The Mud Spider

[Takina's POV]

"Ree-!!!" The spider's high pitched shriek covered the entire fort, so loud that I could feel the immense pressure in my ears.

The general tapped my on the shoulder, and then pointed at the spider's abdomen with his spear.

"W#&s!"

Because of how loud the shriek was I couldn't hear anything.

"Hah?!"

"I said webs!"

"What web-"

Before I was able to finish my sentence, the general immediate side stepped away. Then, something flew at me.

'Splash!'

Before I could even comprehend what he had said, I found myself ensnared in some white sticky film.

"Oh... spider webs."

Then the spider immediately pulled me towards itself. "Wah-!!!"

It's trying to eat me!

But almost the instant after it caught me in it's webs, the General dashed forward and raised his spear overhead aiming at me.

"Hmph!" 'Clank!'

The general slammed his spear down and severes the web.

"Idiot!" He yelled before raising his leg...

Winds gathered around his foot as he stomps right next to my head. 'Thump!' Strong winds blasted around his body like a tornado, launching me away into safety.

"W-woah!"

'Thud!' Luckily I landed on a pile of cloth, uninjured but dizzy from all the spinning.

"Urgh..."

As I got back up on my feet, I could see the general pointing his spear at the spider and entering a fighting stance.

Ah crap, I have to help him!

With my free arm I grabbed and pulled on the web stuck to my body... but it's so sticky that it'd just get stuck on my hand anyway.

How annoying!

After a while of pulling, I gave up and instead looked for an alternative... it was then I saw a pile of campfire still burning at the side.

"Fire... Fire!"

It'd be insane to set myself on fire, but this is the only way out for me.

"Okay, I just need to burn this tip here..."

'Fwuom!' The instant that the web touches the heat, it melted into liquid glue and dripped to the ground.

With careful positioning to not burn myself, I used the campfire to slowly melt away the webs stuck to my arms and body...

Sounds of metal clashing, the spider stomping, and muskets firing can be heard as I frantically burns off the webs.

After what seems like forever, I finally managed to free my body enough for me to move around.

"Phew, finally!... Now I can join the fight."

Looking at the battle before me, the spider used it's front limbs to try and stab the general...

It wasn't so easy however, as the general repeatedly struck away the spider's limb, parrying it's attack with his spear.

He tries rushing into the spider in order to get within striking range, but the spider would just jump backwards and create more space.

When at a distance far enough for it to miss it's stabs, it'd aim it's abdomen and fire balls of webs at the general. He'd then have to dodge the webs before closing in....

He even took off his steel armour just so he could be more nimble and catch up to the spider.

But then, due to the range difference and the agile movements of the spider, he wasn't able to even get in close, let alone attack it's weak spot.

If the battle drags on, he'll be the one to fall first. Unless of course I involve some kind of distraction....

Now, since even his great spear bounced off the armour of that thing, I doubt my sword could do much damage to it. There's no other way for me to help. Unless of course I provide support through different means....

The spider was extremely afraid of flames, so much so that it'd choose to flee from fire rather than to attack the Oda Clan soldiers who trapped it here in the first place.

If it was so stupid, I could manipulate it just as easily as the Odas. In that case...

I looked around the fort where all the crumbled tents sits on the ground....

Cloths, wood and other flammable stuff. Perfect.

"...I may have a plan."

____________

[Third Person POV]

The spider swiped it's claws at the general, who raised his spear to deflect. 'Tank!'

However, his deflect wasn't perfect and the class grazed his arm making a shallow cut as it slams into the ground.

As Tamahara steps away, the spider saw the chance and fired even more webs at him. He was forced to side step the webs again, but slowly his movements are getting slower....

"Hah... Hah..."

If the battle continues, surely the fatigue will catch up to him and the spider would land one or two decisive hits. Victory is impossible, and fleeing is a waste of energy as he was too tired to outrun it anyway.

That is what was on the general's mind until he heard the shout of Takina from the back.

"General, lure that thing over here!"

"What?! Why-"

It swiped it's claws at the general as soon as he was distracted. The general was diligent however, and quickly deflected that attack again. 'Tank!'

"No time to explain, just trust me!" Takina yelled.

"Urgh, fine!" The general yelled before he blows a whistle with his fingers.

Onikake, his warhorse quickly rushed over where the general jumped on and ran off.

"Hyah!" He shouted at the horse to make it sprint towards the middle fo the fort.

He could see a pile of cloth, wood and other materials gathered and forming a circle in the middle, large enough to trap even this huge spider.

"What is that woman thinking?..." He pondered as he jumps off the horse.

"Sorry buddy, this is too dangerous for you. Run, you're free!" He slapped the horse to signal it to flee before he turned back to the spider...

The mud spider slowly crawled towards the general with it's body lowered.

The general noticed the unusual stance of the spider, knowing that something is coming.

Then, it jumped. 'Thud!'

"-?!"

With a quick leap it dashed forward at a surprisingly fast speed, closing the distance in split seconds before slamming down onto the ground. 'Thump-!!!'

The general was barely able to dive away to safety, but now he has nowhere left to run as he is directly in front of the spider's mouth. A single bite would devour him instantly.

He is too tired to dodge again, nor is he actually nimble enough to dodge in such a position. It's game over.

"Tsk... Is this how I will go out?"

"Ree..." The spider slowly opened it's mouth... but then-

'Fwuom!' A part of the circle quickly caught on fire.

"You've ran right into my trap, monster!"

Takina quickly sprint following the perimeter of the circle, lighting an even larger part of the circle on fire...

Immediately, the spider tried to turn around to flee from the circle.

However...

"Your opponent shall be me, monster!"

Takina puts her sword into the flames before pulling it out. The blade was coated in fire, catching the attention of the spider.

"You have no where to run. Face me you disgusting beast!"

Even though it had tried to run away, the fire spreads quickly that the circle was eventually closed off from the fire leaving no room for it to run.

Cornered like this the spider turned around slowly and choose it's only option... to fight.

She raised her sword and began charging towards the spider.

"Rahh-!"

"Ree-!" The spider quickly raised it's fore limbs ready to attack Takina as soon as she closes in.

But that is exactly what would prove to be a fatal mistake for the spider.

Standing right under it with his great spear lowered in a fighting stance, Tamahara gathered his strength.

Whirlwind forms around his great spear, which was said to be smithed in that massive size for the purpose of hunting a dragon.

"Be gone!"

Tamahara shouted as he thrusts it upwards aiming for the gap of the spider's abdomen, where it's exoskeleton is the thinnest. 'Stab-!!!'

The powerful winds of the spear punched a hole deep into the spider. And in that split second he pulls the spear back while the winds still drilled inside.

This caused a vacuum to form inside which would tear the innards of the spider and rips it right out from the hole made by the thrust.

'Splash!'

"Ree-!!!" The spider shrieks in excruciating pain as it loses strength and drops to the floor. 'Thump!'

That is the Dragon's Fang, a move developed by the great Sword Saint Uesugi Kenshin. A technique that involves two steps - of stabbing into a target and then ripping it's heart out, made specifically to hunt down large creatures like this spider.

Takina swipes her Katana to the side and extinguished the fire on it. The blade was still red hot, she wasn't able to sheath it back.

"As scary as you are, you're still just a beast in the end - stupid and easy to manipulate."

"Ree..."

She walked towards the spider's head.

"But I suppose even a monster like you deserve a quick death. Goodbye."

She raised her Katana, and stabs it into it's head, killing it instantly.

"Urgh... How repulsive..." The voice of a man sounded.

The general crawls out from the body of the spider, covered in insect blood and fluids.

"Because of your distraction I managed to land a lethal blow to it's weak point. You have my thanks, lady Fujiwara."

"Uh... Yeah... You did most of the work."

"I wouldn't have been able to kill it without your help. You have my thanks, lady Fujiwara." The general said as he walked closer to her.

Takina quickly stepped away while covering her nose. "It's alright, I'm just doing what I've been told."

"...."

"...."

"How can you be so rude?!"

"Shut up and go take a bath. Even your wife would divorce you if you approached her like this, so stay the hell away from me!"

"Be careful, I'll rub these on you if you don't watch what you're saying."

"Hah? It's on then!"

"Alright, alright! Enough all the arguing, we are still in the middle of a battle remember? Let's call stops here and start helping our soldiers to take the fort."

"...Yeah, you're right."

"Sigh... Onikake, please come over."

Hearing it's name called, the warhorse approached the general. However, it kept a slight distance from him, not wanting to be touched by him.

"Even you?! I thought you were my most trusted mount!"

"Just hurry up and wash yourself first!"

___________

In the end, the drawbridge was lowered just a while after the spider was killed. The enemies used the dirt spider as a distraction to escape, abandoning the fort altogether while they retreated away to safety.

While there were many casualties on the foot soldier's side, few of Kenshin's soldiers and Tamahara's heavy calvary were lost.

And the biggest threat itself was slayed by the combined effort of Tamahara's skill and Fujiwara's quick thinking.

It was a decisive victory.... for the moment.

But at the same time, back at Toyama city's castle, an unconscious Sora was placed onto a magic circle drawn on the floor.

Notably, the magic crest had the same shape as the crest carved into the Severance Blade itself...

Using the same power, these sorcerers intent on seperating the blade from Sora once and for all.

A few sorcerers gathered in the room, waiting for Genji to give the order.

"Do it. Begin the Separation ritual."

"Yes, my Lord." (?x)

They begin to chant on the circle...

"Make sure the boy lives even if we failed at seperating the blade from him, we can always perform the ritual some other time if it fails."

(Chapter end)