Apocalypse system: I have unparallel comprehension-Chapter 63 - Spider’s cave

The tunnel narrowed the farther they walked, the air thickening into a damp chill that clung to Dante’s skin.

Each step echoed inside the cave.

The deeper they went, the stronger the smell became, a sour mix of earth, iron, and something unmistakably alive.

Dante frowned and waved his hand near his face, unable to bear the smell anymore.

"I think we are getting closer." He said.

Tendo turned around and nodded. "Can’t you see with your eyes? I thought you have omniscient eyes."

"Why do you know so much about me? That is creepy, you know." Dante sighed.

"Not my fault. The world paves the path for me." Tendo said.

Dante accepted the fact that Tendo was a different being than everyone. But he at least wanted to know how he did know about his skill and bloodline. Did the system show him the full thing?

He squinted his eyes, observing the dark skinned man.

The cave widened abruptly.

A single size shift, from narrow corridor to vast chamber, like stepping from a crack into a cathedral carved by giants.

Pale blue crystals shimmered on the ceiling, pulsing with mana. They lit the cavern in waves.

Dante froze.

Webs stretched across the chamber. Thick rope-like strands, silver threads glistening with dew or poison.

The floor wasn’t solid stone from his observation. It was layered using some kind of marble.

He stuck his feet and a chip broke off. He bent down and grabbed a piece. He observed the thing and said. "Tendo. This thing could get a couple of dollars in the old world. Too bad there is no luxury value."

Dante tossed in the back.

"Hmm." Tendo looked down, checking the marble. "There is nothing impressive about this. This is just a low quality decorative piece."

"I have been meaning to ask you about something."

"Go ahead. It is not like I plan to hide anything about me. After all, we are going to be in business."

Damte felt the itching on his skin. "Are you rich?"

Tendo thought for a moment, looking up at the ceiling. "I am super rich in both worlds. On Earth, I managed a trillion dollar company. You must have heard about it. It is called Giigle"

"Oh. The one who invented third generation aircraft. My father always talked about it." Dante said. He remembered the company name because his house was filled with the logo.

The Union and Giigle’s partnership was public knowledge. Giigle was the primary name for everything. They made food, technical stuff and many more.

Dante glanced at Tendo’s back. "Your family must be rich."

"Yeah. I am not denying the silver spoon I got but it was not just fate that I inherited my family company." Tendo said.

"Oh." Dante added for effect.

"Everything revolves around me. It is not just a delusion. It is a fact."

"Yeah. Yeah. Mr.Heaven blessed one."

Tendo stopped and fired a light ball ahead. It travelled through the dark tunnel until it disappeared from view.

"So. What did you see with your eyes?" Tendo asked.

"Wait a moment, I will crank up the range." Dante closed his eyes and focused his attention on Hunter’s eyes.

He saw everything around him, mana, energy and a bit of concept as well. He frowned as the information ingested onto his brain became worse.

Nevertheless, he swallowed everything and moved his range.

He opened his eyes and said, "Got it. This place is a maze. Come on, I will show you the way. We will be there in an hour."

Dante passed Tendo and continued walking.

Currently, they were in the opposite cave from High Heaven’s base. They came because Tendo said he knew the place of another giant spider.

So there they were here, trying to slain the big spider who has been sending his minion over to the High Heaven.

To be honest, Dante had a choice to refuse such a battle. But who was he? He wanted to know more about the Prodigy.

His swordplay was not enough.

After a bit of walking, he paused.

Something watching.

A dozen signatures hiding between stone ridges and hanging from webs high above.

They were not the same spiders as before. These ones were quiet. Even his proud mana sense couldn’t pick them up.

If not from his eyes, he would likely get ambushed.

Tendo stepped forward, completely casual, as if they had walked into a public garden instead of a nest.

He looked up, taking out his katana.

"Stay sharp," he murmured,not turning back.

But Dante didn’t need the reminder. His mana was already compressing behind his spine, ready to shape into anything he desired.

Dante exhaled slowly.

"Here they come."

The crystals blinked, faint blue light gone for a second.

The moment darkness swallowed the chamber, the ceiling burst alive.

Dozens of eyes gleamed, eight-legged shapes falling like rain made of blades.

Dante reacted first, not because he was faster than Tendo. Tendo didn’t need to react.

Swift Rush.

His body blurred, sliding across the stone floor as a spider slammed onto the spot where he stood. Its fangs punched a crater through the marble-like surface.

Mana gathered at his palm almost on instinct. He used a mana bolt.

A streak of condensed force shot out, drilling through the spider’s head. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

He reaped the mana back into his body. ’Great, I took it before it died.’

Before he could follow that thought, three more spiders dropped toward him.

It was inevitable. Tendo appeared.

His katana traced a lazy arc through the air. The world bent to meet his will.

Steel never touched flesh, yet three spiders were severed cleanly down the middle.

Dante’s eyes widened.

Mana becoming an edge. Mana becoming a force.

It was not an impossible task. With time and practice, Dante could do that with the help of his concept.

But Tendo did it. Dante didn’t sense any concept behind that attack. Ever since he gained the concept, his eyes became sensitive to the concept as well.

He was pretty happy about that. Though, his sensitivity was not as good as detecting mana. He was still pretty proud of that.

He sighed and swallowed the fact that that was how Tendo fought. He didn’t seem to use that when he battled Ashar.

A spider lunged at Dante from the side. He ducked, slid under its body, and slapped a mana-coated hand onto its abdomen.

It exploded. He ignored the notification.

Dante jumped clear, landing beside Tendo.

"That’s three," he muttered, wiping blood off his cheek.

"That’s eight," Tendo corrected calmly.

"You are annoying. You know that right?"

Something huge screeched above them.

The chamber shook.

Dante’s vision snapped upward,his eyes ripping through the shadows.

A spider twice the size of the others clung to the ceiling, limbs thick with plate-like armor. Its abdomen pulsed with mana, threads spiraling outward like veins.

"A lieutenant," Dante whispered. "It’s storing mana."

"I know but thanks." Tendo turned around and continued, "Don’t let it escape. I will handle the fodder."

He stepped forward and the air obeyed. Mana flared like a sunburst, not violent but absolute.

The smaller spiders recoiled, pinned by nothing but his will.

Dante shook himself back to focus and Swift Dashed, closing the distance to the lieutenant. The nickname he just came up with.

It screeched and spat silk as thick as rope, razor sharp.

He dodged but too late as one strand sliced across his shoulder, burning with venom. Warm blood trickled.

He hissed and used Heal.

Light wove through his skin, knitting muscle and sealing the cut in seconds. Pain faded into background noise.

"Not bad," he muttered.

Dante threw his hand forward dozens of Mana Bolts firing in a scatter shot.

The spider shrieked, some bolts punching through, others bouncing off hardened chitin.

It lunged.

Dante ducked under the mass of legs but one claw clipped him, sending him spinning across the floor.

His lungs burned. Web dust filled his throat.

But as the creature rushed him again, Dante grinned through blood-stained teeth.

"But you’ve got mana," he whispered.

Mana large enough to recharge him twice over.

Dante braced, coating his fist in a thick mana not shaped, not compressed, just raw. The spider slammed down.

Dante met it head-on.

A shockwave cracked the marble beneath their feet. Dante’s fist sank into chitin and the spider screeched, legs scrambling wildly.

Then, the reaping was activated.

Mana bled from the spider into Dante.

One punch. A tug. Two punches. A surge.

At three, his core roared as stolen energy burst through his system like wildfire.

His vision sharpened. His body felt lighter. Every breath burned sweet and hot.

"Oh yeah," Dante exhaled, smiling savagely. "This is nice."

The lieutenant thrashed, swinging wildly. Dante ducked under a leg and Swift Rushed forward, appearing behind its abdomen.

He landed another strike with no technique, just speed and force and felt more mana rip loose, filling him to the brim.

The spider dropped down.

Tendo’s voice echoed lazily from behind him, completely surrounded by crushed corpses and twitching limbs.

"Don’t play with your food."