Chapter 150: A Desperate Web of Strife

The Spider Queen loomed like an oppressive shadow, her every step shaking the ground violently. The eerie gleam reflected off her dense spider bristles, and the air grew thick with a stench of decay and suffocating tension. Yame's storm raged, but the Spider Queen's carapace was as hard as steel. The storm blades left only shallow scratches on her body.

Myouka held her breath, drawing her bowstring tight and aiming for the Spider Queen's eyes—one of her few weak points. Yet, Watcher 24 seemed prepared for this, summoning dozens of giant spiders with a wave of her hand. The creatures formed a living barrier, shielding the Spider Queen's vulnerabilities completely.

"How laughable," Watcher 24 sneered. "Do you really think such feeble strength can overthrow the Spider Queen?"

Myouka's hand trembled slightly, but her resolve did not falter as she released her arrows. Each glowing projectile pierced through the giant spiders, a few even coming perilously close to striking the Spider Queen's eyes. However, her thick carapace thwarted each attempt.

At that moment, Watcher 22's demonic creatures lunged at Myouka, their grotesque forms like emissaries of hell, claws poised to tear apart the fragile girl.

"Myouka!" Yame shouted a warning, redirecting part of her storm to intercept the demons.

This momentary diversion gave the Spider Queen an opening. Her massive venomous fangs lunged at Yame with incredible speed. Yame turned and raised her hand, forming a storm barrier to shield herself. But the Spider Queen's strength far exceeded the others. Her fangs pierced the storm shield, tearing a gash into it.

"Damn it!" Yame gritted her teeth but refused to retreat. She adjusted the direction of the storm to mend the breach.

Meanwhile, Myouka bit her lip as the demonic creatures closed in. With unwavering determination, she loosed a radiant arrow at the closest demon, striking its head with pinpoint precision. The demon let out a chilling wail before crumpling to the ground. Yet there was no reprieve, as more demons and imps swarmed toward her.

Watcher 27's bat legion also descended from the sky, ready to strike. At the same time, Watcher 22 drove even more demons toward the two embattled fighters.

"This time, you won't escape!" Watcher 24 laughed wickedly. She raised her hands, and the Spider Queen leapt high into the air, her enormous shadow engulfing the battlefield. Venom dripped from her maw, each drop corroding the ground with hissing smoke, releasing toxic fumes into the air.

Syoruha knelt on the ground, clutching the gaping wound in his chest. Though his face was pale with pain, his eyes burned with defiance and guilt.

"It… can't end like this…" he murmured, his teeth clenched tightly. A faint glow emerged from his trembling hands as he channeled the last remnants of his strength into the ground. The fallen leaves on the battlefield began to shimmer, transforming into searing blades of light.

"One last chance!" Syoruha roared, unleashing the radiant blades toward the Spider Queen's abdomen.

The Spider Queen reeled from the unexpected assault, her enormous body struck by the glowing blades. She let out an earsplitting screech. The attack left a deep gash in her armor-like exoskeleton but failed to fully penetrate it.

"It worked," Yame muttered coldly. Seizing the opportunity, she intensified her storm to force the Spider Queen back and cover Myouka's retreat.

Myouka clenched her bow tightly, her gaze locked onto the Spider Queen's eyes. This time, her calm determination radiated a deadly focus. The battlefield brimmed with killing intent as the watchers' relentless offensive surged to new heights. Victory hung precariously by a thread.

Yame sensed the escalating aggression from the enemy ranks ahead but felt a chilling silence creeping behind her. Turning abruptly, she saw only Riyugi's figure being hoisted skyward—a fine spider thread wrapped tightly around her waist, pulling her high into the air. The thread, though delicate in appearance, was impossibly strong, binding her firmly in place.

Suspended midair, Riyugi's hair fanned out wildly, her pale skin gleaming under the moonlight like a fragile, ethereal butterfly caught in a deadly web. The scene was hauntingly beautiful, yet brimming with peril.

"Riyugi!" Myouka's eyes widened. She readied her bow to shoot but froze when cold laughter echoed from behind her.

"Well, isn't this a sight?" It was Watcher 30, his figure blending seamlessly into the shadows. With a flick of his hand, he manipulated smaller spiders to ensnare Riyugi further, lifting her toward the swarming bats overhead.

"Let her go!" Myouka shouted, her arrow aimed squarely at Watcher 30's wrist as she released it.

Watcher 30 casually tugged the spider thread, causing Riyugi to swing abruptly. The arrow missed its mark, embedding itself in the ground. Smirking, he tightened the web, raising Riyugi higher and threatening to tear her in two.

"Don't act rashly, little girl," he taunted. "One wrong move, and she'll be sliced in half."

Myouka stood frozen, trembling with fury yet helpless to act.

"Yame! Riyugi's been captured!" Myouka cried.

Yame's brows furrowed as she surveyed the battlefield. The front was overwhelmed by the Spider Queen and the demonic forces, while the rear presented the dire situation of Riyugi's capture. One misstep could spell total defeat.

Watcher 24's piercing laughter filled the air. "Oh, how busy you are! Your little friend won't last much longer!"

She unleashed another wave of smaller spiders that scurried across the battlefield, attempting to scatter Yame and Myouka's focus.

Syoruha staggered to his feet, his breaths ragged but his resolve unwavering. "Go save her… I'll hold the line…"

"But you—" Yame hesitated, her expression a mix of concern and determination.

"Don't waste time!" Syoruha barked. Weak as he was, his blade of light flared one last time. He stood his ground against the Spider Queen, charging forward like a fading yet unyielding flame.

Yame made her decision in an instant. She turned and propelled herself toward Watcher 30 with a gust of storm winds. Prepared for her assault, Watcher 30 smirked, yanking Riyugi toward the swarming bats.

"Not so fast." Yame diverted her winds, cushioning Riyugi midair and halting her ascent. Simultaneously, Watcher 30 commanded his spiders to strike Yame's exposed back with fangs and claws.

"Bang!" An arrow from Myouka struck down the approaching spiders just in time.

The battlefield grew ever more perilous as the watchers pressed their relentless attack. Yet, Yame and Myouka stood resolute, their backs against the wall but their spirits unbroken. The decisive moment loomed ever closer.