The red-eyed spider monster began to sense a human's presence nearby. Ethan jumped backward, dodging in time to keep the spider from crashing onto him.

The monster's sudden appearance sent a rush of adrenaline through him.

He summoned his sword instantly, ready to face the boss monster head-on.

If I can defeat it, I can save that girl.

It was easy to imagine, but doing it was another story.

Ethan had to leap fast to the side to avoid a spray of acid that nearly hit his leg.

Its attacks are fast. I still can't read its pattern.

The spider didn't stop, shooting more acid blobs to try and immobilize him.

Ethan dodged every shot, jumping again and again until he was circling the creature.

Between dodges, he swung his sword sideways, slashing a crimson arc across the red-eyed spider.

The attack landed on its left side, making it screech in pain. Ethan had gained some momentum.

He jumped back, landing near the edge of the room, where the monster's HP bar was fully visible.

It had more health than any creature he'd fought on Mount Mordor.

Still, Ethan noticed something strange — a kind of resistance was active, weakening his attack power by a lot.

[Blood Red-Eyed Spider (Lv. 45) || HP: 1850/8000]

What? Didn't my skill activate Rage Infinite? With my total Base ATK, that attack should've killed it instantly.

What's going on?

Ethan narrowed his eyes, focusing on the spider's left side where several legs had been cut off.

To his shock, the legs grew back almost immediately, and a strong green aura began to glow from its body.

He stabbed his sword into the ground, activating his default shield to block the monster's growing power. But then, something terrifying happened.

[Blood Red-Eyed Spider (Lv. 55) || HP: 15000/15000] [Berserk!]

"Berserk?!" Ethan gasped.

The spider turned around and spat a massive spray of acid right at him.

He dashed to the side, barely dodging, but the monster wasn't done yet.

It raised its legs and tried to stab him mid-run. Ethan could clearly feel the sudden rise in strength and aggression from its Berserk mode.

"How the hell does a spider have Berserk mode? Are you kidding me?!" he shouted in frustration.

As far as he remembered, Berserk only appeared in certain monsters—like lions, centaurs, dragons, and other high-tier beasts.

But a spider? That was insane.

BAM!

Ethan's focus slipped for a moment, and his guard dropped.

One of the spider's legs slammed into him, throwing him hard against the wall. His HP dropped instantly.

"Ugh!"

"Berserk... it only lasts for a certain time. I just have to wait it out," he grunted through the pain.

He figured the spider's level boost was temporary—caused by the active Berserk state.

Once it wore off, the monster's level and HP would return to normal.

Attacking it now would only waste MP and stamina.

So Ethan decided to stall until the Berserk timer ended. Since the spider's attacks were wild and unpredictable, he had to stay sharp.

He ran around the room, dodging acid shots and leg strikes nonstop. There was no clear indicator for when Berserk would stop, but from his experience, the mode would end when the monster's glow faded.

The dimmer the glow, the closer it was to finishing.

I just have to hold out until it ends.

If the guild players tried to fight this thing now, they'd be wiped instantly.

After some time, Ethan noticed the green aura on the spider starting to fade — a sign that Berserk was wearing off.

Finally, the glow disappeared completely. The monster's strength dropped, and its HP and level returned to normal.

[Blood Red-Eyed Spider (Lv. 45) || HP: 1850/8000]

Ethan smirked. Keeping a safe distance, he swung his sword sideways, sending a crimson lightning slash straight at the spider.

BLAST!

The room shook with thunder and red light. Ethan watched as the monster's HP bar dropped to zero and vanished.

It was over. The fight had left him battered, but not badly hurt. A few HP potions would fix that easily.

[Congratulations, you killed a monster]

[Name: Blood Red-Eyed Spider (Lv. 45) || New Record]

[+750 EXP || +750 Gold]

[You obtained the following items:]

[1x Red Web Bracelet (Epic) || 1x Dark Swamp Crystal (Rare) || 5x Silver Key || 1x Golden Key]

Ethan raised his hand, and five glowing items floated above his palm.

He equipped the Red Web Bracelet right away to boost his strength, keeping the rest for later.

The spider's body faded into particles of magic, disappearing completely.

Ethan finally had the chance to move up to the fifth floor—to rescue the girl.

He ran up the spiral stairs until he reached the top of the black castle.

The room there looked different—quiet, clean, and still. Only one door waited for someone to open it.

Is she behind this door?

Carefully, with his sword ready, Ethan pushed the door open.

Inside, he saw a young woman with radiant golden hair sitting alone on a bed, gazing out the window.

Her skin was pale and beautiful, dressed in a shimmering gold gown with elegant ornaments on her head. She didn't look like a village girl at all.

She looked more like a royal princess—or maybe even a goddess trapped for some reason.

"You?" Ethan called.

Hearing another human voice made her turn slightly. Her eyes were wide and round, filled with emotion—relief, joy, and disbelief all at once.

"Did you... come to free me?" she asked softly.

"Yes. Jared's waiting for you in the village," Ethan replied.

The girl blinked, frowning in confusion. She had never heard that name before.

"Jared? Who's that?" she asked, tilting her head.

"Jared... he's your father, right?" Ethan said.

To his surprise, she giggled, covering her mouth as she laughed.

She wasn't mocking him—just amused by his innocence.

"It seems he's one of my followers," she said with a gentle smile.

"Followers?" Ethan echoed, confused.

"Who are you?"

"I am Seraphelis. People know me as the Goddess of Light—or the Sun."

Ethan froze, his mouth falling open. The girl with golden hair and divine beauty standing before him... was a goddess.

Through his vision, he could see a red cursor floating above her head—a mark that identified her as an enemy.

That made him question everything about her identity.

If she really is one of the three goddesses of this place... then I have to protect her.

I won't let any player kill her. She's my lifeline.

"What kind of luck is this?" Ethan muttered with a small laugh.

"Luck?" she asked.

"Alright!" Ethan said firmly.

"Come with me. I promise I'll protect you!"

[Congratulations, you've completed a Side Quest]

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