Chapter 8: The Black Spinner
There we were, crammed inside a prison cell that smelled faintly of rust, damp stone, and stale ale. The iron bars were thick enough to stop an ogre charge, and the tiny slit of a window near the ceiling barely let any sunlight through.
I rubbed my temples for what felt like the hundredth time.
"We didn't mean to cause trouble," I explained again, keeping my tone level despite my growing irritation.
"Everything that happened was self-defense."
"The witnesses say otherwise." That was the only response the guard gave me, Completely uninterested.
I internally facepalmed.
At this point, arguing was clearly useless. The dwarven guards had already decided we were guilty the moment the fight broke out. No investigation. No proper questioning. Just straight to jail. Great legal system.
Across the cell, Haru was curled up on my dire wolf pelt, happily asleep as if we were staying at an inn instead of being imprisoned.
Ryu sat nearby with his usual relaxed posture, casually browsing through memory projections only he could see. Meanwhile, Yamada and the others sat quietly against the wall, conserving energy instead of panicking.
At least somebody here had common sense.
I'd already sent fang and the rest of the komori wolves back into the forest earlier. Bringing a pack of giant wolves near a dwarven settlement already caused enough tension. Keeping them around while we were arrested would've escalated things into a full-blown disaster.
Just as silence settled again—
BANG!
The prison door slammed open. Another dwarf stumbled inside, panting heavily.
"Remu—!"
The dwarf looked pale with panic. The guard beside our cell immediately stiffened.
"What is it, Lun?!" the dwarf asked
"There was a cave-in at the mines!" Lun gasped between breaths.
"I barely made it out! Rum and the others are badly injured!"
The color drained from Remu's face.
"What about the healing potions?"
"We don't have enough," Lun answered helplessly.
"The alchemists already used most of the stock last week…"
The atmosphere changed instantly.
Fear, Real fear.
Not fear of monsters or invaders, but the helpless fear of losing people they cared about.
I quietly watched the two dwarves panic for a moment before my gaze drifted toward the nearby barrel of water beside the cell.
An idea formed.
{Healing Master activated}
Without hesitation, I released my claws. I sliced my palm open with one claw.
Drip.
Drip.
Crimson blood fell into the water. The barrel immediately began glowing a faint blue-green as waves of healing mana spread through it.
Ryu finally looked up from his memories.
"Master?"
"What are we going to do?!" Lun panicked, practically shaking Remu by the shoulders.
I cleared my throat. The two dwarves turned toward me in confusion.
"Use this." I gestured toward the glowing barrel.
Their eyes widened cautiously.
"What is that?"
"A healing mixture," I answered calmly.
Remu narrowed his eyes suspiciously.
"Why would you help us?" he asked
Reasonable question. After all, they'd just thrown us in prison.
Still, I shrugged.
"Because people are hurt," I replied simply.
"Whether I like you or not doesn't really matter right now." I added
The two guards exchanged uncertain looks.
I could practically see the internal debate happening in their heads.
"Just use it before I change my mind," I said flatly.
That finally pushed them into action.
"Fine," Remu muttered.
"But don't even think about leaving this cell."
"Wasn't planning to." The two dwarves grabbed the barrel and rushed out in a hurry.
The prison grew quiet again afterward.
Yamada glanced toward me curiously.
"My Lady Shiori… why help them? They still treated us unfairly."i leaned back against the stone wall beside Ryu.
"Because I wanted to," I answered honestly.
"People willing to risk themselves for their friends usually aren't rotten to the core."
I paused briefly.
"Same reason I helped your village."
Yamada's expression softened immediately.
"I understand now, Shiori-sama."
A few hours later…
The prison doors swung open again.This time, however, several dwarves practically rushed inside.
"Thank you so much, miss!"
"We thought Rum was done for!"
"The potion healed everyone!"
I blinked in surprise as multiple dwarves bowed toward me all at once.
"A-Ah… it was nothing…"
Remu scratched the back of his head awkwardly while unlocking the cell.
"We misjudged you," he admitted. "Sorry about that."
"Apology accepted."
"But seriously," he continued, smiling this time, "if there's anything you need, ask."
Now that caught my attention.
"Well… actually, there is something."
"Oh?"
"We need a blacksmith," I explained. "And maybe a few tailors too."
Remu grinned immediately.
"Ha! Then I know exactly who you need."
......
A while later, we entered a large weapon shop near the center of town.
Axes.
Spears.
Swords.
Tower shields.
The walls were practically overflowing with weapons.
"Hello?" I called out after noticing nobody around. "Is anyone here?"
THUD!
We all jumped slightly as someone suddenly slammed their head against the underside of the counter before emerging.
A young man with messy dark brown hair and striking red eyes rubbed his forehead painfully.
"Ow… welcome!" he greeted cheerfully.
"What can I get for you?"
"Durable weapons," I replied. "Bulk orders if possible."
He let out a low whistle.
"Planning a war?" he asked
"Not exactly," I answered. "A village I'm helping doesn't have a blacksmith yet."
"But what about you?"
"Me?"
"Yeah." He leaned against the counter curiously. "What's your style? Sword? Spear? Magic?"
I froze.
…Magic.
Right. I'd spent so much time relying on monster abilities and survival instincts that I'd almost completely ignored actual spellcasting.
Could anyone in the Demi Plane even teach magic properly?
Maybe after evolving…
Still, not likely.
Seeing my silence, the man chuckled.
"Let's start over. I'm Liam. Liam Flint.
"Shiori Koromi," I replied. "This is Yamada, Ryuchi, and Haruna."
"Well, Shiori," Liam smirked, "you definitely strike me as a close-to-mid-range combat type."
"How can you tell?" I asked surprised
"My eye's special." he smiled. His right eye glowed faint green.
"It lets me read mana flow and combat tendencies."
…Oh crap.
If he could properly sense mana, then my energy reserves probably looked horrifying.
Liam suddenly laughed awkwardly.
"To be honest, if you weren't cute, I might've run the moment I sensed your mana."
I laughed nervously.
"Come on," he said. "I've got something you'll like."
He led us toward a massive chained door at the back of the shop. Pulling a key hanging from his neck, he unlocked it before pushing the door open.
The moment we entered, Everyone froze.
The room glowed faintly with magical energy.
Weapons lined the walls like artifacts from legends themselves. Crystal staffs. Mana-infused swords. Enchanted bows. Every single item emitted magical pressure.
"These," Liam announced proudly, "are mana-infused weapons."
Ryu and Haruna immediately lit up with excitement.
"WOAH!"
They looked like children entering an amusement park for the first time.
I slowly wandered through the room until one particular weapon caught my attention.
A staff.
Elegant silver engravings spiraled around a glowing crystal core.
Beautiful. Almost instinctively, I placed my hand against the glass case.
Liam noticed immediately. "Good eye."
He unlocked the case and carefully handed it to me.
"My sister made that one," Liam explained proudly. "She studies at the Magic Academy now."
"Sister, huh…"
I carefully examined the craftsmanship again. No wonder it felt different.
"Liam," I said suddenly, "how would you feel about working for me?"
"As your blacksmith?"
"Yeah."He blinked before laughing softly.
"Sorry, toots. Cant, I've got a business here," he explained. "Adventurers rely on this shop. I can't abandon everything overnight."
Honestly?That answer made me respect him more. A person willing to throw away their life's work for a stranger probably wasn't reliable to begin with.
"Understood," I replied with a small smile.
"Offer still stands if you ever change your mind."
"Deal."After purchasing equipment and supplies, we headed upstairs
Then suddenly
A scent hit me. My body froze instantly.
That smell…
Without warning, I bolted out the store.
"SHIORI-SAMA?!" Haruna shouted behind me but I ignored her completely.
The scent pulled at me like a thread tied around my heart. I shoved through crowds, nearly knocking people over as I followed it desperately.
Then finally, I grabbed someone's shoulder.
The man turned around slowly.
Blood-red eyes met mine.
"Can I help you, miss?"His deep voice sent chills down my spine.
But my attention wasn't on him. It was on the scarf around his neck. A scarf that absolutely did not belong in this world
My breathing stopped. Because stitched onto the fabric…
Was Sanemi's name.
"Where did you get that?" I demanded sharply.
The man's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Answer the question!" People around us immediately stopped to stare.
"Child," the man replied calmly, "you seem mistaken."
No.impossible.He smelled like Sanemi.
Not exactly the same…But close enough to make my chest tighten painfully.
In a blur, the man flicked a thin needle into a nearby adventurer. The victim collapsed instantly. Convulsing as Foam spilled from their mouth as their body twisted unnaturally.
Their eyes glowed red, their Canines elongated.
"What the hell?!"
"He's turning into a Phantom!" someone screamed
The crowd exploded into panic.
I spun around, But the mysterious man was already gone.
"DAMN IT!"
{Steel Strings activated}
Threads shot forward, pinning the transforming Phantom to the ground.
I stared at him grimly.
According to Artemis, once someone fully became a Phantom, their humanity was gone.
No cure.No recovery.Just hunger.
An adventurer stepped forward without hesitatio.And decapitated him instantly.The body turned to dust moments later as The surrounding people looked relieved.
Not sad.
Not horrified.
Just relieved.
…Was this normal here?
I frowned deeply before turning away.This world really was cruel.
And somehow…
I had the feeling things were only going to get worse.
Third person's pov
The man, dressed in a black suit frowned deeply as he hid in an ally way. How could she have known who he was?
He then snapped his fingers, Two cloaked figures appeared and knelt before him
"A female fox hybrid, white hair and purple eyes, bring her to me, alive...." He ordered the two figures nodded and vanished into the shadows.
They Reappeared in a forest close to the market town. One of them pulled out a strange artifact.
"Merciless as the gruesome soul, black as obsidian. I summon they puppet to which I'm its master. Heed my order and come fort!
Black Spinner!" They chanted
A black haze appeared shortly after as a ferocious monster came from it's abssy. It's eyes glowing bright pink as drool escaped it's jaws.
"Retrieve the girl, alive..." One of them spoke lifting a piece of cloth containing shioris scent. The giant spider let out a terrifying roar and went to obey.
Shiori's pov
We were walking back to meet fang and his pack. Ryu stayed back, saying he needed to get something important.
"Ouch!" I was so distracted, I didn't see the sharp low branch as it scratched my arm.
"What's wrong?" Haruna asked.
"It's nothing, just a scratch." i said. suddenly, we heard a loud boom as we immediately turned around.
The dwarf town was on fire and in the process of being eliminated by an unknown monster. Sounds of destruction could be Heard as people's screams followed.
I squinted my eyes a bit as I noticed Ryu running our way, holding a beat up unconscious Liam in his arm
"What the hell am I looking at?!" I frowned at Ryu
"Hey! Don't give me that look, it wasn't me that did this!" Ryu said defensely.
"Then who did?"
"Huh?, master your hurt!" Ryu panicked , staring at the dry blood on my arm.
"Oh, don't worry about that. I'm already healed see..." I shrugged it off
"No you don't understand, the smell of your blood will lead it here!" He panicked
"what are you talking about?" Just then a creature smashesThe ground as it exploded beneath us.
BOOOOM!
I barely leapt backward in time as something massive crashed where I had been standing moments ago. Dirt and shattered stone flew everywhere.
"What the—?!"
Towering above the burning forest stood a gigantic black spider the size of a building. Its body was covered in jagged armor-like chitin, glowing pink cracks spreading beneath the shell like magma veins. Eight crimson eyes locked directly onto me.
Not near me.
At me.
Its mouth opened slowly, revealing layers of twitching fangs dripping with sizzling black acid.
"…You have got to be kidding me." I deadpanned
The creature shrieked, The sound alone made the surrounding trees tremble.
Behind me, Haruna immediately paled.
"T-That thing is huge!"
"Observation," Ryu said casually while carrying the unconscious Liam over one shoulder. "It appears hostile."
"NO REALLY?!" I snapped.
The spider suddenly lunged, Fast, Way too fast.
My instincts screamed. I twisted sideways just as one massive limb pierced through the ground where my chest had been. The impact alone split the earth apart.
Acid splashed nearby.
SSSSSS.
Entire patches of grass melted instantly.
"…Okay," I muttered shakily. "That definitely would've killed me."
Liam groaned weakly from Ryu's shoulder before forcing himself awake.
"T-That thing…" his eyes widened in horror. "A Black Spinner…"
"You know what this thing is?!" I shouted while dodging another attack.
"It's a summoned Phantom!" Liam yelled. "An ancient calamity-class monster!
Legends say it devours everything in its path! It retreats after sustaining enough damage!"
That. I could work with.
I narrowed my eyes. The creature was enormous, but its movements weren't refined. Brutal. Aggressive. Mostly straightforward.
Meaning…
It relied heavily on regeneration and overwhelming force.Not technique.
Good, That meant I could exploit it.
"Ryu!" I shouted.
"Hm?"
"Evacuate the town! Haruna, healing support only! Nobody engages this thing directly!"
"Understood, Shiori-sama!" Everyone immediately moved.
Good, Less distractions.
The Black Spinner screeched again before charging.
I inhaled slowly.
Focus.
Its front limbs struck first.
Too linear.
I ducked under the attack, planted my foot against a broken boulder, then launched upward.
{Steel Webbing activated}
Silver threads shot from my fingertips.
SHNK!
The webbing wrapped tightly around two of the creature's legs before I yanked hard.
.
The spider lost balance briefly. Opening found.
{ Claws activated}
I slashed downward.
CRRRSH!
Two massive limbs were severed instantly.
Black blood sprayed across the battlefield as the monster shrieked in agony.
"Yes!"
Then…
My smile disappeared. The severed limbs twitched as they Regenerated in seconds.
"…Oh, you're annoying. I frown
The spider's eyes glowed brighter.
Its attack pattern changed immediately.
It adapted?!
Suddenly, acid projectiles rained toward me from multiple directions.
Crap.
I jumped backward repeatedly while analyzing the trajectories. Too fast to dodge forever.
Need to slow regeneration.
My eyes narrowed.
Poison.
{Poison Mist activated}
Purple fog exploded across the battlefield.
The Black Spinner screeched violently as smoke rose from its shell.
Good. Its regeneration slowed slightly.
Not enough.
But enough to create openings.
I immediately slammed my staff against the ground.
{Thunder Strike activated}
Lightning crashed from the sky.
BOOOOM!
The blast engulfed the monster completely.
The smell of burnt flesh filled the air.
For a brief moment…
Silence.
Then the smoke parted. The spider emerged again.
Still alive
Still regenerating.
"…That is deeply upsetting."
Liam stared in disbelief.
"How are you still standing after fighting that thing alone?!"
"Honestly?" I answered while panting heavily. "I'm improvising extremely hard right now."
The Black Spinner suddenly vanished.
My instincts screamed again.
Above.
I looked upward just in time to see the creature descending directly toward me.
Too late to dodge completely.
CRASH!
Pain exploded through my abdomen.
I coughed blood as one of its limbs pierced straight through my side before launching me through multiple trees.
My body slammed against a trunk hard enough to crack it in half.
"…Ah…"
Everything hurt.
My vision blurred. The spider slowly approached, savoring my weakness.
Like a predator enjoying a wounded animal.
No.
Absolutely not. I forced myself upright while clutching my wound.
Think.
The poison slowed regeneration. Lightning damaged internal tissue.Webbing restricted movement
Meaning layered attacks worked better than isolated ones.
So…
I needed simultaneous damage output.
A combination attack.
My eyes widened slightly.
"…Wait."
Slime manipulation could create structure.
Webbing could reinforce shape. Lightning could increase penetration.Poison could prevent recovery. If I merged everything—
A system notification appeared instantly.
{New Skill Combination Available}
{Thunder Arrow Shower}
{Do you wish to use this skill?}
{Yes} { no}
"…Perfect."
The Black Spinner lunged again.
This time—
I smiled.
"Your mistake," I said quietly, "was giving me enough time to think."
lightening stuck on point on the black Spinner, The smell of roasted bug followed.
"What?! It's heal already?!" I stated, staring at regenerated monster, thou it was still steaming.
"Um Liam, thought you said it would leave once it's had enough damage..."
"Well... Um, I believe you've damaged it so much, that's it's actually taking a liking to you.." he said giving a weird look.
"Say what now? You can't be serious!" I cringed hugging my body as I stared at the creature in disbelief as it looked at me lovestrucked
"I'll just use the thunder arrow shower agai- Ahh!"
i was cut off as I currently had my abdomen pierced by one of it's limbs before launching me straight into a tree.
I coughed out some blood as I stared down at my bloodied body, I couldn't even catch a break before another scream escaped my throat, as it pierced me once more.
This is bad, I can't, hold onmuch longer. I could feel my consciousness slipping away. my life flashes before my eyes.
"Onee-san! What are you doing?!" Senemi frowned
Senemi? I stared at the little boy from my memories.
"You promised to always stay by my side yet your really accepting defeat by an obstacle in your way? Did you already forget our promise"
Promise?
"We never loses!"
My eyes slowly fluttered open, blurry vision sharpening just enough to lock onto the massive black Spinner looming before me. The creature's grotesque fangs twitched with excitement, traces of my blood still dripping from its piercer-like limbs.
A wave of fury surged through my chest.
How could I forget something so important?
Everything I've done… it was all to find Sanemi.
So how could I lose here?
"I… can't lose now…" I muttered weakly.
Before the Spinner could react, I grabbed one of its sharpened piercers with both hands, gripping it so tightly my palms began to bleed.
The monster froze.
"How dare you…" My voice trembled with rage. "How dare you drink my blood so happily."
With a savage shove, I forced the giant spider backward. Its enormous body skidded across the ground before crashing several meters away, rubble scattering everywhere.
At the same moment, Ryu darted in, grabbing Liam by the collar before leaping clear of the battlefield.
"Just who ARE you people?!" Liam screamed, his face pale with terror.
I ignored him completely.
A strange heat spread through my body.
Pure, overflowing mana coursed through every vein like lightning.
My silvery white hair began glowing brilliantly, strands whipping wildly around me as if caught in a storm. The star-shaped pupil in my eye shone brighter and brighter, illuminating the ruined battlefield in a radiant glow.
Slowly, I picked up my staff.
The crystal gem embedded at its tip pulsed with a deep violet light.
Small fractures began forming across the weapon immediately.
Even it couldn't handle what I was about to do.
I inhaled deeply as unleashed everything.
{Elite Skill: Predator Activated}
Dark slime oozed around my feet like a living shadow.
{Webbing Activated}
Threads of mana spread through the air, intertwining around the battlefield.
{Thunder Arrow Shower Activated}
Electricity erupted around me, sparks snapping violently through the atmosphere
.
{Poison Mist Activated}
A thick violet haze spread outward, corroding the ground beneath it.
{Slime Manipulation Activated}
The slime rose into the air, morphing and twisting under my command. Ryu's eyes widened in horror.
"Is she…?!" he whispered.
His voice shook.
"She's combining all her attacks at once… but her mana output isn't increasing… Has she been holding back this entire time for OUR sake?!
Even Liam stood frozen speechless.
The various skills began merging together.
Webbing fused with lightning. Poison mixed into the slime.
Predator compressed everything together into one terrifying mass of energy. It became a massive glowing sphere floating above my palm, unstable and violently crackling.
The pressure alone made the earth tremble.
I raised my staff slowly.
The slime reshaped itself into hundreds of arrow-like projectiles while the webbing formed the outline of an enormous bow around the staff itself.
My breathing became ragged. Blood trickled from the corner of my lips.
But I still smiled.
"Now…" I said softly, my glowing eyes locking onto the Spinner.
"I'm sending you on a little trip…" My mana exploded outward.
"TO HELL!"
I unleashed the attack.
{CALAMITY FLASH}
BOOOOOOOOMMMMMMM!!
The world turned white. A deafening explosion tore through the valley as a gigantic beam of compressed destruction swallowed everything in its path. Mountains cracked. Trees vanished instantly.
The black Spinner was blasted through the air like a broken doll before smashing violently into a distant mountain.
CRAAASH!!
The gem embedded in its forehead shattered instantly. Black blood splattered across the rocks.
Smoke and dust engulfed the battlefield.
Silence followed.
Then…
"W-Woah…" Ryu laughed nervously, sweat pouring down his face. "At this point, all I can do is laugh…"
My vision blurred heavily. The glowing aura around me flickered weakly.
"Have…" I mumbled tiredly, barely able to stand. "Have you had your fill now… you pervert…"
.
The crystal staff shattered into pieces. The immense mana output had completely destroyed it.
My body gave out immediately afterward.
Darkness consumed me
Third person's pov
"She's completely out of strength…" Ryu thought grimly as he rushed toward her
But then—
His instincts screamed.
From the corner of his eye, something moved beneath the rubble. Suddenly, black webbing shot forward at terrifying speed.
"What?!"
The threads wrapped around her unconscious body before violently yanking her toward the destroyed mountain.
"I won't make it in time!" Ryu panicked.
The rubble exploded apart.
The black Spinner emerged from the debris.
Its body was covered in burns and cracks, black blood dripping everywhere, yet its eyes glowed with disturbing excitement.
"Oh no…" Ryu muttered, preparing to fight again.
"Huh?"
He blinked.
The giant spider wasn't attacking.
Instead
"WOW!!" the Spinner squealed excitedly while hugging my unconscious body tightly. "You're SO strong! And you look absolutely adorable covered in blood and dirt like this!"
Ryu stared blankly.
"Your attack hurt me SO much!" the spider continued happily, rubbing its face against my cheek. "It hurts horribly, yet it feels AMAZING! I've never felt so alive before!"
The battlefield fell silent.
Ryu sweatdropped..
"Yep… definitely a pervert."
"SO CUTE YET SO MERCILESS!" the Spinner squealed again, swaying my limp body around like a doll. "I'm never letting you go! We'll stay together forever!"
"Um…" Ryu raised a hand awkwardly. "Can you put her down now?"
The spider ignored him completely.
"My precious little fox…"
"I said…" Ryu's eye twitched violently.
"LET. HER. GO!"
BAM!!
He kicked the monster directly in the face, forcing it to release me.
"OW!! What was that for?!" the Spinner complained.
"So you CAN talk," Ryu snapped while catching me carefully. "And if you had even a shred of common sense, you'd realize she's barely alive! Swinging her around like a toy isn't helping!"
The spider blinked.
"…Oh."
It looked genuinely ashamed for a moment.
Then it tilted its head curiously.
"What's your relationship with this woman?"
"She's my master," Ryu replied immediately.
"Her other subordinates are busy helping the citizens from the town YOU destroyed."
The Spinner looked toward the distant ruins.
"…Sorry about that," it muttered quietly.
Ryu raised an eyebrow, surprised the creature was even capable of guilt.
Then a mischievous smirk spread across his face.
"Black Spinner," he said casually, "you said you wanted to stay with her forever, right?"
"…Yes?"
"Then why not form a contract with her?"
The spider froze.
"…What?"
Ryu grinned wider.
"I'm pretty sure my master would prefer a humanoid hybrid over a giant creepy insect."
"I'm offended by that comment," the Spinner huffed. "But… you do have a point."It narrowed its eyes suspiciously.
"Though judging by your behavior, you don't act much like a servant."
"Oh, I absolutely am," Ryu replied smugly.
Then, deliberately, he lifted her unconscious body slightly and pressed his cheek against her's intimately.
"In fact, I'd gladly attend to all her needs if she asked."
The spider's eyes widened.
"No! I will!"
"Then it's settled!" Ryu fist-pumped victoriously.
"But…" the spider hesitated. "What about her consent?"
Ryu immediately looked away..
"…We'll deal with that later."
"That sounds incredibly suspicious."
"Don't worry about it."
The Spinner stared at him silently for several seconds
"…Very well. I look forward to this union."
Dark energy began swirling around the monster's body.
The contract commenced.
Mana surged violently as the giant spider's form slowly began transforming into something more human
.................
Far away, deep within an unknown dungeon…
Drip.
Drip.
Water echoed through the dark prison halls.
Inside one of the filthy cells, a young fox-eared boy sat chained against the wall.
His once-white hair was dirty and unkempt, partially covering his dull blue eyes. A fluffy fox tail swayed weakly behind him.
Despite his miserable appearance…
His gaze remained sharp.
"Still refusing to talk, huh brat?!" a guard snarled.
BANG!
The man slammed his boot against the wall beside the boy's head, cracking the stone.
The fox boy slowly lifted his eyes.
Even chained up, his expression remained calm.
"I'm surprised," the guard sneered. "Even without magic, you still dodged that."
The boy spoke quietly.
"Magic isn't about how much power you have. It's about how well you use it."
His blue eyes sharpened slightly.
"Experience beats raw strength."
The guard scoffed mockingly.
"Wow. Such inspiring words. Did your daddy teach you that?"
"My father?" the boy replied coldly. "Don't be stupid. That bastard isn't worth my time."
A faint softness crossed his expression.
"I was taught by my sister."
"Sister?" the guard laughed.
Before he could continue, footsteps echoed down the hallway.
"What's going on here?"
A tall black-haired man approached slowly.
The same man from Advend Valley
The guard immediately straightened up.
"S-Sir! This brat was just rambling nonsense about his sister!"
The black-haired man paused.
"Sister… huh?"
A faint smirk crossed his face.
"How interesting."
Sanemi's body stiffened instantly
The man continued casually.
"I actually met a fox girl earlier today. She came charging at me with some rather fierce eyes."
Silence.
Sanemi's eyes widened.
Onee-san…
"She's here…?" His heart pounded violently.
"She came for me…"
The man's smile darkened.
"Perhaps next time we meet, I should bring her along." His voice became taunting. "I'm sure you'd enjoy the reunion~
The chains rattled violently.
KRAAANG!!
Sanemi exploded forward with murderous rage burning in his eyes.
"IF YOU TOUCH MY ONEE-SAN—!"
The chains restrained him before he could reach them.
"I'LL KILL YOU!" he roared. "I'LL MURDER YOUR FAMILY! YOUR FRIENDS! EVERYONE YOU CARE ABOU—!"
SMACK!!
The black-haired man struck him across the face. Sanemi slammed hard against the wall before collapsing to the floor. Blood trickled down the side of his head.
His consciousness slowly faded.
And as darkness consumed him…
The final thing he remembered…
…was his sister's gentle smile.