The Shadow

The sea spider, roughly the size of a basin, possessed moderate strength and limited defense. However, its true prowess lay in the neurotoxins within its proboscis and its agile speed.

Millie's blade swung through empty space as the sea spider spiraled downward, its proboscis aimed directly at her face.

Long, by her side, couldn't wield his steel shovel in time and instead transferred it to his left hand, taking a daring swipe with his right.

The sea spider, caught off guard by the direct intervention, failed to sink its fangs into Millie before Long's right hand landed a solid blow to its head.

With "Soul Devour" activated, the sea spider's body suddenly stiffened, its eight delicate legs curling inward as it flipped belly-up, lifeless.

Having saved himself, Long's swift action left Millie in awe, her phoenix-like eyes reflecting gratitude as she thought to herself, "Brother Ding truly lives up to his status as a Level 4 Spirit Source user, the strongest leader among us."

Just as Long dispatched this sea spider, two more emerged from another direction, with more stirring in the background, ready to surge forth.

With newfound experience, Millie refrained from haphazardly thrusting her blade. These sea spiders were too agile in the water; attempting to strike them from a distance was nearly impossible. Only when they drew near could she hope to deliver a fatal blow.

The two sea spiders lunged at Millie simultaneously. Millie accelerated her ascent while extending her left hand. As the spiders drew within a meter of her, she spread her fingers wide, and a green vine-like substance, as thick as a finger and adorned with tiny leaves, shot out from her palm. This vine, serpentine and agile, quickly entwined the two sea spiders, binding them tightly in an instant.

Simon, worried for her safety, rushed to her side just in time to witness this scene. He realized that this must be her unique ability, understanding that her evolution to level 3 and survival alone until now were not just due to luck, but a testament to her formidable strength.

While pondering this, he extended his left hand, unleashing the four "Fangs of Gluttony" towards one of the sea spiders' heads. The spider's head was swiftly severed, releasing a spirit source which immediately merged into Simon's forehead. Information flashed in his mind: "Level 3 Spirit Source User: Spirit Source 12/30."

Meanwhile, Millie's right hand thrust her machete forward, slicing open the abdomen of the other entangled sea spider. Swinging a machete underwater was challenging due to the resistance, so she wielded it like a spear, using its sharp tip with considerable force. 

The two sea spiders were swiftly killed. As they ascended to the twenty-eighth floor, they saw more sea spiders emerging from the windows and balconies of the twenty-seventh floor below. There were at least twenty of them, and being surrounded would be perilous.

The commotion below triggered an unusual response from the sea spiders on the twenty-eighth floor. One quickly appeared on a balcony and leaped out. Long, the fastest, had already ascended to the twenty-eighth floor and swiftly reached the twenty-ninth floor, where he could see the surface above.

Millie and Simon surged upwards at full speed, with a swarm of sea spiders in pursuit. Suddenly, corpses appeared on the balcony and at the windows of the twenty-ninth floor. These zombie beasts moved sluggishly in the water, floating more than swimming.

Long navigated through them with the agility of a fish, kicking one of the zombie beasts downwards as he passed.

The zombie beast immediately sank downward, colliding with the ascending sea spiders. The sea spiders quickly attacked, biting the zombie beast, which retaliated fiercely. The most formidable weapon of the sea spiders, the paralyzing neurotoxin in their mandibles, was ineffective against the zombie beast. Deprived of their most lethal advantage, their attacks could not inflict mortal wounds on the zombie beast. 

The zombie beast seemed naturally to counter the sea spiders. Despite its lower level, it showed no fear, striking back with its hands, swatting the sea spiders away.

Simon and Millie surged upward. Simon, not as adept in the water as Millie, lagged behind. A sea spider caught up to him, its mandibles poised to bite his left leg. Simon quickly retracted his legs, thrusting his right arm downward. The iron rod in his hand struck the sea spider, and using the momentum, he kicked downward, propelling himself upward to join Millie amidst the horde of lower-level zombie beasts above.

The disturbance caused the lower-level zombie beasts to drift out from the balconies and windows of the twenty-ninth floor. The ascending sea spiders engaged in combat with the zombie beasts. Long and Millie brandished their steel shovels and machetes, attacking the surrounding zombie beasts as they ascended toward the surface.

Simon observed the swarm of sea spiders rising below, colliding with the zombie beasts, creating chaos. Although the lower-level zombie beasts were numerous, they were weak. Simon paid them little mind, knowing the spirit sources from such low-level creatures held no value for him. He prepared to ascend when he sensed a disturbance below. Glancing downward, he saw the mass of sea spiders suddenly dispersing. Amidst the turmoil, a colossal shadow emerged, crashing through the sea spider swarm with astonishing speed, heading rapidly upward.

"Not good!" Simon's heart sank as he surged upward at full speed. Swinging his iron rod, he smashed aside a lower-level zombie beast blocking his path, breaking through the surface of the water. He saw Long and Millie already emerging, climbing unhurriedly onto the balcony. He shouted, "Danger below, hurry up!" With a powerful kick and an outstretched left hand, he grabbed the edge of the balcony, ready to hoist himself over.

Seeing Simon's urgency, Long and Millie were startled. They immediately exerted themselves, vaulting over the balcony.

Almost simultaneously, Simon felt a turbulent current beneath his feet. A massive shadow surged from the depths, pushing several zombie beasts aside with the force of its ascent. Recognizing the immense power, Simon let out a low growl, grasping the balcony with both hands. He pulled his lower body out of the water, creating a spray of droplets as he executed a somersault, flipping over the balcony.