Chapter 13

    The Day of the Brigands' War

    The next morning at the Spider Tower,

    Knock, knock, knock.

    "Are you awake yet, Inari?"

    Purple Spider knocked on the door of his own room which he had given to the young woman to rest.

    "I'm awake now, come on in."

    A sweet voice responded from the other side of the door, inviting the young man to enter. Purple Spider slowly opened the door.

    The sight of the beautiful woman with golden hair and eyes, sitting and drinking tea on a luxuriously designed antique European chair by the window, which was open to let in the gentle morning sunlight bathing her fair skin, made her already incomparable beauty seem like an illusion that could disappear with a blink. This sight made the young man, Purple Spider, who had just entered the room, utterly mesmerized by her radiant beauty.

    "Good morning, Miss Inari."

    "Why don't you have some tea first, Brother Spider?"

    The beautiful woman smiled at the young man, pouring tea into the luxurious teacup across from her. No man could refuse an invitation from such a beauty like her, leading Purple Spider to sit down as if enchanted.

    "Um... are you feeling alright, Brother Purple Spider?"

    Inari asked the young man when she noticed him sitting distantly, just staring at her face without touching the tea she had poured. However, there was no response from the young man sitting across for quite a while until she reached out and shook his arm while repeating her question.

    "Are you feeling unwell, Brother Spider?"

    Finally, the young man came out of his daze and responded to the beautiful woman sitting in front of him. Throughout his life, he had encountered many beautiful women, but none had ever made him breathless like Inari, who was smiling in front of him.

    "It’s nothing, I just stayed up late planning last night."

    Hearing Purple Spider’s response, the cunning fox mother immediately pretended to be saddened as if it was all because of her that Purple Spider had to endure such hardship, before proceeding with her plan.

    "I didn’t want a war to happen because of me. There’s still time to stop it."

    Inari expertly applied advanced psychology on Purple Spider, given that males, especially those in leadership positions like Purple Spider, often tend to do the opposite of what is suggested by females. By suggesting that she be handed over to Black Bear and to avoid war, she perfectly manipulated Purple Spider into doing the exact opposite, fitting seamlessly into her plan.

    "Don't worry, little Inari. But actually, it’s even better that we get to settle this war once and for all. I've long wanted to face Black Bear directly. Your arrival has provided the perfect opportunity to decide this once and for all.”

    "But Black Bear is really terrifying. Just talking through the screen yesterday made me feel suffocated."

    Inari continued, maintaining her worried expression.

    "Don't worry. I've planned well last night. No matter what, Black Bear won't be able to defeat us."

    Purple Spider was confident in his plan because the Black Bear group, being all brawn and no brains, had never employed any strategic warfare. The only reason the Black Bears had a higher level than them was because there were higher-level monsters around the Black Bears' cave than around the Spider’s Tower.

    "In that case, may I accompany you?"

    Inari said, looking away but her hand grasping Purple Spider's sleeve.

    "No need to worry, little Inari. Stay here in the tower. That way, I won’t have to worry about you. I'll have my best guards protect you. Lock the room, and wait for me to return."

    Purple Spider, once again deceived by Inari’s psychological tactics, mistakenly thought he had managed to penetrate the young woman's mind to some extent.

    "I must go prepare for the journey now. Take care, Inari."

    Purple Spider said as he took Inari's hand in his, which was still clutching his sleeve. This time, Inari seemed not to resist much, perhaps finally have feelings for him.

    (This will be the last time I have to endure the touch of this detestable man. Hold on, Inari.)

    "Let me walk you out, Brother Spider, please."

    Inari maintained her light smile, although her thoughts ran counter to her actions. She knew Purple Spider would refuse because he feared his subordinates would misbehave with her in his absence.

    "That's not necessary, Inari. Rest up, I’ll be back soon."

    Purple Spider replied exactly as Inari wished, proving to her that he was indeed like a donkey being led by her.

    "Okay. Good luck then, Brother Spider."

    Inari gave him one last smile reserved for when she would deliver justice through the system, planning the ultimate end for Purple Spider.

    On the battlefield, positioned between the groups of Black Bear and Purple Spider, was a flat rectangular plain, crossed by a shallow river flowing east to west. The north and south were bordered by cliffs about 1.5 meters high caused by tectonic uplift. At the appointed time, with the sun high in the sky, both forces positioned themselves on the cliffs at the north and south, according to the appointed time.

    Black Bear’s group, led by Black Bear himself—a 30-year-old level 50 heavy armor warrior nearly 2 meters tall, clad in a full body armor made from animal bones and fur, wielding a two-bladed axe with one blade 1.5 meters wide and 1 meter long, plus a 1-meter handle—loomed large. When stored on his back, the axe was slightly taller than Black Bear himself.

    Black Bear's subordinates number around 120, with an average level of 40, consisting of 80 warriors, 30 archers, and 10 supporting priests. They are equipped with weapons and protective gear ranging from levels 2 to 3. All are strategically positioned in a spear formation on the grasslands below the cliff, with warriors at the front, mages in the middle, and archers at the handle of the spear.

    The Purple Spider group, led by the Purple Spider, a prominent gunman aged about 25 and level 48, is of average build but notably handsome. He wears a shiny purple cloak from head to toe. His weapon of choice is a machine gun-style rifle, and he carries a significant amount of ammunition.

    The Purple Spider's subordinates, about 100 strong, are armed and armored at levels 4 to 5, with an average level of 35, including 20 warriors, 40 gunmen, 20 mages, and 20 priests. Currently, only the warriors arranged in a front line and the priests and mages standing on the cliff are visible; the rest of the forces are not in sight.

    "Purple Spider, it's not too late to give up now. I, the big brother, will consider that I just brought my followers out for a stroll."

    Black Bear’s large image was projected into the air in 3D, though the image was somewhat faded due to the old projector.

    "Nonsense… Black Bear, stop calling yourself 'big brother.' It makes me want to vomit. What kind of brother snatches his brother's woman?"

    Purple Spider projected also projected his own image into the air, but with a newer model projector, making the image clearer and realistic.

    "My spies reported about Inari as soon as she entered the city. I saw her first, so she should be mine. But it's those Purple Spiders who snatched her first."

    The gang that clashed with Möbius's group when they entered the city were actually Black Bear's subordinates, who were trying to capture Inari for their own boss.

    "But Inari was terrified of you yesterday when we talked over the screen. With that savage face of yours, do you think you are a prize? Beautiful women should be with handsome men like me, Purple Spider."

    Purple Spider boasted unashamedly of his handsomeness, even raising his eyebrow at Black Bear.

    "That's because she doesn't really know the true me, Black Bear. If she got to know me, she'd find out that I'm even cuter than Winnie the Pooh."

    Black Bear retorted, insisting that although he might not be visually appealing, his personality is endearing, having stayed single for 30 years because women flee at the sight of him before getting to know his true self.

    "People first judge by looks, and with your filthy, musty Black Bear cave lacking amenities, how could a delicate woman like Inari possibly be happy?"

    Purple Spider revealed the unkempt state of Black Bear, projecting images of Black Bear’s cave which was a disorderly bachelor's den.

    "It's called a self-sufficient economy, man. If I'm hungry, I hunt; if I'm sleepy, I sleep. When you live with nature, you don't need all those fancy things. My mother told me women like thrifty men."

    Black Bear quoted his mother’s words, countering Purple Spider's lavishness evident from his furnishings.

    "Don't confuse self-sufficiency with being a slob. What you call sufficiency is just a mess. If Inari lived there, she'd spend all day just trying to clean your cave and wouldn't have time for anything else. When was the last time you even bathed? The smell wafts over here,"

    Purple Spider mockingly pinched his nose, along with his subordinates imitating their leader’s gesture as well. On the other hand, Black Bear, feeling provoked, retaliated by bringing up Purple Spider's notorious habits.

    "It's just a few weeks. If Inari were to come, I'd have to take a bath to welcome her, wouldn't I? And you, Purple Spider, a man who has made dozens of women cry, can't you stand being without a new one? Let me tell you, I, the black bear, have never made a woman sad."

    "Because I haven't found the real one yet. When I meet Inari, I, Purple Spider, am ready to stop. Stop life, stop with her, no matter how good anyone else might be. And you, silly bear, women flee before they can feel sad because they are afraid of you."

    Purple Spider preempted before switching the names he called Black Bear to avoid redundancy.

    "Hey, Gay Purple Spider, you just want a beautiful face to show off, right? Who else wears purple from shirt to underwear? Not enough, you even force your subordinates to wear it."

    Finally, Black Bear revealed a well-kept secret, one that even Purple Spider's subordinates were curious about but dared not ask their leader.

    "It's a color for good Feng Shui, you uncivilized person wouldn't know. And how is your Black Bear group any better? Originally called the White Bear group because everyone agreed to wear white as a symbol. But due to your laziness in washing, it turned black, hence the name change to Black Bear. Damn filthy Black Bear, stop scratching your dirty behind, it's offensive to the eyes."

    Purple Spider dug up old stories to accuse, pointing his finger towards Black Bear, whose faults were now visible as his large 3D image betrayed him.

    "It's called heat rash, not dirt. If it itches, I must scratch. It's better than being bald. Even trying to thicken the character's hair in the game doesn't help. I know you frequently touch your head because the ringworm scalp under the wig on your head must be quite troublesome."

    Black Bear countered with remarks about the inferiority complex of Purple Spider, the handsome young man, who quickly moved his hand away from his head.

    "Damn..."

    Purple Spider was left speechless, stomping his foot in frustration. Meanwhile, the subordinates of both sides, having been in the sun for too long, are getting tired of their leaders' verbal war, but the most exhausting thing was holding back their laughter, as neither side realized their leaders had such secrets.

    "Hahaha, can't argue with that, you broad forehead. Let's go, Black Bear group, attack before Purple Spider thinks of a comeback. Charge!!!"

    Finally, the actual battle began. The Black Bear's spear formation charged forward to take out the enemy. Despite their speed, the disciplined formation remained intact, indicating that this time he had prepared his subordinates very well.

    "Stick to the plan, mages gather your magic without fail."

    Purple Spider commanded, visibly fuming but maintaining enough composure to direct his followers according to the prearranged strategy since last night.

    Purple Spider's 20 warriors stood still but the entire force of the Black Bear group, led by their leader at the spear's tip, nearly crossed the middle of the river.

    "Wait, wait," Purple Spider raised his hand signaling his mage troops to be ready.

    "He must be too scared to move now. We charge!!!"

    Black Bear saw that Purple Spider's forces weren't moving much, decided to speed up his troops to get out of the middle of the river as quickly as possible, but still slower than Purple Spider, who was waiting for this moment.

    "Now, do it!!!"

    Purple Spider waved his hand forward, signaling the initiation of their first stratagem.

    Above the sky, over the position where the Black Bear army was stationed, a suspiciously large black cloud appeared, floating low and quickly swirling into a massive snowstorm through a spell specifically designed to summon the snowstorm. Although this spell did not have a high offensive power, it covered a large area and was used by Purple Spider for its side effects.

    The shallow river, about 10 meters wide, instantly froze, trapping many of Black Bear's troops' feet in ice. Those running behind couldn't stop immediately because the icy ground was slippery, causing them to crash into each other, sprawling in disarray. The Black Bear army’s formation was now in complete chaos.

    "You cheater, if you're so great, fight me head-on."

    Black Bear roared angrily, condemning Purple Spider group for resorting to such underhanded tactics instead of facing him directly.

    "Don't be ridiculous, if this is cheating, then those high-level Black Bears are cheating too. Gunners, put a bullet in his mouth to shut him up!!!"

    Purple Spider commanded his hidden gunmen to open fire. As he gave the order, many troops emerged from hiding spots around the riverbank, concealed by wooden planks that blended seamlessly into the ground.

    Around Purple Spider's side of the river, over 40 gunmen emerged from hiding in a semi-circle, surrounding Black Bear's troops and unleashing a barrage of bullets at the Black Bear group that couldn't move forward immediately.

    "Frontline, get up and raise your shields. Archers, shoot over their heads."

    Black Bear, skilled in battling, quickly regained his composure, pulling out a shield from his bear-skin bag to block the flying bullets. His troops followed suit swiftly, with front-liners setting up shields to protect those behind them while those at the back raised shields to defend against attacks from above. For a moment, Black Bear's troops looked like a shimmering metal scale armor enveloping them, protecting from attacks in all directions.

    "Everyone, unleash your power and shatter this ice."

    “Ah…!!!”

    Black Bear roared, commanding his troops to use a technique that enhanced their attacks. to use a technique that enhanced their attacks. It involved harnessing the element of fire within themselves to accelerate their body's metabolic processes, increasing their physical strength. Many warriors took in large amounts of air into their lungs to rapidly fuel the fire, before shouting simultaneously to drown out the incessant gunfire.

    "Ha!!!"

    With a loud roar and a burst of red energy emanating from their bodies, the ice that had clung to their feet shattered under the immense force. Black Bear then proceeded to move forward to escape the river as quickly as possible before their enemies could deploy any more tricks. As anticipated, Purple Spider was already transmitting further orders.

    "Priests, cover the gunmen. Mages, use lightning magic. Gunners, switch to shotguns. Warriors, be ready."

    A barrage of powerful lightning spells erupted simultaneously. Numerous bolts struck down from the sky directly onto the iron scales that the warriors formed. Lifting metallic shields into the sky while their feet remained submerged in the water turned them into effective lightning rods. Many warriors, especially those with low magic resistance, suffered severe injuries.

    And as a result of being chilled followed by those lightning bolts, warriors of the Black Bear group moved sluggishly forward, while Purple Spider's gunmen had switched to shotguns, which delivered more impactful blows than regular bullets. Many of Black Bear's troops fell and became streaks of light ascending to the sky.

    "Everyone, keep your composure. Don't give in to those cheaters."

    Black Bear yelled frustratedly as his troops started to falter. The army began to break ranks, so he used his leadership abilities to enhance coordination among his forces, reducing their panic and slightly boosting their overall strength.

    ‘Aura of the leader.’

    "Priests, use shields to ward off magic, no need for basic power moves. Archers, shoot following the group leader's commands; warriors, gather your energy for power-enhancing potions for those in front, prepare to move forward with basic skills that could charge."

    The giant warrior quickly orchestrated a response to the immediate crisis. He ordered the priests to create shields that could defend against the magic attacks doing significant damage to his troops. Archers were directed to pick off enemies one by one, while the warriors at the back methodically passed strength-boosting potions to the front lines, gathering their own elemental fire to use in close combat.

    "It's coming, warriors get ready, gunmen fall back, mages group three to one target."

    Purple Spider, positioned at the forefront of his own warrior troop, adjusted his tactical formation to suit the unfolding events. In his army, he was the only one capable of confronting Black Bear directly.

    "Aaargh!!!"

    One of Purple Spider's gunmen, who had emerged from a hiding spot and was attempting to retreat to the rear, was struck down by a barrage of arrows and fell, becoming a burst of light. Black Bear used his death as a signal to launch a full-on assault.

    "All warriors, charge!!!"

    Black Bear commanded loudly, storing his large shield back in his bag. Similarly, his warrior-class followers stashed away their shields and surged forward like arrows released from bows, utilizing the basic ability of the warrior class known as 'charge' which allows them to rush forward swiftly.

    Seeing the enemy's front line charging at high speed, Purple Spider ordered his own warriors to ready themselves for combat.

    "All warriors, prepare to defend. Don't let anyone get past us. Gunners, shoot once you're in position."

    His warriors and Purple Spider himself focused on preventing Black Bear's warriors from breaking through their lines, while his gunmen took position on a small cliff to maximize their firing advantage due to the height, increasing the likelihood of headshots. Meanwhile, his mages, grouped in threes, easily penetrated the magical barriers that could ward off magic.

    As for Black Bear, he instructed his archers to fire over the heads into groups of mages, priests, and gunmen, while his priests continuously cast magical barriers. The battlefield had devolved into a brutal melee where both sides suffered losses. Confident in their subordinates, both Purple Spider and Black Bear believed they would draw out the enemy leader once their forces secured a victory, enabling them to gang up and take down the opposing leader.