Chapter 8: The Black Spinner
....
There we were, sitting in a prison cell. I tried reasoning with the guards but it all fell on deaf ears.
"We didn't mean to cause any trouble, it's was all in self-defense" I explained once more.
"The witnesses all say otherwise " was all the guard replied back.
I internally facepalmed. Haru was currently sleeping on my wolf pelt as a makeshift bed. Ryu was watching memories as usual while everyone else just sat there in the prison floor. I had set Madara and his pack mates back to the forest to wait for us to avoid starting a town panic.
Just then another dwarf ran in panting.
"Remu!..." The dwarf began, looking horrified.
"What is it, Lun?" The guard asked anxiously
"There was a cave in , in the mines.... I was lucky to escape but Rum and the others are gravely injured.!"
"What about the healing potions?" Rumu asked, face going pale.
"We don't have enough!" Lun said feeling helpless
I stared at them for a moment longer before looking at the nearby barrel of water by the cell.
{Healing master activated}
I sliced my palm open with my claws and let some of my blood drop into the water, causing it to glow before turning a faint glow of blue green.
"Master?" Ryu rose an eye brow
"What are we going to do?! " Lun panicked , chatting with rumu who looked like his whole world had ended.
I cleared my throat, catching their attention, the two Guards who turned to me confused.
"Use this..." I gestured to the barrel now filled with my potent healing potion.
"What's that?" They asked cautiously.
"It's healing potion, the best kind. use it." I said
"Why would you help us?" The guard rumu asked.
"Just use it. before I change my mind" I replied blankly. The two exchange looks before nodding.
"Okay, but don't you dare leave your cell!" He glared
"Ok..." They left with the barrel with haste.
"My lady shiori, Why did you help them, I'm pretty sure they still won't let us out." Yamada asked.
"Because I wanted to, simple. They can't be that bad if they wanted to help their friends, same way I helped your village" I explained flatly before sitting on the ground next to ryu.
"I see, I understand now shiori-sama" yamada smile softly.
{(Afew hours later)}
"Thanks so much, miss!" A bunch of dwarves said. They were the ones who needed the potion.
"Aw it was nothing" I blushed embarrassed as they let us out of the cell.
"But really, thanks. If there's anything you need just ask" the guard said smiling
"Well actually there is something, we need a black Smith and maybe a few tailors"
"Ha no problem, I know just the guy." Rumu grinned
... ....
As We entered a shop, we stared at the weaponry on display. From axes, to spears , to shields and more. Rum and his pals couldn't come with us due to their jobs but had given us directions here.
"Hello, is anyone here?" I asked seeing no one at the around
THUD!
We shifted our gazes to the counter as a guy with red eyes emerged from under it
"Ow! , oh welcome! What can get you?" He asked cheerful
"Weaponry, durable and sharp would do and lots please" I replied.he let out a low whistle.
"Leading an army, miss?" He asked jokingly
"Not really, it's for a village, they don't have a blacksmith so I'm purchases weapons until one is found"
"But what about you?"
"Me?" "Yeah, what's your style? Spear, sword, magic?" Ha asked intrigued.
'Damnit! All this time I've been using skills from monsters that I completely forgot about magic! No one in the Demi plane can teach me, wait can anyone there even use magic? They recently evolved so there's a possibility but still...'
As if my speechlessness was obvious, the guy chuckled amused.
"Let's start over, I'm Liam, Liam Flint." He introduced himself
"Huh? , oh in that case I'm shiori, shiori koromi, this is yamada, that's Ryuchi and that's Haruna"
"Wow, what a cute yet strange name. Well shiori, I believe your style of weaponry is between a close combat type as well as a mid range type." he smiled
"How are you so sure?" I quiered
"My eye is very special, it can read a persons mana range and fighting style, see..." He pointed to his right eye as it was currently glowing a faint green.
Oh crap, if he read my mana....
"By the way, if you're face wasn't so cute I would have bolted the moment I sensed your mana. But business is business..." He laughed as I laughed awkwardly.
"follow me" he led us to a door locked by chains and a large padlock. He lifted the chain on he's neck revealing that it was actually a key, once unlocking the door he opened it before gestured us to enter.
We walked in cautiously as our eyes widened. The room was filled with various weapons like magic staffs, swords, wands and other but what was strange about them was the fact that they were glowing, faint but definitely glowing.
"These are called mana infused weaponry or as I like to call them, legendary weapons." Liam smiled proudly.
"Wow! Incredible!" Ryu and Haruna beamed like little kids going to an amusement park as they stared at the weaponry on display.
I looked around for a moment before setting eyes on the most beautiful staff I had ever seen. It's crystal glowed faintly as I approached it, placing a hand on the glass case.
"I see you've got a good eye" I nodded at Liam
"Well your in luck, my sister made this one so it should suit the wielder. It's called crystal scepter"
"Sister?" I was curious about my choice's creator.
"Yeah, we use to run the store together but she's in school now, the magic academy..." He unlocked the glass casing and handed me the staff.
"So beautiful..." I awed. the blue crystal had changed to light purple. I stared in awe before turning to Liam
"Liam how would you like to work for me? As my blacksmith"
"Sigh, I'm sorry toots but I have to decline your offer, I have a store to run and many adventurers depend on my inventory, so I can't be your personal blacksmith." He refused
I was dumbfounded, but well understood. A person won't just abandon everything they've worked for, for a random stranger.
"Okay, but if you ever change your mind the spot is always open..." I smiled
"Sure thing". He gave a thumbs up. I purchased my new gear.
As we headed back upstairs, a strange scent caught my attention almost instantly. Without warning I dashed out of the store and followed it, not caring if Ryu and Haruna were screaming for me to return back.
I weived through the crowd, pushing people out of the way, following the unique scent like it was a life line. Finally catching it, I grabbed the person by the shoulder. The man turned to me with his blood red eyes, staring at me confused.
"Can I help you, miss?..." He asked in a deep berethoned voice. I felt shivers run down my spine.
I stared at the scarf around his neck. The style was clearly not from this realm as the name knittied on it fumed me.
It was sanemi's....
"Where did you get this" I asked him sharply, I also noticed he had an insignia on his jacket, Must be a noble or some shit.
His eyes narrowed.
"Answer the damn question!" I yelled, not caring as Everyone stared at the two of us.
"Child, you must have mistaken me for someone else" he said flatly.
I gritted my teeth. He smelled like senemi but how? And why?.
Just then in a the blink if an eye, the strange man scratched a random adventurer with some kind of thin needle. My eyes widened as the adventurer started convulsing on the ground, form spilling from their mouth, his canines enlarged as his eyes were glowing brght red.
What the f*ck?!
"He's turning into a Phantom!" Someone screamed as everyone else started panicked. I turned back but the man was gone.
"Damnit!" I quickly used steel strings to hold the phantom in place. According to Artemis, Once someone becomes a phantom, they lose all form of humanity.
I stared at the struggling phantom with pity. He was just minding his own business yet here he is, now a flesh eating monster.
I left him on the ground, hoping someone would help him but as soon as an adventurer stepped in, he cut off the phantom's head, leaving the phantom to bleed out before fading to dust.
They didn't even hesitate, is it because they believe it was a monster?, how cruel... Well it's Not like it's really any of my business. i frowned before returning back to my team.
No one's pov
....
The man, dressed in a black suit frowned deeply as he hid in an ally way. How could she have known who he was?
He then snapped his fingers, Two cloaked figures appeared and knelt before him
"A female fox hybrid, white hair and purple eyes, bring her to me, alive...." He ordered the two figures nodded and vanished into the shadows.
They Reappeared in a forest close to the market town. One of them pulled out a strange artifact.
"Merciless as the gruesome soul, black as obsidian. I summon they puppet to which I'm its master. Heed my order and come fort!
Black Spinner!" They chanted
A black haze appeared shortly after as a ferocious monster came from it's abssy. It's eyes glowing bright pink as drool escaped it's jaws.
"Retrieve the girl, alive..." One of them spoke lifting a piece of cloth containing shioris scent. The giant spider let out a terrifying roar and went to obey.
....
Shiori's pov
We were walking back to meet fang and his pack. Ryu stayed back, saying he needed to get something important.
"Ouch!" I was so distracted, I didn't see the sharp low branch as it scratched my arm.
"What's wrong?" Haruna asked.
"It's nothing, just a scratch." i said. suddenly, we heard a loud boom as we immediately turned around.
The dwarf town was on fire and in the process of being eliminated by an unknown monster. Sounds of destruction could be Heard as people's screams followed.
I squinted my eyes a bit as I noticed Ryu running our way, holding a beat up unconscious Liam in his arm
"What the hell am I looking at?!" I frowned at Ryu
"Hey! Don't give me that look, it wasn't me that did this!" Ryu said defensely.
"Then who did?"
"Huh?, master your hurt!" Ryu panicked , staring at the dry blood on my arm.
"Oh, don't worry about that. I'm already healed see..." I shrugged it off
"No you don't understand, the smell of your blood will lead it here!" He panicked
"what are you talking about?" Just then a creature smashes the ground beneath us. we barely escape through the skin of our teeth. I looked up and my face paled.
"What?...what...! What in the world?!" I screamed staring at the massive black spiders staring straight at me.
"You can't be serious?!" I panicked, facing the horrifying beast.
"Wow, it's still a ferocious as ever" Ryu said calmly
"How the hell are you so composed?! If you know this thing they take care of it!"
"But, I'm holding a victim right now and I still don't have a proper sword yet since we couldn't afford it..." he said with a head tilt.
"That's your excuse?!" I frowned
"I and Haruna we'll handle the burning village, so please fed off that creature shiori-sama!" Ryu smiled
Give me a break!
"Listen up! Yamada, you and Ryu go help rescue the residents. Haruna, your on healing duty and fang! Serve as transport!" I ordered!
"YES! SHIORI-SAMA!" they rushed to the village which was already practically in a shambles.
I couldn't even process, my body moved on instinct as I leapt out of the way. I turned to see a puddle of molting black goo.
"It's already trying to kill me?! , what is this thing?!" I yelled scared as heck.
"I don't know what it's called " just then Liam stired awake before glaring at the beast in question.
" a summoned phantom, under the name. No one knows where it came from or who summoned it, but it always seems hungry and causes destruction wherever it goes, eating everything in sight. So I've heard from legends." Liam explained.
"Does it have any weaknesses?" I asked dodging another attack
"According to the legends, it retreats after taking a certain amount of damage" he replied, wincing as he sat up.
"So all I have to do is beat it to an extent and it'll go away on its own?!" I asked a bit unsure.
Ok, let's do this
{Steel Webbing activated}
"AHHHHH!!!"
I sliced it's forelimbs off as it scream in agony. "That should do it-...ahh!" I I dodged another one of it's attacks but something was seriously wrong. It's legs were back to normal.
Just how fast is it's regeneration?! Damn! It's above me!.
I quickly dodge before it could trample me.
It's chitin (exoskeleton) is easy to cut through and it's attack pattern is dull.' I thought as I severed it some more but it just kept regrowing the damaged tissue.
Ifit just keeps generating, this fight would never end. I can't use magic based attacks but I have to turn the tables.
{Poison mist activated}
It's shell was peeling gradually as the purple mist engulfed the giant insect. It let out an agonizing roar.
"And now, it's time to finish this!"
{Thunder strike}
"Eat this!" I let out a battle cry as lightening stuck on point on the black Spinner, The smell of roasted bug followed.
"What?! It's heal already?!" I stated, staring at regenerated monster, thou it was still steaming.
"Um Liam, thought you said it would leave once it's had enough damage..."
"Well... Um, I believe you've damaged it so much, that's it's actually taking a liking to you.." he said giving a weird look.
"Say what now? You can't be serious!" I cringed hugging my body as I stared at the creature in disbelief as it looked at me lovestrucked
I guess I'm changing tactics, time to try something new.
I activated slime manipulation, to make a batch of hard slime arrows midair, used my webbing to make the tips sharp before adding my thunder strike attack.
{New attack acquired}
{Thunder arrow shower}
{Do you wish to use this skill}
{Yes} {no}
I clicked yes, the attack rained down on the black Spinner like a hundred arrows on a village during my RPG gaming.
It took a few moments to recover but was good as new.
Damnit it's attack pattern has changedtoo. I frowned using my new staff like shield, lucky it was strong enough to withstand the blows.
"I'll just use the thunder arrow shower agai- Ahh!"
i currently had my abdomen pierced by one of it's limbs before it launched me straight into a tree.
I coughed out some blood as I stared down at my bloodied body, I couldn't even catch a break before another scream escaped my throat, as it pierced me once more.
This is bad, I'm cooked. I can't, hold onmuch longer. I could feel my consciousness slipping away. my life flashes before my eyes.
"Onee-san! What are you doing?!" Senemi frowned
Senemi? I stared at the little boy from my memories.
"You promised to always stay by my side yet your really accepting defeat by an obstacle in your way? Did you already forget our promise"
Promise?
"We never loses!"
My eyes opened slowly as I glared at the black Spinner. How could I forget something so important. All of this is so I can find senemi,
I can't lose now!
I grabbed it's piercer, gripping it dangerously tight.
"How dare you drink my blood so happily" I growled as i pushed it away. it flew a few meters back. Ryu came back and grabbed Liam before leaping out of the way.
"Just who are you people?!" Liam screamed in shock and terror.
I felt my mana run threw my whole body.
My hair glowing brightly, flowing wildly, the star in my eye shining brighter as I picked up my staff. The crystal grm glowed Bright purple as I unleased every skill i had learned at once.
{Elite skills predator}
{Webbing activated}
{Thunder arrow shower activated}
{Poison mist activated}
{Slime manipulation activated}
"Is she?! She's combining all her attacks but not increasing her power, has she been holding back for our sake?!" Ryu was beyond speechless
Everything merge together into one massive glowing masterpiece, I held everything to a round sphere of energy. slime arrows, using my staff as the bow.
"Now I'm sending you on a little trip TO HELL!"
I Launch my attack
{CALAMITY FLASH!}
BOOOOMMMMMMM!
It flew away, crashing into a mountain, the gem on it's head shattered as its blood splattered everywhere.
"Woah! All I can do is laugh..." Ryu chuckled nervously, unsure of how to react.
"Have.... you had your fill, you... Prevert...." I mumbled before losing consciousness. The staff shattered, unable to withstand her mana output.
.......
"She's all out of strength" Ryu thought as he ran over. from the corner of his eyes he noticed something moving in the rubble. black webbing shot their way towards the unconscious fox girl.
"I won't be able to make it!" Ryu panicked as the webs yanked her towards the rubble as the black Spinner emerged from the chaos.
"Oh no!" Ryu panicked, he got ready to fight.
"Huh?" He blinked , stopped a few moments after witnessing the scene .
"Wow! Your so strong! You look so cute covered in blood and dirt like that! Truly adorable! Your attack greatly wounded me! It hurts so bad yet feels so good! I haven't ever felt so full!" The giant spider squealed in delight while hugging the unconscious girl with lovestruck eyes
"Really is a pervert" he commented with a sweatdropped.
"Um can you put her down now?" The spider ignored him.
"So cute, yet so merciless! I'm never letting you go! I'll stay with you forever!" The spider squealed, swaying the girl like a ragdoll.
"I said...let. Her. Go!" Ryu finally had enough and kicked the monster's making it drop shiori who was still out cold.
"Ow! What was that for?!"
"So you can talk. I'm sorry about that but if you had common sense you would know that she's in bad shape and your only making it worse by swinging her around like some toy!" Ryu snapped
"What's your relationship with this woman?" The spider asked
"She's my master, her other subordinates are busy healing the citizens from the town of which you destroyed." Ryu growled
"Oh, sorry about that..." the spider stared at the destructionwl with slight empathy
"Black Spinner, you said you wanted to stay with her forever, correct? Why not form a contract?" Ryu suggested
"What?!" It stared surprised by the sudden offer.
"I'm sure my master would much likely prefer a human look hybrid over a giant insect" Ryu smirks
"I'm offended but that comment. but you have a point. However, judging by your behavior you don't seem to act like a servant" the spider stated observing the casualness of their interaction.
"Oh I am indeed her servant. in fact I could attend to her needs if she just asked, anytime." Ryu smirks, lifting the fox girl slightly before pressing his cheek against hers intimately.
"No, I will!" The spider pouted
"Then it's decided!" Ryu fist pump
"But what about her consent?" The spider quiered
"We'll deal with that later..." He smiled
"Very well, I look forward this Union,... "
The contract commenced as energy alined, from the monster, transformed into a figure.
Third person's pov
In an unknown dungeon, a boy was currently chained to the wall in one of the various cells.
The boy in question had dirty white hair, fox ears on the top of his head as his tail swung ever so often .
"Still not going to talk, huh brat!" The guard smashed his foot against the wall, near the boys head.
The boy slowly opened his expressionless blue eyes as he stared at the pompous guard.
"I'm surprised that even without learning magic, your still able to dodge that" the guard snarled
"Magic isn't about how much you have but how well to use it, experience beats power level." the boy replied unbothered.
"Such inspiraring words, did your daddy teach you that" the guard said sarcastically
"My father, don't be stupid, I've never met him. I was taught by my sister." The boy replied.
"Sister?" The guard scoffed.
"What's going on here?" A man with black hair asked. the one from advend valley.
"Um sir!, this boy was just sprouting rubbish! Something about his sister..." The guard spoke straight yet polite to the man.
"Sister, huh? How interesting, I actually met a fox girl today, she ran up to me with such fierce eyes." The man spoke. Sanemi froze with surprise, his sister was here, and she was searching for him
"Maybe, I should bring her with me next time we meet, I bet you would love a reunion~"
The boys eyes narrowed angrily as he charged at them both but was held back by the chains
" If You bastards lay a finger on my Onee-san, I'll kill you! I'll murder your family!friends!, everyone you care abou-" the man slapped him as his back hit the wall, he fell unconscious as his was bleeding slightly from the head.
The last thing he remembers was his pretty sister's smile.....