Zeika, a figure who grew to prominence for his solo raids on dungeons and area bosses. A being who took the game by storm, throwing almost every major guild into chaos all on his lonesome. A man who preferred to be alone. Anodos, however, had been lucky. A cat surrounded by people and animals who could hold their own. Johnny, unfortunately, was too fear-struck to even try.
"Johnny. Can you hear me?" Zein waved his arm in front of Johnny's face.
"Ye-yeah. I can hear you." Johnny nodded.
"Good. Don't be scared, okay? Just shoot." Zein retrieved his spear from his inventory.
"Um… Anywhere?"
"Anywhere. Shoot every 10 seconds, alright. Count it." Zein jumped into the pit with Wu.
"O-okay, 10 seconds, okay."
Johnny slid his foot off the edge; sand rolled into the arena.
"Do I also-"
"Stay there, Johnny. Shot from there. I'll keep her attention on me, alright. Don't do anything but shoot."
Zein twirled his spear and stabbed the sand, slowing his descent till he reached halfway. He stared at the arachnid, venom leaking from its mouth, salivating. The queen raised her leg, claws aimed at the cat.
"Dash."
Zein shot from the sand, dodging her strike.
"Wu!"
"Oogie!"
Zein spun his spear to the sound of a bullet slamming the spider's head. Buff applied, he struck the beast's appendage, barely leaving a scratch.
"This is… Going to take a while." Zein smiled, fangs on full display.
With a snarl, the beast locked onto Zein, all 16 eyes on him. She spat her webbing at the falling cat; it smelled strange and dangerous. Instinctually, Wu held his nose while wrapping his legs around Zein's neck.
"Good instincts, Wu. Stab."
Zein drove his spear into the spider's joint. He swung around like a monkey bar and landed on it. Pushing himself off, Zein ripped the spear out and ran up the beast's leg. Thankfully, it was angled just enough to let him keep his footing.
"Wu, Monkey's Paw."
"Oogie!"
Feeling the blue glow surround him, Zein's stats doubled. A buff that'll last him 5 minutes. But everything comes at a price. And this time, his luck was sacrificed, being reduced by half.
"I really am lucky to have been blessed with you, Wu." Zein laughed.
"Oogie gie!" Wu ruffled his head, smiling.
Zein jumped atop the spider and stabbed the beast. Feeling on top of the world, he drew his sword and slashed away, screaming the skill's name anytime it came off cooldown. Wu jumped from Zein's shoulder and scratched the spider, adding to the onslaught of attacks.
This time, the queen couldn't ignore, or mock, or avoid the damage being done. She screeched, inciting fear into her assailants, giving her a brief moment of pause. The Spider Queen dove back into the sand, flinging Zein and Wu in the air and disappearing in a matter of seconds.
"Wh-where'd she go!?" Johnny lowered his gun.
"She's starting to feel the pain, Johnny." Zein faced the moon, his eyes reflecting its light. Wu swam towards his friend and clung to his ears.
"R-really! It's working! Of course it is. It's me shooting after all."
"It isn't over yet, Johnny. Here, she comes."
The queen erupted from the ground, splashing sand on the cowboy as she bore her fangs at the duo. Zein grabbed Wu and dashed ahead, barely avoiding the queen's unhinged jaws. Using his momentum, Zein twisted his body and dragged his blade between the spider's eyes. He let his sword do the work as it cut its way to the beast's abdomen. Hanging on by a thread, Zein spotted his flailing spear by his side.
"1… 2… 3!"
He threw his body at the spear and clenched it, stretching his arms as far as possible to hold on. Beginning her descent, the spider crashed into the sand wall and slid back to the centre.
"Slash."
Zein dug his sword out and began slashing once more, picking up where he left off.
Johnny, coughing up sand and on his knees, couldn't take his eyes off the fight. Fear enveloped every part of his soul. Johnny's mouth quivered, breathing stuttered. Scrambling for his buried gun, Johnny reloaded his gun and began shooting. One after another after another after another after another after another. When he ran out, Johnny reloaded and repeated the process.
Zein watched the cowboy amongst a hail of bullets, knowing what was to come. "Johnny! Stop now!" he roared.
Words were lost on the boy; only the sounds of his gun remained. Screaming from the barrage, the Spider Queen directed her ire at the cowboy, making eye contact with him. She could smell the fright, and the beast was enticed. The spider shifted her body and crawled towards the cowboy. Step by step.
Zein wanted to claw at his skin as he watched the queen get closer, resulting in Johnny shooting faster. His mind raced with ideas and emotions.
Zein knelt. "Wu! I need you to stay here and distract her. Can I trust you?"
"Oogie!" Wu puffed his chest.
"That's my boy," Zein ruffled his head. "I'll be right back, hold on, okay? Please?"
"Oogie giee." Wu saluted.
Zein ran to the spider's head, sword in arm, and leapt. "Dash!" he shot through the air, landing next to the distressed cowboy. Zein grabbed the boy by his collar and sprinted, barely avoiding the spider's bite.
"Johnny! What's going on!? Do you want to die!?" Zein asked with worry and annoyance.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry." Johnny hyperventilated.
Zein threw the cowboy forward as the spider's attention was slowly drawn to a punching, scratching, and stomping monkey. The queen spat her webbing, forcing Wu to jump and cling to the sand. The little monkey pulled the spider to the other side of the colosseum, dodging and weaving her appendages, which struck down at him with annoyance.
Buying his friend some time, Zein squatted, meeting Johnny's eyes.
"Johnny." Zein collected himself. "Are you okay?"
"I'm okay… I'm okay." Johnny stared at the sand.
"What happened out there?" Zein took a peek at the fight, noticing Wu's health starting to drop, he brought his staff out.
"I-I just… I don't know. I'm so sorry, Mr. Cat. I'm so sorry. I know you said every 10 seconds but but the spider was just so big I-" Johnny tried to calm himself.
"It's okay. It's okay. Don't worry." Zein comforted, watching Wu's health bar fall further. "Heal: Wu." he healed the little monkey back to full. "How many bullets do you have left?"
"These…" Johnny checked his gun and inventory. "Are my last."
"Alright. Just- stay here for now. Don't do anything. Anything. Okay?"
"But-"
"Johnny."
"I understand."
"Good. Heal: Wu. Dash."
Storing his staff, Zein ran to the edge and leapt. In a yellow flash, he found himself by the queen's spinnerets, stabbing them. Using the momentum from his dash, he swung himself onto the spider's lower abdomen. Zein retrieved his sword as blood dripped from the wound, a first in this fight.
"Slash!"
Zein slashed at the spider's body while making his way to his fallen spear. Wu, stamina at rock bottom, couldn't keep up with the spider's attacks any longer. The little monkey climbed to the top of the sand wall and laid down spread-eagled, tongue hanging out.
"Wu! Buff! Now!" Zein screamed.
"Oogie?" Wu raised his little head. "Oogie! Oogie."
Wu used the last of his mana to buff his compatriot before passing out. Blessed by his friend, the cat did his utmost to stop the spider from ending the monkey's life. He slashed faster and harder with both weapons, voice growing in volume. Zein's stamina plummeted with each breath he took. The queen raised her leg, aiming it at Wu, and struck down.
"SLASH!"
As if it were divine intervention, Zein broke through her skin, stunning the spider as her leg stood inches above the monkey's head. SCREEEEEEEEECH. The beast staggered back towards the centre of the pit. Zein used the opportunity to down a mana and stamina potion.
As Monkey's paw ran out, Zein was slow and methodical in his approach to the fight, stabilising the chaos which had preceded it.
For the next 5 minutes, Zein danced with the Spider Queen, and all Johnny could do was watch. Upright and in the fetal position, the boy watched his mentor dodge venom-laced webs, venom-laced fangs, and claw strikes as he weaved his attacks, alternating between his spear and sword. The boy held back tears, even if it took all he got, for he knew he was witnessing magic.
***
In a cafe, decorated with plants and paintings of Aria's previous kings, Clark read the daily divinity news, an online paper published on the AoD website. His eyes scanned each page, hunting. News about Gold Chalice producing a new potion. News describing Babel's inner workings, from how the city functioned to who dominated its streets. News about Blue Lighting's leader being spotted in an auction house in Aria City and fighting the Skull Kidds. An article which Clark took a screenshot of. Reaching the last page, a section named whispers, an article talking about who the cat named Anodos was.
"By now, I'm sure we're all well aware of who Anodos is. And for those who don't- what rock do you live under? An adventurer with close ties to Blue Lighting leader Kalel and a prominent feature in the fight against the Skull Kidds. Watching his POV on his newly formed you'be channel, which has drawn over 100.000 views and counting, one could tell this wasn't his first rodeo. The question is, who is he? Some say they are genetically gifted. A perfect mould for the game. Others say he's a veteran; only one who's used to the game can move that way. I agree with this sentiment, the cat is a veteran, but not just any veteran; he was someone who held the world of AoD in the palm of his hand. A man who revolutionised the game anytime he touched it. I believe Anodos is none other than the legendary Zeika. Unbelievable! I hear you say, but while watching the video, Kalel said something interesting. He called Anodos, Zeizei. Zei. Zeika!? Kalel has been a known collaborator of Zeika's, so the Blue Lightning's leader calling him by a nickname makes sense! In the end, this is all but a whisper; the choice to follow its sound is yours." - Chie Adams.
Clark grinned, teeth on full display as he took a screenshot of the article to send to Zein.
Ring ring. Ring ring. Ring-
"Jorah! How are you, my lovely little man!"
"Guessing you read the article?"
"I just did!" Clark giggled. "Isn't Zeizei so cool!? A couple days in and he's already being talked about! I'm gonna brag to everybody."
"Seems nice, but it needs to wait."
"What could possibly be more important-"
"Himmel is calling for a meeting."
"... Oh"
***
Another 5 minutes of Johnny watching, Wu resting, and Zein dancing pass. His partner, wild and filled with bloodlust, barely gave Zein a chance to breathe. And anytime she slipped up, her adversary's health and energy recovered. A bug seemingly indestructible. An annoyance that wouldn't let her rest.
"Johnny. Can you hear me?"
Johnny's head shot up from his elbows, making eye contact with Zein, who rode the spider.
"Yes, Mr. Cat. I can hear you."
"Hell yeah. Are you doing alright?"
"I'm… Um-" Johnny gripped his legs tighter. "I'm sorry, Mr. Cat. I messed up."
"That's okay, Johnny." Zein jumped, letting the queen dig once more. "Everyone messes up. But tell me, are you still scared?"
Johnny knew what the right answer was. Yet he couldn't say it.
"Johnny?"
"Yes. Mr. Cat. I'm- I'm still scared." Johnny buried his head once more."
"Can I tell you something, Johnny?"
"Yeah?"
"I get scared too." Zein turned his body, letting the spider fly past him. He slashed the spider's abdomen and grabbed their leg. As she floated, Zein dashed to the spider's spinnerets and used them as a ledge to climb back onto their body.
"You do!?" Johnny rose to his feet, watching the cat hang from the spider.
"I do." The beast landed. "I'm scared of heights," slash "and insects," slash. "But you know what's worse," slash "resetting all the way back to Old Rocky Town." slash.
"That's… true." Johnny fell.
"I would have to do this all over again! Parry." Zein deflected the spider's web. "Wouldn't that feel like butt? Slash." Zein crit, deepening the wound on its back.
"Yeah, it would." Johnny chuckled.
"So, even if you are scared," Zein raised his sword. "Push through." he struck down. "That's what cowboys do, right?"
"Yeah! It is!"
"Hell yeah, it is!" Zein stabbed the wound and dragged his sword towards her head, tearing her skin. Freeing his sword with a swipe, Zein found Johnny in the distance. "Now, are you down to help me?"