Blood of Arachnia [II]

Inside abandon building,yuna examined the unconscious boy they had saved.

While kai guarding them from outside building.

The boy body was covered in wounds and bruised, but one bite mark stood out.

Frowning,Yuna reached out to inspect it—

Then—

SNAP!

The boy's eyes flew open.

His hand shot forward, grabbing Yuna's wrist with inhuman strength.

"W-What the—?!"

With a single motion, he threw her, sending her crashing into ground.

Sofea groaned in pain.

The boy's body twitched and convulsed.

Then—

His face twisted, his skin stretched and deformed—

Four glowing red eyes appeared on his forehead.

His mouth split open, revealing sharp, black fangs.

His body was no longer human.

"What just happen…!"

The creature lunged forward, pinning Yuna to the ground.

"What kind of strength is this?!" Yuna gasped as her attack was deflected.

Then Yuna scream, punch him blast to wall.

Then—

The boy's body twitched violently.

With a sickening crack—

Six long, black limbs sprouted from the boy back.

"H-he's mutating?!" Yuna exclaimed.

The monstrous Boy screeched—

Then lunged toward Yuna at incredible speed.

"YUNA!"

Kai slammed his hands together, activating Earth Creation.

A stone wall erupted in front of Yuna, blocking the boy's attack.

Yuna stumbled back and exhaled. "Thanks, Kai."

"What just happen?!" Kai ask.

Yuna nodded. "That boy got infected by those monster..."

Then—

she rushed forward, her katana flashing.

She slashed at the boy—

But the six new limbs deflect every attack.

"What a strength.."Yuna shout as her grip tremble.

Then Kai gave a signal.

"Jump Yuna!"

Yuna jumped back.

Kai activated Earth Creation, trapping The boy's feet in the ground.

Then—

One of the pillar struck blast toward the boy face,make it violently scream.

"SCREEEEEECH!!"

He convulsed violently—

And collapsed.

Kai and Yuna sighed in relief.

Then—

A system notification appeared before Kai.

[Use Blood of Arachnia to cure the infection?]

"A cure?!"

Kai quickly took the item from his inventory and poured the red liquid into the boy's mouth.

For a moment—

Nothing happened.

Then—

His extra limbs retracted.

His face returned to normal.

His body stopped twitching.

The system displayed:

[Blood of Arachnia used: 2/3]

Kai and Yuna stared in shock.

Before they could even catch their breath—

More infected step toward them.From shadow.

Yuna clenched his blade. "There's more?!"

Kai grinned."What just happen with the people on this city??".

"kai..we need to go now". say yuna.

kai nodded.

As the infected wanted to attack.

Kai raised his hands,and shoved to ground.

Then—

CRACKLE!

He activated Electric Wave, sending a surge of lightning across the battlefield.

The infected convulsed, their movements slowing as electricity surged through their bodies.

yuna eye widened"thats skill?!.."

"That should buy us some—"

BOOM!

A fireball were aim to them..

Kai staggered back, eyes wide.

"What the—?!"

Emerging from the smoke—

A group of infected stood tall, their twisted bodies glowing with fire energy.

"hey yuna are those guys?!" kai ask

"Yes they are..keep your aware kai thing getting dangerous here..."

kai eye narrowed toward the infected awaken.

The monstrous awakened raised their hands

Each of their eight limbs igniting with fire.

Then—

WHOOSH!

They unleashed fireballs, lighting strike straight at them.

Kai's heart pounded.

He barely managed to dodge, rolling as the fireballs exploded,Dodge the lightning strike.

He gritted his teeth.

"This is bad…Yuna"

Yuna dancing dodged the attack and charged toward them,her katana flashing like moonlight.

"Night Bloom!"

A wave of slashes cut through the advancing infected.

She exhaled, sheathing her blade.

The infected collapsed from the dizziness.

"Thats work.."Say kai.

Then—

More coming burst through toward them,

Yuna clicked her tongue.She sheathed her katana again.

"Ready kai!."

Kai narrowed his eyes and quickly formed a plan.

He charged forward,

BAM!

Using earth creation kai created earth pillar,

The infected was sent flying, crash and kai bind them into ground.

The others, attacking kai with flames.

Sudden Yuna with fast, rush toward kai.. deflect those attack.

"Thanks Yuna!'

Then,

Kai rushed from the side, grabbing his dagger.Charged while dodged those attack.

ZAP!

He slashed through one of the infected, sending electric surges through its body,using Storm Fang Blade.

"SCREEEEEECH!"

It convulsed, temporarily paralyzed.

The creature screeched in pain, its limbs twitching violently.

Kai exhaled,

"Hah… That's one down....Now..."

The other Lunged toward kai.

Kai smirk

"Im Fuck..."

Yuna,dashing through Deflect those attack.

Her katana flashed,

Then—

SLASH!

The limb was severed, blood spraying across the battlefield.

"SCREEEEEECH!"

Yuna landed, panting.

"you okay kai?"

"Yeah..."kai replied

The infected roared,

She grinned.

"Cover me kai!"Yuna shout.

kai nodded.

He charged,deflecting those movement by binding them and paralyzed them.

"Now!" kai shouted.

Yuna activated her ultimate skill—

"One Thousand Night Slashes!"

A storm of slashes tore through the infected critically wounding it.Sending them to dust.

Yuna sigh as she kneel to ground

Kai ran up to her.

"You okay?"

Yuna nodded. "im fine."

Then—

THUD.

A severed head rolled onto the ground.

They froze.

Kai and Yuna looked up—

And saw a figure standing at the center battlefield.

It was—

The child they had saved.

His small, twisted form stood among the other infected step from shadow.

His eight black eyes glowed.

He raised his hand—

And the infected army turned toward them.

Then—

The child Talk.

"Attack them"

The entire horde started charging forward.

Yuna exhaled.

her hand tremble by those battle...but she need to fight.

"Bring it on BASTARD!!"

Yuna dashed forward, her katana a blur.

Her target—

The infected child.

"One clean strike…"

She aimed straight for its neck—

But—!

A twisted, infected awakened intercepted her strike, blocking with unnatural speed.

Yuna's eyes widened.

"Tch! Annoying!"

She leaped back, sheathing her katana.

Her gaze turned to Kai.

"Kai, you got plan in your head?"

Kai grinned.

"Always."

Yuna nodded.

"Ready!"

Yuna dashed, preparing for the final strike.

When those monster wanted to attack,kai block them using earth wall and sending electric wave paralyzed their movement as he make a clearing path forward for yuna.

"Go, now!" Kai shouted.

Kai create earth pillar, sending a group of infected flying, creating a clear path to the child.

Yuna saw her opening—

She vanished, moving at extreme speed—

"You BASTARD!"

She unleashed a deadly slash toward the child's neck.

But—

SCREEEEEECH!

The infected child dodged at the last second.

Yuna's eyes widened in shock.

Before she could react—

The child grabbed her collar and threw her into the air!

"YUNAA!!" Kai shouted.

Then—

An infected awakened appeared mid-air—

And punched Yuna straight down.

"GAAH!"

She crashed into the ground, blood splattering from her lips.

Kai's heart pounded.

He rushed forward,

But the infected block his path attacking him.

"YUNA!"

Yuna weakly opened her eyes.

"Kai…"

Then—

As the boy step forward Yuna.

The infected child leaped at her.

"What the—!?"

CHOMP!

Yuna gritted her teeth in pain—

The child had bitten her!

"ARGHHHH—!"

Kai charged toward then he grabbed the child hand and threw him across the battlefield.

The child screeched, landing gracefully.

Kai glaring.

"Your Damn…!!"

His hatred through the infected child, his eyes burning with determination.

the other infected rush toward him.

he rushed forward.

As he ran, he equipped both Storm Fang Blade and karanka Blade.

Kai grip his dagger,try to thrust toward the kid head.

But the child dodged effortlessly.

"Damn it! it so fast!"

Then,

Kai slammed his hand into the ground—

"Earth Spike!"

A sharp stone pillar erupted beneath the child, impaling its torso.

The child twitched, screeching, trying to break free.

His hand grip tightly to his dagger,he charged.

Kai activated Electric Wave, buffing his Storm Fang Blade.

With one final thrust—

He drove the blade straight into the child's skull!

"DIE!!"

ZAAPPP!

The child screeched one last time—

Before its body Burn into dust.

Kai panted, exhausted.

Then—

The remaining infected rushed toward him.

Kai's eyes widened.

But—

FWOOOOOSH!

A massive blast of fire engulfed the battlefield, burning all the infected to ashes.

"SCREEEEEEEEECH!"

Kai turned his head, shocked.

A figure stood in the distance…

Flames still flickering in his hand.

Kai's eyes widened in recognition.

"Baek Jung…?!"

The man smirked

"You welcome brat."

Baek Jung stood in the center of the battlefield, the flames from his attack still smoldering. The infected were nothing but ashes now.

Kai turned away from the destruction and rushed toward Yuna, who was tremble in pain, her breathing heavy.

"Yuna, are you okay?!"

Yuna gritted her teeth,

"Im okay kai.…" she forced a laugh, but Kai could see the sweat on her forehead. "Poison's probably spreading already."

Kai immediately reached into his inventory and pulled out the dose of Blood of Arachnia.

"Here! Take this! It'll cure you!"

But—

Yuna raised her hand, stopping him.

"Don't waste it on me,kai."

Kai's eyes widened.

"What are you saying?! You'll turn into one of them if you don't take it!"

Yuna chuckled weakly.

"Maybe this is it for me… One last fight before I Dying like a warrior, huh?"

"Don't say that!" Kai clenched his fist.

Yuna smiled sadly, then looked Kai in the eye.

"If I don't make it, i want to tell you that i—"

SLAP!

Baek snatched the vial from Kai's hand and shoved it into Yuna's mouth.

Yuna choked, her eyes widening as she was forced to swallow.

Baek crossed his arms.

"Stop the damn drama Bitch."

Kai sighed in relief.

A system notification popped up.

> [Blood of Arachnia used – 1/3 remaining.]

Yuna, finally recovering from the shock, glared at Baek.

"You bastard, you ruined my farewell speech."

Baek raised an eyebrow.

"You want a farewell? I can just burn you to ash right now."

Yuna grinned.

"Tch.i dare you bastard."

Kai watched the two bicker, but inside, he felt relieved.

Baek's eyes narrowed toward kai.

"Hey, kid."

Kai stood still.

Baek's eyes flickered toward him.

"Still got that potion?"

Kai hesitated. He reached into his inventory and pulled out the last one.

Without a word,Baek grabbed it, inspecting the bottle. Then—he smirked.

"This is my pay."

Kai frowned.

"Pay? For what?"

Baek turned away.

"For saving your ass, obviously."

Kai scoffed, but before he could reply—

Baek turned back, step toward the entrance.

"Hey kid." he smirked,"You seem getting more strong."

And with that, he walked off, disappearing.

Kai stood there, watching him leave.

Beside him, Yuna crossed her arms.

Her expression darkened, eyes filled with hatred as she watched Baek's retreating figure.

"You okay?" Kai asked.

Yuna blinked, then smirked.

Yuna grabbed Kai's hand, tugging him forward.

"Let's go Should we?! I'm so tired, haha!" she laughed, stretching her arms.

Kai glanced at her, then nodded.

"Yeah."

Without another word, they heading back toward the camp, side by side.

—————

From far,

Baek walked down the dimly lit subway, his footsteps echoing against the empty platform. The flickering lights above cast eerie shadows on the tiled floor.

He stood still, his sharp eyes scanning the area—waiting.

A single drop of blood splattered onto the ground. Then another.

Baek's gaze slowly shifted upward.

The ceiling.

Thick, dark crimson dripped down from above, pooling onto the floor. The scent of iron filled the air.

Flicker.

The lights buzzed and flickered wildly.

From the right, the distant sound of a subway train rumbled closer.

And then—

A horrifying scream erupted.

The voices of countless people cried out in agony.

But when Baek turned his head—there was no one there.

Just emptiness.

The lights flickered again.

Click. Clack.

A pair of high heels tapped against the floor.

A woman's voice whispered directly into Baek's ear, filled with malice.

"Die."

"Go die."

"This is all your fault. Go die."

Baek exhaled sharply. Without hesitation, he raised his hand, flames bursting to life at his fingertips.

FWOOOOSH!

A column of fire surged toward the voice.

A piercing scream echoed through the subway, the burning entity shrieking in agony before fading into nothingness.

Silence followed.

Then—

A slow, amused chuckle.

"You've got quite the temper, don't you?"

Baek's eyes snapped toward the source.

A woman stood before him, a smirk tugging at her lips. Her presence was chilling, her aura unnatural.

Jihae Shea.

She had been watching, amused that Baek broke free from her mind control so easily.

Baek didn't bother with words. He reached into his inventory and tossed something toward her.

A small, glass vial filled with thick, dark-red liquid.

Jihae caught it effortlessly.

[Item Acquired: Blood of Arachnia]

Her golden eyes gleamed as she examined the vial.

"This is the stuff you wanted," Baek muttered.

Jihae met his gaze, her expression unreadable.

Then, she nodded.

"Then consider your request… granted."

The lights flickered once more—

And in an instant, Jihae was gone.

Baek exhaled, rubbing his temple.

Then, slowly, he reached into his pocket, pulling out an old, worn-out necklace.

A tiny photo was tucked inside.

A woman's face, smiling.

Baek stared at it for a moment before tucking it away.

With his hands in his pockets, he turned and walked deeper into the darkness of the subway.

Chapter End.