38 Acromantulas
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Bane nervously crouched as low as possible, feeling his scalp go numb from the presence of the dense group of acromantulas in the pit. The air was filled with a cacophony of clicking sounds, the active claws of the spiders communicating with each other.
Focused on Ethan's hiding place, Bane saw him wave after a while. Prepared, Bane promptly ignited a ball, following Ethan's instructions. Simultaneously, he noticed the ignited bomb sparks thrown by several other teammates in his peripheral vision.
A loud noise erupted, and the ground jolted. The intense vibration caused discomfort for Bane, Ronan, and Firenze, prompting them to kick their hooves uneasily in an attempt to alleviate the sensation.
Compared to the acromantula pit, the discomfort the three centaurs felt was trivial. The bomb, landing amidst the spiders, detonated instantly, tearing the acromantulas into pieces. Green blood and limbs sprayed on the remaining spiders like rain.
The onslaught continued, the explosion's force unabated. Roaring flames engulfed a large portion of the open space, causing a dreadful commotion.
As they searched for incoming enemies, the relentless explosion persisted. Ethan's commands were no longer necessary. Driven by fear of the acromantulas in the bombed nest, Bane, Ronan, and Firenze voluntarily hurled the remaining bombs into the midst of the dense spider population. The explosion's flames and metal fragments mercilessly claimed the lives of the remaining acromantulas.
The eight-eyed giant spiders, lacking high intelligence, lost their bearings amid the relentless bombardment. They scurried aimlessly, resembling headless flies trying to evade explosions, paying no attention to identifying the attackers. The illuminated spiders resembled moving torches, writhing in agony and inadvertently setting ablaze their fellow spiders.
Observing this, the quartet ceased squandering bombs, opting instead for bows and crossbows to claim the lives of the acromantulas. Bane, Ronan, and Firenze displayed remarkable accuracy, rivaling even Ethan. Their arrows consistently found the vulnerable center of the eight-eyed giant spider's eye, the weakest point in its defense.
The relentless offensive of the foursome continued to reap the lives of the eight-eyed spiders. Suddenly, a spider the size of a small elephant emerged from the foggy, hemispherical spider web. Its black and gray body and legs, along with a grotesque head covered in folds, suggested blindness.
"Idiots, they're over there!" Aragog, the king of acromantulas, raised its impressive spider legs and pointed toward the quartet. Ethan couldn't fathom how the blind spider accurately located them, but he recognized Aragog.
The chaotic spiders swiftly organized at Aragog's command, launching a unified attack on the quartet. Their remarkable obedience left Ethan in awe.
As the situation demanded a change in tactics, the foursome regrouped on a defensible high ground, anticipating the approaching swarm of eight-eyed giant spiders.
The initial onslaught of the spider swarm faced hindrance. They converged menacingly, assaulting the quartet vigorously. This played into the hands of the bombs, whose potency was unleashed without Ethan's directive. Several centaurs, comprehending the strategy, hurled bombs skillfully, creating gaps in the once-dense spider group.
The centaurs' well-coordinated bomb throws set surrounding combustibles ablaze, obstructing most paths of the eight-eyed spider attacks. Only a narrow passage remained. Ethan, seizing the opportunity, cast several Yrden signs to impede the spiders' speed as they advanced through the passage.
The battle intensified rapidly. The centaurs utilized bows and arrows to dispatch the rampaging eight-eyed spiders, while Ethan employed the Yrden Sign and Igni Sign to continuously repel them at the passage entrance. Soon, a wall of spider corpses accumulated.
Running low on arrows, the centaurs' arms grew weary from relentless shooting. Even the formidable Bane, in short attack intervals, panted and moved his arms with fatigue.
As the spiders ascended the corpse wall, leveraging the terrain to pounce on Bane, whose hand had just left the bowstring.
With lightning speed, Ethan leaped into action, his silver sword emitting a sharp piercing sound. The blade traced a swift straight line, cleaving the spider into two, its green blood showering Ethan and Bane.
Grateful, Bane patted Ethan's arm before resuming the battle. Ethan employed the last bomb to destroy the corpse wall, thwarting potential attacks from jumping eight-eyed giant spiders.
The ensuing battle proved arduous. After sustained assaults, the number of remaining eight-eyed spiders dwindled. Rather than retreat, the remaining spiders charged more ferociously.
Ethan, with a serious expression, gripped his silver sword, realizing this was the showdown. After casting a Quen shield on himself, he bravely confronted the surging eight-eyed giant spiders.
Sword dance. Ethan moved with the agility of a civet cat during the giant eight-eyed spider's assault, his silver sword cutting through them like the scythe of death.
Bane, Ronan, and Firenze using their bows and arrows, aided Ethan in eliminating eight-eyed spiders attempting sneak attacks. Admiration filled their eyes as they watched Ethan.
With the reluctant scream of the last eight-eyed giant spider, the protracted battle concluded. Ethan's body was covered in green spider blood, emitting a foul odor. He planted his long sword on the ground and wearily leaned on it. Even for a demon hunter with robust physical fitness, the lengthy battle depleted his stamina.
After a brief respite, the quartet overturned the densely packed acromantula corpses, proceeding toward a misty, hemispherical spider web at the depression's center.
Despite the burnt stench filling the air in the depression, the three centaurs disregarded it, directing their angered gazes at Aragog, the behemoth on the spider web.
Aragog, too old to participate in battle, relied on his clan to bring him sustenance. His clan consisted of his and his wife Mosag's offspring.
