A flying octopus made out of bubbles.

As the ghost blue spores attached to each other, they created a slow-moving cloud. It had an eldritch feeling as many long tentacles hung down from the cloud. Though they couldn’t move on their own, due to being only spores, the wind made them appear as lively as a lovecraftian horror.

“Bull-shit, bull-… Look Luna, we’ve made it!”

It was Sunny! He controlled this battleship with the flow of energy!

“Master! That’s that creepy spider!”

“Oh, yeah. Hi!”

The spider watched without saying a word. She was observant though, ready for any surprise attack.

“You said she could speak, Master.”

“Yeah, she’s just a bit shy. Oh, look! There’s Seidon! He’s on fire for some reason. Hi Seidon! Why are you on fire?”

“Hello, Sunny-gonyo!” He waved. “I don’t know!”

“Why are you on the side of that well?”

The spider’s eyes widened from fear. This was bad! If Sunny were to realize what’s happening, her plan would be ruined! And if that happens the slime lives, which means certain death for her!

“No. Don’t answer.” She commanded the slime.

“What? Why, Spider-gonyo?”

“They seek. Yes. Hide and seek.”

“Oh, they are searching for the children?”

“Yes. Ignore them. Jump in well. Win game. Quick!”

“Oy Seidon!” Sunny shouted to catch his attention. “Why are you two whispering? Did you join the dark side or something stupid?”

“Calm yourself, Sunny-gonyo! I will be the winner of this game!”

“What game?”

“The one I’ll win by jumping in this well!” He turned towards the endless abyss.

The spider could feel her heart pounding in her throat. The slime revealed her masterplan! What now? Sunny won’t let him jump!

“You want to jump down there?” Sunny asked.

“Yes! But I’ve got no time! I will win this game! Not you, me!”

“Ah, okay.”

Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.

“Okay? What, are you not upset about being defeated by me? By your own gonyo? Surely, you must feel jealous! You have to! I’ll win! Not you! Me!”

“Ok.”

Yes! He doesn’t care! This is it!

If Lady Luck weren’t on her side, she would have lost ages ago. But it appears the stars were aligned! There isn’t anything blocking her path towards victory!

“Gonyo, why aren’t you phased by this?!”

“I fear dark places, so I don’t mind losing this game.”

“Wait… dark places?” He stepped away from the well, shocking the spider.

“Yeah. What the hell were you thinking? It’s dark down there. Go and find a torch before jumping down.”

“Alright! Thank you, Sunny-gonyo!” He said before rushing off to find a light source, burning the ground with his flaming skin as he crawled away.

The spider was staggered. This couldn’t be true! Why did the slime run away? How come he didn’t jump down? Did she lose? But how?! What kind of bullshit is that?!

Her legs trembled from hate. She looked up to the gem and said with the coldest, most spiteful voice:

“You. Yes. Kill.”

“Oh, so you can talk!” Luna chuckled.

“You too. Dead. All of you. Kill.”

“Yeah? How? You’ll grow wings and fly up here? Haha!”

The spider picked up a burning house between her beaks and threw it towards them. It hit the side of the cloud, burning the spores.

“Haha… hah… ha—MASTER, WHAT DO WE DO NOW?”

“Fear not, my friend! We just have to jump!”

“J-Jump? But if we go down that spider eats us!”

“I thought of that! That’s why my friends go first, not me!”

“WHAT?! BUT MASTER!!!”

The spider couldn’t hold her laughter. The all-so-brave champion of morals, the defender of nobility is actually a coward? Not that it was too much of a surprise. After all, the weak exploits the weaker. That’s just the way of life.

She shook her weak legs and put her mandibles to the sky. Opening her mouth wide, she was ready to devour them.

“Oh yeah, just one more thing!” Sunny said, disappearing behind the cloud. “You said you know other cores, right?”

“Yes. Lady Aeron. Yes.”

“Alright! So you must know about influence!”

“Yes. Cowardly.”

“Uhum! You see, due to my friends willingly accompanying me, I didn’t have many chances to use it.”

“Yes. Now you do. Now you sacrifice friend.”

“I wouldn’t really say it’s a sacrifice. After all, the only one dying is you!”

“Shut up, core! Jump! Jump! Let me kill you! Let me kill!”

“Alright, you asked for this!”

Her face illuminated by the passing spores, it spoke of venomous hunger. After all, two of her most hated enemies were about to die by her fangs.

And as a large shadow cast over her head, those eyes of killing intent widened in surprise. She couldn’t do more than let out a small gasp before a large group of beetles fell on her.

“W-What?!”

Thump! Thump! Thump!

The fat animals crushed the spider, stomping her into the ground! Her legs breaking from the heavy blows, she couldn’t escape being buried under the beetles.

“Farmers use these bugs to cultivate the land.” Sunny shouted from above. “Turns out they’re the same as the ones back from our first date! Remember? I thought you might find this a romantic surprise.”

“You… Kill…” The spider groaned.

“So impatient. Don’t worry though! I’m coming, my dear!”

Before jumping off, he turned towards Luna. Her fluff was dirty and her eyes were tired. Still, excitement sparkled in her eyes. She’s been dreaming of this moment since the day she first met Sunny.

“Are you ready, Luna?”

“Yes!” She nodded” Let’s do this, Master!”

And as the last beetle jumped off, two tiny shadows followed. Though they weren’t the most powerful or the heaviest, they had a bond stronger than any two beings of these lands. For what they felt was the purest, most sincere form of love.

And with the power of love, they aimed for the spider’s head and cried out in synchrony:

“Sunny x Luna Special Attack: Dropkick to the Skull!”

Bang!

Even if it looked nothing like a dropkick, the attack was effective. The spider’s head hit the ground with a loud “Thump”, raising dust into the air. And as she gasped out her remaining health, as she twitched one last time before her eyes turned grey, Sunny felt something he thought to have lost: relief. The monster from his nightmares has died.

Finally, he was free.