At the summit of The Gale Mountain, Arachnid had prepared a series of underhanded tactics, ready to demean Hajime. On his right hand he wore a gauntlet. Protruding from the gauntlet were countless wire extensions. As the crimson moonlight pearses through the fog, it is clearly visible that the threads are everywhere. With a sinester smile, he plucks at one of the near by strings, causing a chain reaction.
On the side of the mountain, Hajime is now arriving at the summit. He puts on The Mourner's Mask and leaps into the dense fog. The force of his impact stirs up the fog. With a deep breath, he clasps his right hand on the handle of the Petal Scattering Blade.
The utter silence in the thick white fog amplifies even the smallest of sounds. From the dew soacked caves, drops of dew make eerie sounds in the shadows. A figure dashes by, stirring up the fog once more. Hajime instinctively turned to look. But, no one was there. From deep within the fog, a familiar voice called out.
" Welcome, brave vigilante. I hope this setting isn't an inconvenience to the brave Inigma".
The figure follows up his taunts with a sadistic laugh that disrupts the eerie silence.
" So is this your idea of an honorable Dual?!".
Hajime speaks into the fog, attempting to communicate with the figure.
The figure retorts and mocks Hajime for trusting the word of an assassin.
With meticulous and carefulsteps, the assassin reveals himself. Showing his glowing green eyes in his half mask, he takes out a large limphere.
" If you want an honorable Dual, we begin once the coin lands on the ground".
He flips the large coin and draws a dagger with his left hand. The coin flips from face to face until it finally makes its way down to solid ground.
With the faint dinging sound of polished bronze came the disappearance of the assassin.
He was headed for Hajime's neck. His dagger was met by a swift block from Hajime. The soft glow of condensed mana reflected the crimson moonlight as a dagger firmly planted itself on the surface of a mana shield. Hajime pushed the assassin back and drew the Petal Scattering Blade.
He said,
" Don't you think I should at least know my opponent's identity in a dual ??!".
The assassin staggered forward and said,
" Oh, how rude of me. You may call me the head Hunter of the hunting shadows, my colleagues and victims refer to me as the Arachnid".
The name rang clear in Hajime's ears. He had heard that name before. As to where, he couldn't quite remember. Hajime decided to address the matter at hand. Lifting his Petal Scattering Blade, he beckons another charge from Arachnid.
Arachnid obliged and charged in. But this charge was somewhat different. At the apex of the clash, Arachnid suddenly lunged to the right, and away from the attack path. He swung his dagger at Hajime's neck, not even masking the intent to kill. Hajime leaned back at the right moment and using the handle of his blade, struck his dagger out of his grip.
Taking a battle stance, Hajime looks around and finds no one there. From the thick fog, Arachnid decides its story time. His voice echoed through the drifting mist as he began the tale.
" Do you know why they call me the Arachnid, Hajime?.
An arachnid is cunning, and deceitful with it's prey. Do you always notice spider webs in the dark?. No, you don't. Not unless you suddenly touch them".
At that point, Hajime's mind would not stop rattling with coincidence. His memory knawed at him with a nagging feeling that he'd heard the name Arachnid before.
From the thick fog, Arachnid suddenly began to cackle maniacally. The sound of fibres tensing and rubbing against objects could be heard. The sound put Hajime on high alert. With his right hand firmly clung to his weapon, he refused to be swayed.
At a point, his mental fortitude was solid. That is untill all of the fog suddenly vanished from the summit.
He looked around in confusion. Casting his eye to the sky, he felt a chill down his spine as he realized what had happened.
At that point, the only words he could say in his trembling tone were,
" Y~you, I~ I know you...".
At that exact moment, all will to fight had left Hajime's body, he looked at the construction hovering above him as Arachnid laughed mockingly. Extending his arms, Arachnid spoke;
" I bid you welcome, into The Spider's Web!!!!".
His sadistic laughter only worsened Hajime's anxiety. Clasped onto his drawn blade with both trembling hands, he muttered;
" But th~thats not possible. How did I get myself facing against him?!!!".
The Arachnid,
Known throughout Ambrosia as the newest head of the hunting shadows association. He has a record of clean and untraceable kills in the underworld. All his kills were either found dismembered, or envenomized to death. He gained the name Arachnid, since his specialty was spider based Neurotoxins.
Hajime was in complete disarray. He thought to himself, " how am I going to kill an assassin known for specially hunting strong warriors and heavily protected aristocrats? Am I going to die, for real this time?".
Back at the guard post, Lily felt that something was wrong. She knew Hajime was in panic because of their bond. She had anxiety written all over her face. Bianca saw how worried she was and yet, she couldn't say anything to comfort her.
Back on the mountain peak, Hajime still trembled. He was in panic, doubting his own abilities when faced with an assassin of his caliber. Arachnid enjoying his internal agony, mocked him with loud bursts of laughter. Hajime's grip on his blade slowly weakened from the anxiety. He cursed in his mind saying,
" I'm not strong enough. I'll never be strong enough. That's why my parents died and I couldn't do anything. I run from my emotions and hide behind society, when in fact I'm just weak. Why did I think I could defeat him on my own anyway. Bianca, Lily, forgive me".
With those words, he dropped his blade and it vanished.
Arachnid, enjoying the moment of utter despair, laughed with tears flowing from his eyes.
Raising his right hand he said,
" Fear not Hajime, I'll grant you a nice and painful death at the hands of my divine soul arms. Say hello, to The Web Weaver".
With those words, he cletched his fist and millions of inter twined threads closed in on Hajime. In the abyss of his sadness, a voice called out to Hajime.
" My dear boy, don't give up just because you're scared".
Hajime responded in a shocked mumbling tone to the voice in his head.
" Mom?".