Ladies Vs Monsters

The impending clash between Orochi and the tarantula monster loomed large as the two adversaries locked eyes with unwavering intensity. Orochi stood alongside Butterbell, whose contribution to the impending monster duel seemed minimal at best. On the opposing side, the colossal tarantula led a menacing horde of smaller spider monsters.

Just as the tension reached its peak, Orochi swiftly enveloped Butterbell in a protective cage of radiant yellow light. Bewildered, Butterbell questioned, "What is this?"

"This is to ensure you won't meet your demise," Orochi replied calmly.

Undeterred, Butterbell attempted to slash through the luminous barrier with his sword. To his surprise, the blade effortlessly passed through the radiant shield, and when he tried to reposition himself, the cage seamlessly moved in tandem.

Meanwhile, the tarantula emitted a bone-chilling screech, signaling the onslaught of its spider minions. Without hesitation, Orochi extended her palm, conjuring a dazzling lightbeam aimed directly at the approaching arachnid horde. As the spiders closed in, Orochi unleashed a devastating beam, obliterating the entire swarm within moments. The once-lush surroundings now lay in ruin, with toppled trees and vaporized flora, leaving no trace of the tarantula.

"Is the big spider also gone?" Butterbell inquired.

"Probably," Orochi replied, her gaze still vigilant.

Butterbell smirked confidently and remarked, "I suppose I didn't require protection after all."

In that moment, a thick white thread, resembling a spear, descended through the dense foliage. Before Orochi or Butterbell could react, the spear-like thread struck the protective cage surrounding Butterbell. Despite the tense moment, the thread failed to breach the barrier and quickly retracted to the treetops.

Butterbell's heart raced momentarily, anticipating his demise, but when the threat dissipated, he sighed in relief. Seated on the ground, he looked at Orochi with disbelief and mused, "Maybe I should remain in the cage until we reach the center of the forest."

As he spoke, another spear thread hurtled downward at full speed, this time targeting Orochi. Unfazed, Orochi met the impending threat with unwavering composure. With a swift and powerful motion, she seized the non-sharp part of the thread, yanking it down with sheer strength. Only a broken, elongated thread descended, leaving the tarantula's whereabouts shrouded in mystery.

Butterbell and Orochi gazed upward in disbelief, the tops of the trees eerily silent. Abruptly, a barrage of spear threads descended, prompting Orochi to react swiftly, conjuring a shield of radiant light above her.

The onslaught of spear threads proved futile against Orochi's impervious shield. However, as her attention focused above, a few threads shot in from the sides at breakneck speed. Startled by the unexpected attack, Orochi attempted to dodge, with Butterbell aiding by intercepting one of the threads. Yet, one managed to graze Orochi's arm, leaving a scratch.

Examining the wound with disbelief, Orochi's calm demeanor transformed into simmering anger. Growling, she declared, "You dare touch me, you pest."

Even Butterbell, standing by her side, felt a shiver of fear. Uttering in a hushed voice, he said, "Hope she doesn't kill me."

Using her mirage ability, Orochi swiftly created 20 to 30 illusions of herself, connected by a string of yellow light, forming a vast mesh. Through this light string, she could perceive the world through the eyes of her illusions. The copies dispersed in different directions, some scaling the trees, while Orochi remained in her original position.

The tarantula, witnessing the multitude of Orochi replicas, panicked from its perch atop a tree. In a frenzied attempt to defend itself, it launched a barrage of spear threads at the illusions approaching, inadvertently exposing its location.

The illusions closed in on the tarantula, evading the spear threads effortlessly. Realizing its futility, the tarantula adopted a defensive stance, cocooning itself in a sphere of threads. Unbeknownst to the arachnid adversary, it was now pitted against a supreme force.

Orochi's illusions stood poised around the spherical thread barrier. In a swift maneuver, Orochi exchanged places with one of her illusions, leaving Butterbell astonished. Now positioned before the thread-encased tarantula, Orochi extended her palm, launching a barrage of light bullets.

In mere moments, the sphere of threads disintegrated, riddled with countless bullet holes, and the tarantula concealed within succumbed to its demise.

Meanwhile, on the other side, Moonlight had entered the Deceiving Lawn. At first glance, it appeared serene, and she assumed it to be a safe haven within the forest. Little did she know, it was the most treacherous place she could have ventured into.

Sunlight bathed the grasses of the lawn, intensifying their vibrant green hue, and the weather was nothing short of magnificent. Moonlight strolled through the lawn with the carefree innocence of a child, oblivious to the lurking danger.

As she reached the center of the lawn, an unsettling sensation crept over her. The mild growling sounds behind her became more pronounced and frequent, raising Moonlight's heartbeat. Beads of sweat formed on her forehead, and she trembled with fear. Despite the ominous signs, she felt an irresistible compulsion to turn around and confront whatever was behind her.

With a terrified expression, Moonlight slowly turned 180 degrees, keeping her eyes closed. As she opened her eyes, she first saw numerous shoes, and as her vision cleared, she beheld humanoid skeletal figures clad in attire reminiscent of the bandits. Initially relieved, thinking they were Crow's men, her relief turned to dread when she noticed the absence of masks on some of their mutilated faces.

Gulping nervously, Moonlight questioned with a trembling voice, "Who are you?"

The eerie figures remained silent, resembling undead entities that made no move to attack. It took a minute for Moonlight to grasp the bizarre nature of her predicament.

Contemplating her options, Moonlight turned around once more and resumed her walk towards the edge of the lawn. However, with each step, she noticed more undead figures materializing from the very grass beneath her feet. The ones that had initially stood behind her were now following her in a spectral procession, their silent presence sending shivers down Moonlight's spine.

Soon, lifeless creatures of the forest also began to emerge from the lawn, their movements devoid of vitality. Moonlight, who had been strolling moments ago, now found herself sprinting desperately towards the lawn's edge. The undead beings kept pace with her, creating an eerie pursuit through the once serene expanse.

Soon she discovered herself surrounded by undead humanoids and animals from all directions. The crowd was so dense that the only escape route was through them, prompting Moonlight to navigate through the spectral gathering.

In her haste, Moonlight pushed aside some of the undead entities, but with each touch, they reciprocated, grabbing onto her. In a panic, Moonlight unleashed her ice magic. Closing her eyes, she screamed as she released a powerful blast, turning the undead assailants into frozen fragments.

Relieved momentarily, she opened her eyes to find herself still encircled by undead creatures. The only change was the increased distance due to her prior ice-induced explosion. However, the imminent danger persisted. As the undead closed in once again, Moonlight directed an ice beam to carve a path and dashed through it. Yet, it proved insufficient. With a few steps, a formidable grip seized her legs, causing her to tumble to the ground.

Examining the source of the grip, Moonlight discovered a hand emerging from the lawn, clutching her leg. More hands emerged, ensnaring all her limbs. Meanwhile, the relentless undead advanced, their growls echoing in the surrounding darkness. Terrified and helpless, Moonlight contemplated her grim fate.

"Am I going to die like this? In this unknown forest? Ripped apart by some bunch of undeads?" she pondered as the undead horde closed in.

Suddenly, all the undead beings halted simultaneously, and the ominous growls ceased. However, the hands continued to restrain Moonlight on the ground. Bewildered, she scanned her surroundings for an explanation but found none. Then, she noticed the grass in front of her growing longer. The grasses intertwined, and from their amalgamation emerged the lower jaw of a canine creature, possessing two nostrils and a mouth filled with razor-sharp teeth.