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Kai leaned forward. "We're prepared to negotiate."
The Spider tilted their head, the mask gleaming in the candlelight. "The price isn't gold or silver, Kai. It's loyalty. If I help you, you'll owe me a debt. And I always collect."
I swallowed hard, but Kai didn't flinch. "What do you want?"
The Spider's masked face turned toward me. "The girl. She comes with me. For one month. She will learn, she will fight, and in return, I will give you what you need to take down the patriarch." My heart raced. "Me? What do you want with me?"
The Spider's voice was a soft hiss. "You have potential and power, child. But you are weak, untested. If you want to survive this war, you will need to become something more. I can make you stronger than you ever imagined. But you must be willing to pay the price."
Kai's eyes locked onto mine; concern etched in his features. "Luna, this is your choice. You don't have to do this."
Rose snorted. "He's right it depends on do you want to get strong fast? The Spider's your best bet. But it won't be easy."
I looked at The Spider, my mind racing. The idea of leaving Kai and Rose, even for a short time, terrified me. But the thought of failing the others—of not being strong enough when the time came—was worse.
I took a deep breath and nodded. "I'll go with you."
The Spider's masked face tilted again, a gesture that almost seemed like approval. "Then we have a deal."
As the room darkened around me, I couldn't help but wonder if I had just made a deal with the devil. The room seemed to shrink as the shadows grew thicker, enveloping me in a cold, suffocating silence. The Spider's words lingered in the air like a curse, echoing in my mind as I questioned my decision. Kai and Rose were still beside me, but I felt a growing distance between us, as if stepping onto a different path.
"I'll see you soon," Kai said, his voice low but steady, though I could see a glint of concern in his eyes. "Remember what we talked about. Stay sharp."
Rose shot me one last glance, half smirk, half something else I couldn't decipher. "Good luck, kid. You're going to need it."
Without another word, The Spider gestured toward a dark hallway at the back of the room, leading deeper into their lair. My heart hammered in my chest as I followed, leaving the only two people I trusted behind. The tunnel was narrow, the walls damp and cold. I could hear the faint dripping of water somewhere, and the air smelled of mildew. The Spider walked in silence ahead of me, their dark robes billowing like shadows around their feet. I tried to stay calm, but the further we went, the more oppressive the atmosphere became.
Eventually, the tunnel opened up into a large underground chamber. It was unlike anything I'd ever seen—ancient stone pillars lined the room, and in the center was a large pit, surrounded by strange runes that glowed faintly in the dim light. Weapons hung from the walls, some rusted, others polished and gleaming, and there were old books scattered across tables.
The Spider turned to me, their mask gleaming in the low light. "Welcome to your new home for the next month, Luna. Here, you will be broken down, rebuilt, and tested in ways you cannot yet imagine."
I swallowed, feeling the weight of their words.
"If you survive," The Spider said, their voice a whisper, "you will be stronger than you ever dreamed. But you will no longer be the same person you were. Who you will welcome depends on you entirely."
They gestured toward the pit in the center of the room. "Your training begins now. Down there."
I hesitated, peering over the edge of the pit. It was deep, the bottom obscured by darkness. I couldn't see what awaited me, but the air that rose from it was cold and heavy, filled with the scent of iron and earth.
The Spider stepped closer, their presence overwhelming. "The first lesson, Luna, is trust. Trust in your own strength and in your instincts. No one will save you from what waits below. Not Kai, not Rose. Only you."
I took a deep breath, my heart thudding in my chest. There was no turning back now. With one last glance at the masked figure, I stepped forward and dropped into the pit. I hit the ground hard, rolling to absorb the impact, but the pain still shot up my legs. The air was colder here, the darkness suffocating. My eyes struggled to adjust, but before I could get my bearings, I heard movement—quick, shuffling sounds, like something circling me.
I tensed, reaching for the knife Kai had given me before I left. My hand closed around the hilt just as a shape lunged out of the shadows. I barely had time to react before it was on me—a creature, humanoid but twisted, its body gaunt and its eyes glowing faintly in the dark. I slashed out with the knife, but the creature was fast. It dodged, knocking me back with a strength that belied its thin frame.
I scrambled to my feet, my breath coming in ragged gasps as I realized this was the test—The Spider's first trial. Survive.
The creature lunged again, and this time I was ready. I dodged to the side, slashing at its arm. The blade connected, and a hiss filled the air as dark liquid oozed from the wound. But the creature didn't stop. It moved faster, more erratic, forcing me to rely on instinct rather than strategy.
As the fight wore on, I felt my body begin to move on its own, adapting to the rhythm of the battle. Each time the creature struck, I moved quicker, dodging and countering with increasing precision. The fear that had gripped me when I first entered the pit began to fade, replaced by a sharp, clear focus.
Finally, with one last desperate swing, I caught the creature across its neck. It staggered, letting out a final screech before collapsing to the ground, its body dissolving into the darkness. I stood there, panting, blood dripping from a shallow cut on my arm, but alive.
Above me, The Spider's voice echoed down into the pit. "You survived. Good. But this is only the beginning. The next trial awaits."
I looked up, my chest heaving, but there was no time to rest. Another shape was already moving in the shadows. For what felt like hours, the trials continued. Each new opponent tested me in different ways—some stronger, others faster, some with abilities I couldn't even understand. But with each fight, I grew more confident and more capable.
I began to understand what the Spider had meant. They were pushing me, breaking me down, but I was becoming something else in the process.
By the time the last trial ended, I could barely stand, but I had won. I was covered in bruises and cuts, my muscles screaming in protest, but I had survived. The pit was silent now; after a moment, a rope was lowered. I grabbed it, my hands trembling, and slowly pulled myself up.
When I reached the top, The Spider was waiting, their masked face inscrutable. "You have done well, Luna. Better than most. But remember, this is only the beginning. Your true test will come when you face the patriarch."
I nodded, too exhausted to speak
The Spider turned away, their voice drifting back to me as they walked into the shadows. "Rest now. Tomorrow, we begin again."
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-To be continued
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62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrr7rauo1xS
62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgAgBwLgoUY
