I keep myself at a decent distance from the group of soldiers, ready to attack if needed but hidden enough to not be noticed.
We pass over a few hills and mountains but nothing appears in front of our eyes.
I keep searching all over the place for distortions or any signs of movement, but it all lays silent...
-Do you think there's actually anyone left? Maybe that girl really cleared them all out-
-What do you mean?-
-You don't know? I heard from a friend she got sent here cuz of that...Too powerful to control, so her General threw the problem on us-
-That feels weird, it's just a soldier like all of us-
-Who knows... Weird stories go around-
-Like what?-
Another man begins acting as if he was telling a ghost story, all sneaky and curved foward -Fire burst from her weapon on its own and kills whoever face her blade... Friend or foe!! Maybe we got a Ghost inside our lines-
-Stop joking... I'm talking real facts here-
-I do too-
-Ah nevermind, anyway... We've been out for too much now and still found nothing... What shall we do?- One man asks toward the man in the front
-Let's rest a bit and move again once the sky will get lighter in the early dawn... We cannot afford to come back empty handed-
-Sure Sir-
The men come to a stop under some small trees and tie their horses before getting ready to sleep...
I watch over them for some time before hearing the sound of an horn... Far in the mountains, it's really faint but still there.
My senses get awakened and I hop on my horse right after it echoes one more time...
My instinct, wanting to go and check it out, tells me to leave but my rationality is holding me back... Telling me to keep an eye on the men.
A horn here in the middle of nowhere means just one thing, the enemy is moving... And these men cannot stay here alone.
It echoes again... But the distance is always the same
"The sound has always the same intensity... They're not moving somewhere. Could it be a different type of signal?"
I press my lips together holding the reins tight, the men switch turns to keep guard and the horn echoes again.
"If they are still resting, I suppose I can go check it out if I'm quick..."
One more reluctant stare at the men and I leave.
...
I follow the sounds riding through nothing... There are no trees or rocks up here and that makes me quite an easy target, still there's no other option available now.
Once the sounds gets close enough, I drop off my horse and leave him by some bushes to proceed by foot...
I reach the flat peek of the mountain. The sound comes from inside a small wooden house, built for those adventuring or working in such a desolate place.
Definitely not an enemy camp...
"Could it be someone in danger...? Impossible. Maybe a soldier of ours who went missing and can't make it back on his own?"
I take out my sword and dash to the side of the construction, I hide under the window ready to look inside, but the moment I begin to stand up something black and pointy smashes it from inside.
I jump back coming again against the wall as the object bends against the side of the house, pressing around the wall... It is searching for something.
"Whoever is inside this house, they were waiting for someone, or worst... For me"
I hold my breath in and try to move further away for the black staff, but that thing seems to catch my movement and rushes to my side with the point hitting the wood violently, crushing it...
I turn my head to see that giant tubular black leg beside my face, it's furry with some longer straight spikes on the top... The whole structure is divided in segments ending in a paw like tip with two claws on top.
It's a... Spider.
A spider leg...
Just the leg is as big as a horse!
Spidermsenses are extremely developed... Even more are those of a giant one.
I crawl, centimeter by centimeter, away not breathing nor flicking an eye... Once far enough I take my bow out and grab a fiery arrow, aiming inside the window.
The moment it's released the leg pushes itself foward, doubling its length, trying to grab the source of the sound.
"It wasn't the whole thing...?!"
It catches my waist and throws me back against the wall... The moment I'm smashed over the broken wood, the leg takes me back and hits me again and again until my breath is taken away due to the repetitive impacts...
In a quick movement it release me and I only see the claws shine up in the sky before rolling away. Right where I was standing the leg hits with full strength going to stuck inside the wood.
It struggles trying to free itself so I use my sword to cut it right in the middle. The creature inside screams piercing the whole sky with that stridule sound, soon after the shelter crushes completely and a gigantic Spider reveal itself... As big as a house!
To where there should be his red eyes, I seems to notice a human head but the hit I receive right after doesn't let me focus enough to make sure... I stand back up and rise my sword against the web being shot toward me
-Hahaha to think you fell for it so easily! And them, who said you were cleaver!- laughs a very high pitched voice before one of the spider's legs crushes a horn on the ground.
"So it was a predator's trap afterall... And I am the prey"
-Them? Who said it?-
-Uh? Nobody of course, now get ready to die!-
I fend off a few hits and go for a fake attack, which works perfectly, leaving one side exposed. I cut the creature gaining another scream
"So it's a stupid creature uh? Someone sent it for sure, it's not just a regular food hunt... It can only be the enemy and none else"
-That horn... Was it a normal one?-
-What...? So you seriously want to chat while you die?!-
-Answer me-
-Of course it was, why wouldn't it?-
-So whoever gave it to you, knew I would have been able to hear this... They knew I would have been in this area-
-Whoever... Hear...? What the hell are you saying?! Just fight, as we are meant to!-
I jump away stopping for a moment as my brain begins to work -It's... Simple-
-Uh?- the human face of the creature rise an eyebrow, I use its confusion to attack it once again
-You're not strong enough nor cleaver enough to survive this match, plus you lured me up here... Well you got told to, and since you're a spider your hunt instinct took over-
-S... So?-
-So the meaning of this wasn't to kill me, but to... Distract me!- I widen my eyes the moment I understand
-Do I look like I know all of those things? I just want to kill!- laughs the spider
-Wang Chia-Hao- I say and its expression goes blank -He the one who told you to come here, no need to confirm it... Which means those men I left out there in the woods are in danger and I have no time to play with you!- I growl going for a hit and the sword gets set on fire.
The whole spider begins burning and throw itself foward, but I dodge with both hands behind my back mocking it.
-Who is diying now?- I smirk once I am face to face with the creature, I rise the sword and block its attack
-You...!- it rise a leg, pushing all the weigh against my sword
-Bye bye- I wave with a free hand and push back the sword, sending the spider down the peek of the mountain... It rolls down burning and screaming.
But I have no time to watch, I run to where I left my horse and charge back.