Chapter 23
“…Everyone, become my strength.”
Crunch, crack. The sound of flesh being chewed echoed through the room.
Zoe froze on the spot at the horrific sight before her — pieces of Arachnesia’s flesh and splattered blood covering the floor.
“Ugh… urgh.”
A violent wave of nausea rose from deep within Zoe’s stomach.
Soon, crimson demonic energy began to pour out of Arachnesia’s body, who had devoured her own children, and it rippled around her like crashing waves.
[System: Arachnesia is attempting to evolve into a higher species.]
‘No way… A higher species?’
As the system window glowed, Zoe felt her breath tighten again.
Her vision dimmed, and she nearly blacked out, gasping for air as she looked at Arachnesia.
“Zoe, don’t lose consciousness!”
Quintilla suddenly appeared, her face pale as she shouted at Zoe.
“Look at me, Zoe. That’s it, look into my eyes.”
When Zoe met Quintilla’s large, obsidian eyes, a rune in the shape of Antragon’s sigil glowed on her forehead.
Her foggy mind suddenly cleared as if a heavy mist had lifted.
It was “Mental Resonance,” a power only the queen of the Antragon tribe could use.
“I’ve distorted Arachnesia’s time — but only for a moment. If we act now, we might be able to undo this.”
With those words, the flow of time around them slowed dramatically.
No — to be precise, only Arachnesia’s time had been distorted.
‘Is this also Quintilla’s ability?’
Zoe looked at the sluggishly moving Arachnesia and drew out Aqua Mystica.
“Temptation!”
From Aqua Mystica burst a mass of thorny vines that wrapped around Arachnesia.
From the lush green stems that tightly bound her, red roses—resembling Arachnesia’s own hair—began to bloom one by one.
The body of Aqua Mystica, now absorbing Arachnesia’s demonic energy, glowed vividly red.
“Why… why am I—”
“Mother?”
As Arachnesia’s distorted time returned to normal, the spiders that had been absorbed into her body regained their original forms.
Then, a new system window appeared before Zoe’s eyes.
[System: Congratulations! You have successfully tamed monsters in succession and discovered a new ability for Aqua Mystica. To activate it, speak the command word.]
Zoe looked startled, but soon steadied her voice.
“…Invoke.”
[System: Extracting Arachnesia’s absorbed memories.]
The body of Aqua Mystica emitted a blinding light.
From that dazzling glow emerged a single large red rose, which was absorbed into the system window.
[System: Replaying the memories of the monster Arachnesia.]
…Replay her memories?
At that message, Zoe’s vision went completely black.
It was Arachnesia’s memories.
The memory of her mother devouring her siblings in a cruel childhood,
the humans who hunted Arachnesia and destroyed her home,
the countless times she barely escaped death while wandering from place to place,
and finally, her present memories.
When the vision ended, Zoe’s sight returned to normal.
“…”
Zoe gazed down at Arachnesia with a heavy heart, overwhelmed by indescribable feelings.
It had all started because humans stole the monsters’ habitat.
Of course, that didn’t excuse all the sins Arachnesia had committed,
but having seen her memories, Zoe couldn’t help feeling a pang of pity.
Her eyes softened as she looked at Arachnesia.
“…Quintilla, what do you want to do with Arachnesia?”
The decision wasn’t Zoe’s to make, so she asked carefully.
“Hmm. Is Arachnesia this docile now because of your ability, Zoe?”
Instead of answering, Quintilla looked at the now calm Arachnesia crouched quietly on the floor — as if everything had been a dream.
“Yes. She won’t cause any more chaos in Antragon’s territory.”
Since Arachnesia’s demonic energy was now bound to Zoe, she couldn’t disobey her.
“In that case, Arachnesia, could you please release our children?”
Ah, right! Before Luan’s life force runs out—!
Arachnesia simply stared at Zoe.
“Release them immediately. That’s an order.”
“Yes, Lady Zoe.”
Arachnesia nodded and bit through the transparent spider threads wound around her finger with her sharp fangs.
…Would Luan be all right?
Zoe nodded at Quintilla and hurried toward the feeding chamber.
“Luan! I’ll get you out right now!”
Her trembling hands tore through the thick, tough webbing that covered the giant cocoon.
Finally, she pulled Luan free and quickly examined his face.
‘…He’s alive, right?’
His face was so pale he could’ve been mistaken for a corpse.
Zoe laid the motionless Luan on her lap.
“Luan, please, wake up…”
She tapped his cheek, pinched him — but he wouldn’t open his eyes.
Panic filled her voice.
“Luan! Open your eyes! Please!”
If he never opened them again…
The thought alone made her mind go blank.
She couldn’t shake the feeling that she had pushed Luan into the jaws of death herself.
Ha… and to think I ran away alone, as if my life mattered more…
Suppressing the guilt welling up inside her, she gently lifted Luan’s head and brought her ear close to his nose to check for breath.
“…Haah, thank goodness.”
It was faint but steady — he was breathing.
Relief washed over her, and she let out a long sigh.
“…Mmm…”
Then, with a faint groan, Luan’s drowsy violet eyes fluttered open and met hers.
“L-Luan? You’re awake?”
“Zoe… are you unharmed? You’re not injured…?”
Who’s worrying about who right now…?
His voice was rough and broken, yet the first thing he did was ask if she was okay.
“Luan!”
Zoe burst into tears and hugged his face tightly.
Thank you — Buddha, God, Lady Dike, Lady Eirene — all of you, thank you!
Overflowing with gratitude to every deity she could name, Zoe hugged him even tighter.
“Hic… sniff… I really thought you were going to die!”
“Z-Zoe… if you keep this up, I actually might die…”
Luan frantically tapped her arm in surrender.
Only then did Zoe realize she was squeezing him so hard he could barely breathe.
“S-sorry!”
She quickly released him, looking embarrassed, and Luan murmured with a strained sigh:
“How can such strength come from such a delicate body…”
“I-I said I’m sorry! Are you okay? Your wounds didn’t reopen, did they?”
“I suppose I’d better listen to everything you say from now on.”
“W-What?”
Zoe raised an eyebrow in disbelief.
Luan’s expression suddenly hardened as he reached out toward her face.
His warm hand brushed her cheek, where a small cut from the battle with Arachnesia still stung.
“You’ll have a scar.”
“I-it’s fine! A bit of spit will heal it.”
After all, she still had her healing handkerchief.
Luan frowned slightly, then gently tucked her loose hair behind her ear.
What—why is he doing this—stop making my heart race… get a grip, Zoe!
Unfazed by her flustered expression, Luan smiled faintly and whispered,
“Thank you for saving me, Zoe. Truly.”
