「Style.」
Sitting in the ancient stone bath of the mid-way point, Tatsuya sighed deeply. The silk he had woven between his fingers, extracted from the shelf-spiders, felt surprisingly luxurious—almost a far cry from the grotesque creatures that had spun it. Now that he had evolved into something stronger, it felt necessary to craft a fitting outfit, something that matched his newfound power.
"I need something stylish to match this evolution," he muttered, staring at the cracked ceiling. His mind raced with possibilities. "But what should it be?"
A flood of ideas swirled in his thoughts, each one more over-the-top than the last. "Maybe a sleek black bodysuit?" He imagined himself as some sort of dark avenger, striding through ruins in a tight, form-fitting outfit, his cape billowing dramatically behind him. "Nah... I'm not powerful enough to pull that off yet."
He slumped backward onto the cool stone, letting out a groan. "What am I even doing?" He covered his face with his hands. "Back when I was a scrawny kid, no one cared what I wore. Now, I'm a mummy with power, and I feel this ridiculous need to look cool. Ugh!"
While Tatsuya agonized over fashion decisions, Yuki was occupied with something more practical—and deadly.
On the cave floor of the temple, Yuki moved through the shadows like a wraith. Her new form was powerful—she could feel the speed and strength in every motion as she stalked her prey. In her hand, she clutched the black rock knife, its edge gleaming in the faint light that trickled down from above.
The first shelf-spider didn't see her coming. Yuki crouched low, her body moving fluidly across the ground, and in one swift motion, she slid beneath the creature. Her blade slashed upward, cutting through the soft underbelly with surgical precision. The spider screeched, its legs twitching in its death throes as it collapsed to the floor.
She didn't stop to admire her handiwork. There were more.
A group of five shelf-spiders waited, perched in a massive web strung between two cave spikes. They watched her with cold, hungry eyes, but Yuki was already moving before they could react.
One of the spiders lunged at her from above, fangs bared, aiming to strike from behind. Yuki spun sharply on her heel, deflecting the attack with a flick of her knife. The blow sent a shockwave through her arm, but she remained steady, eyes focused. She retaliated with a precise jab, her blade plunging into the creature's exposed throat. The spider let out a shriek before crumpling in a heap.
Yuki leapt, her body graceful and cat-like, as she moved from one cave spike to the next. Her next target reared up, acidic spit dribbling from its fangs. With a deft roll to the side, she dodged the glob of venom, which splattered against the stone with a sharp hiss. Before the spider could react again, Yuki surged forward and drove her knife deep into its abdomen, the blade slicing clean through its tough exoskeleton.
The spider twitched once, then fell limp.
The remaining three spiders weren't as careless. They scuttled back, positioning themselves defensively on the web. Yuki narrowed her eyes, assessing the situation.
She darted forward, her movements swift and precise. As one of the spiders lashed out with a sharp, downward strike, Yuki sidestepped, her blade flashing in the dim light. She severed one of its legs, and the spider screeched in pain, stumbling back.
Using the momentum, Yuki leaped to the next spider. Its acid-laden fangs snapped toward her, but she was too fast. She spun mid-air, slashing her blade across its eyes, blinding the creature. It let out a furious screech, flailing wildly, but Yuki's blade found its mark, plunging deep into its brain. The spider's legs collapsed beneath it.
The final spider, realizing it was alone, scuttled back to the safety of the shadows. Yuki followed, her eyes gleaming with focus. The spider hissed, launching a final desperate ball of acid. Yuki dodged with a backflip, her feet lightly touching the ground as she landed. Before the creature could retreat further, she hurled her knife with perfect precision. The blade pierced the spider's head, sinking deep into its skull with a wet crunch.
The cave fell silent except for the faint sound of Yuki's breathing.
She stood among the fallen creatures, her chest rising and falling steadily. The power of her new form surged through her, every motion effortless and controlled. She glanced down at the black rock knife, now slick with spider blood, and allowed herself a brief, satisfied smile.
Back at the top floor of the temple, Tatsuya had just finished a different kind of battle—one against crumbling walls and ceilings. His magic, now far more refined, made the task of repairing the temple feel almost effortless.
He extended his hand toward a cracked section of the wall, visualizing the stone as it shifted back into place. The broken pieces seemed to dissolve, replaced by fresh stone that melded seamlessly with the rest of the structure.
"Everything felt so draining when I was a ghoul," he muttered as he watched the walls rebuild themselves. "Even making something simple like an earth gauntlet would have left me exhausted."
He glanced around the now-pristine altar room, the walls smooth and unbroken. "But now... I get it. My mind can picture the natural process better. It just makes sense."
Suddenly, Yuki's voice broke his concentration. "Master, I've cleared out the cave of the big spiders."
Tatsuya turned to face her, raising an eyebrow. "Shelf-spiders, Yuki," he corrected with exaggerated drama, pointing at her. "I didn't go through all the trouble of naming them just for you to forget!"
Yuki sighed in exasperation, her face showing little amusement as she casually approached the altar. "Speaking of names," she said with a faint smirk, "have you decided on your 'trademark outfit' yet?"
Her question sent Tatsuya into a spiral of internal agony. He dropped to the floor, clutching his head dramatically. "Ahh! Don't remind me!"
Yuki's tail flicked as she crossed her arms, unimpressed by his antics. "Master," she began, her tone dripping with sarcasm, "why don't you go for a suit and tie? I've seen it in your core memories. It's both durable and... stylish."
Tatsuya blinked. A light seemed to flicker in his eyes as the idea suddenly clicked.
Without a second thought, he leapt to his feet, sprinting down the hall toward the mid-way point. "Thank you, Yuki!" he called over his shoulder. "I'll make something for you too!"
As his footsteps echoed down the stone corridors, Yuki watched him disappear with a soft smile. There was something almost tender about the way her expression softened.
"Master is such a fool," she whispered to herself, shaking her head before sitting down by the altar.