(ch 4)the first trial part 3

The group's immediate reaction was one of shock, their eyes fixed on the tree in disbelief before they instinctively turned towards the source of the noise.

Suddenly, sharp splinters burst out, raining down on everyone nearby, causing many to quickly retreat.

Rin, always the cautious one, had positioned herself farthest from the campfire, despite the biting cold. "I refuse to be caught off guard..."

She couldn't shake the feeling of impending danger, remembering the rusty kunai from her nightmares. This ambush wasn't about human betrayal; there were only nightmare creatures, adding to her apprehension.

Before she could ponder further, her instincts kicked in, urging her to move. She took a step just in time, as another tree crashed down where she had been standing moments before.

'that would be the [genin] attribute that saved me'

One of the twins forgot to renew their life license, and as fate would have it, they were tragically turned into red paste by the very tree that narrowly missed falling on her.

"we lost Eric! David get your head out of your ass and focus we're screwed if any more of us die"

Lisa's voice trembled as tears welled up in her eyes. She desperately attempted to rally her team's attention, her words choked with emotion.

But her plea was cut short by a sudden commotion. The massive tree trunk, lying innocently on the ground just moments before, began to violently shake. Then, with a deafening roar, it snapped in half, unleashing a terrifying entity from within. Every member of the team was paralyzed with fear, rooted to the spot by the unfolding horror.

Execpt Eric

As the monstrous black mass emerged from the shattered tree, it initially appeared unassuming. But as it extended its eight grotesque limbs and rose to its towering height of at least thirteen feet, it transformed into a nightmarish creature straight out of folklore.

'rin that sentence made no sense it is a nightmare creature'

Oh

It's chitin armour looked strong and sturdy with a strangely slick black colour that reflected the moon's shine. With a red hourglass pattern on it's huge abdomen.

The creature's eight black, savage eyes looked at all the members with its two fangs raised ready to strike a toxic substance escaping from it melting the snow and burning the ground

This whole situation was horrible and the creature was not to be messed with...I mean you can go check if the thing was friendly but...I don't know, it has quite threatening eyes I don't think it wants to be a pet.

She did notice something though. There in the shadows behind the giant spider it almost seemed like the ground was moving with shapes similar to the original one, spider-like.

'alright then I run I die come on rin lets think what can i do wait...ahh shit its

looking at-'

Rin barely had time to process her next move before the creature darted toward her with alarming speed. As it closed in, its eight long, black legs poised menacingly. Reacting on instinct honed from years of training as a genin, Rin's muscles tensed, urging her to find a safer spot. Swiftly, she leaped sideways, her body propelled by years of rigorous conditioning, placing the bulky stranger between herself and the looming threat in one fluid motion.

'you did this to yourself jinxing prick'

Her swift reflexes kicked in just in time, sparing her life. Those razor-sharp appendages, elongated like scythes, pierced through the man mere moments later, piercing his skull and emerging from the other side... It looked..

I'm not describing that

The lifeless body lay atop her, its head a vacant shell. Blood gushed forth, drenching Rin in its warm embrace.

'i...cant..move...HEAVY basterd'

Rin strained to see through the darkness, but all she could perceive were the eerie clinks of the spider's fangs colliding, creating a chittering cacophony that nearly drowned out the screams of her companions.

Determined to free herself from the weight pinning her down, she first attempted to lift the corpse off her, but it proved too cumbersome. Switching tactics, she pushed it aside with both hands, but the mass of bodies made her efforts futile until, with a final exertion, she managed to create enough space to wriggle free.

As she scrambled away on her back, she couldn't shake the disconcerting sensation of added weight on the corpse, a grim reminder of the dangers lurking in the shadows. With a shudder, she used her legs to shove the body away, all while observing a smaller spider, reminiscent of a large dog, viciously tearing into the dead flesh from above, its mandibles sinking into the hollowed head as it made its way inside the bodies head.

'ew...ew..ew...get away.. get away...get away'

Across from the lifeless body, Greg stood frozen, his jaw slack and his face contorted in horror. Rin waved frantically, trying to catch his gaze.

"Oi greg Move away from it!"

Greg attempted to stand, but his efforts were futile as he stumbled and collapsed. Fear gripped them all, suffocating them under its oppressive weight.

Rin clenched her jaw tightly, her resolve firm despite the unsettling sight before her. The corpse underwent a grotesque transformation, its form contorting under the influence of some unseen force. Eight bone-like appendages sprouted from its spine, while its body pulsated and squirmed as if struggling to assume a new shape. The face distorted, splitting apart to reveal a twisted mouth adorned with two razor-sharp fangs dripping with blood. Meanwhile, eight eyes emerged, melding seamlessly into its altered visage.

'Kill it with holy fire'

Greg glanced at her, then back at the monster, shouting in desperation.

"Ki-kill it!"

'Gee thank you Greg for the amazing piece of advice..'

Greg trailed not far behind the other twin, clutching a trembling kunai aimed at the lifeless body. His face, drained of color, expressed the horror he felt.

BUT IM CURRENTLY CLOSER TO THE MONSTER GREG.

Rin, with her keen intuition for detecting anomalies, called out the bullsh*t. The spell was supposed to be equitable, with specific restrictions on the creatures that could emerge in a particular Nightmare.

The list of power went like this Beasts to Monsters, then Demons, Devils, Tyrants, Terrors, and eventually these things called Titans

Her First Nightmare vividly showcased the unfortunate presence of a tyrant, a sinister force tightly clenched within her subconscious. She gleaned this interpretation from its manifestation in less potent forms, capable of spreading their influence to others. What nefarious deeds was this tyrant orchestrating within the confines of her first nightmare

'I've come to the conclusion that a higher power is screwing with me'

She found herself unable to dwell on things anymore, defying any notions of divine intervention. Determined to prove her own worth, she resolved to survive out of sheer spite.

As the hulking figure emerged, it seemed more akin to a grotesque hybrid of a spider and a decaying body than a man. Its unsettling chittering fangs sent shivers down her spine. Reacting swiftly, she instinctively kicked up a nearby kunai, catching it expertly mid-air. With weapon in hand, she braced herself for the impending assault.

Her [genin] attribute making her strangely comfortable holding the weapon as if a hundred of battle memories replayed her inside head. She flipped the kunai in her hand and held it in a reverse grip and got into a wide stance

As the monstrous creature lunged towards her, two of its menacing arms, adorned with sharp claws, surged forward with malicious intent. However, Rin, with a swift and calculated motion, deftly parried them aside using her kunai.

But let's give credit where it's due. It wasn't just her training as a genin that allowed her to maintain her composure in such dire moments. It was also her tumultuous upbringing in the slums, where every day was a battle for survival. That gritty existence had honed her instincts and taught her to keep her cool even in the face of mortal danger.

With the confidence born from her life's trials and tribulations, Rin moved with the grace and precision of someone who had faced similar threats countless times before.

Summoning all her strength, she hurled the kunai at the monster's neck, watching as it homed in with uncanny precision, striking its target with lethal accuracy. The impact sent the creature careening into a nearby tree, where it remained impaled, its dark, viscous blood oozing out.

Without missing a beat, she swiftly retrieved another kunai from her pouch, simultaneously sidestepping the monster's attempted decapitation swipe. Closing in on her adversary, she deflected another attack aimed at her head before driving her kunai deep into two of the creature's eight legs, effectively skewering it against the tree trunk.

Stepping back to admire her handiwork, she dodged the monster's desperate swipes as she retreated. Despite its immobilized state, the creature still posed a threat with its remaining six legs, ready to lash out at anything that dared to approach.

"You two get over here and help! Keep it's legs distracted! I'll kill it"

Greg and his twin, whose name escapes me at the moment, exchanged a quick glance before nodding in unison and reaching for their weapons. With a shared determination, they launched themselves at the monster, their coordinated assault serving as a crucial distraction.

'Great...time to earn my right to live...unlike eric'

rin thought.

The monstrous creature thrashed about with incredible force, its movements erratic as it attempted to dislodge or shatter the kunai embedded within its body. The blades themselves warped and shifted under the strain.

Realizing the kunai's grip was faltering, she drew her katana and drove it forcefully into the creature's skull. Though she knew this alone wouldn't be enough to vanquish it, she was determined to keep fighting, despite the odds stacked against her.

Yet, attempting such a feat was undeniably perilous.

'dont try this at home kids'

With the pointed tip of her blade buried deep in the creature's skull, she tapped into something previously untouched: her essence pathway. Drawing a deep breath, she focused, feeling a strange energy surge through her body, empowering her arms.

Summoning all her strength, she swung her arms downward with ferocity, causing the monster's head to writhe and emit a piercing screech.

Despite the onslaught, the creature persisted, its clicking sounds echoing loudly as it attempted to shake off the group of assailants distracting it.

A precarious balance hung in the air, teetering between the creature's demise and the potential breakage of the kunai.

'for the love of everything just die you spider looking fugly basterd'

She appeared drained, her vitality sapped further each time she tapped into the essence pathway. Sweat mingled with the blood of her opponents, trickling down her face as she threw herself into the fray with all her might.

Every moment stretched on endlessly, her energy steadily dwindling. Only the surge of adrenaline kept her going, masking the searing pain from the gashes inflicted by the creature.

With each strike of her sword, Rin felt the monster's tough chitin begin to yield, until finally, with a decisive blow, her katana pierced through its defenses, sending its body into a lifeless slump.

As the adrenaline rush subsided, a familiar voice reached her ears, prompting a sigh of relief.

[You have slain a dormant beast, black widow's spawn.]