Chapter 78: The Mobile Vault and the Acromantulas
Within the Forbidden Forest dwells a magical creature classified by the Ministry of Magic as a xxxxx-level dangerous species.
Acromantula.
A massive creature with high resistance to magic, remarkable agility, and rapid reproduction.
Individually, they are not particularly formidable—an ordinary adult wizard can handle one with ease. But in the wild, these creatures can effortlessly kill even experienced wizards.
They excel at ambushes and often hunt in packs. Against them, ordinary wizards are nearly defenseless, torn apart and devoured.
Leonard had already stepped into the territory of a colony of Acromantula.
That was not unusual. Because of their fast reproduction, their territory spread vast and deep within the Forbidden Forest.
The place Leonard was seeking inevitably overlapped with their domain.
And trespassing into Acromantula territory meant facing wave after wave of relentless attacks.
“Rustle...”
Faint sounds crept closer from all directions. As countless red dots drew near, moonlight revealed the massive spider bodies.
Sharp jointed legs scraped against the earth, dragging their swollen black abdomens. Their bodies were covered in needle-like gray bristles.
Their grotesque mouthparts twitched, venomous fangs gleaming black. Droplets of poison dripped into the soil, scorching the already withered grass into blackened husks.
Eight scarlet eyes covered their heads, surveying every angle. The four forward-facing eyes fixed unblinkingly on Leonard, their prey.
These were creatures born to hunt. Dozens—perhaps hundreds—of Acromantula had surrounded Leonard, eager to turn the intruder into their midnight meal.
As for the bouncing emerald cabbages, they were nothing more than garnish on the platter.
To the Acromantula, such flavorless magical plants weren’t worth a glance.
They weren’t vegetarians, after all.
Leonard looked at the monstrous spiders with indifference, calmly slipping his hand into his pocket.
His sudden movement startled them. An Acromantula behind him let out a shrill hiss, its eight legs pressing down like coiled springs before launching itself straight at the back of his head.
But faster than it—was a cabbage.
The Chomping Cabbage darted forward, quicker and deadlier, its bite far more precise.
It sprang up at the Acromantula, jaws wide, engulfing its head.
The spider tried to stab its fangs into the cabbage, but before it could exert any force, the cabbage snapped its teeth shut.
A sharp crack echoed. The Acromantula’s headless body thudded to the ground, limbs twitching before going still.
The Chomping Cabbage chewed noisily, purple juices mixed with venom dripping between its jagged teeth.
Clearly, compared to the cabbage whose very nature was tearing and biting, the Acromantula’s jaw strength was lacking.
The Chomping Cabbage was a carnivore too!
And as a magical plant, it possessed extraordinary resistance to toxins.
Leonard glanced at the venom dripping from the cabbage’s mouth, a thoughtful idea sparking in his mind.
The death of one Acromantula drove the others into a frenzy.
These spiders were highly intelligent, capable of bonds with their kind. Though they would devour the flesh of fallen kin, they still understood vengeance.
Sensing their intent to attack, the Chomping Cabbages formed a protective ring around Leonard, ready to bite a bloody path open for him.
But Leonard had no interest in watching a few cabbages chew through a pack of giant spiders.
Even if his mind could tolerate it, time could not.
The Acromantula could wait no longer. They leapt into the air, lunging toward Leonard.
His gaze lowered slightly as a spiked seed fell into the soil.
The ground churned, and a fresh green thorn erupted upward. Covered in sharp spikes, it thrust upward like a sword at the descending spiders.
Bitterthorn Reinforced, Thornpiercer!
The deadly thorn, as though guided by unseen eyes, shot up with blistering speed, piercing the soft underbellies of every falling Acromantula.
They writhed in agony, but before they could even struggle twice, purple blood and white silk sacs spilled from the wounds.
Mixed in was their now-useless paralytic venom.
Thornpiercer had struck their vital point. Death came instantly with the piercing blow—no need for merciful paralysis.
One after another, the sounds of puncturing and agonized screeches echoed. In moments, an umbrella-like canopy of impaled Acromantula hung above Leonard’s head.
The rest, too slow to leap, were skewered by branching thorns, none spared.
When the surrounding Acromantula were wiped out, the vibrant thorns lost their color, withering into hard, brittle branches.
Leonard walked calmly among the thorny remains, gazing up at the suspended spiders.
It resembled a twisted sculpture of postmodern art—withered thorns forming the base, Acromantula as the grotesque decorations.
Bathed in moonlight, the scene was both horrific and strangely beautiful.
...
Leonard took out a small glass vial and began collecting venom from each Acromantula.
Their venom was precious—a restricted magical material—fetching 100 Galleons per pint on the open market.
With so many Acromantula around, Leonard could keep some for himself and have Midgard sell the rest.
If the market price was 100 Galleons, the black market was far from that cheap. Just the venom alone could earn Leonard a fortune.
The ten crystal vials he carried were already filled to the brim. Looking up at a few of the higher-hanging spiders whose venom he hadn’t taken, Leonard shook his head and turned away.
He couldn’t carry any more. What was he supposed to do, hold it in his mouth?
Besides, there was no shortage of Acromantula here. If he wanted more, he could always come back to hunt.
Spending just one Bitterthorn seed to harvest a pile of Acromantula venom—absolute profit!
With that thought, Leonard continued eastward. This was already deep within Acromantula territory, and he couldn’t risk going further or he might run into Hagrid’s pet, Aragog.
That one could speak human language. If it exposed his presence in the Forbidden Forest to Hagrid, it would raise suspicion and might even lead to increased patrols.
That would disrupt Leonard’s plans.
So he decided to head in another direction.
Author's Note
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