The Poisoned Trap

The clearing was quiet, save for the crunch of paws and hoves against frosty ground and the faint swish of silk threads brushing against armor. Adam and his army pressed forward through the dense webbing, the dim light filtering through the canopy creating a hazy, surreal atmosphere. Beside him, Karadir, the young mountain goat tracient, shifted uncomfortably, his sharp eyes scanning the unnatural threads draped across the landscape.

"I've never seen webs this thick before. It's almost... unnatural," The Goat Tracient remarked, his tone laced with unease as he pulled at a sticky strand with his horn.

Adam nodded, his hand instinctively brushing against the Arya around his neck. "I agree. But this is where we need to be. If we want to back up Kon's army immediately, this is the only path."

He hesitated but gave a firm nod. "Understood, my Lord."

Still, Adam couldn't shake the feeling of dread curling in his gut. Something about this place felt wrong, as though the air itself was alive and watching them. Trying to distract himself, Adam glanced down at the eager goat tracient walking beside him. "What's your name, soldier?"

The Tracient straightened, puffing out his chest a little. "Karadir. Karadir Boga, my Lord."

Adam chuckled softly. "You have a strong will, Karadir. And you're still young. What made you decide to join the war?"

Karadir's expression grew thoughtful, his steps slowing slightly as he spoke. "My whole life, I've heard stories of Narn's golden days. The Grand Lords, the Aryas, the prophecy... the idea that Narn could be restored to what it once was. I've always wanted to fight for my people and my kingdom. To help you, Lord Adam, and the others make that prophecy a reality."

Adam smiled, a swell of pride rising in his chest. "You've got a noble heart, Karadir. And a resolve that many could learn from." He reached out to pat Karadir's head, causing the goat tracient to blush furiously.

"Thank you, my Lord," Karadir stammered, his face red as Adam laughed lightly.

The laughter was short-lived as Adam's steps faltered. That gnawing dread he'd been feeling all along intensified, crawling up his spine like icy fingers. He froze mid-step, his hand instinctively gripping the segmented staff at his side.

"Something wrong, Lord Adam?" Karadir asked, noticing the sudden change in his leader's demeanor.

Before Adam could reply, a sinister chuckle echoed through the clearing, bouncing off the rock walls like a taunt. It was high-pitched and feminine, yet laced with malice. Adam's eyes narrowed as he scanned the area, his muscles tensing.

A few feet away was a hidden cavern, where slender fingers pulled at a web thread, the motion setting off an intricate chain reaction of silk threads tightening. Back in the clearing, Adam's instincts kicked in.

"Kurt Style: 5th Fang — Kasırga Kesik! (Claw Barrage)"

Adam's staff segmented, and with a surge of mana, he unleashed a flurry of omnidirectional slashes. The webbing exploded in a whirlwind of mana-infused strikes, clearing the entire area of the entangling threads. His army stumbled back, shocked, as Adam and Karadir took defensive stances.

The laughter grew louder. From the shadows, a figure stepped out, her movements fluid and deliberate. A spider tracient dressed in a flowing kimono adorned with web patterns emerged, her kimono parting to reveal long, elegant legs. Her back bore the tattoo of a scorpion, and her thigh displayed the unmistakable mark of a Hazël, her rank etched clearly: #14.

Her demeanor was almost childlike as she clapped her hands and smiled widely. "Oh goody! I get to meet the great wolf tracient first. Yaaay!"

Adam's expression remained stoic, his sharp eyes watching her every move. Karadir, however, stepped forward, his voice strong despite the tension. "Who are you?"

The spider tracient's demeanor shifted in an instant. Her smile faded, replaced by a glare that exuded malice. The air grew heavy with her oppressive aura, causing several soldiers to falter and fall to their knees. Karadir, though sweating, stood his ground.

"Mind how you address me, you insignificant thing," she hissed.

"That's enough," Adam interrupted, his own aura clashing against hers and dispelling the oppressive atmosphere. His voice was calm but commanding. "Who are you?"

Her childlike demeanor returned in an instant, and she giggled. "Aww, it's not fair that I know your name without you introducing yourself, but you don't know mine, Lord Kurt."

"Your name is irrelevant. Why are you here?"

Her smile widened, revealing sharp fangs. "Isn't it obvious? I'm here to kill you all."

"Bold of you to assume you could do that."

She chuckled, her six eyes gleaming with amusement. "Oh? But I already am. I'm shocked you haven't realized it yet."

Adam's heart sank as he felt his body begin to tremble. Poison. His muscles ached, his vision blurred slightly, and he dropped to one knee, gasping for breath. Around him, his army began to collapse one by one.

"I can't believe you couldn't sense it all this while. That is actually a huge disappointment."

Adam gritted his teeth, forcing his mana to counteract the poison. He was on the verge of transforming into his Grand Kurt form when the spider tracient raised a finger, sending a thread of web hurtling toward him.

Before Adam could react, a figure stepped between him and the threads. The web snapped and fell harmlessly to the ground. Both Adam and the spider tracient stared in shock as Karadir, now transformed, stood tall. His rock-like skin gleamed, his white horns glowing gold, and mana seeped visibly from his reinforced body.

"It's you again?" the spider tracient hissed, her playful demeanor vanishing.

"Karadir?!" Adam gasped.

The goat tracient turned slightly, his glowing eyes fixed on Adam. "Rest and recover quickly, Lord Adam. I may be able to buy a little time, but she is a Hazël. I can't beat her."

Adam stared at him, momentarily stunned. In that moment, Karadir's figure reminded him of Daruis. No. Not just Daruis…

"Kon?"

"No matter what happens," Karadir continued, his voice firm and unwavering, "I will protect you with my life until you are ready to fight."