Chapter 37: Kojomaru’s Power Awakens

As soon as the girls and I walked out of the house, Kumo appeared in front of us with Kiku.

"You're back, are you? Have you decided to surrender or are you going to make this more interesting?" she laughed tauntingly.

Instead of responding, Yuri threw multiple drops of water at her. As they flew through the air, they became as sharp as knives. Unfortunately, Kumo saw them coming and scuttled away.

"Hahaha! Did you really think that pathetic excuse for an attack would hit me? Please! It's going to take more than that!"

Next up was Suno. She quickly released volley after volley of machine gun fire at Kumo. Unfortunately, the result was the same as before.

"I don't think my powers will be of any use here, but I do have a plan…" Touwa informed us after Suno finished her attack.

"Aw! Is that all? I thought you all would put up more of a fight! C'mon! That was just pathetic! You know, I pity you weak creatures. You can only use weak attacks and your defense is absolutely horrendous! I could easily snap you all in two with my bare hands!" Kumo prattled as we came up with a plan.

Before she could finish her little speech, Yuri and Suno attacked her simultaneously. Like before, Kumo dodged while taunting them. While she was distracted, Yoko and I climbed up her web and snuck behind her. Yoko was about to wrap Kumo up in her vines when she turned around and looked at us with disdain.

"I have to give you credit. This plan of yours was half baked at best, but you did put yourselves in a position that's easier for me to attack you. For that, I applaud you," Kumo clapped sarcastically. "Ok. That's enough. Time to die!"

Kumo charged at us, full of bloodlust. Each one of her crimson eyes gleamed dangerously, ready to see some blood. Terrified, I squeezed my eyes shut and held Kojomaru in front of me.

"AAAAHHH! WHAT IS THIS INFERNAL LIGHT?" Kumo screamed in agony.

Slowly, I opened my eyes and saw that Kojomaru was glowing. Confused, I looked around, checking to see if Kiku was behind the light. However, she was still tied up and wasn't glowing at all. I guess this is what Kajiya was talking about.

"Hana, now! Kill her now!" I heard Yuri and the others shout from below.

I looked back to Kumo, who was now wrapped in Yoko's vines. She was trying to cover her many eyes to block out the light, but the vines stopped her hands from moving to her face.

"Y-You can't do this! I'm one of the elite! I cannot be killed! Especially from the likes of a mere human!" she shouted.

I walked slowly towards her, Kojomaru still glowing in my hands.

"N-no! Don't come any closer! If you do, I'll… I'll!" Kumo sputtered, trying to come up with a threat.

Finally, I was standing directly in front of her. The light from my sword was so bright that she could only whimper in pain.

"Even though you've done all these terrible things, I pity you, Kumo. I think… I think that if you weren't the cause of everyone's fear, you would have been a kind person that helped others," I said gently.

"W-what are you talking about? I'm glad people fear me!"

"You know that's not true. Thanks to Kojomaru, I was able to see your past. I saw how you were constantly looked down upon because you are part spider. I saw how you were beaten by the neighboring kids whenever they saw you alone. I saw how your parents abandoned you after you beat up your aggressors. I saw it all. I'm sorry things have to be this way," I replied, tears in my eyes.

"SHUT UP! YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUT ME! HOW COULD YOU POSSIBLY UNDERSTAND, LOWLY HUMAN?!"

"You're right. I don't understand and I probably never will. Despite that, I'm sorry things turned out this way. If you had had a different childhood, things wouldn't have turned out this way. If you had found friends that cared and supported you, you wouldn't have become the person you are today. That I understand," I said softly, looking back at my friends.

"Just kill me already! Quit torturing me by reminding me of my past! W-what's done is done," Kumo whispered, tearing up.

Silently, I raised my sword above my head and swung it down. Right before it connected with Kumo's body, I thought I heard her whisper "Thank you." With that, everything went black.