La Finale (I)

One thing everyone should know about spiders, is that they don't get stuck on their own web.

Tsuchigmo, is a demon whose species is a descendant not only of Typhon, but Arachne. Cursed to become in the form of a spider, Arachne has weaved her webs throughout the ages. These webs were not simple, no, far from it. Arachne's webs fiddle with the strings of life, death and even fate.

Melding into the core of demons, Arachne spun her webs in Develdion, creating an entire species that will carry out her grudge against the Gods; an action reciprocated by many others who have suffered under their tyranny.

Laying within a crevice in the earth, Tsuchigmo snapped her eyes open as the lances sticking out of her body melted into her exoskeleton. Drained of Aeter, the white webs fell weakly onto the wounds they created, healing them as they replaced the lost flesh. However while not fatal, her injuries still presented a threat to her life.

"What a naughty boy~"

Stabbing into the earth, Tsuchigmo's legs reeled her heavy body into a standing position. Carrying he self forward with difficulty, the demon slowly walked towards the resting boy and his owl. Her body sway drunkenly as her bladed legs keeled over, unable to handle the weight of her body in their damaged and fatigued state.

Closer and closer she approached, lurking under the night's veil as her legs dragged shallow gashes in the soil. Popping one of her broken arms in place, a beastly smile carved out Tsuchigmo's lips while standing over the defenseless boy.

"The sleeping prince… let my spindle give you eternal slumber."

Raising one of her sharp legs above his heart, Tsuchigmo held her breath as she watched it glint under the moonlight.

"GOOD NIGHT!"

TING!!

Like a true love's kiss, the sleeping prince was denied death as the agent of his demise was met with a beautiful golden barrier orbited by rings of arcane.

Awoken suddenly by the powerful sound of collision, Elias came to a three point landing crouch as he surveyed his surroundings anxiously.

"She's still alive?!"

Elias was high on guard as the spider demon repeatedly stabbed at the barrier to no avail. After quite the while, the demon arrested her assault and prodded around the magical shield in contemplation, as did Elias. He prodded at it with his broken staff and tried getting his hands through, only to receive a jolt of electricity through his body.

'How do I get out?'

Thinking deeply to himself, Elias paced back and forth within the small enclosed space only remembering the still sleeping Eset when he almost tripped over her.

"Hey! Wake up!"

Picking her up and shaking her body aggressively, Elias received a slap on his face, earning himself a mouthful of feathers.

[Five more minutes…] said the owl, turning her head away from his as she continued to sleep free of worry.

'…This Diva!!'

Dropping her straight to the ground, Elias walked over her now wide-awake body as he continued to prod around the barrier.

[Wha- What's this! Where are we?!]

Keeping his eyes on the demon circling the barrier frustratedly, Elias responded to Eset in an impatient manner

"It seems we're being protected by this… magic shield. If it weren't for it we would have been inside that spider's stomach."

[…And what about that on your face?]

Feeling an itch on his nose, Elias went cross-eyed as he observed an ethereal butterfly flutter its wings innocently on his nose's tip.

Reaching for it gingerly with his hand, Elias was surprised when it suddenly melted into his skin.

Holding his breath in panic, Elias waited for the worst to happen. But, he did not feel any negative impact. Better yet, he felt stronger than ever.

Aeter slowly enveloped his figure like a whirlpool, filling all his cells to the brim. Once done with him, the mass of Aeter moved on to Eset.

"I feel-"

[Incredible]

Staring at each other in surprise and befuddlement, the pair slowly noticed the flickering of the shield.

Steeling their expressions, Elias and Eset readied themselves for another round with the demon waiting for them eagerly.

But this time, they were together.

###

Standing among corpses of men and demons alike, Cherlindrea swung her sword viciously at the charging wave of monsters. Slicing through the air, her golden sword cleaved her enemies asunder as she battled all throughout the village with Leo in her arms.

Hiding behind his minions, Psythiros bit his lips in anger as his visage twisted deeper into a scowl every time Cherlindrea slayed another of his kind.

Psythiros wracked his mind for an answer to his predicament. How can he kill the Fae without he himself dying in the process.

Better yet, could he?

Sure, by demon hierarchy he was the crème of the crop. One of the higher existences of Develdion. Yet he was still far away from the peak.

He found the Fae queen by a chance, keeping it to himself so he could claim the prestige of felling the demon's greatest enemy. And of course, assimilate whatever is left of her power into his being.

As he watched the enemy he had been scheming against for twelve years rip through his underlings, a brilliant idea came upon him. An idea with burning red hair swaying limply in his mother's arms.

"THE BOY! CAPTURE ME THE BOY!"

As if a switch was flipped within the demons' minds, their aggressive charging became much more savage and ruthless, suicidal even.

They threw their hulking bodies at Cherlindrea in droves, the waves of flesh looking to snuff out the brilliance of her light.

Annoyance surfaced on the Fae's face as the demon's attacks were no longer aimed squarely at her, but at her beloved son. To conserve the Aeter this mortal shell could handle, Cherlindrea did not over use any of her spells, opting for her martial prowess to remedy the disease of demons. Yet, it seems she no longer had the leisure to choose.

Just as she was about to chant her spell, pieces of flesh flaked off her face like a puzzle, exposing a fraction of the divine being hiding inside.

Drea faltered, her eyes widening ever so slightly as she halted her chant and let past a tentacle from a flying eldritch demon aiming to grab her son.

Cackling madly, Psythiros raised his arms boisterously in joy. His eyes tracked the tentacle as it wrapped around the unconscious boy and tugged him away from his mother's arms.

Time seemed to crawl as Drea's widened eyes cracked like glass, a raging fury waiting to burst, yet unable to on its own.

When all hope seemed to be lost, a thundering voice halted everyone its place.

"Drop like rain… CATATUMBO"