Dragon Quest [35th]

**The Crew**

**Dragon Quest 35: The War of Storms (Continued)**

As the rain continued to pour down, Maverick and his crew remained gathered around the campfire, the flames flickering and casting long shadows across their faces. The tension of the recent battle still hung in the air, and the weight of their next steps was heavy on their minds.

Suddenly, Lyra, who had been scanning the horizon with her keen eyes, stiffened. Her hand moved instinctively to the quiver on her back, fingers brushing the feathers of an arrow. "Maverick," she called out quietly, her voice barely more than a whisper. "There’s something out there."

The entire crew went silent, their senses heightened. Maverick narrowed his eyes, following Lyra’s gaze to the darkened edges of the forest that bordered the valley. The rain had masked the sounds, but there was something—something big—moving through the trees.

"What do you see, Lyra?" Maverick asked, his hand already moving to the hilt of *Remark*.

"Level 39," Lyra replied, her voice tense. "It’s a Goliath Spider. One of the more powerful beasts in the region."

A murmur went through the crew. A level 39 monster was no joke. Goliath Spiders were notorious for their strength, agility, and the venom in their fangs that could paralyze a man within seconds. Even for a group as skilled as Maverick’s, this would be a formidable challenge.

Kael grinned, hefting *Earthshaker* onto his shoulder. "Well, well, looks like we’re in for a real fight tonight."

Maverick nodded, his mind already calculating the best approach. "Everyone, stay sharp. We take it down together. Stick to your strengths, and don’t take unnecessary risks. We’ve faced worse before."

The crew moved