Watcher 24's face darkened as she raised her hand high, a chorus of hissing sounds filling the air once more. The spiders were far from vanquished; more skittered out of the shadows, their silk weaving into an enormous white web in midair, sealing off Yame and Syoruha's escape routes.
"Still trying to turn the tide?" she sneered, her voice sharp and grating. "Too bad this web will be your grave!"
Simultaneously, Watcher 22 launched his attack. Murmuring an arcane incantation, he summoned a horde of imps armed with six-barreled guns. Cackling, they fired wildly, bullets raining down like a storm. From the rear, hairy demons, concealed by the web, lunged forward with massive claws.
"Dammit," Yame muttered, her brows furrowing as she leapt into the air. A sudden whirlwind erupted beneath her feet, deflecting the incoming bullets. Yet the dense web restricted her movements; one wrong step, and a strand of silk snared her arm.
"Yame, look out!" Syoruha shouted. Light erupted from his hands, forming countless blades that lashed out in all directions, forcing back the encroaching spiders and demons.
But Watcher 27 smirked, releasing a swarm of bats from the shadows. Like arrows, they streaked toward Syoruha. He barely looked up before they closed in, their piercing screeches sending pain through his skull and halting him in his tracks.
The web tightened further, entangling their limbs and rendering movement even more difficult.
"You two are no match for us," Watcher 22 jeered, as the imps aimed their guns again, fingers curling around the triggers.
At the brink of despair, Yame's eyes sharpened. She whispered to Syoruha, "Hold them off—I have a way out."
"Make it quick," he grunted, biting down as he raised his hands. Light burst forth from his palms, flooding the battlefield like a blazing sun. The blinding radiance caused the spiders and bats to recoil, momentarily halting their advance.
Yame closed her eyes. The storm around her grew fiercer, and a faint rumble of thunder resonated in the air. In her hands, a rapidly spinning cyclone began to take shape, emitting a high-pitched wail that seemed ready to erupt.
Watcher 24 sensed the growing danger. Her sneer now tinged with caution, she muttered, "Oh? A trump card, perhaps?"
"A trump card?" Yame's eyes opened, sharp as blades. "No, this is just the beginning."
With that, she unleashed the cyclone. The surge of wind shredded the web into tatters, scattering the strands and sucking the spiders into its vortex, reducing them to fragments. When the storm subsided, no trace of the web remained, and the smirk on Watcher 24's face had vanished.
"Impossible..." she murmured, wide-eyed.
Seizing the opportunity, Syoruha clasped his hands together. Light coalesced into a radiant, solar-like orb in front of him, releasing a cascade of luminous blades that sliced through the bats and imps.
"Now, it's our turn to strike," Yame declared coldly. She stepped forward, her figure shooting toward the Watchers like a meteor.
Watcher 24 staggered back, snarling, "Don't underestimate us! 22, 27, 28—go all out!"
Before Syoruha could press the attack, a faint twang echoed through the air. Arrows streaked out of the shadows, striking down several demons creeping toward Yame. The creatures roared in pain before dissolving into black smoke.
"Who's there?" Watcher 24 demanded, her voice sharp with anger as she scanned the darkness.
From afar, Myouka trembled as she gripped her bow, her face pale but her eyes resolute. Though her hands shook with nerves, she nocked another arrow and took aim.
"Myouka?" Yame's voice carried a note of urgency. "Retreat! This isn't your fight!"
Myouka bit her lip, her voice faint but firm. "I... I can't just stand by and do nothing!"
The arrow flew true, piercing through several imps, which collapsed instantly. Yet her action enraged the Watchers.
Watcher 22's expression darkened as his summoning circle pulsed ominously. His voice was low and menacing. "A foolish little mouse dares to interfere?"
"Fine, let me send you to hell," Watcher 24 sneered, raising her hand. More spiders clambered onto the remains of the web, shooting threads of silk at Myouka like falling stars.
Panicked, Myouka stumbled backward. A strand grazed her shoulder, slicing her dress open, and she nearly fell but managed to steady herself, fumbling to draw her bow.
Yame darted in front of her, concern etched across her face. "Get out of here. You're not ready for this kind of battle."
Myouka lowered her head, clutching her bow tightly. Her voice was barely audible. "I'm sorry... I just wanted to help."
"There's no time for apologies." Yame cut her off, her tone firm. "Now that you've been seen, don't make yourself an easy target." She turned to Syoruha. "Cover her. Leave the rest to me."
Syoruha nodded, light forming into blades around him as he stepped protectively in front of Myouka.
Watcher 24 sneered. "A trivial distraction. Once we deal with you, she'll be next." Her spiders resumed their weaving, preparing for another attack.
Myouka clenched her teeth, raising her bow toward the spider woman despite her fear. Just as she pulled back the string, a warm hand gently pressed down on hers.
"That's enough," Syoruha said softly, his tone unusually gentle. "You've done more than enough. Let us handle it from here."
Myouka hesitated, then lowered her bow, her hands trembling. Meanwhile, Yame surged forward, the storm gathering around her intensifying as she charged into the heart of the enemy ranks.
The battle escalated, the Watchers' relentless assault starting to falter under the counterattack. The tide was turning.