I'm a Immortal Tavernkeeper, But My S-Rank Daughter Doesn't Know That!

Trawerr felt his breathing fail. The heavy air of the underground hall seemed to poison his lungs with each inhalation, and the massive presence of the giant spider before them only exacerbated the feeling of suffocation. He tried to push away the growing fear in his chest, but the crimson glow in the creature’s eyes paralyzed him, as if it were draining his will.

Wanda, on the other hand, stood firm. Despite the sweat dripping down her forehead, she held her sword with determination. The confidence in her voice, still echoing in her mind, was the only thing keeping Trawerr grounded in this reality.

"Together," she had said, and he knew she was right.

The giant spider moved again, its huge legs scratching the stone floor with a sound like fingernails on a chalkboard, only amplified by the cavernous surroundings. The vibration of the sound resonated through the walls, causing small stones and dust to fall from the ceiling above. The monster seemed to be studying its opponents, waiting for the right moment to strike.

Trawerr tightened his grip on his twin swords, feeling the cold leather against his sweaty skin. He tried to concentrate, remembering the grueling training his father, the hero Victor, had put him through since childhood. Those relentless combat sessions were meant to make him a fearless warrior, but now, facing a creature that seemed to personify terror, Trawerr wondered if any training could truly prepare him for this.

"Get ready, Trawerr," Wanda murmured, her eyes still fixed on the spider. "We’re going to need everything we’ve got."

Trawerr nodded, though his heart was still pounding. "Understood. I’ll cover you."

Wanda advanced first, moving with a grace and speed that only an experienced hunter like herself could display.

Her boots barely made a sound as they touched the ground, even over the thick layer of webs that covered everything around her. She raised her sword, channeling a small amount of magical energy into the blade, causing it to glow with a faint bluish hue.

As the blade descended in an arc, the glow intensified, cutting through the webs and causing a gust of magical wind to sweep through the air, aimed directly at the creature.

The spider reacted surprisingly quickly for one of its size. Its long, thin legs rose, blocking Wanda’s magical blow with a barrier of webs that materialized at the last second. The energy of the attack was absorbed by the webs, which dissipated into the air with a sizzle.

Trawerr saw his chance. He lunged at the creature’s flank, trying to take advantage of the moment when it was distracted by Wanda.

His swords sliced through the air with precision, aiming for the joints of the spider’s legs where he believed it would be most vulnerable.

The sound of metal against the creature’s shell echoed through the hall, but instead of piercing, Trawerr’s blades merely scraped the hard black surface, leaving only sparks in their wake. The impact nearly made his hands tremble, but he maintained control and quickly backed away before the spider could retaliate.

"Damn! It’s like trying to cut stone!" Trawerr exclaimed, his frustration obvious.

The spider spun around, its legs moving with frightening agility as it tried to strike him. Trawerr jumped backward, nearly losing his balance as he stepped on a particularly thick web, but managed to avoid what would have been a fatal blow.

He felt the air move violently beside him as the spider’s giant leg passed inches from his head and slammed into the ground where he had been seconds before.

"We need more than brute force, Trawerr!" shouted Wanda, her words accompanied by another magical attack aimed at the spider’s eyes.

The beam of magical energy struck one of the creature’s red eyes, which let out a hideous scream that echoed through the cave with a fury that made Trawerr’s blood run cold.

The spider recoiled slightly, its paws slapping the ground in a frenzy as a dark, slimy substance oozed from its wounded eye.

"You did it!" Trawerr exclaimed, thrilled at Wanda’s success.

But the victory was short-lived. The spider, even wounded, advanced even more aggressively. Its legs glided across the ground at a speed disproportionate to its size, while it threw thick webs in all directions, trying to trap the two hunters in its deadly trap.

Wanda and Trawerr were forced apart, each trying to avoid the webs while looking for an opportunity to strike again. The underground hall, already oppressive, now seemed even smaller as the spider filled the room with its sticky traps.

Trawerr felt panic rise as he saw himself cornered. The webs restricted his movements, and he could see the red glow of the spider’s eyes fixed on him, as if already planning its next attack. He knew that if he was caught by those webs, it would be the end.

"Wanda, we need a strategy!" he cried in desperation.

Wanda, who was across the hall, struggling to keep her distance from the spider, looked in his direction and nodded quickly. "I’ll distract it! When I give the signal, attack with everything you’ve got!"

Trawerr hesitated for a moment. He knew this meant Wanda would be risking her life, but there was no other option. He trusted his sister’s abilities, but the fear for his own safety almost made him protest. But he suppressed the impulse, knowing that she was right.

Wanda took a deep breath and concentrated. She knew that she only had one chance. Channeling all of her magical energy, she enveloped her sword in a glowing aura, increasing the intensity until the blade was almost blinding. Then, with a war cry, she lunged at the spider, waving her sword like a flaming torch.

The spider immediately turned toward her, drawn by the intense light. Wanda moved quickly, dodging the legs that tried to crush her and the webs that threatened to trap her. Each time her sword struck the creature’s shell, sparks of magical energy flew, and Wanda screamed in effort, forcing the spider to focus on her.

"Trawerr, now!" she shouted, her words echoing through the cave.

Trawerr wasted no time. He focused all of his magical energy into his swords, making them glow with an intense light. With a roar of determination, he launched himself at the spider, running with all the speed he could muster. He knew he had to strike a decisive blow.

When he got close enough, the spider sensed his presence and tried to spin around to defend itself, but Wanda, anticipating the move, attacked one of its remaining eyes, forcing it to focus on her for one more crucial moment.

Trawerr took advantage of the opening and leapt, putting all his strength into his legs. He lifted his swords into the air, crossed them over his head, and then came down with a double strike, aiming for where the spider’s front leg joints connected to its body.

The force of the explosion sent Trawerr stumbling backward, his body tingling with residual magical energy. The spider, now wounded and enraged, thrashed violently, its enormous legs flailing in every direction.

Trawerr could feel the intense heat radiating from the creature as its own energy clashed with his, creating a fierce and dangerous struggle for dominance.

The cave walls seemed to tremble under the weight of the spider’s screams, a bone-chilling sound that reverberated through the air. Despite the pain and the overwhelming power of the monster, Trawerr’s determination burned bright within him. He gritted his teeth and focused his mind, channeling every ounce of his magical prowess into his blades, refusing to let the spider overpower him.

But he didn’t back down. Keeping his focus, Trawerr forced the blades deeper, slicing through the creature’s flesh and bone. Finally, he felt the resistance give way, and the spider fell, its legs convulsing as its huge body slammed into the ground with a thud that shook the earth.

Wanda ran up to him, her face covered in sweat and dirt, but her eyes shining with relief. "We made it, Trawerr!" she said, her voice exhausted but full of joy.

Trawerr let out a breath he hadn’t even realized he was holding and fell to his knees, feeling his strength finally leave him. "Yes... we made it..." he replied, his voice weak.

Wanda came over and helped him to his feet. "Yes, we did it. Together," she said, hugging him briefly before letting go and looking around. "Let’s get out of here. This place is falling apart."

Cautiously, they began to leave the cave, their bodies sore and tired, but with a sense of victory that outweighed their exhaustion. As they left, Trawerr looked back one last time and saw the spider’s shadow disappear into the darkness.

When they finally emerged from the cave, the daylight blinded them for a moment, but it was a relief to feel the fresh, clean air again. They stopped for a moment, breathing deeply and enjoying the feeling of being alive.

"You were amazing in there," Wanda said, breaking the silence, her tone sincere.

Trawerr smiled, a tired but genuine smile. "We both were. I don’t know what I would have done without you."

Wanda patted his shoulder. "We’ll never have to find out. We’ll go on together, as we always have."