Ethan took one step forward, then froze as the creature tilted its grotesque head towards him. Its mandibles twitched.
The thing made no sound other than the dry click of legs against stone and the wet rustle of wings dragging behind it.
His grip tightened around the hilt of his axe. "I hate spiders," he muttered through clenched teeth. "I really hate spiders."
The beast moved with unnatural speed and agility for its massive size.
It lunged across the chamber, spider legs slicing through the air as it crashed towards them. Ethan barely had time to raise his shield before a leg came slamming into him, sending him flying back across the room.
He hit the ground with a heavy grunt, skidding to a stop near the edge of the chamber.
"Scatter!" AJ yelled, his form slipping sideways in a blur of motion.
Victor didn't hesitate. He charged in, dagger drawn, and slashed at its legs. One strike connected, cutting into flesh that sizzled and twitched—but a wing swung towards him, just clipping him and sending him tumbling.
"Watch the tail!" Sam shouted. "And the wings! And, well, watch everything!"
AJ darted to Ethan's side, helping him stand up. "You good?"
"Yeah," Ethan grunted, favouring his right leg as he stood. "Leg still works. Shield's cracked though."
"Better than cracked ribs. Let's move."
Lily dash around, loosing an arrow mid-stride. The shot flew true, but the arrow simply passed through the creature's shadow-flickering torso. It turned to smoke—then reformed instantly.
"What the hell—!?" she gasped, diving behind some rubble.
The creature spun towards a trembling Walter, who had remained frozen. It used its wings to propel itself forward, shooting in his direction.
AJ acted first. He surged forward, launching a tendril of slime to hook around Walter's waist and yanked him out of the way just as the mandibles snapped shut on empty air.
Walter hit the floor hard but reacted quickly, scrambling away as his heart hammered in his chest.
"Thanks," he panted.
"No worries," AJ said as he moved towards the beast, his form rippling with unease.
The creature's tail lashed out again, this time slamming into the ground and sending a shockwave that rattled the chamber.
Cracks spiderwebbed beneath their feet, dust falling from above like snow.
"Pull yourselves together!" Ethan shouted, repositioning with a limp. He slammed the flat of his axe against his dented shield, the sound echoing through the chamber like a war drum.
Lily loosed another few arrows from her bow and once again the impact spot turned to smoke, letting the arrows fly straight through it.
"Guys, I can't hit it with my arrows!" She called out, frustration clear in her voice.
"Is it immune to ranged attacks? That can't be right," Sam's mind raced. "Maybe it's able to sense the shots coming and can actively protect itself."
The beast lunged in Ethan's direction, striking at him with its spidery limbs. Ethan's skin crawled as he dove out of the way, feeling the rush of air as the limb passed by him. This thing is seriously gross, he thought.
He scrambled to his feet, noticing that the creature's attention had shifted to Walter, who smacked at its hind legs with his cane.
Strangely, Walter could only land three strikes before his cane could no longer hit the creature, instead simply passing through its form like it was made of mist.
Sam's eyes widened with realisation. "Maybe it's not just ranged attacks but all attacks. Lily, try shooting at it as it's launching an attack!"
Though uncertain, she waited for the right moment, arrow nocked and bow drawn.
As the beast turned towards Walter, Victor made an uncharacteristically bold move. "Take a swing at me, you bug-eyed freak!" he yelled, voice echoing through the chamber.
The beast lunged at Victor, who rolled forward and sliced up across its stomach. A splash of dark ichor hit the floor, sizzling on contact with the stone
It shrieked—a sound like metal tearing—and spun around, its tail snapping like a whip.
Lily lay flat on the ground as her cover was obliterated by the swinging tail. She rolled back to her feet in one fluid motion and loosed a pair of arrows.
They pierced the creature's wing and continued through, embedding themselves in its side.
"AHHHH!" Ethan roared as he charged in. The axe in his hand gleamed with sharp light, his arms bulging as they glowed with channelled mana.
He swung his axe with everything he had, slamming into one of the spindly legs. A crack echoed through the chamber, followed by a spray of ichor as the limb buckled.
The creature screamed—a high-pitched, unnatural sound that seemed to vibrate the very air around them. It was more than hurt; it was enraged.
Then, it changed.
Its form shimmered violently, flickering like a bad projection. Its wings extended fully, its segmented body pulsing with what seemed like pure hatred.
"Shit—GET BACK!" Lily shouted.
Too late.
It surged forward, abandoning any semblance of rhythm or strategy. It thrashed and dove, biting, kicking, lashing out with its tail, wings and legs. Coordination fell apart in seconds as raw fury took over.
Victor was struck across the ribs, sent skidding along the ground in a spray of blood, his cry of pain cut short as the breath was knocked from his lungs.
Sam took a glancing hit to the side, barely managing to stumble behind cover as his breathing turned ragged, one hand clutching at his ribs.
Walter dove to the ground, landing hard on his chest. He barely managed to avoid being struck by the tail, feeling the wind brush against him as it passed overhead.
Ethan stood his ground.
He blocked one strike with his shield—then a wing slammed him in the side, knocking the wind from his lungs. Another hit caught him in the back, driving him face-first into the stone floor.
AJ's body pulsed bizarrely, a feeling very similar to heartache radiating out from his core.
Lily cried out as the beast turned on her, wings flapping as it charged. She fired twice, one arrow embedding itself in its chest, the other passing straight through its head to no effect.
"LILY—MOVE!" AJ's voice tore through the chamber, warped and guttural, as if his very form strained to shape the words.
Ethan tried to get up, internally screaming at his unresponsive limbs. His fingers clawed uselessly at the stone floor, a strangled gasp escaping his lips as his breath hitched in his chest.
Lily was forced to the ground, the impact stealing her breath. Stunned and unable to react, she stared up in horror as the creature loomed.
Its multifaceted eyes gleaming with predatory hunger, mandibles spreading wide, wings raised to deliver the killing blow.
AJ didn't think, he couldn't afford to.
Deep within, something whispered warnings—boundaries not meant to be crossed, prices that would have to be paid.
The voice of caution, of self-preservation.
He silenced it.
For Lily, for the others, he would pay any cost.
His body convulsed, slime surging outward in a violent ripple—then snapped back, hardening into a humanoid shape.
Tendons of mana crackled beneath his surface, his outline flickering between solid and molten.
His core ignited.
A wave of pressure blasted outward as raw energy surged from within, like a dam shattering. The air vibrated violently.
Dust and small bits of debris were lifted and thrown away from him. Even the shadows recoiled, shrinking from the weight of his presence.
AJ's eyes blazed gold as they locked onto the threat.
He didn't hesitate.
As he passed Ethan, his arm shot out, grabbing the axe in one seamless motion. Ethan barely had time to release it—the weapon disappearing from his hand in the blink of an eye.
The axe quivered, its shaft groaning beneath the crushing force of AJ's grip. Mana surged through his limbs, thick and radiant, distorting the air around him. Every step cracked the ground beneath his feet.
He raised the axe.
High.
His form pulsed with power. The chamber darkened around him, as if light itself bent away. Energy spiralled up the blade's edge, coiling like a snake.
The beast locked onto him and for the first time, hesitated.
Its wings stilled. Its mandibles clattered in unease.
It wasn't just strength that gave it pause—it was recognition. Deep in whatever passed for its consciousness, the creature knew what stood before it.
Predator recognising predator.
Apex meeting apex.
But one far outmatched the other.
AJ's lips pulled back in a snarl. "Get. Away. From. Her."
Then the axe came down.
Resembling a meteor's descent, it was unstoppable and furious. The axe slammed into the creature's head and the chamber exploded with light and sound.
The creature's shadowy mass burst apart, its body unravelling as its essence scattered to the edges of the room.
Silence followed.
AJ stood motionless, axe still extended, golden light pulsing beneath his skin. Where the creature had been, only wisps of shadows remained, dissipating like smoke.
He turned to Lily, his blazing eyes meeting hers.
"AJ?" Her voice was barely a whisper.
Something shifted in his expression as his form shuddered, the golden light flickering uncertainly.
"Is..." His voice sounded strained, as if speaking required immense effort. "Is everyone okay?"
Across the chamber, the others began to stir. Victor pressed a hand to his bleeding side, wincing as he sat up.
Sam emerged from behind his cover, eyes wide as he stared at AJ. Walter pushed himself to his knees, then his feet, leaning heavily on his cane.
Ethan finally managed to rise to his feet, his movements slow and pained. "What... what did you just do?"
AJ looked down at his hands. The golden light continued to pulse beneath his surface, but it seemed different now—unstable, erratic. Tiny fissures appeared across his form, leaking light.
"I don't..." AJ started, then doubled over suddenly, a sound like shattered glass escaping him. "I don't know—"
The axe clattered to the ground as AJ's form convulsed. The golden light within him flared blindingly bright, forcing everyone to shield their eyes.
When they looked again, AJ had collapsed to his knees, his body rippling uncontrollably. The golden light was fading now, receding back into his core which pulsed with an uneven rhythm.
Lily scrambled to his side, reaching out but hesitating to touch him. "AJ? Can you hear me?"
His form stabilised slightly at the sound of her voice. "Lily." The word came out garbled, distorted. "Something's... wrong."
"What is it? What's happening?" She looked to the others in desperation. "Sam? Any ideas?"
Sam approached cautiously, reflexively pulling out his notebook. "I... I think he overloaded himself. That much power—it must have damaged something internal."
"Will he be okay?" Lily asked, her voice tight with worry.
Before Sam could answer, AJ's form convulsed violently. His humanoid shape began to lose definition, melting inward as if collapsing under some immense pressure.
His limbs dissolved first, followed by the rest of his body, all of it spiralling towards his pulsing core.
"AJ!" Lily reached for him as he shrank rapidly.
In moments, the impressive figure that had demolished the shadow creature was gone. In its place, a small puddle of slime quivered on the stone floor—barely larger than a tennis ball, the glow within him dimmed to a faint, irregular pulse.
Suddenly the familiar blue screen made an appearance.
Congratulations on the successful hunt.
WARNING : The slime will expire within 24 hours
Reward available : Floor Skip Token (Single use)