Chapter 45: Core Awakens
Fin gritted his teeth, slamming his staff against the giant spider’s leg again. The impact barely registered.
No matter what angle he tried, what feint he used, the moment he focused his intent, that flicker of reaching out with his Absorption power, the beast reacted instantly. A leg swipe, a venomous spit forcing him back, a quick scuttle just out of reach.
It was like the spider knew what he was trying to do.
"Fuck, stay still dammit!" he roared, dodging another near-miss claw strike that gouged the purple rock beside him. The rush was still there, that manic energy, but frustration gnawed at him.
He needed contact, needed to drain it, but the spider wasn’t cooperating.
He charged again, low this time, aiming for its underside. Same result. A powerful leg kicked out, sending him skidding backward across the slick ground.
Hana saw it then. The repeated, almost desperate attempts to get close, the way he recoiled not just from attacks but from failed connections.
"He’s trying to drain it," she realized aloud, her voice sharp over the din of battle. "Gary! Susan! Pin its front legs! Mary, with me, pressure the head! Lucas, Joe, suppress its movements from range!"
The A-rank team shifted instantly. Gary’s hammer smashed down near a front leg joint, forcing the spider to recoil. Susan planted her shield, absorbing a strike intended for Gary, buying him a precious second.
Hana and Mary darted in, blades flashing around the spider’s multiple eyes, forcing its attention upward. Lucas unleashed bolts of crackling energy, peppering its carapace, while Joe’s daggers zipped through the air, targeting sensitive joints.
Under the coordinated assault, the giant spider staggered, its movements momentarily disrupted.