The valley was a wasteland of ruin and devastation. The battle between Adam and the spider tracient, had reduced the once-narrow clearing to rubble. Dust hung in the air, and the rocky walls of the valley were scarred with deep gouges from their clashes. Crimson threads glinted ominously in the pale light, connected to the lifeless bodies of Adam's fallen soldiers, now puppets under the spider's control.
The spider stood amidst the chaos, her six eyes gleaming with sadistic joy. Her marionette strings quivered as she manipulated the bodies of Adam's comrades, each thread moving with the precision of a masterful hand.
"You are persistent, Wolf," she hissed, her voice carrying a mocking edge. "But you are outgunned. All your men, their unique talents, their precious skills—they're mine now. I am the ultimate puppet master!"
Adam stood firm, his stoic demeanor betraying the storm of rage simmering beneath the surface. His piercing blue eyes, now colder than ice, scanned the battlefield. He focused briefly on Karadir, lying unconscious but alive in the distance. A flicker of relief crossed his face, quickly replaced by worry. If she gets control over him, this battle will become even more dangerous.
His gaze returned to the spider and the animated corpses of his men. His heart ached with guilt as he clenched his fists. This is my fault. I should have seen the trap earlier. I should have stopped it before it was sprung. My men... I failed you. His resolve hardened. Out loud, he declared, "I will make sure I avenge you today."
The spider's mandibles clicked in amusement. With a tug of her threads, the corpses lurched toward Adam, each moving with the uncanny agility of a living warrior.
One soldier activated a lightning-charged blade, sending arcs of electricity crackling toward Adam. Another's stone-fused fists pounded the ground, sending shockwaves rippling through the earth. A third wielded a flaming whip, its fiery tendrils lashing out with relentless fury.
All the while, The spider's crimson threads rained down from above, weaving an intricate web of death.
Adam moved with precision, parrying strikes and dodging blows with effortless grace. His three-segment staff, Kurtcanmaç, became a blur of motion as it deflected the coordinated assault. Yet despite his skill, he was forced to remain defensive, unwilling to harm the bodies of his comrades further.
"Muahahahaha!" The spider cackled, her laughter echoing through the ruined valley. "It's futile! Your sentimentality won't let you fight them head-on. Despair, Wolf! İpekkan revels in despair!"
Adam didn't respond. His face remained an emotionless mask as he continued to defend himself. But inside, a storm was brewing. He allowed himself to be pushed back, creating distance between himself and the spider's horde. His eyes narrowed as he calculated the perfect opening.
Then, with a deep breath, he whispered, "ARCEM: KIRIN..."
A bluish-green aura burst forth, enveloping Adam in radiant energy. His hair shifted to the same glowing hue, and the air around him crackled with power.
The spider hesitated, momentarily unnerved by the sudden shift in atmosphere. What is this? she thought, her six eyes widening. This sudden pressure... even Ipekkan feels it. Despite her unease, she launched her threads toward Adam.
"Kirin, 4th Fang: Uğultu..."
Adam disappeared.
The next instant, an explosion of mana-filled slashes erupted across the valley. The precision of the attacks was breathtaking; each thread was severed, and the bodies of his fallen soldiers were freed from Ipekkan's control. The crimson threads disintegrated into nothingness.
"Impossible!" The spider screeched, her voice laced with panic. "What did you do?!"
Adam reappeared, standing amidst the chaos. His glowing eyes locked onto her. "I simply got serious."
Her instincts screamed at her to retreat, and she obeyed, leaping back to put distance between them. But Adam was relentless.
"Your Arcem enjoys despair, doesn't it?" he said coldly. "Very well. I'll give you something to feast on."
In a blur, he closed the distance between them, moving faster than before. Each of her threads, no matter how intricate or reinforced, was cut down effortlessly.
How is this possible? The spider thought, her movements becoming more frantic. He's stronger than his father ever was with the same Arcem... and he's getting faster... and stronger.
In desperation, she stopped retreating and brought her hands together, creating a dense web of crimson threads that formed an inescapable cage around her. "This should hold him," she muttered. "At least until I can—"
"Kirin, 2nd Fang: HayaletAdım..."
Adam vanished again.
The next thing the spider knew, her vision tilted. Her body felt... disconnected. She realized, with growing horror, that her head was falling to the ground.
Adam reappeared behind her, his staff resting on his shoulder. He stared at her headless body as it collapsed to its knees.
"Impossible..." she gasped as her head hit the ground. "Impossible!"
"Rest in peace," Adam said coldly. "Not that you deserve it."
But before he could turn away, The spider's severed body twitched.
"How dare you!" she shrieked, her voice echoing unnaturally. "How dare you behead me! I'm a Child of Shadow! You have no right to treat me this way!"
Adam's eyes narrowed. Something was wrong. Her body was still moving, even without its head.
Her voice grew louder, more hysterical. "This isn't how it was supposed to go! I was supposed to bring honor to my master! You ruined everything!"
Then, with a piercing scream, she cried, "Big Bro! Help me!"
Adam felt it immediately—a sinister aura, dark and suffocating, washed over the valley. It was almost identical to The Shadow's own presence.
From the tattoo on Ipekkan's back, a form began to emerge, growing and solidifying. Adam acted instantly, rushing to destroy the body completely, but just as he reached it, it vanished.
"There, there, little sister."
The voice came from behind him.
Adam spun around, his grip tightening on his staff.
Standing before him was a new tracient. His upper body was humanoid, but his arms ended in massive pincers. His lower body was that of a scorpion, segmented and armored. He held the spider's severed head and calmly reattached it to her body.
"Tell me then, Drakkel," he said, his voice disturbingly soft. "Who was it that hurt you again?"
Drakkel whimpered, pointing a trembling finger at Adam.
The new figure slowly turned, his cold, gleaming eyes locking onto Adam.
The air between them grew heavy, charged with the tension of an impending storm.