— Now.
The word cut through the air like a blade.
Blanek didn't need to turn around to know that Rael had understood. He could feel it—the sudden rush of air, the rapid footfalls, the violent snap of branches under desperate steps.
Rael was running.
He plunged into the forest without looking back, lungs burning, heart hammering so hard it felt like it would burst through his chest. Every fiber of his body screamed to stop. To turn around. To fight.
But he ran.
Because Blanek had chosen him.
Behind them, THE DEATH froze for a fraction of a second. Surprised. Then a slow, cruel grin stretched across his lips.
— So you want to sacrifice yourself… he murmured, amusement lacing his voice.
— Truly foolish.
Blanek's fingers tightened around the hilt of his sword. He planted himself firmly, facing his adversary fully.
— A criminal like you couldn't possibly understand, he replied, his voice deep and steady.
— Now, I am your opponent.
THE DEATH's aura pulsed, dark and oppressive, filling the space between them with the weight of inevitable doom.
— Perfect, he breathed. I love it when prey believes themselves to be hunters.
---
Beneath the Earth – The Arena of Stone and Silk
The underground chamber still trembled from earlier chaos.
Cracks spiderwebbed across the walls, and dust rained from the ceiling like a fine, choking drizzle. Suspended bodies swayed dangerously, tangled in thick, viscous webs that shimmered faintly in torchlight.
The giant spider moved forward, each step a terrifying testament to its strength. Its legs, glinting red as if forged from molten steel, smashed against the stone floor. Its carapace reflected light in flashes like armor polished to a deadly sheen.
Selena gritted her teeth.
— It's too resilient…
Beside her, Lyo struggled to breathe. Blood stained his side, dark and sticky, soaking through his tunic.
— Its skin… it's not natural, he panted. Even under pressure, it resists gravity itself.
The spider emitted a high-pitched, shrill hiss, a sound that pierced the nerves.
And then it struck.
A massive leg shot forward, faster than human eyes could track. Selena grabbed Lyo instinctively and rolled, narrowly avoiding the blow. The spider's leg slammed into the stone where they had just been standing, shattering it into jagged fragments.
— Too fast… Selena thought, calculating.
Decision made, she turned to Lyo.
— Lyo. Levitate me.
He blinked, stunned.
— What? But—
— Now.
Nodding, he willed the gravitational field around her to bend. Her body grew impossibly light and lifted from the ground, suspended in the air by Lyo's instinctive mastery.
Selena extended a hand.
— Focused flame.
A jet of fire erupted toward the spider's back.
The flames dispersed, sliding off the creature's carapace without leaving a mark. The armor-like shell glowed briefly but remained unbroken.
— Useless… she muttered under her breath.
The spider raised its head and leapt—a monstrous, fluid motion that threatened to crush them both.
— Selena!
Lyo's heart skipped a beat, frozen in terror.
But she landed safely at the last possible second, cushioned by a manipulation of gravity that Lyo maintained despite his injuries.
Selena rolled and rose to a fighting stance, standing protectively in front of him.
— It's learning, she said coldly. Adapting.
The spider studied them, no longer merely attacking. Its crimson eyes flickered with calculated intelligence.
— Lyo, she said sharply.
— Distract it. I'll handle the rest.
He swallowed hard, feeling the weight of responsibility settle like a stone in his chest.
— Right.
He extended his hand. Rocks trembled, lifting from the ground as gravity twisted around them. Small fragments, then dozens, then hundreds of jagged stones hovered midair, circling with increasing speed.
— Alternating compression.
The stones struck in waves, forcing the spider back, blurring its vision despite the invulnerable armor. Cracks didn't appear, but it faltered, shielding itself from the relentless barrage.
A roar of fury ripped from the beast's throat.
Selena felt the moment—precise and fleeting.
— Now.
She propelled herself into the air, Lyo amplifying the gravitational pull beneath her feet. She twirled, avoiding a lethal swipe by mere centimeters. Using a floating rock as a pivot, she redirected her momentum.
The spider lunged, but too late.
— Selena! Lyo yelled, panic-stricken.
She was already in position, directly in front of the creature. Flames danced around her hand.
— FIREBALL!
This time, she aimed for the mouth, not the carapace. The sphere of flame swallowed the gaping maw just as the spider attempted to bite.
Silence fell for a heartbeat.
Then…
A muffled explosion.
The spider convulsed violently. Internal cracks glowed red, spreading like molten veins. Its carapace shattered from within, splintering into burning fragments.
The webs tore, freeing the suspended bodies, which crashed heavily onto the floor.
Selena landed, caught in the nick of time by Lyo's gravitational field. She hit the ground awkwardly, collapsing to her knees.
— Checkmate… she breathed.
The chamber was silent, save for the ragged sound of their gasping breaths.
They were alive.
But deep inside, they knew the truth: this was only the beginning.
Above ground, another, far deadlier battle was already raging.