once, Nix wasn’t eating alone.

  It was… nice.

  Aria wiped her knife clean and slid it back into her belt before speaking. "You’re decent at surviving on your own," she said, studying him. "Ever thought about teaming up?"

  Nix raised an eyebrow. "Teaming up? Like… forming a party?"

  She nodded. "For the rest of the exam, at least. You’re efficient. No wasted movement. You think before you act. I respect that."

  A flicker of excitement stirred in Nix’s chest, but he kept his face neutral. He wasn’t used to people making him offers like this.

  "And how do we split the loot?" he asked.

  Aria smirked. "Fifty-fifty, unless one of us takes down something significantly tougher alone, then they get a larger share of that specific kill. We trade materials based on need. No backstabbing, no taking from each other’s share. Agreed?"

  It was a solid deal. Fair.

  "Agreed," he said, extending his hand.

  Aria clasped it firmly. "Then it’s settled."

  From his shoulder, Vix hummed in amusement. "Wow, my little boy is making friends. I might cry."

  Nix gave her a flat look then ignored her.

  Nix flexed his fingers, feeling the faint residue of Thread still clinging to his skin. He had spent almost an hour testing its properties, how it adhered, how it stretched, and how it hardened. The basics were clear.

  ? He couldn’t shoot it.

  ? It had to be manually applied.

  ? It stretched like a bungee cord but constricted over time.

  ? It was immune to fire and water.

  ? The more stress applied to the web, the stronger it gets.

  ? Too much dirt and debris would weaken its stickiness.

  The problem wasn’t what it could do. The problem was how to actually use it in combat.

  Aria sat a few feet away, arms resting on her knees as she occasionally glanced over. Layla was curled up beside her, tail flicking lazily every time Nix did something questionable, like when he got himself stuck to a boulder for five minutes.

  "Alright, Vix," Nix muttered. "Give me ideas."

  "Climb a wall," Vix suggested immediately.

  Nix shot her an unamused look. "We’ve already proven I can’t crawl on walls, the web only get me stuck, give me a better suggestion"

  Aria stretched her arms. “Try applying your web to something small and flicking it. Might give you more range.”

  Nix frowned. That actually made sense.

  He squeezed the muscle in his palm, feeling a small amount of liquid Thread excrete from his fingertips.

  Instead of just letting it drip, he rubbed his index finger, middle finger, and thumb together in a rotating motion, shaping the web into a small, marble-sized ball.

  The more pressure he applied, the tougher and more compact it became.

  Though it had hardened into a solid form, it remained connected to his fingertips by a thin, flexible Thread.

  Nix felt satisfied with its density, now, for the real test.

  He positioned the web bullet between his index finger and thumb finger then activated "Recoil" on his index finger, like a drawn bowstring.

  Then, snap!

  The small web ball shot forward like a bullet,

  carrying the thread line behind it as it traveled.

  The moment it hit the tree, the web ball created a small hole then shattered on full impact.

  The Thread latched instantly onto the bark, forming a tether between Nix and the tree.

  Vix was stunned. "OH. OH. OH, THAT’S ACTUALLY—"

  Nix tugged on the Thread. It held.

  Then he pulled himself forward.

  The Thread acted like a bungee cord, yanking him straight toward the tree—

  WHAM.

  Face-first.

  Silence.

  Then—

  Aria’s shoulders shook slightly, though she said nothing.

  Vix was wheezing. "I CAN’T, I CAN’T BREATHE—"

  Nix groaned, still face-first against the tree. "Of course you can’t breathe, you’re a digital person."

  Vix kept wheezing. "STILL. I CAN'T."

  Nix peeled himself off the bark, groaning. "I… probably should’ve tested this on something smaller first."

  Aria’s voice was neutral, but there was a trace of amusement. "You think?"

  Nix staggered back, rubbing his sore face. "Alright. This is gonna take some practice."

  After getting used to creating a small ball of web, Nix then declared to name this technique "Threadshot"

  Aria frowned slightly. Then asked "But what about close combat? All of this relies on keeping distance."

  Nix thought for a moment, then slowly smirked. "I have an idea."

  He stepped forward and placed his hand on a tree trunk.

  Then he moved quickly around it, dragging his fingertips across the bark.

  Within seconds, the tree was wrapped in layers of Thread, forming thick, constricting webbing.

  Aria raised an eyebrow. "You’re… wrapping it like a cocoon."

  "Exactly." Nix stepped back, admiring the effect. "If I get close enough, I can do this to an enemy. Just wrap them up completely."

  Vix gasped dramatically. "OH MY GOD. YOU CAN ACTUALLY SPIDER SOMEONE!"

  Nix chuckled. "I think I’ll call it Silkbind."

  Aria inspected the tree carefully, then tapped the Thread. It was solid, but there was something off.

  "The web… it’s still tightening."

  Nix nodded. "That’s the best part."

  Once a target gets caught in Silkbind, I don’t have to do anything.

  ? The web constricts the longer it’s stressed, turning it to a self constricting weapon and struggling will just quicken its process.

  ? If the target is unable to escape, they will suffocate over time.

  ? All I have to do is wait.

  Aria glanced at him. "That’s… kind of terrifying."

  Vix, however, sounded delighted. "SO YOU’RE TELLING ME YOU CAN JUST SIT BACK AND LET THEM DIE?"

  Nix shrugged. "Yeah, pretty much."

  Now that he had Threadshot’s multi-purpose uses and Silkbind, his combat style had taken shape.

  ? Threadshot wasn’t just a binding tool, it was a grapple, chain, and snare in one.

  ? Silkbind allowed him to fully immobilize enemies in close combat.

  ? If Silkbind fully binds a target, they will eventually suffocate.

  Vix hummed thoughtfully. "So, basically, you’ve turned your web into a complete battlefield control tool?"

  Nix rolled his shoulders. "That’s the idea."

  Aria tilted her head slightly. "Would it work on a monster?"

  Nix smirked. "Only one way to find out."

  "Then what are we waiting for? Let's go and do a quick hunt to try it out" Vix said excitedly.

  Soon, Nix, Vix, and Aria found a target for their experiment.

  Nix crouched on a thick tree branch, his sharp green eyes locked onto the beast below. The Ironhide Howler, a 1-Star Monster Beast, was sniffing the ground, its hunched form prowling through the forest underbrush.

  The Ironhide Howler was about the size of a large wolf but thicker, bulkier, and coated in tough, iron-like scales that shimmered under the moonlight. Its elongated snout twitched, nostrils flaring, and its clawed feet made almost no sound against the dirt.

  Dangerous? Yes. Perfect for testing? Even better.

  Vix hovered nearby, scanning the beast. "Ironhide Howler. High physical endurance, but slower than other 1-Star Monsters. Weak points, eyes, mouth, and joints. Also, it’s dumb."

  Nix smirked. "Dumb makes my life easier."

  He squeezed his palm, activating his liquid Thread, and rubbed his index finger, middle finger, and thumb together, forming a small ball of web.

  Time to see if Threadshot works on something that fights back.

  With Recoil, he flicked the Threadball.

  Snap.

  The Threadshot shot forward like a bullet, hitting the Howler’s hind leg.

  The small orb shattered on impact, and the Thread latched onto the monster's iron-like skin.

  The Howler tensed, head whipping around as it let out a deep, guttural growl. It snapped its jaws, confused at the strange sensation now attached to its leg.

  But Nix wasn’t done.

  He didn’t cut the Thread.

  Instead, he flicked another Threadshot toward a nearby tree, and the second web connected, chaining the Howler in place.

  The monster immediately tried to run, but the chain held.

  The more it pulled against the Thread, the tighter it constricted.

  "Nice. It's working," Nix muttered.

  The Ironhide Howler snarled, its sharp teeth gnashing as it thrashed, but every struggle only made the bonds stronger.

  Aria, watching from a higher ledge, crossed her arms. "Alright, you caught it. Now what?"

  Nix grinned. "Now, we experiment with Silkbind'"

  Nix jumped from the tree, landing just outside the Howler’s reach.

  The beast lunged, snapping its jaws.

  Nix moved fast.

  He dodged to the side, touching the Howler’s back with his fingertips.

  Then he moved.

  He circled the beast rapidly, fingers dragging along its body, coating it in layers of Thread.

  The Howler howled, trying to turn, but the more it moved, the more Nix wrapped it.

  Layer. After. Layer.

  Within seconds, the Ironhide Howler was covered in thick, constricting webbing, its limbs fully bound, its head barely able to move.

  The only thing visible were its wide, panic-filled eyes.

  Nix stepped back, brushing his hands off. "And now… we wait."

  The monster flailed weakly, but the Silkbind was already doing its job.

  The longer the Thread was exposed to the air, the tighter it constricted.

  The Ironhide Howler let out muffled snarls, but its movements slowed.

  Nix crouched nearby, watching carefully.

  Vix, floating next to him, hummed. "Wanna take bets on how long before it suffocates?"

  Aria sighed. "You two are disturbingly calm about this."

  Nix shrugged. "It’s a field test."

  The Ironhide Howler lay still, its massive body wrapped in thick, hardened Thread, its struggle long over. Nix rolled his shoulders, flexing his fingers, the residual stickiness of the web fading as he unclenched his fists.

  Thirty minutes. That was how long it had taken for the creature to suffocate.

  The web had worked exactly as expected, the longer the beast resisted, the tighter the Thread constricted. The outcome had been inevitable.

  But that had only been a One-Star Beast.

  Now, he needed something stronger to see how well it would work against a real predator.

  Layla sniffed the cocooned body once before flicking her tail, already uninterested in the result. Aria remained seated on her back, watching the fight's aftermath with a sharp gaze.

  She had been silent the entire time, her focus not on Nix, but on the fight itself, the movement, the timing, the way the Howler had struggled and failed.

  “What’s next?” she finally asked, voice neutral.

  Nix glanced toward the deeper part of the forest. “A Two-Star.”

  Aria nodded slightly. “You think it’ll work the same way?”

  Nix shrugged. “Only one way to find out.”

  She didn’t argue, just adjusted her grip on her bow.

  Vix hummed. “Alright, deeper into the death zone we go.”

  Aria didn’t react, keeping her focus ahead. Nix took the lead, Layla padding behind him in silent steps.

  Then, the air changed.

  A new presence.

  Something was watching.

  A low, clicking growl echoed from ahead.

  Then, it stepped into view.

  A Terrorclaw Stalker.

  It was built to kill.

  Slit-pupiled eyes locked onto Nix, its elongated limbs flexing, curved talons gleaming in the afternoon light. Its tail coiled behind it, tensed like a spring.

  A Two-Star Apex Hunter.

  Aria remained still, her bow resting lightly in her hands, but she didn’t nock an arrow.

  She was just watching.

  The Terrorclaw moved.

  Layla remained still, waiting for a command that never came.

  The monster lunged.

  Nix dodged, activating Recoil in his legs, launching himself sideways as talons carved through empty air where he had just stood.

  The ground cracked beneath its strike, deep trenches cut into the earth.

  Fast. Faster than the Howler.

  But Nix didn’t need to match its speed.

  He needed to control the space.

  The Terrorclaw lunged again.

  Nix twisted, his hand flicking as Threadshot fired, aimed for its leg.

  But the Terrorclaw dodged, barely missing the web.

  It countered instantly, slashing upward with its talons.

  Nix kicked off the ground, dodging mid-motion, but as he landed, his fingertips grazed a tree trunk, leaving behind a thin line of web.

  He didn’t think about it. He was already moving.

  The Terrorclaw kept attacking, its movements fluid, unrelenting.

  Nix ducked under a swipe, then launched himself backward, his foot skidding across the dirt as he landed near another tree.

  Another Threadshot fired, missed again.

  The beast dodged with terrifying speed, its eyes locked onto him, predicting his movement.

  Nix pushed forward, weaving through its attacks, but every step, every dodge, he left another thread behind.

  Aria narrowed her eyes. She saw it first.

  Vix hovered higher, her voice shifting. “Wait a second…”

  The Terrorclaw lunged again.

  Nix shot forward, propelling himself off a tree with Recoil, using a web line he had left behind to pull himself back toward the beast for a follow-up strike.

  The Terrorclaw dodged, twisting mid-air, but there was another web line.

  Nix wasn’t even thinking about it, he just reacted, connecting the Thread to another tree as he kept moving.

  Attack. Dodge. Counter. Dodge.

  Every action left more strands behind.

  The fight continued, their motions blurring between strikes and feints, Until the Terrorclaw tried to dodge again.

  And caught itself in a web.

  It snarled, twisting violently, its own momentum pulling the Thread tighter.

  Vix let out a short, almost amused sound.

  “Oh. That’s new.”

  Aria’s eyes sharpened, scanning the clearing. “He’s been weaving the entire fight.”

  The Terrorclaw thrashed, but the more it struggled, the more the web clung onto it.

  Nix didn’t hesitate. He fired another Threadshot, circling the beast as he ran—

  The webbing wrapped around it, sealing it tighter.

  The Terrorclaw roared, muscles straining.

  Then, after a moment, it stopped struggling.

  Aria watched, waiting. “Is it breaking free?”

  Nix waited too.

  Nothing.

  Vix scanned its vitals. “Nah. It’s done. Just doesn’t have the energy to keep fighting it.”

  Nix moved forward, finishing it with a clean strike. No point in waiting for it to suffocate.

  The Terrorclaw lay still, completely cocooned in hardened Thread.

  Aria dismounted Layla, walking forward as she studied the battlefield. Her eyes flicked between the trees, the web lines connecting nearly every surface in the area.

  “You weren’t just dodging,” she said, half to herself. “You were creating a whole field without realizing it.”

  Vix spun lazily in the air. “Yeah. That wasn’t just a fight. That was a setup.”

  Nix didn’t respond right away.

  He hadn’t planned it. He hadn’t thought about it.

  It had just happened.

  But that didn’t matter.

  He crouched, cutting into the Terrorclaw’s chest. His fingers dug into the muscle, feeling for something solid.

  And then—

  Nothing.

  No Monster Core.

  Again.

  He sighed, pulling his hand free. “Still nothing.”

  Aria remained near the webbed battlefield, scanning the aftermath. “We’ve fought two now. No cores.”

  Vix spun in the air, her tone thoughtful. “Might just be a matter of luck. Not every beast has one.”

  Nix didn’t dwell on it. “Doesn’t change the result.”

  They had what they needed from this test.

  His Thread worked. It was effective, reliable.

  But it had limitations.

  Aria dusted off her gloves, shifting slightly in her seat atop Layla. “You’re efficient. But how do you handle something you can’t trap like this?”

  Nix glanced at her. “How fast can you kill a Two-Star?”

  Aria arched a brow. “Depends. If I hit the weak point, fast. If I don’t, I have to wear it down. Fifty-fifty.”

  Vix hummed. “That’s good enough to work with.”

  Aria tilted her head. “Work with?”

  Vix spun toward them. “You two need to analyze your teamwork. Nix, you’re built for high-pressure fights, and Aria, you’re more about speed and positioning. We need battle data to see how you sync.”

  Nix adjusted his grip on Joke, his scimitar-shaped sword, the venom at its tip glinting faintly in the light. “Then we keep going.”

  Aria nodded. “Agreed.”

  Layla flicked her ears, already sensing movement ahead.

  Vix suddenly beeped. “Hold up. Got something.”

  Nix and Aria turned their attention to the distance.

  Ahead, through the dense thicket, a Two-Star Monster Beast prowled.

  And behind it, three One-Star Beasts of the same kind followed.

  A pack leader, and its subordinates.

  Aria nocked an arrow, keeping her bow lowered. “First teamwork fight?”

  Nix smirked, adjusting his grip on his Joke. “Let’s see how we do.”

  Without another word, they moved.

  The forest remained still, but the tension was undeniable.

  Ahead, a Two-Star Monster Beast prowled through the dense terrain, muscles rippling beneath its scarred hide. A Crimson Fang Pack Leader.

  Three One-Star subordinates trailed behind it, forming a loose perimeter, its hunting party.

  They moved deliberately, silent and coordinated.

  Aria, still atop Layla, kept her bow lowered but ready. “They’re waiting for us to move first.”

  Nix adjusted his grip on Joke, his eyes never leaving the leader. “Then let’s not keep them waiting.”

  Without another word, they attacked.

  The three One-Star Stalkers didn’t rush blindly.

  They spread out, two flanking Layla while the third vanished into the brush, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

  Aria’s breath was steady. They were trying to corner her.

  Layla moved first, bolting forward as the first Crimson Fang lunged for her throat.

  Aria loosed an arrow mid-motion, It hit, but not deep enough to stop it.

  The second Stalker moved from the side, Layla whipped around, claws raking across its face before leaping back to avoid a counterattack.

  Aria loosed another arrow, this time, through its eye.

  The Stalker collapsed, unmoving.

  One down.

  The hidden one finally struck.

  It exploded from the shadows, Aria barely had time to react before claws slashed through her side, tearing fabric and skin.

  Pain flared, sharp and hot.

  The Crimson Fang reared back, jaws snapping, Layla slammed her full weight into it, sending it tumbling.

  Aria twisted, pulling her knife free, and drove it straight into its ribs.

  It convulsed, then stopped.

  Two down.

  The last Stalker hesitated.

  It had seen the others fall.

  But it wasn’t going to run.

  It lunged.

  Aria’s arrow flew before it even reached her.

  If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  It hit its mark.

  The last Stalker dropped.

  Aria breathed heavily, blood dripping from her side. But she was still standing.

  The One-Stars were dead.

  Now only Nix and the Pack Leader remained.

  The Pack Leader didn’t hesitate.

  It had watched its subordinates fall.

  And yet, it stood its ground.

  It was a fighter.

  Nix cracked his neck. “Good.”

  The Pack Leader lunged.

  Fast. Too fast.

  Nix barely dodged, activating Recoil to throw himself sideways, narrowly avoiding the claws that could have gutted him.

  The ground cracked where the beast landed.

  Nix fired Threadshot, aiming to latch onto its leg,

  But the Crimson Fang dodged before the web even reached it.

  It was learning.

  Nix smirked. Fine.

  He surged forward, Joke flashing through the air.

  The Pack Leader twisted, intercepting the blade with a reinforced forearm.

  Sparks flew.

  Then, it bled.

  The moment Joke’s blade sliced into its flesh, something shifted in the air.

  A scent, faint but undeniable.

  Sweet.

  Nix inhaled sharply, his muscles tensing, his senses sharpening.

  His vision felt clearer, his focus locked onto the fresh wound, the scent triggering something deep within him.

  His eyes, normally green, shifted, glowing with a piercing brightness.

  Not just human eyes anymore.

  Predator’s eyes.

  But it wasn’t instinct. It wasn’t hunger.

  Nix was still himself. Still in control.

  The Pack Leader hesitated, as if sensing the change.

  It had witnessed predators before.

  But not like this.

  Nix exhaled. The scent remained, but he ignored it.

  The Pack Leader wasn’t done.

  It threw itself forward in a final, reckless charge.

  Nix let it.

  At the last second, he flicked his finger, Threadshot latched onto a tree behind it.

  Then, he pulled.

  The Thread snapped tight, yanking him forward faster than the beast could react.

  Nix shot beneath its attack, twisting mid-motion as he brought Joke up in a sharp, fluid arc.

  The blade sliced clean through its throat.

  The Pack Leader staggered.

  Tried to move.

  Then, collapsed.

  Dead.

  The forest was still.

  The bodies of the Crimson Fang Pack lay motionless, the scent of blood thick in the air.

  Nix flicked Joke, letting the excess blood drip off before storing it on his back.

  Aria, still atop Layla, pressed her hand against her wound, her breathing steady.

  She let out a slow breath. “That was close.”

  Vix beeped. “Yeah, no kidding. You almost got shredded.”

  Aria didn’t argue.

  She knew.

  Nix flexed his fingers, his eyes still faintly glowing before the brightness faded back to normal.

  Vix noticed but didn’t comment. Not yet.

  Instead, she spun toward Aria. “Your kill count is getting better.”

  Aria snorted. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

  Nix remained silent for a moment, still processing what he felt during the fight.

  The battle had ended, but Nix’s curiosity hadn’t.

  As Vix began breaking down their battle performance, Nix ignored her for a moment and walked toward the Two-Star Crimson Fang’s corpse.

  Aria and Vix watched, confused.

  “What are you doing?” Aria asked.

  Nix didn’t answer immediately. He pressed his fingers into the dead beast’s chest, digging through the muscle.

  And then, his hand stopped.

  His fingers curled around something small, solid.

  When he pulled it out, a marble-sized Monster Core glistened between his fingertips.

  Vix’s drone blinked in surprise. “Wait… What?”

  Aria’s brows furrowed. “That thing had a Core?”

  Nix stared at the small sphere in his hand. It pulsed faintly, the deep crimson of its energy swirling inside.

  Then, he sniffed it.

  He frowned. “Weird.”

  Aria tilted her head. “What?”

  Nix brought the Core closer, inhaling again. “It smells… sweet.”

  Aria and Vix exchanged glances.

  “Sweet?” Aria repeated, stepping closer.

  “Yeah.” Nix turned it in his fingers. “Like… honey.”

  Aria walked up beside him, sniffing the air. Then the Core.

  Nothing.

  “…I don’t smell anything,” she said.

  She whistled, calling Layla over. The lynx padded up to her, sniffing the air before lowering its head to the Core in Nix’s palm.

  Layla sniffed once. Sniffed twice.

  Then licked the Core.

  And… nothing.

  Layla flicked its tail, signaling no reaction.

  Aria crossed her arms. “So you’re saying only you can smell this?”

  Vix hovered closer, analyzing the Core. “Yeah, that’s weird. But also, Nix, your eyes turned bright green back when you first cut that thing open.”

  Nix blinked. “Huh?”

  Vix’s drone spun. “Yeah. When you first drew blood, your eyes went full glowing predator mode.”

  Aria stepped back slightly, observing him. “Are you okay?”

  Nix rolled the Core in his palm. “…I feel fine.”

  Vix’s robotic eye narrowed suspiciously. “You thought about eating it, didn’t you?”

  Nix hesitated.

  Then sighed. “Maybe.”

  Vix screeched. “NO! DO NOT TRY TO EAT IT.”

  Aria flinched. “Damn, Vix.”

  Vix hovered aggressively close. “Do you even understand what Monster Cores are? They’re used as batteries. They’re pulsing with bio-energy and radiation. If you eat that, it could melt your organs, or worse.”

  Nix stared at the Core again.

  …It still smelled sweet.

  Still felt like it wouldn’t hurt him.

  But instead of arguing, he just muttered, “Fine.”

  He tucked the Core away into his pouch, ending the conversation.

  Aria let out a breath, watching him. “Well, that’s yours, then. You killed it.”

  Nix nodded.

  The harvesting process began.

  As Nix, Aria, and Layla worked to collect materials, the adrenaline faded, Vix hovered closer, her tone shifting back to her usual analysis mode compiling data.

  She had already run the numbers in her head.

  “This method of hunting isn’t sustainable,” she said finally.

  Aria glanced at her. “Meaning?”

  Vix hovered closer. “You two work well together, but fights are taking too long. And with how much stamina Nix burns using his Thread, it’s only a matter of time before it catches up to him.”

  Nix finished tying up a bundle of harvested materials. “I already figured that much.”

  Nix stepped closer to Aria, his gaze flickering to the wound on her side. The cut was deep enough to tear through fabric and scratch the skin beneath, but there wasn’t as much blood as he expected.

  “You sure you’re okay?” he asked, voice laced with mild concern.

  Aria waved him off, shifting slightly on Layla’s back. “I’ve had worse.”

  Nix frowned, studying the wound. “But… shouldn’t you be bleeding more?”

  Instead of answering, Aria whistled. Layla flicked an ear, then padded over, sniffing at the wound before lazily dragging her tongue across the cut.

  Nix’s mind completely derailed.

  His thoughts spiraled into the absolute worst direction possible.

  That’s… kinda nice.

  His brain betrayed him further.

  What if it was me licking—

  His jaw clenched, his mouth parted slightly. A faint line of drool formed at the edge of his lips.

  Then, a sharp nudge to his ribs.

  He snapped back to reality.

  Layla had finished licking the wound.

  And to Nix’s complete shock, the cut was gone.

  His eyes widened. “Wait. What?”

  Vix beeped, her voice full of curiosity. “Does Layla… have healing properties?”

  Aria scratched Layla’s ears, then planted a light kiss on her furry forehead. “Yeah. Layla’s saliva speeds up tissue regeneration.”

  Nix wiped his mouth, making absolutely sure no one had noticed his moment of mental weakness.

  “…Huh,” he muttered, glancing at Layla. “That’s… actually kinda useful.”

  Layla flicked her tail, smug as ever.

  Vix spun slightly and resumed warning Nix. “Yeah, but you’re underestimating the problem. The more you use Thread, the more you have to eat to replenish what you’ve lost. If you ever run out of stamina mid-fight, you’re dead.”

  Aria wiped some dirt from her gloves. “And let me guess, Monster Cores aren’t a reliable income source either.”

  “Bingo,” Vix confirmed. “You got lucky finding one just now, but the chance of consistently getting them? Too rare. You need a better strategy to make this work long-term.”

  The moment she finished speaking, Aria paused.

  She had an idea.

  By the time Vix finished her breakdown, the materials had been gathered.

  Aria stood, her fingers tapping against her bow. Thinking.

  Vix had a point.

  Fighting like this, one battle at a time, hunting randomly? Inefficient.

  Too much effort for little reward.

  Then, an idea clicked.

  “…We need a better approach,” Aria muttered.

  Vix turned to her. “You got something?”

  Aria glanced at Nix. “Yeah. I do.”

  Nix and Vix waited.

  Aria inhaled, then laid it out.

  “We should set up an area completely covered in Nix’s web traps.”

  Vix tilted her drone. “Like a… hunting ground?”

  Aria nodded. “Yeah. A Spider Garden.”

  Nix blinked. “Spider what?”

  Aria continued, “Instead of burning stamina fighting constantly, we create an entire area filled with web traps. Then, we lure monsters into it.”

  Nix crossed his arms. “And how does that work?”

  Aria leaned forward, explaining.

  “Step one: Nix fills up an area with web traps. We pick a good spot, somewhere that funnels monsters naturally.

  Step two: Once the traps are set, Nix eats to recover his stamina.

  Step three: Nix and Layla go out and lure monsters in, One-Star and Two-Stars only.”

  Vix hummed. “And what’s your role?”

  Aria smirked. “I’ll be bait.”

  Nix and Vix both stared at her.

  “What.” Nix deadpanned.

  Aria chuckled. “I mean, think about it, I stand in the center, seemingly unguarded, right? The moment monsters step into the Spider Garden, I take agro by shooting them with arrows. Layla will return to my side for close-range defense, and Nix will provide ranged support from above.”

  Vix spun wildly. “That’s… actually genius.”

  Aria shrugged. “I know.”

  Nix exhaled sharply. His heart was pounding.

  Excitement?

  Maybe.

  But for some reason, he felt a weird… nervousness.

  Vix hovered near him. “You okay? Are you having a stomachache?”

  Nix blinked. “What? No.”

  Vix zoomed closer. “Are you sure? You look weird.”

  Aria suddenly stepped forward and placed her hand on his forehead.

  Nix froze.

  His entire body locked up.

  Her forehead pressed lightly against his for a second, checking for a fever.

  She pulled back. “Seems normal.”

  Then she laughed. “You looked so confused just now.”

  Nix felt his face heat up.

  Aria shook her head, still smiling. “Skinny caveman-looking guy like you standing there all stiff, like Beauty and the Caveman.”

  Nix just stared at Vix as Aria continued laughing.

  Vix hovered beside him, beeped quietly, and whispered—

  “…Are you broken?”

  Nix exhaled. “Let’s just set up the damn Spider Garden.”

  The plan was set. Now, it was time to execute.

  Nix stepped into the selected battlefield, his eyes scanning the terrain. Dense trees, uneven ground, natural cover, this place was perfect. The layout provided multiple anchor points for his Thread, allowing him to weave a dense network of traps.

  Aria remained with Layla, observing from a slight distance. “How long do you think this will take?”

  Vix hovered beside her. “Depends. This is his first time setting something this extensive, so he’s figuring it out as he goes.”

  Nix ignored them. He already had a process in mind.

  Stepping toward the nearest tree, he lifted his hand and flexed the small internal muscle in his palm, activating his liquid Thread.

  The sticky fluid excreted from his fingertips, but instead of simply letting it extend freely, he immediately used his fingers to roll and compress it.

  Between his index finger, middle finger, and thumb, he pressed and rotated the liquid Thread, shaping it into a small, dense web bullet.

  The more pressure he applied, the tougher and more compact it became.

  Though it had hardened into a solid form, it remained connected to his fingertips by a thin, flexible Thread.

  Satisfied with its density, he flicked it.

  Recoil activated.

  The Thread bullet shot forward like a high-speed projectile, carrying the Thread line behind it as it traveled.

  The moment it hit the nearest tree, the bullet shattered and latched on instantly, securing a powerful anchor point.

  Nix felt the tension immediately. The Thread reacted like an extension of his body, stretching with elasticity before snapping back into place, firm and locked.

  He repeated the action, moving through the trees with unwavering precision.

  Each time, he compressed, flicked, and anchored, the web expanding around him as if it were constructing itself.

  Before he realized it, the Spider Garden had begun taking shape.

  That was the first step.

  Then, he moved.

  Using Recoil, he launched himself between trees, repeating the process with seamless precision. Each time, he created a Thread bullet, flicked it, and watched as the battlefield wove itself around him.

  But something felt… off.

  Not in a bad way, rather, in a way that made too much sense.

  Nix wasn’t stopping to think about placements. He wasn’t pausing to consider the best anchor points.

  He was simply weaving.

  Every movement felt natural, as if his body already understood exactly where and how to place the Threads.

  Each line he laid down was fast and precise, stretching into the perfect positions, reinforcing itself without him needing to adjust.

  The Threads didn’t snap, didn’t weaken, didn’t fail.

  They were strong.

  Stronger than he even realized.

  Even if a Two-Star Monster charged full force, it wouldn’t break through.

  Maybe not even a Three-Star.

  And the way he anchored them, ingenious.

  He wasn’t just placing webs. He was constructing a system, a layered death trap that worked seamlessly with the environment.

  He didn’t think about it. He just moved.

  And before long, the battlefield was completely webbed.

  At a glance, the battlefield looked clear. Open. Navigable.

  But beneath that illusion, his Thread lay hidden.

  Some were stretched thin and nearly invisible, positioned at ankle height, waiting to trip.

  Others hung loose and deceptively weak, baiting creatures to push through, only to suddenly snap back and bind.

  And the longer Nix worked, the more focused he became.

  Without realizing it, he removed his boots.

  His bare feet pressed onto the Thread strands, yet he didn’t get stuck.

  He took another step.

  Then another.

  He was walking on the Web.

  Aria’s eyes widened slightly as she watched from the ground. “The hell…?”

  Layla flicked her tail, growling softly.

  Nix kept moving, his steps light, controlled. He weaved between the web lines without disturbing them, shifting his weight in a way that felt completely natural.

  His balance was uncanny.

  He wasn’t thinking about where to step. His body just knew.

  Higher. Faster. Smoother.

  Before he even realized it, he had begun weaving like a real spider.

  Vix, who had been quietly monitoring, finally muttered, “...Nix.”

  He barely acknowledged her, still focused on securing a high-tension Thread across two trees. “What?”

  “You realize you’re not just setting traps, right?”

  Nix paused.

  He looked around.

  His eyes widened slightly.

  He had completely woven the battlefield.

  Without thinking, without calculating, It had just happened.

  Aria whistled, stepping forward as Layla prowled beside her. “This isn’t just a web trap. You’ve turned this entire area into a damn spider’s nest.”

  Vix hovered in front of him, voice unreadable. “Nix… you’ve never built something like this before, right?”

  He frowned. “No.”

  She processed. “Then how the hell did you do it?”

  Nix looked at his hands, at the lines stretching out around him.

  “…I don’t know.”

  He hadn’t planned this specifically.

  He had just moved.

  And yet, it was as if his body already understood the mechanics before his mind could catch up.

  Nix exhaled and shook the thought off.

  He wasn’t going to dwell on it. Not now.

  There was still one last thing to do.

  Standing near the center of the Spider Garden, he flexed his fingers, and once again, the liquid Thread excreted from his fingertips.

  Repeating the same Threadshot weaving process.

  Over and over, he launched additional layers of Threadshot, reinforcing the first webwork with a secondary net of snares.

  This wasn’t just a backup.

  This second layer would act as an automatic countermeasure, if anything broke free from the first webbing, the secondary layer would wrap itself around whatever broke through, restraining them even further.

  If a beast escaped the initial snare, the second layer would either snare them in place or, in the worst case, suffocate them entirely.

  This also meant that repairing the trap would be easier. Instead of remaking an entire structure, Nix would only need to reinforce whatever section had been damaged, saving time and energy.

  By the time he finished, the Spider Garden had become an death fortress of layered traps.

  The entire webbed terrain tensed, tightened.

  “…That should do it,” he muttered.

  Vix analyzed the final layout. “Strong. Flexible. And now… even if they break free, they won’t actually escape.”

  Aria looked over the battlefield one last time. “This might actually work.”

  Layla growled approvingly.

  Nix smirked, then suddenly collapsed onto his knees.

  His stomach lurched, a deep, twisting hunger setting in.

  A wave of weakness washed over him. His limbs felt sluggish, his muscles heavy.

  Then, his stomach growled, loudly.

  Vix beeped. “Well, that answers that.”

  Aria stepped forward, concerned. “What the hell just happened?”

  Vix hovered above Nix, running a quick calculation. “I’ve been keeping track. That was almost 150 Threadshots. That seems to be his limit before his stamina takes a full nosedive.”

  Aria pulled out some food and handed it to Nix immediately. “Eat. Now.”

  Nix didn’t argue. He dug in, barely chewing.

  As he ate, Vix took further notes. “Alright, now we see how long it takes for you to recover.”

  For the first 15 minutes, Nix felt a slow return of strength, not enough to move freely, but at least the crippling weakness faded.

  “It’s not instant,” he muttered through a mouthful of food, “but it works.”

  Aria watched, arms crossed. “How long till you’re back at full?”

  “Dunno.”

  They waited.

  As Nix continued eating, he turned his attention to Aria and Layla. “While I recover, we should go over the movement paths.”

  Aria nodded.

  Using a stick, he mapped out the Spider Garden’s layout on the dirt.

  “There are key safe zones where the Thread won’t tangle or pull.” He tapped several points on the crude map. “Layla needs to memorize these spots. If she steps on the wrong ones, she’s getting stuck.”

  Aria glanced down at Layla, who flicked her ears in understanding. “Alright. We’ll run some trials.”

  For the next hour, Layla moved through the battlefield, testing various routes and movement angles.

  She got tangled twice but quickly adjusted.

  By the time Nix fully recovered, Layla had memorized all the safe pathways.

  Vix hovered beside Nix, running another quick calculation.

  “Alright, final note, to avoid draining yourself, keep your Threadshots to around 120 max. Anything more and you risk collapsing mid-fight.”

  Nix flexed his fingers, testing his recovery.

  Fresh Thread excreted effortlessly from his fingertips.

  He smirked. “Good. I’m ready.”

  The Spider Garden was set. Layla memorized her movement paths. Nix was fully recovered.

  Now, all that was left was to begin the hunt.