Amukelo's heart raced, not from the adrenaline of battle, but from the pain of seeing Eliss, his trusted companion, now turned against him. He yelled to her to ask what was she doing, but instead of answering him, she unleashed another spell. He then quickly realized that she was corrupted by the mana from before. The bond they had forged on their journey now seemed to be working against him, he couldn't just slay Eliss, he also hadn't the luxury to get rid of the mana. He had to find another way to stop her. Eliss with the Broodmother's feral instincts, they made a formidable team.
Every time Amukelo tried to approach Eliss, the spider queen would lunge at him, her remaining legs slashing the air with deadly intent. And whenever he focused on the spider, a barrage of magical fire from Eliss would force him back. It was a nightmarish dance of evasion and counter-attack, the forest echoing with the sounds of clashing metal, sizzling magic, and the growls of the beast.
He had to think fast. Engaging Eliss directly wasn't an option – he couldn't bring himself to harm her. But he needed to incapacitate her, to break whatever influence the twisted mana had on her.
Amukelo figured out that the only way was to make her unconscious without causing harm. He would need to get close, close enough to strike her with his hand, side or back of his sword without getting burned by her fire or impaled on the spider's legs.
Distracting the Broodmother was the first step. Reaching for a small pouch attached to his belt, he flung a handful of smoke pellets to the ground. The area was instantly filled with a thick, blinding smoke. Using this brief window of obscured vision, he darted towards Eliss, avoiding the spots where he anticipated her flames. As he neared her, he could see the conflict in her eyes – the real Eliss fighting against the influence of the corrupt mana.
Suddenly, the massive form of the Broodmother loomed out of the smoke, catching him off guard. He narrowly dodged a pincer, rolling to the ground, and in that split-second of distraction, Eliss unleashed a wave of fire. Amukelo was able to defend himself, but his attempt failed.
The monstrous spider's many eyes seemed to lock onto Amukelo, watching his every move. The atmosphere was thick with tension and anticipation, each moment stretching as both waited for the other to strike.
With a sudden burst of speed, the Broodmother lunged, venom dripping from her fangs. Amukelo's instincts kicked in. Using the flat of his blade, he deflected her jaws, sending a reverberating clang echoing through the forest. Dancing around the colossal beast, he sought an opening. An idea formed in his mind.
Amukelo's eyes locked onto one of the spider's eyes, an enormous, gleaming orb. With an agile maneuver, he hurled one of his swords, embedding it deep into the targeted eye. The Broodmother shrieked in agony, her cries echoing through the forest and sending birds fleeing into the sky.
Capitalizing on the distraction, Amukelo lunged towards Eliss, who was poised to unleash another fire spell. But before the flames could be directed his way, he swung his remaining sword, using the flat of the blade to knock her off her feet and into unconsciousness. A sigh of relief escaped him, but the battle was not yet over.
The Broodmother, despite her injury, was far from defeated. Enraged and in pain, she moved with a fury that seemed to make the very ground tremble. Yet Amukelo, having faced and overcome numerous challenges in their journey, stood his ground with determination.
Seeing her unbalanced, Amukelo swiftly sliced through one of the spider's thick legs, sending it crashing to the ground. The spider's counterattack was swift, but Amukelo's reflexes were faster. Teleporting through a shadows, he repositioned himself, appearing almost like a ghost on the opposite side of the spider.
Seeing his chance, Amukelo leaped onto the Broodmother's back. Every muscle in his body screamed from the exertion and the weight of the battle. With a powerful downward thrust, he drove his blade deep into her back, targeting her vitals. The spider gave one final shudder before collapsing to the ground, defeated.
Amukelo, standing atop the lifeless giant spider, took a moment to absorb the gravity of his victory. His breaths were ragged, his body ached, but his spirit soared. With a deep, triumphant roar, he proclaimed his victory to the silent forest. The oppressive darkness seemed to lift, replaced by an air of victory and hope. The journey was far from over, but for now, they had overcome another perilous challenge.