Nathaniel's Point of View**
We were fully encircled by spiders, their legs poised to strike at any moment. Despite the throbbing pain in my feet, I forced myself to move. "You won't die here—I promise!" I shouted, bolting away with the Wild Fox Spirit on my back.
We surged forward, dodging the spiders blocking our path. Yet the Red Star Giant Tarantulas pursued relentlessly, spewing webs. Their speed nearly matched mine, and I knew they'd catch us if my legs gave out. With only a minute left on my Crimson Item, panic set in. "This is bad," I muttered.
Before reaching the forest's edge, a small spider lunged, crashing into me. I lost balance, tumbling to the ground with her. Stunned, we lay still, unable to move. I tried to rise, but my swollen feet—overtaxed by the Crimson Item—betrayed me. The pain was excruciating, exhaustion overwhelming. "Maybe this is as far as I can go," I thought, despair creeping in.
The Wild Fox Spirit lay unconscious, likely from our fall. Spiders closed in, and two Red Star Giant Tarantulas loomed before us, targeting her. I reached out, desperate to shield her, but my feet refused to budge. "No, this can't be," I gasped, realizing I'd fail to change her destined death.
As the tarantula's leg descended, hope faded—until red smoke enveloped her. The leg struck earth, missing its mark. Stunned, I recognized that smoke—it could only be from one source.
I wasn't wrong. Red Cloud, the Eskapa soldier, emerged. "Sorry I took so long," Xxv apologized.
The red smoke thickened, and Xxv appeared, carrying the unconscious Wild Fox Spirit. "You did well—leave them to me now," he declared.
Speechless, I watched him stand tall. His earring glowed, and from the smoke, Isay and Melon emerged. "Master Nathaniel, are you alright?" Isay asked, rushing to my side.
Xxv vanished into the smoke, lowering the woman beside us, entrusting her care. He drew a sword—the Sanitoshi blade gifted by Suwi—from his crest. Closing his eyes, he inhaled deeply as red flames ignited along the blade.
"Crimson Flame Strike," he intoned.
His form dissolved into smoke, reappearing across the battlefield, slashing spiders with precision. His ability to become mist, moving within it to strike, proved a devastating technique. Even minor wounds ignited with the sword's red fire, consuming the spiders whole.
"Dance, Sanitoshi. Crimson Tornado!" he commanded.
Flames spiraled upward, engulfing spiders even in the treetops. The fire brushed us, yet we felt no heat—Sanitoshi's living flames obeyed only its master's will. His skill, honed by Eskapa's divine weapons, inspired both awe and fear among warriors.
As the flames rose, Xxv vanished, reappearing atop a tree, sword raised. He dove, severing a Red Star Giant Tarantula's head. "Red Cloud Technique, Fallen Strike," he called.
The head crashed down, and he reappeared before the second tarantula. "Let's end this," he vowed, thrusting his sword upward with a burst of flame that split the beast in two.
In an instant, the spiders were gone. We stood speechless, marveling at his unmatched prowess. He sheathed the sword in his crest—a magical item storing Eskapa soldiers' weapons—and the flames faded like dissipating bubbles.
Breathing deeply, he turned to us, his smile radiant as if nothing had happened. "Sorry for the delay—I was ordered not to interfere with the trial," he said.
He approached Isay, taking her hand to help her up. "Thank you for aiding us, brave sir," she said.
"It's an honor to save a goddess as beautiful as you," he replied, kissing her hand. She blushed, delighted by the praise.
"Beautiful? I didn't expect you to be such a charmer, sir, but thank you," she giggled.
"Truly, your silver hair shines, your skin soft as petals, smooth as a newborn's," he flattered, his words flowing like a courtship.
I smirked, though his charm with women—taught by Yuki—didn't surprise me. Yuki had drilled him to praise and respect females, fueling her own vanity. Unable to watch their flirtation, I interrupted. "Can you two stop swooning and help us first?"
"Oh, my apologies," Xxv chuckled.
He moved to the Wild Fox Spirit, casting healing magic to stem her bleeding. "This will halt the wound temporarily—she needs a healer," he noted. He tended my feet too, easing the ache with skills from Magdalena's training.
I couldn't believe I was meeting him in person, the hero of my comic, living up to his written glory. "Thank you—your skill is incredible, Xxv. Without you, we'd be lost," I said.
He fell silent, startled by my use of his name. "How do you know that?" he asked.
"Uh… well, who doesn't know the famed hero saving countless lives?" I stammered.
He thanked me but wondered—though a celebrated Red Cloud, few knew his slave name, Xxv. Only a select few still used it.
I cursed my slip, crafting a lie. "Uh… I'm friends with your wife, Suwi, so I learned it."
Shocked, he gripped my shoulder. "Really? You're her friend? You're not joking?"
"Do you know where she is? Is she safe? What's her condition?" he pressed.
He recounted her escape from the island home he'd given her, his worry growing with the enemies pursuing her. Calming him, I assured him Suwi was safe for now. "Really? Thank goodness," he sighed.
Yet he puzzled over my connection to Suwi, known for her aloofness. "You know, I struggled to help her, but instead of thanks, she punched me twice!" I complained.
"Haha, she did that?" he laughed.
"She's arrogant, calling me 'dirt worm' when she dislikes my words," I grumbled.
"Haha, she hasn't changed," he grinned.
Xxv smiled, grateful for my bond with his wife despite her roughness. "I'm surprised she befriended a human, but it gladdens me—perhaps she's fulfilling her promises."
I shook my head, disagreeing—Suwi's sharp tongue and demeanor remained unchanged. Soon, he suggested we head to the arena for full treatment.
Worry struck—without red eggs, we might fail. Melon leaped to my head, easing my fears. "No need to worry—I collected eggs when they fell," he said, spitting out a pile. He explained his ability to store items within himself.
"Amazing, Melon—you got them!" Isay cheered, lifting him joyfully.
"We'll pass now—great job!" she exclaimed.