Chapter 35 - Madman's Frenzy
The air was thick with tension, so heavy it felt like it could suffocate them all. The Spider Queen slowly turned to Lucas, her crimson eye glinting with a merciless promise. Then, as if the world around her bored her, her gaze shifted to Darlin — cold, calculating.
In one smooth, terrifying motion, she extended a single finger.
Threads of white metal shot out with invisible speed — a silver flash in the dim light. Darlin's body jolted as the thread pierced her neck, the sound of it slicing through flesh tearing the silence apart. Blood gushed violently, coating her in crimson as she choked helplessly.
"A... A... Aaah... AAAHH..."
The sound was grotesque — unnatural. Blood poured from her neck, her chest, her eyes, and mouth. It was a living nightmare. Her body convulsed in the throes of death, her life draining between her fingers.
Lucas stood frozen, heart pounding against his ribs. His breath caught in his throat as he watched the life fade from Darlin's eyes. His world tilted, spinning wildly as horror gripped him.
(What's happening? Huh? Is she... dead? Haaaah?!)
His thoughts raced, but there was no time to process them. His eyes snapped to the others. He clenched his fists.
"Alright then... I'll show you, you damn witch!" His voice was a roar, thick with fury and panic. He was powerless, terrified — but he wouldn't let Darlin's death be in vain.
He turned to Andre, his voice cutting through the chaos.
"ANDRE! KILL THAT... MONSTER!!"
Without hesitation, Andre lunged forward, moving faster than logic allowed. His massive fist swung like a hurricane, slamming into the Spider Queen's jaw. She was hurled backward, crashing into the wall with a sickening thud.
But Andre remained standing, fist raised, ready to end it. He had to crush her. He had to.
Before he could strike again... the world vanished around him.
In the blink of an eye, the Spider Queen disappeared.
He spun, muscles tense, just as he felt something cold graze the back of his neck.
Her voice came, low and mocking — like a predator savoring its prey.
"Heh... Who are you looking for, handsome? Hmm? Who?"
The words sliced through the air, but Andre didn't flinch. Without thought, he unleashed six blasts of light.
BOOM!!! BOOM!! BOOM!!
Each explosion ripped through the room, the light blinding. The force shook the walls, thunder echoing across the chamber.
And then... silence.
The blinding light began to fade, and there she was — the Spider Queen, standing unharmed. Completely untouched. Simply standing there, her eye shimmering with delight.
They held their breath as the dust settled.
Now they could see her clearly. Smiling. The dread that overcame them was more than fear — it was a crushing, paralyzing horror.
(Thought: I know... I can't fight her...)
The truth hit Zayn like a tidal wave. For the first time, he felt the weight of powerlessness. His eyes fell to Rin's bloodied body, barely clinging to life.
"Rin..." he whispered, a scream building in his chest. "No... no!"
His voice cracked, raw and broken. Zayn dropped to his knees beside him, lifting him into his arms. He couldn't even tell if he was still breathing.
Meanwhile, Lucas's heart was shattering. He stood in the center of it all, watching the scene unfold like a twisted nightmare. His mind was a maelstrom of panic and helpless rage. He couldn't tear his eyes from the chaos.
(In his mind: Looks like Andre can handle her... but Darlin, my precious follower...)
His gaze turned to Darlin's body — still hanging, still bound by the metallic thread, her blood painting the ground beneath her. Her eyes were wide open, unblinking, staring into nothing — as if she saw something none of them could. Her blood spilled like a grotesque work of art.
Lucas felt his breath catch in his throat. "What... what is happening?!"
The words slipped from his lips like a prayer — but there was no salvation. No hope. Nothing could save them now.
He looked back at Andre — desperate, voice trembling.
Andre was still hammering away at the Spider Queen, blow after blow with unwavering force. His strikes were monstrous — but she didn't even flinch. Was she... smiling?
How?
Lucas thought, panic constricting his chest.
How is she still standing?
But then — it happened.
Andre's punches began to slow... to weaken. His breath came in short gasps, his massive frame trembling from exhaustion. He stopped, arms falling. His energy... gone.
The Spider Queen's laughter cut through the silence — cruel, soaked in sadistic pleasure.
"You really thought you could kill me?" Her voice was silk, each word dripping with mockery. "How cute."
Without a second's pause, her fingers transformed into flexible threads, coiling like serpents in the air. They whipped forward so fast they were impossible to track. One slap struck Andre's face — like the crack of a whip.
His face split open, flesh torn, skin twisted by the sheer force.
Andre staggered back, eyes wide with shock, his body collapsing. But before he could even hit the ground — she moved again.
She walked toward him slowly, lazily, every step purposeful.
"Darling... why would you do that?" she whispered, voice soaked with disdain.
Before Andre could answer — she vanished again... and appeared behind him.
"Hmmm... don't bother getting up, dear," she whispered into his ear, her breath cold against his skin. "Die peacefully."
The room felt like it was closing in as webs exploded from every direction — violent, unrelenting. He didn't even have time to scream. In an instant, he was bound, cocooned.
Lucas screamed.
"WHYYYYY?! WHY?! YOU DAMN WITCH!!"
His voice was hoarse, raw with unbearable pain. Everything was falling apart. His friends, his team — dying before his eyes.
He was powerless. Just... powerless.
And as the Spider Queen stood over Andre's trembling body, her gaze turned back to Lucas — eyes gleaming with dark pleasure.
All of it played out before Zayn's eyes. He watched helplessly as Lucas collapsed to the floor, screaming and crying like a child.
Then, through the sea of despair — Lucas's fingers brushed something in his pocket. Something cold. Something small.
The treasure Shi Yang had given him — the miniature palace.
With trembling hands, Lucas pulled it out, mind swirling with grief and fury.
Maybe... just maybe... this could save them.