**Chapter 288: The Spider Queen, Annihilated?**
**[Annihilation Finger]:** A devastating strike unleashed from the fingertip, dealing **1500% damage**. If the target survives, they will suffer **100% damage per second for 10 seconds**. Cooldown: **24 hours** (Cannot be reduced by fatigue-clearing effects).
Among Zhang Chen’s current skills, aside from **[Soul Reap]**, which guarantees instant death upon triggering, this was his **most powerful offensive ability**—and the strongest **actively controlled** skill at his disposal.
Right now, Zhang Chen’s power was at **god-tier**.
**Whoosh!**
A blinding beam of energy erupted from his fingertip!
An attack launched from the fingers was nearly impossible to predict.
But the Spider Queen, relying on her vast combat experience, instinctively dodged in a random direction.
*As long as my movements are erratic, such a thin beam won’t hit me!*
**BOOM!**
The ground where she had stood split open, leaving a deep fissure.
*What terrifying power… but you missed!*
The Spider Queen sneered, lunging at Zhang Chen with lightning speed.
*"Not done yet!"*
Zhang Chen smirked.
**Whoosh!**
Though the initial attack had missed, the energy at his fingertip **hadn’t dissipated**.
With a slight twitch of his finger—
**A searing beam of light erupted from the ground beneath the Spider Queen!**
As it sliced upward, everything in its path—**distant trees, stone bridges, crumbling skyscrapers**—was **bisected cleanly**.
Trees toppled in unison, their severed trunks sliding apart.
Buildings groaned, spewing dust as they collapsed...
*H-How…?*
No matter how fast the Spider Queen was, she couldn’t outpace **light**.
She was already mid-leap, mere **five meters** from Zhang Chen, her claws inches from piercing his flesh—
**Flash!**
The beam sliced horizontally through her.
Her body split **cleanly at the waist**, severing three of her spider legs in the process.
Her upper half continued its trajectory, while the lower half and severed legs tumbled to the ground.
**Black-red blood rained down.**
This was the Spider Queen’s true blood.
Her real form, still trapped inside Elizabeth’s body, had been **cut in half before she could escape!**
*"Not… over…!"*
The Spider Queen let out a guttural roar.
In just **one exchange**, her human shell was ruined, her true body grievously wounded.
She had **never** been pushed this far.
**Squelch!**
As her bisected form fell, the Spider Queen’s **liquid-like true body** slithered out of the ruined flesh, **speeding straight for Zhang Chen!**
**[Divine Aegis]!**
Zhang Chen sensed her intent instantly.
*She’s trying to **possess** me!*
**Hummm!**
A golden barrier enveloped him completely.
The Spider Queen’s fluid form **slammed** into the shield, then **oozed down** its surface, pooling on the ground.
Her **true body** was now exposed.
Jet-black, with a sinister crimson sheen under the sunlight.
The three severed legs had melted into liquid, now **reforming** and merging back into her.
Soon, she stood **whole again**.
Six spindly legs extended from her bulbous spider abdomen, supporting her weight.
But her **upper half** was eerily human—
A **woman’s torso**, complete with slender waist, full breasts, delicate shoulders, a graceful neck… and **a pair of human arms**.
Her skin from the chest up was **porcelain-white**, flawless as a newborn’s.
Below, her body was **pitch-black**, as if clad in some grotesque, form-fitting gown.
Her face was **stunningly beautiful**—sharp features, faintly painted lips, short black hair, and **dark crimson eyes**.
Had she been human, she would have been a **peerless beauty**.
**[Annihilation Finger]’s secondary effect** was continuous damage if the target survived.
Parts of the Spider Queen’s body **kept vaporizing**, only to **regenerate** instantly.
A cycle of destruction and rebirth.
*"I must admit… you’re strong."*
*"But if I’m not mistaken… your true strength isn’t even at **Mid-stage Evolver**, is it?"*
*"You just have some… overpowered skills. Am I wrong?"*
The Spider Queen’s voice was **alluring**—husky, languid, dripping with arrogance and temptation.
*"So what if I am? So what if I’m not?"*
Zhang Chen remained guarded, his mind racing for a way to **kill her for good**.
Even if **[Annihilation Finger]** wasn’t on a **24-hour cooldown**, he doubted it could finish her.
Her body was **liquid**, capable of **reforming** after being split apart—like the T-1000 from *Terminator*.
But Zhang Chen noticed something:
Every time she healed, her **energy reserves plummeted**.
Earlier, she had fought with **effortless grace**.
Now, her **rapidly rising and falling chest** betrayed her exhaustion.
*She’s stalling for time.*
Then, a system hint appeared:
**[Notice her left hand. One finger is missing.]**
*What does that mean?*
*Was it lost just now? Or was it always gone?*
*How does this help me defeat her?*
His **[Soul Burn: Stage 9]** and **[Frenzied Execution]** wouldn’t last much longer.
*I need to end this **fast**.*
*"If I guessed wrong… then I lose."*
*"But if I’m right… you lose."*
The Spider Queen smiled coyly.
But Zhang Chen **didn’t let her finish**.
The moment she spoke, he **dropped [Divine Aegis]**—
And unleashed a **colossal energy blast** from his palm!
**[Concentrated Strike]!**
**BOOM!**
This time, the Spider Queen **didn’t dodge**.
The beam struck her true body **head-on**.
As her form began **dissolving under the energy**…
A **triumphant grin** curled her lips.