With Kai agreeing to look into the disappearances of the queen's people Kai needs leads to begin his search for them and exactly how many were taken recently.
Kai: I need more information your majesty otherwise it's like looking for a diamond in a hail storm. How many have disappeared?
Queen: Call me Rachne no need to be so formal, and the total number that has disappeared this past week is 5 of my arachne 4 children 3 girls and one boy.
Reyna: Who is the fifth?
Rachne: She would be my hand maid she is also a skilled tracker and with her disappearance I fear we might have a traitor in our tribe here.
Kai: (With a concerned look on his face) that's a problem for us who can we trust then here?
(Before Rachne has time to answer a servant rushes to her and whispers something in her ear her eyes widen with so to say worry and panic all in one)
Rachne: Make that 6 that have disappeared one of my hunters has gone north to follow a lead and not returned she only managed to send a message that she's close to finding them.
Kai: (His expression is now serious) We need to hurry we now know where to go and start our search.
(Kai and Reyna set off first to find Rachnes hunter and find out what she had learned and then go from there to find the rest. After a few hours walk Kai and Reyna hear screams coming from 500meters away.)
Kai: Reyna do you hear that?
Reyna: I do, let me fly above them and scout it out to see what awaits us I can't let my champion die in vain.
Kai: Great choice it would be good to know what awaits us and not rush in blindly.
(Reyna flies ahead over to the camp she scouts it out and returns to Kai so that they could come up with a plan.)
Reyna: Good news bad news situation.
Kai: What's the bad first?
Reyna: We found Rachne's hunter but she's in trouble they are torturing her for their pleasure she won't hold out much longer.
Kai: After that how can there possibly be good news at all?
Reyna: Well see we know these two bastards; they're the ones from the inn that you beat up so quickly.
Kai: That makes things interesting (Kai visibly angry), guess we'll just have to stop them for good so they don't harm anyone again.
(Kai and Reyna approach quickly and stop close at their camp, the look to see that they have cut off the hunters two front legs and she was bleeding out and her human body has been beaten and visibly abused. One man walks over to the fire and pulls a piece of iron out of it, it's glowing red and by the looks of it, it means bad news for the hunter it was dawn when they reached the camp.)
Bandit1: (With the hot iron in hand smiling menacing) Come on love it will only hurt for a moment to scar that pretty face of yours and burn out those green eyes monsters should not have such pretty human parts.
(Kai moves in a swift motion and disarms the hot poker from the man and stabs the man with it in his leg, the second man immediately recognised Kai from the inn he leaves the hunter and runs, Kai spots an bow with and arrows on the ground he picks up the bow nocks an arrow pulls back aims and fires the arrow flies true and hits the man in the leg, it slows the second man down he did not even make 30meters now limping Kai readies another arrow pulls back aims and lets go this one to flies true and hits the man's other leg immobilizing him.)
Kai: That takes care of that he's not going anywhere fast, (Kai walks to the hunter), you are safe now I'm guessing they ambushed you?
Hunter: (Out of breath with a soft voice her throat was sore from screaming) Y-yes they did t-thank you.
Kai: (Offers her water to help ease the pain) Here drink something it will help you.
Reyna: Nice shooting Kai now what do we do with them?
Kai: Easy time to kill some monsters.
(Kai approaches the man with two arrows in his legs trying to crawl away, as Kai approaches he draws his sword from his back the man sees this and decides to beg.)
Bandit2: (On his back looking at Kai) please stop why would you come looking for us again did you not humiliate us enough at the inn?
Kai: No I taught you a lesson but here you are again harming those who did you no harm.
Bandit2: P-please stop this you don't have to do this have mercy!?!
Kai: Sorry all out of mercy.
(Kai brings his sword down and stabs the man through the heart killing him instantly and quickly.)
Kai: (Pulling his sword out of the man's chest) it was a far better death than you deserved.
(Kai walks back to the hunter and Reyna, the hunter is shocked that a human would stand up for one of her kind, Reyna is not surprised that Kai killed him after all she knew him by now and knows that he does what he says he's going to do a man of his word that's why she chose him as her champion.)
Kai: That's the end of him now for his friend, (Kai kicks the man to wake him up) wake up you lazy.
Bandit1: (Wakes up and recognises Kai terror strikes in his heart) No no no not you again why do we have such bad luck to run into you again?!?
Kai: Extremely bad luck now listen to me very carefully, where are the four children and the grown arachne? And before you think of lying your friend is dead and I'm in no mood for lies now so just talk.
(The man terrified begins to speak, he tells Kai and Reyna that there is another camp 300m ahead and this was just a scout camp they were not expecting trouble.)
Bandit1: We had no idea so many would come looking we just wanted the children the hand maid was a bonus then this one showed up and the boss said we could have our fun with her she meant nothing to his kind.
Kai: Wait you mean to tell me another arachne is on your side helping you to capture his kind and what sell them torture them for your own sick satisfaction?
Hunter: It would appear so because it was not the humans that caught me off guard but one of my own I did no see their face unfortunately.
Reyna: We need to hurry Kai the other may already have left the camp in a transport.
Kai: Yes but I think I'll be able to catch up to them faster on my own, you take the hunter to Rachne to treat her wounds.
Reyna: Wise choice now go!
(As Kai sheathes his sword the hunter kills the bandit but no one was surprised, Kai departs and runs towards the camp he runs and moves faster than ever before it was a strange feeling almost like he was super human. Kai reaches the camp but sees the wagon riding off he continues his chase the wagon is heavy and full of prisoners as he can see all five arachne are there in the back and one driver most likely the leader of the three but no other arachne in sight, Kai is close to the wagon now and jumps on the roof with a might leap he has never pushed himself so hard before. He rolls to the front and knocks the man out with a single blow. All of a sudden the wagon rocks as if something fell on it Kai looks behind him and sees the arachne he had faced the first time he entered the forbidden woods the traitor. Before he could utter a word the arachne has him by the throat and throws him off, the had maiden was quick and managed to catch Kai by the arm and keep him from falling.)
Kai: Thank you.
Hand maiden: You must help us please free us.
Kai: That's the plan, I'll get you out of here you must take the children back to the queen.
(The hand maiden nods and pulls Kai to the lock, Kai breaks the lock so she can exit and take control of the wagon. Kai gets back to the top of the wagon and rushes to the arachne pushing him off they both roll on the ground the arachne is quick on his feet and lunges at Kai before he can draw a weapon with no other option Kai continues to roll and avoids the attack. Kai finally gets on his feet and confronts the arachne now on his actions.)
Kai: So you're the traitor!
Arachne: Yes I betrayed my queen because her rule is weak and our people are no longer strong we hide away in the woods!!
Kai: Why then kidnap your own kind and sell them do you not care about your own kind.
Arachne: No I don't care the money is good no questions asked, enough talk human time to die Rachne should have killed you and that pathetic dragon but instead she fancies you!! A Arachne taking the liking to a human when she could have me a superior breed!!!!!
Kai: Guess you're too arrogant for her taste.
(Both ready their weapons and charge towards each other their swords clash Kai is giving his all to match the arachne in strength but he knows that he will need to fight smarter and not with brute strength, Kai jumpes back to create some distance and in doing so the arachne lunges at Kai, Kai dodges and slashes at his legs he cuts off one leg the arachne is in pain but he is also a warrior and fights through the pain, the arachne swings at Kai before he could recover Kai barley manages to block the attack he had to use both of his hand to stop the attack one hand at the hilt and his left hand near the point of the sword by doing this he cuts open his hand and blood spills and flows out of the wound, there is no time to focus on it again Kai creates distance between them the arachne might have brute strength but he is rather slow his lower half is that of a tarantula, Kai uses his speed to his advantage and with one leg missing the arachne is pressured to end the fight quickly, Kai stares down the arachne and charges at him faster than before he slides underneath the arachne cutting several legs causing the arachne to lose his footing and falls down the arachne takes his sword and throws it at Kai like a spear unable to avoid the surprise attack Kai tries to move the sword hits Kai in his right shoulder pinning him to the tree Kai trying to stay awake sees how the arachne loses conciseness in the distance he sees a wagon it's the hand maiden she rushes to Kai.)
Hand maiden: (Looking concerned) you fool what were you thinking taking on an arachne head on that is larger than you and stronger?
Kai: (Struggling to stay awake) I wasn't thinking to be honest I just know that I needed to help you out all or nothing a man is only as good as his word milady.
Hand maiden: Just call me Sophia idiot.
Kai: (Now falling unconscious) Sophia huh nice to meet y….
(Kai falls unconscious before finishing his sentence, Sophia ties up the rogue arachne with her web and puts him in the back the children help to hold Kai steady on their way back to Rachne.)
What awaits Kai and Reyna will they learn more from the rogue arachne and the human survivor about the bandit king will they find Irene Scarlett?
End of Chapter 4