Chapter 37: Spider
Chapter 37: Spider
Under the cover of night, two figures rushed into the alley, followed by a series of clanging sounds of metal on metal.
"Ding, ding, ding..."
"Puff!"
Dana stood tall, her expression cold as she held a rapier, a trail of blood slowly dripping from the blade onto the ground.
She fixed her gaze on the figure before her and spoke in a chilling tone, "So, you've been stealing others' life force, refining potions, and selling them at high prices to the wealthy ladies of the city?"
Recently, she had been investigating the 'Vampire Mummy Case', and although she didn't receive support from her colleagues, her relentless pursuit led her to discover that it wasn't just one person but an organized and premeditated group behind the life force thefts.
Disguised as 'vampires', they killed and stole life force, refining it into Purity Elixirs that could preserve youth and even restore one's prime, earning them a hefty profit.
Today, she had finally received a tip about a secret transaction of the potions in this very alley, almost losing track of her target due to the lack of an opera ticket.
Fortunately,
She managed to catch up with them, albeit with some close calls.
"Ugh..." The figure clutched their injured arm, their face paling. "I don't know what you're talking about!"
"Don't know?" Dana scoffed. "Well, I have ways to make you talk."
Before she finished speaking, she charged forward with her sword.
Dana, with her well-trained physique, moved like a nimble female leopard, her rapier a fang ready to strike its prey. Her movements were swift and deadly.
The figure in front of her parried and dodged frantically, but blood still sprayed from their body from time to time.
The disparity in their skills was evident.
"Swish!"
Just as Dana was about to subdue her opponent, two arc-shaped shadows suddenly appeared, twisting towards her waist.
"Ding..."
Dana swung her sword to intercept, then withdrew, her face showing surprise and doubt.
"What's this?"
"Hehe..." The figure chuckled, lowering their head.
Suddenly, they ripped off their outer garment with both hands, revealing a shocking scene beneath.
The figure's back seemed to have an extra pair of arms, making six in total, like a human-shaped spider, eerie and unsettling.
Each of the six arms held a dagger, making them not just eerie but also dangerous.
"Monster!"
Dana's face paled, and she subconsciously took a step back, a long-forgotten legend resurfacing in her mind:
"You're a follower of Elis!"
"How dare you!" The figure's eyes turned crimson at the mention of 'Elis', and their anger overwhelmed their rationality. "To blaspheme the gods, you deserve death!"
"Swish!"
Accompanying their angry roar, six cold lights flashed towards Dana, as swift as a torrential downpour.
However, just as quickly as they came, they retreated.
The strength of a peak-level Knight Attendant was comparable to that of a ferocious beast, and Dana, at her full potential, was even more formidable.
The six-armed monster was eerie and terrifying, but its strength was only that of an ordinary Knight Attendant. The extra pair of arms made it more troublesome to deal with, but it was far from enough to bridge the gap between them.
"It's just as I thought."
After repelling her opponent, Dana relaxed, "It seems the Spider Goddess hasn't blessed you after all."
Elis, the Spider Goddess, was a legendary evil deity, a monster who sought to usurp the authority of the true gods but was cursed, said to have a spider's body and a human head.
Descriptions of her often portrayed her as cruel and bloodthirsty, especially in her penchant for stealing others' life force.
"Hehe..."
The monster slowly rose from the ground, looking up with a sinister smile, "I alone may not be enough, but what if I had help?"
As the words left its mouth,
Dana's expression changed drastically.
"Swish!"
"Swish, swish!"
Three figures dropped from above, surrounding Dana.
Each of them had an extra pair of arms, and they pressed their six hands against the ground, hissing like spiders. As their abdomens rose and fell, they spewed out spider silk.
The silk wove into a web, instantly covering the entire alley.
Damn!
Dana tightened her grip on her sword.
"Move aside!"
"Please, move!"
"..."
Exiting the opera house, she was still met with a crowded entrance.
Karl held his staff and charged forward, relying on his brute strength to force a path through the crowd.
Leaving the crowd, he straightened his sharp attire and did not leave immediately. Instead, he headed straight for the theater's back door.
"Squeak..."
A while later, the back door opened, and Jenny, still in her stage makeup and costume, stepped out.
They had arranged to meet here after the concert.
"Karl."
Jenny smiled sweetly at Karl and spoke in a crisp voice, "I saw you in the audience."
"Your performance was great," Karl praised, "I think your voice is more captivating than the lead singer's. If I had the choice, I'd definitely pick you as the lead singer."
"Don't joke," Jenny laughed and shook her head.
"You don't know how scared I was. My legs were trembling, and I was barely able to stand. Just being able to get through it is already satisfying."
"I'm telling the truth," Karl said, extending an invitation, "Shall we go back together?"
"This..." Jenny glanced back, hesitating.
The opera group was going to have a gathering soon, but if she had the chance to spend time alone with the Baron, she could refuse.
Before Jenny could respond, Karl continued, "Actually, I just found a place today, and I'll be moving in the next few days."
"Being able to see you perform on a proper stage before I leave is a relief."
"You're leaving?" Jenny's face paled. "Why?"
"Is there something wrong with our place? If there is, we can fix it, and we can renegotiate the rent."
"No," Karl waved his hand, "I just want to change locations."
"... Jenny's expression stiffened, and her lips trembled.
"Is that so?"
"I'm glad to have lived with you all this time. These days will be beautiful memories in my life," Karl smiled, "But people always have to part ways. As the saying goes, the only constant in life is change. Once I settle into my new place, you're welcome to visit."
"Okay..." Jenny clenched her hands, lowered her head, and spoke in a subdued voice, "There's a gathering for the opera group later, so I won't be going with you. Be careful on your way."
"A gathering?" Karl nodded. "Then, I wish you a pleasant gathering. I'll take my leave first."
With a bow, he turned and left.
Jenny watched Karl's silhouette disappear into the darkness until it was no longer visible. Only then did she collapse to the ground, tears silently streaming down her face.
"Jenny."
Percy from the opera group appeared behind her at some point, and upon seeing her state, he sighed, "We meet many people in our lives, but the only ones who might accompany us to the end are God and our lovers. Even parents and children will eventually leave us."
He continued, "Parting is the norm."
"Waa..." Jenny sobbed quietly.
She understood this truth, but the thought of Karl leaving her life, perhaps never to return, was unbearable. She couldn't help but feel heartbroken, her sorrow tearing her apart.
"Don't cry," Percy stepped forward and patted her shoulder, "I have some good news. Your performance today caught the attention of an important person, and it might be a better opportunity."
...
Karl understood Jenny's thoughts, but he had no intention of taking their relationship further. He decided to cut ties while he still could, resolving this matter.
His move was not only for a more spacious place but also for this reason.
"Hmm?" As Karl passed through an alley, his expression flickered, and he subconsciously stopped in his tracks.
He turned around and headed towards the darkness.
"Tap..."
"Forget it!"
Karl shook his head at the alley entrance and stopped walking.
Although Sigono City was much safer than Black City, there were still terrifying organizations like the Fire Thieves operating in the shadows, making absolute safety impossible.
It's better to avoid trouble.
With that thought, he turned to leave.
"Swish!"
Suddenly, a cold glint flashed past.
Instinctively, Karl ducked, avoiding the thrown dagger, and a dark shadow pounced after it.
"What was that?"
(End of Chapter)
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