Realm Wars

The noise woke the Spiders, and they immediately chased after Ryu and the others.

"Keep running, and don't look back!" Marcus bellowed.

"I-I think we should really go back to the desert," cried Abby trying hard to hold on to Halfjack's neck as he carried her in his back.

Marcus thought of that too, but it was too late to change their plans as they entered the left fork. They were just going to bet everything to the Metal Door!

ScrReEeCh!

The Giant Spiders were unrelenting in their pursuit, and the floor rattled with their movements. But as they neared the Metal Door, the spiders let out another cry before they stopped just meters from Ryu and the others.

ScreEeCh. . .

The hair on their legs vibrated while their mouths made hissing sounds as they eyed Ryu's group.

"It. .. it works?" Abby fell on her knees from relief.

Marcus sighed in the ceiling.

Halfjack wiped his sweat.

Seraphina went close to the Metallic Door while Ryu let go of the cocoon.

Ryu was still wary about the spiders who were just watching the. But since all of them turned into a statue without even moving an inch, he decided to cut the cocoon in half with his sharp nails while He desperately hoped that it was indeed Canaan.

The spiders might not attack them or move an inch closer, but they were, in all sense, trapped in the ruins. Who knew when the Giant Spiders get bored and turn back or what if they'd remain blocking the only way out for days or months?

However, Ryu was sure that the Giant Spiders would retreat soon. He heard some trotting back to their lairs.

But right now, Ryu and the other were concentrating on the insides of the thick web.

Abby held her breath when bones, tattered clothes, and a large backpack was the only thing left of Canaan.

"N-no. . ." Abby brought Canaan's shirt near her chest and wept. No matter how hard she tried to cry in silence, she couldn't help but wail her heart out.

Marcus was reminded of Theodore in Canaan's bones, and he projected Abby's frail form as Jane, who was weeping for Theodore. This put a big lump in his throat, and he looked at the other side to hide her sorrow and tears.

Halfjack comforted Abby by patting her little head with his big paws while Ryu briefly closed his eyes and sighed through his mouth.

There was nothing he could do. No matter how much he wanted to help them, he could only do much. He couldn't even control his life and the damn mate's bond.

Controlling his anger and agitation, Ryu poured his emotions on the backpack and unraveled its contents on the ground.

"Here it is." Seraphina snatched a small jar from the valuables. She then gave it to Ryu.

"It's actually big, but since I put it inside that Jar, its size shrunk too. That Jar is the same Jar as you have, but only it is used on low-level fish. Fishermen and sailors often used them to keep their fish fresh."

Ryu looked at the Jar that was the same size as his hand. It was filled with seawater, and the Queen's Horned Mackerel was busy swimming to and fro in the corals inside, devoid of any worry. Its color was the rainbow, and its fins were like silk.

"Just break the jar, and the Queen's Horned Mackerel would assume its original size though it'll probably die without water."

Ryu didn't hear what Seraphina was saying. He was too occupied with his emotions. Now that he had the fish in his hands, he felt. .. empty.

Ryu thought that it would alleviate his guilt for Ferris death or at least disperse some of the heaviness he felt when she fulfilled her wish. .. but all the fish brought was emptiness.

Now that he had both the Legion Steel and the fish, he was freed from the Seal of Promise. But also the goal that kept him moving.

As he thought. .. the one he needed to find the most was the Lost Jewel of Tethyt to bring her back to life.

Ryu's eyes shook before they steadied on Seraphina's beautiful face. "Thank you," he said and stormed the ring.

Seraphina felt that Ryu wasn't happy even after finally acquiring the fish, but she still flashed her brilliant smile. "No problem. What are you going to do with it?"

She was curious since day one, but she knew that Ryu wouldn't answer her.

"I'll give it to someone as payment for a debt that I incurred."

Seraphina hid her surprise when Ryu actually told her. "Then I'm glad that I'm able to help you be free of that debt."

Ryu nodded and no longer offered ongoing conversation.

Seraphina sighed through her nose. She was aware that Ryu didn't trust her fully, and she couldn't blame him. He had every right to be. After all, she was really hiding something. She could only wish that in the future after he learned the truth about her, they'd still be together.

A short silence lingered between the group that only the sobs and hiccup of Abby percolated in the tunnel. Then Ryu and Halfjack's ears perked.

"Do you hear that?" Halfjack asked.

Every eye turned to the faint but speeding sounds of chaos in the very back of the Giant Spiders.

ScreEeEcChH!

The Giant Spiders hissed, and one by one, they attacked whatever was on their rear while Ryu and the others all saw were severed limbs and mincemeat dancing in the air.

"What's going on?" Abby shook and clutched her hands near her thundering heart.

Marcus tried to see what was happening, but the hordes of Spiders blocked his vision. Not to mention that the tunnel was dimly lit.

Ryu sniffed the air, and when he inhaled a scent that was unfamiliar with there's, his eyes turned to slit. "We have company."

"W-who?" Marcus had a bad feeling about it.

"What should we do? They're getting closer." Seraphina held her staff at the ready.

Halfjack swung his axe while Abby hid behind him.

When the commotion was getting nearer, and as the Spiders numbers were thinning, their bloody corpses littering the hallway, Marcus's breath hitched when he finally got a clear view of their new companion.

"That's. .. Clyde and Reyna!"

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A/N

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