Some would say the bigger a spider is, the more frightening. For Maximilian, the bigger they were, the easier to aimed at.

"Remember Lin-Lin, between the eyes. Focus on the one closest to you, I'll block the rest."

Joining acts to words, Maximilian used ice magic to froze the giant spiders' legs, leaving only one free.

Before they reached them, he took the time to scan them all. Noticing their level being 25 each, he warned Lin-Lin.

"Be careful, those are stronger than the last one you fought before."

"Yes, master."

"So? How are you going to kill her?"

She thought a moment, then answered with a smile.

"Silenciously, so she can't see me."

"Very good, take each step slowly and lightly, when you're close enough, make sure to aim right and thrust with all your strength. I'm here if you have any problem, okay?"

"Yes, master. I'll make you proud."

Maximilian stood still, watching the panda-girl advancing slowly and the quietest possible. In front of her, only a few meters away, was slowly advancing the giant tarantula, her legs warily patting the ground.

*Hum...it looks like she's searching for us, like a blind man using his walking stick. It's fascinating and disturbing at the same time."

While advancing, Lin-Lin and Maximilian were surprised by a piece of rock falling from the ceiling. It landed on the ground just before the giant tarantula, in a single audible "pock". In an instant, her two front legs came hitting the ground several times at an impressive speed and strength, literally breaking the stones under them. Lin-Lin looked at the scene wide-eyed, then at Maximilian with a pleading look on her face. He signed to her to go on, a closed fist in a sign of "do your best".

She took a deep breath silently, then pursue her slow advance. Finally, she stood in front of the monster, three times her own size. She looked straight in the creamy white eyes of the giant spider before taking her fighting stance and, in a swift and strong move, thrust her spear right between her eyes.

The giant spider raised on her four back legs, her distorted scream echoed in the room, and she fell on the ground, dead. Lin-Lin looked at it for a bit, then at Maximilian, a toothy smile on her face.

"I did it, master."

Maximilian clapped his hands.

"A work nicely executed Lin-Lin, and once again, you received a reward I see..."

Once again, the panda-girl has gained a level.

*Isn't it a bit too quick? Or maybe the difference in level is why...well, all is good I guess.*

"Another level? Master, I've never won two level so quickly before... is it good?"

"Good? it's awesome Lin-Lin, each time you level up, you become stronger, quicker, all those things. Who knows what you could learn ne..."

As he scanned her, he realised some things.One thing was she had now three new skills: weapon mastery: polearm, silent movements and salvaging.

*So for her it takes levelling up to obtain new skill...or maybe it's because this was happening nearly after I taught her... is there something else?*

Her recent levelling had made her mana pool greatly augmented. Not very impressive when compared to a mage, but still, far more than the soldiers he met earlier, who had no mana at all.

*Magic? Hum...this could be a good idea...but later*

"Master, are you alright?"

"What? Oh yes, yes Lin-Lin, just thinking about something. What do you say we continue taking care of them?"

She nodded, her recent victory giving her confidence.

"Yes master, I'm ready."

"Fine, next one then."

Snapping his fingers, Maximilian set one of the giant tarantula free. The monster "looked" around with his legs, searching for what was forbidding it from moving.

"Like the last one Lin-Lin, go."

"Yes, master."

Her new skill silent movements allow her to move quicker without a sound, observed by Maximilian, a smile on his face seeing her learning so well.

*One thing is sure, she does learn fast...maybe a bit too confident... *

Quickly approaching the spider, Lin-Lin readied her spear once again. But, in her overconfidence, stepped on a human bone who cracked under her foot. In an instant, the monster was facing her, front legs up. Lin-Lin wasn't moving, fear in her eyes.

"JUMP BACK!"

By reflex, she obeyed her master's order and jumped back just as the front legs of the monster broke the ground where she stood a second ago. Losing balance, she landed on her butt, hissing in pain. Looking up, she saw the monster running in her direction, legs up once again.

*I'm dead!*

She let go of her spear and covered her head, waiting for death to come...but death didn't come.

"What are you doing, Lin-Lin?"

Looking between her fingers, she saw her master, who had stopped the monster with one hand, the two front legs of the giant tarantula blocked by the much smaller man's hand. He wasn't looking at her, his attention on the monster in front of him.

"Do you think closing your eyes will make the danger go away? This is not a nightmare you're having, you're fighting a monster whose sole idea is to kill and eat you, and not necessarily in that order."

"Master...I'm sorry I failed you."

"What the hell are you talking about? You only made a mistake. What did I tell you about mistakes?"

"...to learn from them."

Looking over his shoulder, her master smiled at her.

"Very good, so pick up your weapon and stand up..."

With a kick, he made the giant spider move back a few meters, stepping on the side to give the panda-girl space.

"...your fight isn't over yet."

Doing as told, Lin-Lin stood up again, taking her spear back in her hands. Once again, she advanced in the monster's direction, but this time, paying attention to her surrounding while doing so.

Quickly enough, she reached the monster and thrust between its eyes, killing it like the other.

"Good. I think you've got the idea now. Even as you grow stronger, never be overconfident, this could kill you. Let's see if you can keep up when there's two of them."

"Two? But master, I barely defeat one alone."

"The way of doing things doesn't change if there are more of them, they still cannot see. Act cautiously, act quickly, and aim right."

Snapping his fingers, Maximilian set two spiders free this time. The two monsters touched each other with the extremity of their legs, as if recognising each other, then they turned in Lin-Lin and Maximilian direction, from where came the last sound they heard.

Silenciously, Lin-Lin started advancing in their direction, resolve in her eyes.

*Act cautiously, act quickly...*

She arrived in front of the first one.

*AIM RIGHT!*

And thrust between the eyes. In an instant, the big spider was dead.

The sound the monster made while dying alerted the other one who turned in the new sound direction. Lin-Lin, already back in position, stood silently and waited for her to approached.

Maximilian wasn't missing an instant of the scene.

*So now she let her come to her? Good job Lin-Lin, you don't have to go catch the prey if she comes to you herself.*

Seeing the spider almost in reach, Lin-Lin took her thrusting stance and, at the right moment, pierced the head of the monster, killing it. She sighed in relief then looked at Maximilian, a big smile on her face.

"I won, master."

"Yes you did, and without any problem, this time, I'm proud of you."

Her master's words were clearly making her happy.

"Ready for the last round?"

"The last? But, master, there's still seven of them, isn't that too much?"

*Oh? Good evolution, she wonders if it's too much, not affirming it.*

"Don't worry Lin-Lin, I made you kill the first one alone to see if you had the strength to do it, and you have. I made you face two to be sure you could handle several enemies at the same time, and clearly, you can. If you're able to face two of those, seven will not be a problem. Stay concentrate, hit and disappear from their "sight". Act cautiously, act quickly..."

"...And aim right...I am ready, master."

Once again, Maximilian snapped his fingers, setting the seven remaining giant tarantulae free. This time, they didn't directly come at them, certainly catching on the fact something was killing them other there.

They stayed near each other, no more than one or two meters separating them. Lin-Lin looked at Maximilian, worries on her face, but she saw her master simply encouraging her with a gesture and a smile, before tapping his temple with his index, signalling her to think. he then mimed someone loudly stepping on the ground. She thought about it for a bit, then an idea came to her.

She advanced a bit, then picked up a stone she threw on the left side of the spider group. It worked well, three of the big spiders went to check what it was. She did the same in the other direction, and three others went to check, letting one alone.

She didn't waste time and disposed of the one alone, her dying sound alerting the others who rapidly came back, only to find the body on the ground. At least, what their legs said was a body on the ground.

Lin-Lin had done as told, hit and disappeared. She wasn't far, though, she didn't need to be far. She, once again, picked up a stone she threw, making half the group go away. She chose her next victim, one of the three who were still there, the most on the left, so she had the right side to disappeared.

She killed and disappeared, again and again. Once she had the idea and knew how to proceed, it didn't take her long to disposed of the rest.

Once done, she took a minute to sit, using her forearm to wipe away the bit of green blood and sweat on her furry forehead. She felt a hand patting her head and looked up to see the smiling face of her master.

"I'm proud of you, you managed to kill those monsters by yourself, and you grew stronger once again. Now you're level 16, four level in a row, how do you feel?"

"Fine...to be honest I don't feel very different master, maybe a bit stronger, I don't know."

"It's alright, I think it takes time for your body and mind to assimilate the changes. Here, drink a bit."

taking his waterskin from his belt, he gave it to her. She looked at it then at him.

"Something wrong? It's just water you know."

"Yes but...there's not any cup or something...how should I drink master?"

Maximilian didn't understand at first.

"Well...drink from the bottle, that's all."

Lin-Lin seemed shocked.

"From the bottle? But, isn't this waterskin yours, master?"

"Lin-Lin, I don't understand what you mean. If it bothers you we share the bottle, I can make a cup for you..."

"No, no master, it's...me. I'm a beastkind, a slave...no human would want to share a bottle with someone like m..."

He didn't let her finished, he took the waterskin and put it to her mouth, making her drink a bit. She coughed, surprised, then looked at him putting the waterskin to his mouth and drink from it. Wiping his mouth with his forearm, he looked at her.

"I prefer sharing my bottle with a beastkind like you, than letting a human like ratman putting his lips on it. You are what you are Lin-Lin, never again should you feel inferior due to your race. Not with me, not with anyone, am I clear?"

He saw a tear falling down her cheek. Was it because of the coughing or his words, he didn't know and didn't care. He gave her the waterskin back, smiling.

"Now drink, drink until you're not thirsty, this magic waterskin will never be empty, so, don't need to be shy about it."

"Yes...thank you, master."

Maximilian took a look around while she drank a bit. Like Lin-Lin told him, it was one big room, filled with spider webs, even if a good part had been reduced to dust because of his fire spell. Big stone columns were the only things cutting the view. That and...

*What's this?*

In a corner of the room, the left one on the exit side, was some kind of white wall. Maximilian approached, to realised the white wall was bones and spider web put together, forming some kind of enormous cocoon.

"Did you find something master?"

Lin-Lin ,following him, looked at the "wall" and touched it, getting some spider web on her, she took some steps back trying to get it off her.

"Yurk, it's sticky."

"Well, it is spider web, after all, they use it to capture prey, for example..."

Cutting through the wall with a fire blade, Maximilian took a step back to let a corpse fell on the ground. Lin-Lin put hands on her mouth to suppress a scream. Seeing that, Maximilian got worried.

"You knew him?"

"Yes...it is the alchemist...although he was bigger before, I recognise him."

Looking at the nearly mummified face of the corpse, having been robbed of all the fluid inside, Maximilian was impressed.

"Good job recognising him...There's not a lot to do it."

"Actually, it is his attire that I recognise more than what's left of his body. He was the one transporting potion, poison and ingredients for our journey, that's why the fact he died was such an important thing yesterday, we didn't have any potions left."

"Oh...was he a good man?"

Lin-Lin shrugged.

"I don't really know, he didn't hurt me but wasn't gentle either. He didn't seem to trust anyone, that's why he kept all the potions with him, he feared they would be stolen. In the end, the weight of all his possessions forbade him to run correctly, and the spiders caught him because of that."

"Nonetheless, not a good way to go...but, I don't see why we should let his stuff to rot here, don't you agree?"

"I agree master...should I take care of the spider like you showed me before?"

Maximilian thought for a bit, scratching his chin.

"Hum...this could take a while...oh, I know. Lin-Lin, I think it is time I present some of my friends to you."

"Friends, master? You've got friends living here?"

At her question, Maximilian laughed a bit.

"No, no Lin-Lin, they don't live here, far from it actually. Let me show you."

Using his invocation ring, Maximilian summoned Asterife who bowed to him.

"You called, my friend?"

"Indeed, Asterife. I have some work for you and your clan, but first let me introduce to you my journey companion, Lin-Lin. Lin-Lin, this is Asterife, from the Imp clan."

Asterife looked at the panda-girl and bowed once again.

"My pleasure, milady."

"He...Hello, pleased to meet you too, mister Asterife."

Introductions done, Maximilian showed Asterife what was to be done, the spiders's corpse waiting to be butchered.

"Less impressive than the last one if I may say..."

Maximilian shrugged.

"Hey, there's no prey little enough, they've got some useful parts."

"Of course, of course, let me called who is needed, we will take care of that."

"Thank you Asterife."

The imp clan once again was invoked, a dozen butchers and transporters came, Umipa with them. Maximilian took the time to introduced Lin-Lin to them, and they salute her in return.

While they were working, Lin-Lin taped Maximilian arm to caught his attention.

"Is something wrong, Lin-Lin?"

"It's just...I'm sorry master, but..."

She whispered, not wanting to offend the newcomers.

"What are they? I've never seen creatures like them."

"Oh, they are imps. They are invocations, specialise in...how to explain...well, look at them work."

Doing as told, Lin-Lin observed them for a bit, Maximilian explaining at the same time.

"They have different posts, the one with big knives cutting the corpses are the butchers, they are the ones taking away what can be taken from the bodies. Once it's done, they gave it to the transporters who put what they are given inside the havenbag, so we can use it later. They are all very helpful, see how quick they work?"

"But master, why didn't you called them earlier? I'm happy you showed me how to do it, but why bother if you have them?"

"That's because I want you to learn things. How fun a journey would be if you let someone else do everything for you? Plus, I think seeing you evolve is a marvellous scene, I'm happy to be able to watch you grow."

She looked down, a bit of red visible under her fur.

"Th...thank you for those words, master."

Maximilian laughed a bit, patting her head.

...........................................................................................................................................................

Some time passed, imps taking care of the corpses while Maximilian took care of making the mana coins, Lin-Lin helping him by counting for him.

"You know how to count, Lin-Lin?"

"Yes, an older slave taught me."

"Good, this is a good thing, count those coins for me, would you."

"Yes, master."

As usual, Maximilian gave a little plus to the imps before they bowed and disappeared.

"Good things done, I think we should go."

Maximilian was starting to go away when Lin-Lin stopped him.

"Master, we forgot the alchemist belongings."

Maximilian facepalmed.

"Oh yes, you're right, I totally forgot, busy I was presenting you the imps. Can you take them Lin-Lin? let's put them in the havenbag."

"Of course, master."

Lin-lin came crouching next the alchemist body, taking his bag one by one, putting the shoulder strap around her one by one. There were two big bags and one smaller pouch.

While she was doing that, Maximilian took a last look at the room they had crossed quite quickly.

"When I think about it, we were quite lucky..."

"How so, master?"

"Well..on the land I came from, spider don't really come out like that, at least not the big female, they prefer to stay near the...Oh crap."

Slowly turning around as he realised something, he came close to the white wall once again, this time opening it completely, revealing white eggs and on the ceiling...

"Lin-Lin, come back to me..."

The panda-girl looked at him, hearing the worry in his voice.

"Is something wrong master?"

"...We shouldn't wake mama up..."

"Mama? what do you...oh my god!"

On the ceiling, hidden by layer and layer of web was another spider, but four times the size of the giant tarantulae, and that one looking a lot like a black widow.

"Level 49...We are lucky she didn't wake up yet...wait a minute, how the hell did she not wake up yet?"

"Maybe her web was somehow preventing the sound from reaching her... "

"I think we should get away..."

"You...cannot defeat it, master?"

"It's not the problem...look at her legs."

Doing as told, Lin-Lin paid attention to the eight monstrous members, all measuring at least a dozen meters each, shiny black covered in spikes. They were all around the female spider, firmly planted in columns, the monster using them to maintain her position.

"I fear the moment she moves, those old columns will collapse, and the ceiling with them. I could kill her, but by doing so I risk to destroy the ceiling too...so in this situation I think a tactical retreat isn't a bad idea...let's get moving."

"Yes, master."

Maximilian turned around, going straight for the exit, but...

"Master!"

Lin-Lin called after him, the lower she could while being heard. Looking at her, he saw the panda-girl trying to take off pieces of spider web who was stuck on her back.

"Master, I'm stuck. I cannot advance."

Maximilian was getting back to her but stopped dead in his track. He first heard sounds of grumbling stones all around him, signifying something big had moved. Then he saw it, the massive form slowly descending, getting dangerously close to Lin-Lin who, looking up, lost all countenance and screamed loud and clear.

"LIN-LIN!!"

Running at her, Maximilian was already feeling the stones around him shaking a bit.

*Damn, I was right, those columns won't last long now that big mama has moved. I must hurry.*

He didn't waste time and set the spider web around Lin-Lin on fire, setting her free in an instant. He grasped her and pulled her out, directing her to the exit.

"GET OUT, NOW."

He followed after her but stopped when he heard the heavy sound of the mother spider landing on the ground, fissuring stones under her weight. All the room was starting to shake now, the columns she was using as leverage were already starting to crumble.

"Sorry big mama, we don't have time to play."

Despite her impressive size, the speed at wich the monster dashed at him was surprising. Not wanting to take too much time, Maximilian lifted his hand, palm facing her.

"Flame cone."

From his hand came a cone of fire. The big monster evaded it at the last moment, avoiding the biggest damages but get hit nonetheless. Half her body caught on fire and she started to run around, high pitched scream coming from her. The problem was that her massive body running around came and collide with columns, again and again, definitely making the ceiling crumble.

Maximilian ran as fast as possible to the exit, taking Lin-Lin in his arms when he passed next to her. He used his agility to evade the big rocks falling down, missing him and the panda-girl by centimetres only.

He didn't stop when he reached the door, still running as he climbed the stairs three by three, more jumping than running at that moment. Behind him, he still heard the loud sound the ceiling was making as it was collapsing.

Finally, after turning several times, climbing the big spiral staircase they were in, he slowed down, sighing.

"Master...I think you can put me down now."

Realising he was still holding Lin-Lin in his arms, he put the panda-girl down.

"You're alright Lin-Lin?"

"Yes, thanks to you master. If you hadn't come back for me...thank you, master."

Seeing her bowing to him, he patted her head slightly, laughing a bit.

"As if I could let my precious companion behind...come, let's advance a bit, I still don't feel very comfortable here, let's put distance between us and this place. Let's put the bags inside the havenbag before and..."

Behind them could be heard a big sound, signifying there was still parts collapsing.

"Let's not waste time, master. It isn't heavy and we need to hurry, follow me, I know the way."

Not even waiting for an answer, Lin-Lin started to advance again, followed by a smiling Maximilian, happy to see the girl making choices.

*And now she suggests and acts without me ordering. I think levelling up have something to do with it, clearly an improvement.*

They rapidly arrived at the next level.

"Oh no...."

This came from Lin-Lin.

The place where they arrived was a semi-circular platform, big enough to let a party camp. Then, forming a way to reached another platform on the other side of a gigantic pit, was a stone bridge...or at least the remnant of a stone bridge, now destroyed and leaving a black space of nearly 500 metres between the two platforms. It could have been possible to use the wall to pass by the side if they weren't so far away.

Falling on her knees, Lin-Lin had tears in her eyes.

"I'm...I'm sorry master...the bridge is gone...I'm sorry"

"Hey, it's okay..."

Seeing the sadness in the panda-girl's eyes, he patted her head slowly, comforting her.

"It's not your fault, the mess with that big spider must have made the bridge collapsed."

"But...if I didn't let myself been trapped, if I had been quicker, maybe..."

"Lin-Lin, the world is full of regrets and maybe, maybe if I killed her immediately, she wouldn't have the bridge collapse. Maybe if I took another way before, we wouldn't have met at all. Don't let regrets and maybe put you down. What's in the past, stays in the past...okay?"

She slowly nodded in agreement, but clearly was still feeling down. Maximilian thought for a bit then clapped his hands.

"Okay, I think we have advanced enough for today, let's camp here for tonight."

"Already, master? Isn't it a bit early?"

"Not really. We've been in the spider room for quite some time, you took the time to kill them, after that we had the imps collect their parts. They are quick but there was a lot to collect so..."

"Now that you mention it, it's true we've been there for some time. I guess I made that mistake because, with the princess group before, we literally passed through it, running."

"Yeah I guess it did take less time...oh well, let's make camp. Put the chemist bag on the side for now, we'll check them later."

They took out camping stuff for the night. Maximilian used earth magic to blocked the door they came from.

*Just in case some survived, I don't want any uninvited guests.*

For the night, they took out beast skins to slept on and lit a fire to cooked on. Maximilian took out the tissues log made of Lin-Lin's old slave's clothes and just put them next to the fire, not saying anything about it, but he was sure Lin-Lin saw what he did.

"How about I teach you a bit about cooking ?"

"With pleasure, master."

He took out a bit of spider flesh, putting it on a stone plate.

"Do you know why fire works so well on spiders?"

"No, I don't."

"Look..."

Maximilian made a little flame appeared on his fingertips. Slowly approaching it from the piece of flesh, the meat started to make smoke and boiled before it touched it.

"The spider flesh is very sensible to fire, it makes it literally boil inside of them, that's why. To cook it well, you have to do it slowly and carefully. Help me, would you."

while Lin-Lin was busy preparing the meat for the meal to come, Maximilian looked through the first chemist's bag. He was happy to found two entire bread.

*Good point for you, chubby. May you rest in peace, we will savour this meal thanks to you.*

Following her master's advice, Lin-Lin started the preparation, spicy spider flesh (and bread, thanks to the chemist).

Here and there, he put his hand on hers to guided her movements or pointed an error she was making so she could rectify. He even told her how to rightly put the good amount of spice in the preparation to make it taste better.

A good hour later, Lin-Lin presented a plate filled with smoking green flesh to Maximilian.

"Me first? Aren't you the one who cooked?"

She fidgeted a bit.

"It's because...master is master, Lin-Lin eat only after...and also..."

"Also?"

"I...I want to know if you like my cooking..."

"That, is a good reason. Well then, thank you for this meal."

Under the look of the panda-girl, Maximilian took a bite of the meat on his plate, tasting it.

"It's good Lin-Lin, very good actually. You cooked the spider meat just fine and didn't put too much spice, I'm impressed with your skill."

Lin-Lin got red on her cheeks, visible even under the slight layer of fur.

"Thank you, master."

"No, thank you Lin-Lin. But don't stand here looking me eat, come eat with me."

They enjoyed the meal prepared by the panda-girl, although Lin-Lin wasn't eating a lot.

"Is something wrong Lin-Lin? You know you don't have to be shy with me. If you want to eat, eat."

"Oh no, master, I'm fine. It's just that I'm not used to having that much food to eat, so I don't have a lot of appetites."

"Oh...I understand. Well, as long as you eat as much as you want, this is fine."

Lin-Lin finished first. Letting Maximilian finish tranquilly his dinner, she stood and went to the chemist bag, bringing them bag near the fire to empty them.

"Should I start to empty those bags, Master?"

"Good idea, you should start with the pouch, see what's inside."

"Yes, master."

She opened that pouch and put her hand inside, taking out what appeared to be gemstones and coins, a lot of copper, some silver, and one gold. Looking at one little emerald between her thumb and index, Lin-Lin, with the light of the fire, had a beautiful reflection appearing on her face, the colour of the precious stone exactly the same as her eyes.

"This must have been the alchemist's purse. He seemed quite wealthy."

"This stone is beautiful, master. What is it?"

The question surprised Maximilian, but thinking about it for a second, it wasn't so surprising for a slave to not know a lot about gemstones.

"That's an emerald, a gemstone easily recognisable by her profound green colour. She has the same beautiful colour your eyes have."

Lin-Lin blinked as she looked at him.

"My...my eyes have that colour?"

"Didn't you know?"

"I know my eyes are green, but not a beautiful green like this."

"See for yourself."

With a hand gesture, he made a mirror of water appeared. Lin-Lin looked at her reflexion for a minute, putting the stone next to her eyes, comparing. She smiled, clearly happy.

"You're right master. I have the same colour in my eyes."

"Told you. How about the other bag?"

"Oh, right, let me put this back first."

"Just empty the pouch inside the havenbag, it will be easier."

"Alright".

She emptied the pouch inside the havenbag before putting it inside with it. She then took the other bag, opened it and reached inside.

"It seems to be potions, master. I can feel glass bottle and.. KYAAAAH!!!"

Maximilian was surprised by the panda-girl scream as she dropped threw the bag away from her, making it fall between them two.

"What's happening Lin-Lin?"

"There's....something moved inside the bag!"

Maximilian stood and pushed slightly the bag with the tip of his foot. The two of them looked carefully as something came out of it, slowly, warily. Maximilian smiled a bit, seeing what it was. Not a very happy smile, but a smile nonetheless.

"Well well, what do we have here?"

Between the panda-girl and the man, not bigger than his hand, was a spider, white little hair all other her body, with eight shiny red eyes and, at the place where you'd normally find the mandible and claws, a mouth with pointy little teeth.

The biggest difference between this one and the ones before, other than the size and the mouth, was that the other were truly monstrous looking, like chaos and darkness had transformed them, deformed them. Here, well...

"My, my, aren't you a cute little thing?"

Lin-Lin looked at the spider, then at Maximilian, then again at the spider.

"What?"