A spider lunged, only to be met with a searing blast of flame to the face. It screeched and recoiled, its bristling hairs catching fire as it writhed. Dusk took advantage of its distraction, darting forward and slicing through its abdomen with his claws. The creature collapsed, twitching violently.


    Sparky was a streak of electrified fury, dashing between their enemies and leaving a trail of sizzling bodies in his wake. Every time a spider got too close, he unleashed a concentrated bolt of lightning, sending it convulsing into the dirt. His energy surged, crackling in the air around him as he reveled in the chaos.


    Another spider dropped from the canopy above, its silk trailing like a noose. Traebus barely had time to react before he swung his spear upward, channeling mana into the weapon. The tip ignited with a bright, molten glow, slicing through the silk like butter before stabbing into the spider’s underbelly. It let out a high-pitched shriek, limbs curling as it collapsed onto the burning webbing below.


    They continued their onslaught, drawing the spiders out in manageable waves. Fire, lightning, and claw met fangs, silk, and skittering legs in a brutal dance of destruction. The trio worked in perfect tandem, pressing forward inch by inch. The more spiders they killed, the more the others hesitated.


    After what felt like an eternity, the attack slowed. The surviving spiders hung back in the shadows, unwilling to approach. Their numbers had thinned significantly, and the scent of scorched silk and charred flesh hung heavy in the air.


    Traebus, breathing hard, looked at the smoldering battlefield. "Alright. I think we got their attention. Now let’s get that salt before they change their minds."


    They pressed forward cautiously, weaving through the smoldering wreckage of webbing and charred spider carcasses. The sickly-sweet scent of burnt chitin hung heavy in the air, but Traebus paid it no mind as he focused on their goal.


    Nestled in the jungle floor ahead of them was the unmistakable jagged outcropping of white mineral deposits. The salt deposit. It was larger than he had hoped, veins of crystalized salt jutting out like fractured teeth in the earth.


    With an eager grin, Traebus strode forward, crouching down to scrape a small sample onto his fingertip. He popped it into his mouth and let the briny tang confirm what he already knew.


    “Oh, hell yes,” he muttered, grinning. “We actually found something useful for once.”


    Dusk remained on high alert, eyes scanning their surroundings, while Sparky flicked his tail excitedly, little sparks popping from his scales. For a brief moment, all seemed well.


    Then the jungle above them shifted.


    The movement was subtle at first—a few leaves rustling in a breeze that didn’t exist. Then, in a slow, terrible cascade, strands of thick, silken webbing unfurled from the treetops, draping down like curtains of death.


    Something enormous dropped from the canopy.


    The impact alone sent a ripple through the ground. The sheer weight of it made the earth tremble beneath their feet.


    Traebus barely had time to look up before his stomach dropped into his boots.


    The thing that loomed before them was unlike any spider they had encountered so far. Its legs, thicker than tree trunks, shifted with an unnatural grace, their hooked claws sinking deep into the dirt. Its massive, bulbous body gleamed darkly, segmented armor plates overlapping like an organic fortress. Eight glistening black eyes reflected the firelight, each one gleaming with a malevolent intelligence.


    The mother of all spiders had arrived.


    It chittered, low and guttural, the sound vibrating through Traebus’s bones. A thick strand of silk dripped from its monstrous fangs as its mandibles twitched in anticipation.


    Traebus exhaled slowly. “Of course there’s a bigger one. Why wouldn’t there be?”


    Sparky let out an aggressive trill, crackling with lightning, while Dusk tensed beside him, his frills flared to their maximum.


    Traebus straightened, cracking his neck. “Alright, lads. Let’s see if we can deep-fry the big one.”


    The broodmother lunged first.


    It moved far faster than something its size should have been able to, its massive legs striking the ground like falling trees as it skittered toward them. Traebus barely had time to throw himself aside before a thick strand of silk shot past him, slamming into the jungle floor with enough force to crack the dirt.


    Dusk darted to the side, barely avoiding another sticky projectile, while Sparky zipped around like a bolt of living lightning, launching precise zaps at the monster’s armored hide. The electricity sparked across the broodmother’s thick carapace, but instead of frying it outright, the current simply dispersed—barely affecting it at all.


    Traebus gritted his teeth. “Great. It’s got built-in insulation. That’s fair.”


    The spider queen turned toward Dusk, its massive, gnashing mandibles clicking hungrily. Dusk flared his frills wide, letting out a guttural snarl before dashing forward. He struck low, his claws raking across the broodmother’s front leg. The attack cut deep, but the spider hardly seemed to notice.


    It reared back and slammed one of its massive legs down.


    Dusk barely rolled aside in time, the impact cracking the ground where he had just stood.


    Sparky, unwilling to be ignored, leapt onto the beast’s back and bit down hard, releasing a surge of stored-up lightning directly into its armored plating. This time, the broodmother twitched violently, chittering in fury as arcs of electricity danced across its body.


    “Okay, so enough volts still work!” Traebus yelled. “Good to know!”


    The broodmother thrashed, forcing Sparky to leap away before it could crush him. It turned its many-eyed gaze toward Traebus, who was already drawing his mana into his rings.


    “Alright, you eight-legged freak,” he muttered, stepping forward. “Let’s see how you handle fire.”


    He thrust his hands outward, releasing a jet of flame directly at the spider’s face. The moment the fire hit, the broodmother shrieked, its agonized screech shaking the jungle. It reared back, its front legs flailing wildly as the flames blackened its chitinous armor. The air filled with the acrid stench of burning silk and smoldering flesh.


    Dusk took advantage of the moment of vulnerability, lunging forward and tearing into one of its middle legs, his powerful jaws crushing the joint. The broodmother staggered, unbalanced, but lashed out wildly. One of its massive limbs struck Dusk, sending him skidding across the dirt.


    “Sparky, keep frying it! Dusk, you good?” Traebus barked, not taking his eyes off their towering opponent.


    Dusk shook himself, his frills flattened in irritation. He was bruised but not out of the fight.


    The broodmother, now bleeding thick, inky ichor from its wounds, suddenly went still. Its massive body tensed—coiling—before launching itself straight at Traebus.


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    “OH COME ON!”


    He barely had time to throw up a stone barrier before the full weight of the monstrosity slammed into it. The wall cracked instantly, sending Traebus stumbling backward. The force of the impact sent a shockwave through the ground, and he felt the vibrations in his bones.


    Sparky darted in again, biting down hard on one of its many eyes. The broodmother screeched, this time in pain, and whipped its massive head around, throwing Sparky violently into a nearby tree. He landed with a thud, dazed but still sparking with residual energy.


    Traebus cursed, his mind racing. Fire was working. Fire was working.


    He needed more fire.


    Gathering his mana, he focused everything into his flame ring. The stone grew hot against his skin, pulsing as he overloaded it with raw energy. The broodmother was reeling, its twitching legs scraping against the jungle floor as it tried to steady itself.


    This was his moment.


    He released everything in one massive burst—a roaring inferno of searing heat engulfing the monstrous spider from leg to mandibles. The broodmother’s shriek was deafening, its entire form writhing in pure agony as the flames consumed it. The stench of burning chitin was overwhelming, thick black smoke rising into the canopy.


    Dusk lunged one last time, his claws raking across its flaming body, and with a final, tortured screech, the broodmother fled.


    Its massive, smoldering form scuttled into the jungle, trampling smaller trees in its desperate retreat. Traebus didn’t let up—he sent another jet of flame after it, ensuring that the damned thing kept running.


    Only when the sounds of its retreat faded into the distance did he finally allow himself to breathe.


    Panting, he turned to Dusk and Sparky. “We… we actually survived that.”


    Sparky gave a woozy trill, still lying in the dirt where he had landed. Dusk shook out his bruised limbs and flicked a tired mental image to Traebus—one of them standing over the corpse of the spider queen, triumphant.


    Traebus snorted. “Yeah, well, close enough.”


    He turned to the salt deposit, eyes narrowing. “Alright. Let’s grab as much of this as we can carry before something else tries to kill us.”


    The trio wasted no time gathering the precious salt. Traebus used his spear to chip away large chunks of the mineral, stuffing handfuls into a reinforced sack he had brought for supplies. Dusk stood guard, his frills still flared in residual tension, eyes flicking toward every shadow as if expecting the broodmother to return at any moment. Sparky, meanwhile, alternated between gathering salt in his maw—then promptly spitting it back out in disgust—and keeping watch with crackling impatience.


    After what felt like a frantic eternity, they had nearly a full backpack of salt stored away. Traebus slung the pack over his shoulder, adjusting its weight before glancing at the darkening sky.


    “We need to move,” he muttered. “I am not spending the night out here with whatever else thinks we look tasty.”


    Dusk chuffed in agreement, already moving toward the path they had taken into the jungle. Sparky, ever eager to escape after their latest life-threatening encounter, took the lead, his body sparking as he darted through the undergrowth.


    The journey back was tense but uneventful. Traebus kept his spear at the ready, scanning the foliage for any sign of movement. The jungle had fallen eerily silent, as if the fight with the broodmother had left the surrounding creatures unwilling to make their presence known. It wasn’t until they finally saw the stone bridge in the distance that he allowed himself to exhale.


    Crossing the bridge felt like stepping into a sanctuary. As soon as Traebus and his companions made it to the other side, he turned and pulled the reinforced gate shut, sealing it with a thick slab of stone. He leaned against it for a moment, catching his breath.


    “Alright,” he exhaled, rubbing his forehead. “We survived another day. That’s progress.”


    Dusk flicked an unimpressed mental image at him—one of the three of them being repeatedly chased by increasingly large and ridiculous predators. Traebus groaned. “Don’t remind me.”


    Sparky trilled and darted toward the storage building, likely eager to show off their prize. Traebus followed at a slower pace, rolling his shoulders. He still had energy left, but his body was screaming for rest.


    Tonight, they would eat, recover, and strategize. But first, they had salt. And that, at least, was a victory.


    With the salt safely stored away, Traebus wasted no time in putting it to use. He grabbed a slab of dried meat from the storage and cut off a thick portion, tossing it onto a flat stone near the fire. As the flames licked at the edges, the rich aroma of sizzling meat filled the air, making his stomach growl in anticipation.


    Dusk and Sparky settled nearby, watching curiously as he reached into the salt pouch and pinched a generous amount over the meat. The smaller lizards trilled excitedly, drawn in by the new scent.


    Traebus smirked as he flipped the meat over with his knife, letting the salt seep into the juices. "Alright, little freeloaders, prepare to have your tiny minds blown. This is what civilization tastes like."


    When the meat was properly seared, he tore off a piece and popped it into his mouth. The familiar burst of salty, savory goodness made him groan in delight. "Oh, hell yes." He chewed slowly, savoring the taste before looking at his curious companions. "Alright, who''s first?"


    Sparky, being the least patient of the bunch, darted forward and snatched a strip from the rock before Traebus could offer it properly. He chomped down, froze, and then his frills shot up as a loud trill of what could only be described as joy escaped him. He scrambled back, hopping in place excitedly, sparks crackling from his scales as he gave off mental bursts of sheer ecstasy.


    The other lizards, now beyond intrigued, edged closer. Traebus sighed dramatically. "Fine, fine, you vultures. One at a time!" He began doling out pieces, watching as each small reptile took their first bite and immediately lost all self-control. Trills of pleasure filled the air as the lizards practically melted into piles of bliss, rolling on their backs, tails flicking wildly.


    Dusk, eyeing them all warily, took his own piece with a little more dignity. He chewed thoughtfully, flicking a mental image of approval.


    "See? Game changer, right?" Traebus grinned, leaning back. "Salt isn’t just a rock. It’s the rock." He stretched his arms behind his head, reveling in the small victory. "Congratulations, everyone. We are officially one step closer to civilization."


    Sparky chirped, still vibrating with joy, and immediately begged for more.


    Traebus groaned. "Oh, this is going to be a problem."


    Traebus fed out the rest of the salted meat to the eager lizards, who devoured their portions with the enthusiasm of creatures who had just discovered food nirvana. Sparky was still jittering with sparks, his body alight with energy, while Dusk merely exhaled contentedly and curled up near the fire. With the last scraps eaten and the chaos of dinner winding down, Traebus stood, stretching out his sore limbs.


    "Alright, enough gorging. Time for some magic," he announced, wiping his hands on his coat. "Dusk, come on. I’ve got something to show you."


    Dusk flicked a questioning thought his way but followed without hesitation as Traebus made his way into the house. The warm glow of the fire cast long shadows across the stone walls, and Traebus found himself feeling oddly comfortable in the space.


    "Now, I know you’ve seen me throw around magic like a lunatic, but salt—" he held up a pinch between his fingers "—has properties beyond just making food taste amazing. It’s been used for centuries in purification and enhancement. Back in my world, it was a key component in ritual magic, often used to focus and direct energy more effectively. Here, well... let''s just say, I’ve been improvising."


    Dusk tilted his head, intrigued, while the smaller lizards peeked inside, watching curiously from the doorway.


    Traebus moved to the center of the room, clearing a space on the stone floor. With careful precision, he poured the salt in a circular pattern, using his fingers to etch smaller, intricate markings within. When he was satisfied, he retrieved the gathered plants they had collected in the jungle and placed them in the center.


    "Since my goggles decided to take a one-way trip down a waterfall, I haven’t been able to identify much of anything. But I think I can still manage without them." He cracked his knuckles and took a deep breath. "Here goes nothing."


    Focusing his mana, he pressed his palm to the outer edge of the circle. The salt flared faintly, its crystalline structure amplifying the energy flow. Slowly, the circle activated, and the symbols he had drawn began to glow. The reaction spread outward, tendrils of magic weaving through the salt like lightning on a stormy night. Then, one by one, letters began to take form, spelling out slow, deliberate words in the salt itself.


    Traebus grinned. "Hah! It works!" He read the first identified plant. "Bitterleaf—mildly toxic if ingested raw, but useful for treating infections when boiled." He whistled. "Not bad. Next."


    More words materialized, spreading outward in rhythmic, pulsing waves, as if the salt itself breathed with the magic flowing through it. Each plant unveiled its secrets in slow, deliberate etchings—some held medicinal properties, capable of soothing wounds or breaking fevers, while others promised sustenance with their edible leaves and roots. A few, however, were insidious in nature, their presence a silent promise of agony or death if consumed carelessly. Dusk watched the unfolding revelations with rapt fascination, his frills shifting slightly as he flicked a mental impression of curiosity tinged with admiration. The intricacy of the process was unlike anything he had witnessed before, and for once, he remained utterly still, absorbing every detail.


    Traebus chuckled. "Yeah, yeah, I know. Magic is actually useful sometimes. Try not to look so shocked."


    The small lizards trilled, fascinated, while Traebus continued deciphering their botanical haul. They had more resources than he initially thought, and that meant they had more options. He had lost a lot when his lab was destroyed, but tonight, for the first time in a while, he felt like a researcher again.


    A grin spread across his face. He had barely scratched the surface of what this world had to offer, and that meant only one thing—experimentation was far from over.