Chapter 28: Killer Instinct

A couple hours after they’d left Viago’s corpse behind, and while traveling carefully within the foliage alongside the path, Michael and Rihelah spotted something to the left of the path up ahead.

A small gap in the forest canopy lay choked with tall, verdant grasses vying for each ray of sunlight. The sight elicited an evil grin from both of them.

The mantis version of a grin was, by human standards, a horrifying expression; with their sharp mandibles, palps, and maxillae held wide open. It made them appear eager to start chewing something - or someone - to death.

Rihelah reared back slightly when she caught him looking at her.

[Michael! What the fuck?!] Her own expression fell neutral as her head snapped to face his, save for her antennae, which had whipped backward to tremble in revulsion.

[What? I was grinning!] His face returned to normal and he cocked his head to one side.

[No, Michael! If that was a grin, you’re the grin-reaper! You looked like some computer-animated freak straight out of a horror film!]

[Thanks…] He grumbled somewhat irritably, then continued moving toward the open meadow they had found.

[Michael, I didn’t mean…] She realized what she’d said and became flustered.

Michael sighed to himself. She always beats herself up over stuff like this… [Don’t stress over it. We’re still getting used to these bodies, after all.]

[I know. Still, I’m sorry.]

[It’s okay. Dork.] Michael looked back at her and managed a crude “thumbs-up” gesture with the tiny walking foot attached to his right foreleg.

[Mm.] She caught up with him and touched her left antenna to his right.

[We’ll be able to eat soon enough. Also, does it really look scary when I grin?] He asked.

He showed her the expression again and she cringed.

[Dammit, Michael!]

[Well, why don’t you try?] He offered.

[Fine!] She looked at the meadow again, and let that sweet feeling of an impending feast wash over her, then looked at Michael while she grinned.

[Oh shit… That’s fucking terrifying.]

[See!? Wait… really?]

[Feels different when you’re the one who’s the freak-show, right?] Michael quipped, as they carefully navigated around a large pile of bones, feathers, and beaks peppered with what looked like small bird droppings.

[Holy shit…] Rihelah maneuvered to place Michael between herself and the gruesome heap while they continued past it.

[Looks like some bird of prey has a favorite perch up there…] Michael remarked.

They continued forward for half a minute before Rihelah spoke again.

[This world is definitely gonna take some more getting used to.]

[Yeah, but at least-] He stopped and snapped his triangular head upward.

[I see it, too.] She whispered as she froze in place alongside him.

A sizable, dark-red orb-weaver with pitch-black eyes and grayish, bark-patterned legs raced out to the middle of its tremendous web, suspended high above within a six-meter gap between two tree trunks.

Each time the spider’s feet came into contact with the invisible silken trap, the entire span pulsed with a blue shimmer that somehow pulled at them, beckoning the mantids toward its deadly embrace.

Both of them shook their heads and tensed their legs up hard to prevent the slender limbs from moving of their own accord.

Aside from doing their best to resist the allure of the web, Michael and Rihelah were stunned by the fact that they’d failed to notice the massive orb web at all until the spider moved upon it.

The intimidating arachnid aimed itself toward them with unsettling accuracy.

Target

Status

Gloomweaver Level ???

Annoyed, Curious

[Michael, I don’t like it. I think that spider is watching us…]

[Yeah. Those forward-facing eyes are way too big for an orb-weaver…. In any case, be ready to run or cast a spell if it attacks u-]

[Now see here, young-uns! That ain’t polite! Makin’ fun o’ appearances was bad enough, but accusin’ honest spiderfolk o’ plottin’ ta attack others? No manners! ‘Specially since this here’s our home an’ ye’re both trespassin’! Don’t you go a-wakin’ the missus or messin’ up our web, now! Ol’ Declan ain’t got time fer none o’ them silly courtship-shenanigans!] The spider that called itself Declan repeatedly jabbed one of its long front legs down toward them for emphasis while speaking with his soft-but-stern telepathic drawl. Each time he jostled the web, its surface shone with that alluring glow.

[Uh… Mister Declan? You’re enkelyn… right?] Michael asked, while Rihelah shrank away a bit.

[What kind o’ nutty question izzat? I’m talkin’, ain’t I?] Declan shook the truly massive web slightly in annoyance, then steadied it with a haunted glance in the direction from which he’d come.

[Right. It’s just… We haven’t seen many other enkelyn living out here in the forest.]

Declan carefully turned back toward them, suddenly more nervous than before. [Hmph! Well, ye can keep yerselves an’ that noise ye’re makin’ away from me an’ the woman! Go-on now, and clear out! Do yer talkin’ elsewhere an’ let her rest if ye know what’s best fer ye! The missus don’t like ta be disturbed while she’s a-]

[Declaaan!] A loud, brash telepathic voice thundered over their minds. Declan immediately scurried to the far edge of the enormous web, while another spider nearly twenty times his size rushed out from high above the pile of bones, to fill the place where he’d been hanging.

Target

Status

Gloomweaver Matriarch

Level ???

Exhausted, Irritable, Famished

The huge orb weaver’s coloration was similar to Declan’s, but her abdomen seemed rather thin for such an enormous female spider. Despite appearing thin for her size, she shook the web hard enough to make Michael and Rihelah nervous while she yelled at her mate. Both mantids engaged their camouflage and held perfectly still when she appeared.

[Ye simple-minded fool! I told ye before ta keep that tiny, squawkin’ brain o’ yers quiet while I rest! There’s three egg-sacs as need watchin’, an’ by Auronox Himself, I ain’t had me a decent meal for a whole lunar cycle! If yer scrawny arse is loud-mouthin’ with them busybody ants, switch it off or I’ll wrap it up permanently!]

She snapped her heavy chelicerae-jaws together for emphasis, and Declan cowered further away from her at the edge of the web.

With that, the massive spider matriarch strode back across the web with indignant grace before returning to her hidden lair.

From his perch, Declan waved four of his legs about until he saw both mantids were looking at him, then he pointed sharply with two legs in the direction they’d been traveling.

Michael and Rihelah looked at one another in apprehension for an instant, then continued on their way.

They had made it half-way to the meadow when a familiar spider dropped down to dangle just above and in front of them. Nearly as large as the bird that had tried to eat Rihelah, Declan proved much more intimidating up-close.

The pair huddled close, their legs tensed to leap away if the spider came any closer.

[Ye’re damn lucky she didn’t notice ye, young-uns. If mah girl Nephila’d known ye were there, only Lord Auronox Hisself could’a saved ye from them silky fangs! In normal times, mah missus is insatiable, but even ol’ Declan has ta step lightly while she’s a-guardin’ them eggs! Go-on now, if ye know what’s good fer ye! Git! An’ tell them blasted ant-wits ta keep their squawkin’ away from our-]

[Declan, love… Who’re ye speakin’ with?] Nephila interrupted him as she abseiled down beside her mate while speaking far-too-sweetly. Up-close, she seemed larger than life.

An intensely sinister feeling broke over both Michael and Rihelah like a tsunami. It reminded them of the hostility they’d felt from other creatures that had previously hunted them since their evolution, but the vileness and wanton greed behind it this time was orders of magnitude more powerful.

Rihelah shat herself while both of them shrank away from the titanic spider matriarch.

[These two… Ah… Friends o’ them ants, dearest… Village-folk! Yessir! Remember th’ ants, love…] Declan had grown incredibly nervous, and it took all they had for Michael and Rihelah to avoid breaking into a sprint for cover.

[So curious! So… small!] Nephila loomed closer while working her long fangs once, as if seeking to envenomate the air itself.

Target

Status

Nephila, Gloomweaver Matriarch Level ???

Exhausted, Irritable, Famished, Excited - Hunting You

At that notification’s confirmation of their fears, both the mantids tensed up further, sharing a sidelong glance with one another.

[Ahem… Nephila, my sizable sweetness, perhaps we ought’a return to our-]

[Silence.] The matriarch hissed, slamming him away with one of her enormous hind legs. His own dragline snapped, and Declan rag-dolled into a nearby bush while Nephila descended slowly and deliberately toward the mantids. Her gaze was locked onto their tiny, protein-rich bodies.

[She’s doing the same thing we do… It’s the instinct!] Rihelah whispered.

[Ohhh… Then ye understand, do ye? Mama needs energy ta keep watch over th’ young-uns!] Nephila’s tone was both welcoming and horrifying.

[I understand that if you come any closer while looking at us like we’re food, you’re gonna have a problem.] Michael took up a threat display, and Rihelah mirrored him.

[Hohh? Fierce little morsels! Resistance makes mama’s playtime more… deliciousss!] Nephila’s already-severe tone darkened further, sending a primal chill through Michael and Rihelah.

The silken line she continued lowering herself upon began to shimmer a brighter blue than the web, and Rihelah acted immediately, out of pure terror.

A much brighter blue illuminated the area, eclipsing the web’s glow when a maidenfly of pure flame materialized above the spider, then swiftly impacted her vulnerable abdomen from above. The spider’s backside took the brunt of the spell’s destructive force, splitting open over almost half its length.

The spell had burned away Nephila’s silken dragline, and her deafening telepathic scream of agony and surprise shocked both mantids into a dead run, away from the heavy, free-falling spider. At the same time, nearly every bird and insect that had been flying or roosting nearby fled in terror from the noise and flash of the magical blast.

Upon impact with the ground, the dark-orange innards of Nephila’s abdomen bulged outward from where it had split open, the inner sac protecting her organs almost bursting before slowly sucking back inside. Dark yellow ichor oozed from the lengthy wound.

Stunned by the shocking display of magical power and her resulting injuries, Nephila curled herself into a defensive ball of legs, while favoring her abdomen’s charred and damaged chitin.

[No! Silky-fangs, what have these critters done ta ye?!] Declan wailed madly from within the nearby bush.

He willed himself into motion, stalking slowly across the ground toward Michael and Rihelah with his long fangs bared and dripping a bluish venom. A second, vengeful wave of hostility flooded out, impacting the mantids from his direction while Declan went almost silent, save for a savage telepathic growl that slowly increased in both pitch and volume.

[The same thing I’ll do to you, if you also come after us, old man!] Rihelah came to a halt and stood her ground along with Michael. She readied herself to cast while Michael camouflaged himself and targeted the spider’s sizable eyes.

Target

Status

Declan, Gloomweaver Level ???

Berserking - Attacking You

[No, Declan! There’s strong magic afoot! Yer tiny arse could never-]

Declan’s quiet, intense wailing had risen to a howl while he ignored his mate’s plea. His madness having reached fever-pitch, he broke into a dead run toward them, his fangs still dripping venom.

Along with a furious twitch of her antennae, Rihelah sent a blazing maidenfly down upon Declan from above. It slammed into the charging spider less than a half-second later, partially-cooking the front half of his body near-instantly. The noise of the blast cut off Nephila’s pleas for him to stop.

The few birds that had remained roosting high above now flew away in a panic, while other insects and spiders hid themselves immediately; every creature that remained nearby had been spooked by the second blast.

Declan’s furious ranting devolved to pitiful weeping as his mostly-ruined body tumbled to a stop with his legs curled tightly beneath him.

The radiant heat and shockwave had also damaged Michael and Rihelah, nearly cooking their legs and antennae. All their extremities and exposed chitin blossomed with a combination of pain and numbness, though they retained their sight.

-108HP. Your movement is slightly impaired.

+11HP Regeneration.

-99HP. Your movement is slightly impaired.

+11HP Regeneration.

[Declaaan!] The huge spider yowled while trembling with rage, but fear and self-preservation won out over the desire to avenge both hers and her mate’s grievous wounds.

[Fuck you, bitch! You both attacked us!] Michael screamed with animalistic rage as the mantids hobbled away together, toward the meadow.

[Wicked bugs! I’ll hunt yer tiny carcasses forever!] Nephila screamed out madly.

At the spider’s words, an all-consuming rage like nothing Michael and Rihelah had ever known boiled up from within. Their vision swam red, both stopped running, and they shared a glance.

[Oh? Should I just finish the job on both of you, then?] Rihelah spoke quietly as she turned toward the huge spider, who was still very much within her casting range.

[If you wanna fuck with me and my mate, you better be fucking prepared to fight to the death, bitch!] Rihelah spat, and she began stalking slowly and stiffly, toward the enormous spider.

Her antennae were swept-forward as if she were hunting a fly, rather than an injured arachnid who was thousands of times her own mass.

Infuriated beyond words by his own lack of magical weaponry, Michael fell-in beside her, and they advanced together.

[Ye… Ye wouldn’t!?] Nephila’s voice was suddenly terrified.

[I fucking will! You just fucking try my patience one more time! You attacked us, hag! If you follow us… If I ever see you again, I won’t hesitate! I’ll burn you both to a goddamn cinder right where you stand! You can eat whatever else you want out here, but don’t you fucking threaten me or my love!] Rihelah swiped her aching left foreleg sharply out to the side as if using it to decapitate something. Or someone.

The huge spider flinched and trembled at her words.

They stopped some distance from both spiders and stood their ground. While Michael continued to silently and reluctantly contain his rage, Rihelah’s voice grew soft and deadly-serious.

[Go ahead, Nephila. Say one more word about how you’re gonna hunt us. I fucking dare you.]

+11HP Regeneration.

+11HP Regeneration.

Nephila remained silent. Her powerful limbs were still while Declan continued his feeble wailing.

[I didn’t think so. If either of you move at all while we’re leaving, I’ll roast you alive.] Rihelah’s voice remained calm and icy, sending a shiver through all present, even her and Michael.

Michael and Rihelah turned as one, to move toward the meadow once more.

Uppity little morsel! Mama will relish yer screams! Nephila seethed at the gall displayed by such tiny enkelyn.

The Gloomweaver’s indignant, bestial fury threatened to consume her from within, and clouded her judgement.

As soon as their backs had turned, Nephila silently rose upon her long, powerful legs and turned toward the mantids while swinging her deadly fangs open and tensing her muscles up in preparation close the distance faster than her prey could react.

With eyes literally on the back of each side of their heads and sensing the sudden spike in hostility, both Michael and Rihelah were immediately aware.

Another maidenfly appeared just a few centimeters above Nephila’s face, and the spider scarcely had time to realize she’d made a fatal decision before it slammed in between her open chelicerae and detonated, blasting her proud jaws into unusable lumps of chitin, barely held together by the remains of her translucent-white muscle tissue.

The underside of what could pass for the spider’s head was torn and seared into a ragged gash where her mouth used to be. Many of the the underlying organs and a sizable portion of her nervous system were charred or cauterized in that instant.

Nephila lost consciousness, but Rihelah received no kill notification. She spun around and was aiming to cast again when Michael gently put the tip of his left foreleg on her thorax.

[Wait, Rihelah. I also need to level. That thing forced this fight, and now we’ve got the advantage. Let’s make the most of the gains to be had from defeating that creature.] His words were pure ice as he began moving forward to assault the gigantic spider.

[Fine, but if she makes any move to hurt you, I’m sending all of my water magic through her fucking brain at once.] Rihelah grudgingly agreed.

+11HP Regeneration.

+11HP Regeneration.

Upon hearing their words, Declan nearly lost what remained of his mind.

[Ye… won’t be causin’ no more… harm ta th’ missus!] The savagery in the smaller spider’s voice startled them both, as it now mirrored that of his mate.

A soft, blue light appeared behind Declan and rapidly intensified. His abdomen shrank visibly, while a globule of viscous fluid appeared, clinging to his backside.

Upon seeing the surface of the strange liquid, Michael and Rihelah were impacted by mental pressure, similar to what they’d felt from the Scolumendra.

Declan’s agonized wailing had now intermingled with a mad chuckle while the mental pressure upon both mantids escalated rapidly.