The terror makes me mutter without thinking.
— That's way too insane.
What even was that… We nearly got caught up in it ourselves.
Seems like she knows those people. As expected of that witch's apprentice.
— …That's practically a disaster.
— That thing could kill gods.
— Siege-weapon-grade power against nobodies like that…?
— That's gone way beyond just a weapon.
— Man… Mineha Lake… could really happen…
— ……………
Nabel damn near crumbled.
And the giant spider… was on the verge of death.
Half its legs torn clean off, its body sinking at an angle into the ground.
Even so, its six crimson eyes burned sharp as it glared at us.
But it was in no condition to fight.
Seeing the spider like that, everyone fell silent.
— Nabel.
— Wh-ah, sorry!
— Finish it off with that.
I look at the Spider-Cutter.
Nabel lowers her gaze too, and whether she understands the meaning or not, she nods and stands up.
But the giant spider seems to be making one last desperate struggle.
From the torn-off half of its leg, black, ominous legs sprout forth.
"That's enough already..."
I've had it. It'll tire me out, but I'm using this one.
I hold with both hands the greatsword I'd always been using with one.
It's been since that fight with Raada. That was humiliating, but... I'll win with this.
No—I'll carve a path.
"Galad. The enemy's still got fight in them, huh."
"Yeah, looks like it. I'm fired up too. Roar, Jinryu!"
The greatsword splits down the middle, becoming a jagged, fanged maw.
This greatsword is called Jinryu. One of the infamous Dragon Weapons.
It was this very weapon that crushed the so-called daughter of the sword goddess before.
Come to think of it, Flametongue—Agaro's Doom Sword—was also a Dragon Weapon, wasn't it?
Awakening it brings the sensation of strength draining from my body in a massive rush.
It feels like my soul is being devoured.
"Sir Galad!"
"Stay put, Nabel. I'll carve a path. I'm not the one doing the eating. Devour it, Jinryu!"
Jinryu extended as though alive.
The severed jagged edge parted like a jaw and lunged at the giant spider.
But the giant spider drifted gently upward, dodging out of the way.
"What!?"
Looking more carefully, what had lifted it was silk.
Aerial movement using silk.
Ah, right. Spiders could do that.
That kind of agility from something so massive.
But Jinryu gave chase. It pursued relentlessly, no matter where it went.
Sure, something inside me was getting steadily ground away, but there was no way I was letting it escape!
I'd chase it even if it killed me.
That was when an arrow flew.
It struck the giant spider's white leg as it wove between the trees — a perfect hit.
Bid. Nice shot, especially without a Relic.
Nice. Well done.
Jinryu bit into the black leg and dragged the giant spider down from the tree.
"Graaaagh!"
Hoss severed the leg with a full-force strike. The giant spider tilted.
Seizing the opening, Riv and the spider woman who wasn't wearing any clothes charged in simultaneously.
But the giant spider's six red eyes glowed with an eerie light.
"Don't look! The evil gaze!"
"Nn... ah"
"What!?"
Too late. In that instant, a massive swarm of crows latched onto the giant spider.
"That was close, wasn't it?"
Looks like the clothed spider woman is providing backup.
A summoning-type Relic?
If it still works even under the effect that blocks Relic usage, it must be pretty special.
Well, strictly speaking, she isn't really a spider woman... but then again, what even are these guys to begin with?
I know they're not enemies... but Riv said to just ignore them. I'll have to press him about it later.
"Nn...
Void
stance...
Subaru...
...Electra Blade!"
"[Sever]—or rather, 'Night Slash'!"
Riv's sword blazed white and seared through the black legs, while the spider woman cut down the white ones.
What's with "Night Slash"...? More importantly, isn't that guy Gwene? He's got the same sword.
Why is he fighting on our side?
"GRAAAAAAAHHHH!"
The two of them attacked, leaving the giant spider riddled with wounds, and Nabel took off running.
My target — those six red eyes — the spider's True Eyes.
"Go, Nabel!!"
"I'll take 'em out!"
"Going, Nabel-kun!"
Nabel charged forward, sword drawn, and launched himself into the air.
At the peak of his descent, he brought his blade crashing down.
"OOOOONE FLASH — HAWKSBILL CROOOOSS!!!!"
Come to think of it, I'd heard about this before.
Spiders have a natural enemy: wasps. Were they called hawksbill wasps, or something like that?
Nabel's full-power Hawksbill Cross sliced clean through the giant spider's red eyes.
At the same time, the spider-slayer crumbled to pieces and vanished.
That meant the giant spider had been defeated.
"Hah... hah... hah... We did it. We got it..."
Nabel slumped in relief. I let out a breath I didn't know I'd been holding.
When I reverted Jinryuu, my strength drained away in an instant. My legs gave out.
I seriously thought I was going to die.
"Um, Gwene... ma'am!? Your body! Something's wrong with your body!"
Wh-what the— The spider-woman... Gwene's body was falling apart.
So this was what—
"Just as I thought."
She calmly watches her arm crumble away.
"Hmm... a familiar, I see."
"Wh-what do you mean, gess?"
"I don't know who prepared this body, but it's built from that giant spider's familiar. So once it's defeated... this is what happens."
She lets out a hollow laugh. Her arm was gone.
"...Is that so, gess?"
"Geuso. I have a request. Even in this short time, I still hate people. But you and Riv aren't so bad. So I want you to accept this sword of Gwene's as my knight."
With her remaining, still-crumbling hand, she holds out a sword that glows brilliant white.
Geuso takes it. Geuso...?
"Mm... see you... again..."
"Next time, I'll win."
"...Are you really sure about someone like me, gess?"
"Yeah. You're the one. See you."
Gwene smiled as she spoke, then crumbled all at once.
There was nothing left.
"...Hah. First time anyone's ever entrusted me with something, gess."
Geuso... I know how you feel, since I was entrusted with the Jinryuu by my big brother too.
That sword gives me the creeps, but take care of it.
Between that and everything else, everyone was worn out from fighting and had let their guard down.
That's why none of us noticed Nabel's final, desperate attack coming.
(Crap—!)
The giant spider's severed last claw plunged into Nabel's back.
Just before it hit, octopus tentacles burst from the ground and grabbed the claw.
"Whaaaah—tentacles...!?"
"Tentacles! But wait, those are Wof's, aren't they—"
"Wh-what is that?"
In the sky... what? Something's falling.
A human shape—hey. Hey, hey. Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey.
"No way."
"For real?"
"No kidding."
"Hm... no way... is it?"
"Seriously!? We can't even catch a break, geez!"
"That's seriously—for real!? Wof!?"
No way. Wof was falling from the sky.
Nobody could do anything as he plummeted straight toward the crumbling giant spider.
No way!?