The gigantic spider suddenly let out a loud, shrill scream that echoed across the ruined street like a piercing blade tearing through the air. The broken walls of nearby buildings seemed to vibrate slightly under the creature's horrifying cry.
"Soryn, get back!" Serenya shouted. Her voice carried a clear tremble of worry as she looked toward the enormous creature rushing toward them.
Without wasting any second, Soryn grabbed Isaya's left hand tightly and began running forward, pulling the boy along with him while Serenya followed beside them.
Behind them, the gigantic spider began to follow them. Its enormous legs stabbed one after another into the cracked pavement as it chased them.
Soryn's mind raced as he ran.
This is bad…
None of us can fight something like that.
And I don't know how to fight that thing with my daggers. Only if I knew how to use my ability.
The spider was simply too large and everyone else was injured
Then suddenly a faint message appeared in front of Soryn's eyes.
[Do you want to use your ability?]
Soryn frowned in confusion as he kept running.
Ability…?
He didn't understand what the message meant. The only thing he knew about his ability was the strange title he had seen earlier: Author.
But that title didn't explain anything.
What kind of ability was that supposed to be?
Suddenly, a faint voice echoed inside his mind. It sounded distant… almost like a memory that had been buried somewhere deep inside his thoughts.
Manipulation.
The word echoed softly.
"What manipulation…?" Soryn murmured under his breath.
The moment those words left his mouth. Several broken bricks lying scattered across the ground trembled slightly.
Some of them shifted just a little, scraping faintly against the dusty pavement.
Soryn's eyes widened slightly.
Did those bricks really move…?
"Soryn! Dodge!" Serenya suddenly shouted.
Instinctively, Soryn jumped to his left while still holding Isaya's hand.
At that exact moment, one of the spider's massive legs slammed down where they had been running only a second earlier.
The ground cracked violently beneath the impact.
Both of them continued to run again.
Soryn quickly turned his head toward Isaya to check if he was okay.
The boy was still running beside him, but his breathing had become uneven and strained. His small chest rose and fell rapidly as he struggled to keep up.
Seeing that, Soryn suddenly bent down and lifted Isaya into his arms.
"What are you doing?" Isaya asked in a weak but innocent voice.
"You're tired," Soryn replied while adjusting his grip so the boy wouldn't slip. "Don't push yourself."
"I'm not tired," Isaya said stubbornly.
Soryn continued running without slowing down.
"Alright, you're not tired," he replied calmly. "But this way is faster."
Behind them, the gigantic spider screeched again while continuing its relentless pursuit.
But Soryn's thoughts were still focused on something else.
When I said "manipulation"… did those bricks really moved.
His eyes flickered briefly toward the scattered rubble across the ground as he continued running.
Wait…
Soryn suddenly slowed down. Then he stopped.
The gigantic spider was still charging toward them from behind.
"What are you doing, Soryn?" Serenya asked in confusion as she stopped beside him. Her voice was filled with both worry and fear.
Soryn carefully handed Isaya over to her.
"Take care of him," Soryn said.
Serenya's eyes widened.
"What? How?" she asked immediately, panic creeping into her voice.
"I know a way to defeat it," Soryn replied. "Just trust me."
For a brief moment, he looked directly at her.
Then he turned around and began walking toward the gigantic spider that was rushing toward him.
Serenya stood there for a moment.
Her fingers tightened around Isaya as she slowly stepped backward.
"Don't you die on us!" she shouted after him.
Soryn didn't reply.
His eyes were fixed only on the gigantic spider approaching him.
He took a deep breath, while the gigantic spider continued rushing toward him.
For a brief moment he closed his eyes before lifting his gaze back toward the creature.
This should work… he thought.
Please… don't betray me.
The spider was already only a few meters away now that it jumped upward.
Soryn slowly raised his hand forward, his fingers trembling slightly.
Relax… Soryn… relax, he told himself. Don't die a useless death.
As the spider was descending downwards. Its massive body was about to crush him completely that suddenly.
From the surrounding ruins, several thick iron rods shot forward violently as if something had pulled them out of the broken buildings nearby. They slammed directly into the spider's body.
The impact was so powerful that the gigantic creature was sent flying sideways.
Its massive body crahed violently into the wall of a nearby building.
Soryn stared for a moment and then jumped with excitement.
It worked…
Sweat ran down the side of his face as he struggled to breathe normally. His legs felt weak and heavy, as if the strength had been drained from them.
But… that took a lot of energy…
I can really manipulate matter….
Wait…. But how did I get that idea that I can manipulate matter?
He wiped the sweat from his forehead.
It should be dead now…
But suddenly, The spider moved out of the building and With a violent screech it leapt upward once more.
Wait… it's still alive?
Soryn's eyes widened as He immediately jumped to the left just as the spider slammed back down onto the ground exactly where he had been standing a moment earlier.
"That was close," Soryn muttered under his breath.
Without wasting time he quickly ran backward and slipped behind the broken wall of a nearby building, pressing his back against the cold stone as he tried to think.
What can I do…?
Outside, the spider began moving again.
Its enormous legs tore through the weakened walls of the surrounding buildings as it searched for him, smashing through stone and wood while fragments rained down across the street.
Soryn held his breath as he looked back at the spider.
Wait…
The spider's movements looked… strange.
Can't it see me…?
His eyes focused on the creature more closely.
Then he realized why.
All of the spider's eyes had been completely torn apart earlier. Thick dark blood still poured down its face from the empty sockets.
Wait…
This is good.
A faint spark appeared in his eyes as a thought formed inside his mind.
For a brief moment he looked around the ruined street.
Then a small smile appeared on his face.
After a while, Soryn ran out from behind the wall and stepped into the open street.
"I'm here!" he shouted loudly. "You ugly spider!"
Hearing his voice, the spider screeched again and rushed directly toward the sound, its massive body smashing through everything in its path as it charged toward him.
As it was running.
A large abandoned truck suddenly lifted into the air and slammed straight into the spider's body. But this time the spider reacted violently.
Its massive legs tore through the truck as if it were nothing more than scrap metal, ripping the vehicle apart into twisted pieces.
As the truck was destroyed, a large amount of liquid poured out from its shattered tank and splashed all over the spider's body and across the ground.
The spider continued charging forward, But suddenly its legs slipped.
The massive creature lost its balance and slammed heavily onto the ground.
Soryn watched the scene with a faint smile forming on his lips.
"Stupid spider," he muttered.
His eyes looked toward the liquid spreading across the ground.
"This is petrol."
As he spoke those words, Soryn slowly lifted his hand again.
Nearby, several loose electrical wires hanging from a broken pole suddenly snapped free, twisting through the air as if pulled by an invisible force.
The wires dropped directly into the petrol.
For a split second-Nothing happened.
Then massive explosion of flames erupted.
Fire burst violently across the ground as the petrol ignited instantly, spreading across the spider's body. The flames roared upward, engulfing the creature completely as it shrieked in agony while the fire burned through its chitin and flesh.
Soryn watched the burning creature for a moment before letting out a long breath.
"So… this is done," he muttered quietly.
He turned slightly, about to walk away but his knees gave out beneath him.
His body dropped heavily onto the ground.
"Ah…"
He gritted his teeth as a sharp pain shot through his head.
"Why… am I feeling like this…?" he muttered, pressing a hand against his temple.
Did I really push myself this much…?
Behind him, the burning spider let out one final weak screech before its body collapsed completely.
Soryn glanced back slightly.
"Just shut up…" he said tiredly.
But…
Behind the burning corpse, movement began appearing in the darkness of the ruined street.
One by one, several spiders slowly crawled into view, their twisted bodies gathering together as they stared toward him.
Soryn blinked slowly.
"Oh…"
A faint, tired smile appeared on his face.
"I think… it was calling its friends."
He looked at the approaching monsters, his exhausted body barely able to move anymore.
"Dammit…"
He let out a quiet breath.
"So this is how I'm going to die…"
His gaze lowered slightly.
"I don't even understand how my powers work," he murmured.
What's the connection between manipulation… and my ability's title… Author…?