The Fertilizer Combine Spider lay in the shadow of the towering Centauri Castle, its spidery form at rest but brimming with a latent, terrifying energy. Its many claws, graspers, and gnashing blades—intricate and jagged like a nightmare of metal—were tucked neatly against its sides, the arrangement resembling the folded legs of a predator in repose. A low hum, deep and arcane, echoed from its bladed maw, a sound like the heavy breaths of a beast lost in a dream. The hum resonated in the air, thick with foreboding and reverence.

Around the slumbering Combine, the Oni Convicts gathered, their forms casting long shadows in the waning light. These Oni were no strangers to desperation, sentenced to toil in the blood-soaked fields surrounding the castle. Yet tonight, their movements were careful, deliberate. In their hands they carried candles—their wax was blue and their flames flickered in strange, otherworldly hues of purple. The faint glow illuminated the Combine's dreadful majesty, its edges catching the DarkFlame light in a way that made it seem even more alive, even more dangerous, despite its slumber.

In the flickering candlelight, the Oni Convicts whispered their prayers, low chants that carried the weight of both reverence and fear. Their offerings—small, insignificant things—were raised in trembling hands. Dead rats, monstrous vermin caught in the fields, and other pitiful creatures: all sacrifices meant to appease the Combine. They were careful as they approached, mindful of the many sharp blades lying idle in the great maw. Each offering was thrown in, vanishing between the teeth of the machine.

With a sudden, whirring flick of its claws, the Combine's maw churned, the blades humming to life just long enough to mulch the offerings into a fine, blood-flecked paste. The slumbering beast buzzed louder, as if in contentment. The Oni offered more prayers, their voices rising in unity, their eyes gleaming with the flicker of ceremonial zeal. For in this dreadful construct, they honoured the Oni who had died during the ill-fated siege of the Centauri Castle, the samurai whose shattered armour had been forged into the Fertilizer Combine Spider itself. In this spidery union of death and machine, the Combine was as much a Shikigami as it was a Kami (God).

The Oni Convicts knelt, their prayers now drifting to the vast, crimson fields that stretched as far as the eye could see—fields that smelt deeply of Oni blood. From these chaos lands, the strange, red-streaked grain had bloomed: the grains of the matured CrimsonClover. This blessing, nourished by the sacrifice of the fallen, now promised to be the daily meal of the living. The first harvest had just been reaped, the seeds more sacred than any crop they had known. Each grain gleamed like a drop of blood, rich with the memory of death and honour. It was the Oni’s connection to those who had died here, a grim reminder that even in death, they sustained the living.

The final prayer ended with a heavy silence, broken only by the distant clang of a massive gong. The day’s labours had ended, and it was time for the evening meal. The Oni Convicts, weathered and drained of sanity, trudged to the mess hall, their expressions a mix of anticipation and dread. What would they be served? The spiders had hinted at something new—a meal unlike any they had tasted before.

Inside the mess hall, the spiders, bedecked in aprons and spidery chef’s hats, scuttled from the kitchen with a practised efficiency that belied their monstrous appearance. With surprising dexterity, they formed neat lines, each spidery claw bearing food. Their claws worked like well-oiled machines, passing crimson loaves along the assembly line. The convicts waited, their stomachs gnawing, as the smell of unfamiliar bread filled the air.

“Quickly. Quickly. Form a queue,” rasped one of the spiders, its voice a deceptively melodic chirp in the Demonic tongue. Its many legs moved with purpose, though its voice carried none of the warmth expected of a chef. There was only the efficiency of a predator feeding its prey.

At the front of the queue stood the Oni Shaman, her presence commanding silence. She reached out, her hands steady, to accept the first loaf—a crimson chunk of bread that looked like a piece of the blood-soaked fields itself. The loaf gleamed under the dim lights, its color unnervingly vivid. She examined it, turning it over in her hands, feeling the weight of something sacred, something born from the blood and ashes of her kin.

She sniffed at it as if trying to uncover the secrets hidden within. The scent was oddly enticing, a blend of warmth and something more… something almost forbidden. “What is this exactly?” she murmured, her voice half-drowned by the hum of activity around her.

"CrimsonBread," the spider chirped a response, its sharp claws clacking as it motioned for her to move along. "Next!"

The name lingered in her mind as she shuffled forward to the next spidery station, where another spidery conveyor offered a drink ration. Her fingers idly squeezed the loaf, feeling its surprising softness. This wasn’t the dense, tasteless bread she’d expected. This was something else entirely. "Bread Of The Samurai," she whispered to herself, giving it a more fitting title. After all, it was made from the seeds nourished by the fallen Oni—their strength, their blood, their sacrifice.

She took a tentative bite, her eyes widening instantly as the flavours bloomed across her tongue.

"!!!"

The bread almost slipped from her grasp in shock. This wasn’t the sustenance of prisoners or convicts. No, this was a feast, on par with the lavish meals she'd tasted in the Shogun's Palace. But there was something more to it, something intimate, powerful. The bread was fluffy, light, with a touch of savory salt that lingered at the back of her throat. She closed her eyes briefly, offering a silent thanks to the Oni who had fallen so that this could be possible. Their essence was here, within the bread, and it filled her with a strange mix of reverence and guilt.

Finaly, her steps brought her to the next spider, its legs tapping the ground impatiently as it tended to a barrel on its left and a towering stack of tankards on its right. More barrels were being rolled in, accompanied by the metallic clatter of additional tankards being stacked higher and higher. The spider extended one to her, already filled with a bubbling, deep red liquid.

"Quickly. Quickly. Come," the spider chirped in rough Demonic language, offering the tankard.

The Oni Shaman took it cautiously. The drink swirled within, its red hue deep and foreboding, yet it did not carry the scent of wine, nor the sharpness of sake she was accustomed to. Bubbles rose lazily to the surface, adding to the strange allure. "Is this… a potion?" she asked, her mind leaping to the unnatural speed with which the harvest had been turned into drink. Use of Alchemy, perhaps?

"No. This is CrimsonAle," the spider responded curtly, moving its attention to the next Oni in line. "Next!"

CrimsonAle. The word felt too plain, too mundane for something born from such extraordinary circumstances. She lifted the tankard to her lips, curiosity mingled with caution, and took a sip.

"!!!"

The taste was unexpected, earthy and metallic, but balanced with a strange smoothness that made it dangerously easy to drink. It wasn't wine. It wasn’t sake. It was something else entirely—an ale, yes, but with a hidden fierceness that seemed to burn quietly in her throat. The taste paired perfectly with the Bread Of The Samurai. Together, they formed a complete, if unsettling, meal.

"This is the Blood Of The Oni," she muttered under her breath, renaming the drink with a reverence befitting its origins. The name felt right. More than right, it felt necessary. She was drinking the very essence of those who had died in the fields, their lives distilled into something that gave her strength. It was sobering, yet intoxicating at the same time. The drink's subtle fieriness crept through her, warming her from the inside out.

Taking her place at a nearby table, she set the crimson bread and tankard down before her, allowing herself a moment of quiet. The sounds of the other convicts faded as her thoughts turned inward. "The Bread Of The Samurai and the Blood Of The Oni," she whispered, the weight of her words pressing down on her like the intricately wowen webs overhead. The realisation struck her, cold and unforgiving: it was almost as if she was consuming the dead themselves.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

"No…" She shook her head, pushing the thought away. "We’re honouring their sacrifice… the sacrifice which gives us sustenance." As the words left her lips, something strange washed over her, a tingling sensation that spread through her limbs, subtle but unmistakable. Her muscles felt stronger, her breaths deeper and more efficient. It wasn’t just food. The bread and ale carried something more.

A notification appeared in her mind:

[You have obtained: StaminaRegeneration, StrengthBoost]

She stared down at her hands, flexing them. The power thrummed through her veins, as if the spirits of the fallen Oni were lending her their strength, urging her to carry on. "…The sacrifice which gives us strength."

Her reverie was interrupted by a chirping voice.

"Anyone for seconds?" One of the spiders skittered over, its tone oddly cheerful. The Oni convicts nearby looked up in disbelief, their eyes wide.

"Seconds?" she muttered, her gaze narrowing suspiciously. Why would they be offered more? This was already more than any convict could have hoped for. It felt wrong, excessive. And yet, the others did not share her wariness. With eager movements, they rushed to form a new queue, desperate for more of the crimson sustenance.

"Come. Come!" the spider beckoned, its voice urging them on.

The Shaman’s eyes darkened with suspicion. This was no ordinary generosity. Something in the way the spiders moved, the precision of their feeding, felt calculated. As if they were preparing the Oni convicts for something more than just a hearty meal.

Her grip tightened around the tankard. What was the true purpose of this feast?

…

The Spider King rubbed his hands together with glee, his purple eyes gleaming in satisfaction. "The Oni, they liked it!" he exclaimed, turning to his maid, the Mer Princess, who splashed nearby with a sly grin on her face.

"Of course they did," she said, flipping her tail playfully. "I helped bake it, after all."

He nodded vigorously, his enthusiasm undampened. "And the ale! It turned out splendidly, didn't it?"

The Mer Princess twirled a lock of wet hair around her finger. "Yes, yes! Those DarkSpores did wonders. The fermentation was nearly instantaneous!"

"The Myconid Queen deserves all the credit. I’ll have to send her a letter of my deepest gratitude," he mused.

"You should send her more than just a letter," the Mer Princess interjected. "With the way things are going, we’ll need spores by the mountain-load. Think she can keep up?"

The Spider King stilled in thought. "Hmm… it's been a while since I visited her domain. Who knows what she’s up to? Thanks for reminding me, though. I’ll pay her a visit once things calm down at Centauri Castle."

The Mer Princess winked, moving to the edge of her basin. "That’s what I’m here for, your majesty. To remind you of all the things you forget. Oh, and speaking of duties… your bath is ready." She gestured toward the large basin in the room, which conveniently doubled as her personal living space.

The Spider King discarded his robe, moving toward the basin with a sigh of relief. "Ahhh…" he murmured, sinking into the warm, infused waters. "You always make the perfect baths. I swear, you’ve got a real talent for this."

"Glad to be of service," she said, swimming closer to scrub his back. She paused for a moment, a mischievous smile curling her lips. Her voice dropped to a whisper as she leaned in, lips brushing close to his ear. "Rumor, rumor… I’ve heard you’ve been making the Ultimate Cream Cheese."

Instantly, the Spider King’s entire body stiffened, his shoulders tensing up. "W-where did you hear that?" he sputtered, his eyes darting around in a panic.

The Mer Princess chuckled, her hands working gently to massage away the tension. "Relax, relax. You might not realize it, but your ultimate dessert-making session is the hottest topic in all of Centauri Castle right now."

His face flushed, the heat rising up his neck. "I... I didn’t think it would get out so quickly."

"Oh, it did." She flashed a wicked grin. "Apparently, the dessert was a great success. But, and here’s the annoying part, none of the noble mares will tell me any of the juicy details. The Centauri Champion? Won’t say a word. Keeps giving me that superior look, like she’s part of some exclusive 'cream cheese club.' Ugh, it’s maddening!" She folded her arms dramatically. "Come on, won’t you let me in on the secret? Just a little taste of the truth, what transpired then and there?"

He squirmed in the water. "I... I’d rather keep it private."

"Oh, come on!" She leaned in closer, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "I won’t tell anyone. I promise. Cross my heart." She even made a little ‘X’ motion across her chest with her finger, pouting just enough to be irresistible.

"But... aren’t you my wife’s spy?" he pointed out, turning to her to give a sidelong glance.

The Mer Princess placed a hand over her heart, feigning hurt. "Ouch. You wound me, my King. While technically I am her spy, sent here to keep an eye on you…" She leaned in closer, whispering conspiratorially. "I’m your loyal maid first and foremost. And I don’t need to tell her everything. Besides, she already gave you permission, didn’t she? I’m just asking for me!" She batted her eyelashes innocently.

The Spider King hesitated, still unsure. "Is that so…?"

She nodded vigorously, her enthusiasm infectious. "Come on! I’m dying to know! You don’t even have to give me the whole story, just the highlights!"

He sighed, knowing he was trapped. "Alright, alright. But only because you asked so nicely."

With a deep breath, the Spider King began to retell the heroic tale of his daring and delicate quest to make the Ultimate Dessert. The Mer Princess leaned in, her eyes wide with excitement as he spoke of the meticulous preparation, the precise balancing of various techniques, and the tension-filled moment when the Centauri Champion had the first taste.

By the end of his tale, the Mer Princess tilted her head curiously, her tail flicking playfully behind her. "Oh my... You had to transform. That little detail must've slipped through the gossip mill," she mused.

"Yeah." He chuckled softly. "It wouldn’t have worked otherwise. You know what they say—right tools to make the right dessert."

"I see… I see…" She murmured thoughtfully, her voice trailing off as her eyes sparkled mischievously.

The Spider King’s body twitched slightly. "Hey, um, isn’t the water getting a bit too hot?"

"Oops! My bad, my bad!" Day Sapphire laughed nervously. "Let me just adjust that…"

The water swirled, but the heat only intensified. The Spider King straightened his back, eyes narrowing in suspicion. "It’s only getting warmer! Are you even—"

"Oops! Sorry again!" she interrupted, her hands slipping around him, pulling him into a close embrace.

He felt her chest shells press against his back, and he sighed, half-exasperated. "Day Sapphire… my loyal maid… You’re thinking of something forbidden, aren’t you?"

"Me?" She tilted her head in mock innocence, resting her cheek against his shoulder. "I’m just moved by your heroic tale, that’s all."

"..."

She giggled softly, her fingers tracing small patterns on his chest. "You know… a little spider chirped a rather curious question at me recently. She—yes, she—asked what body part of mine you like the most."

He raised an eyebrow. "Oh? The spider asked that?"

"Yes," she hummed, voice dripping with playful intrigue as she hugged him tighter, her sapphire scales catching the soft light of the bath. "Curious, right? But let's not get distracted… what part of me do you really like the most?"

The Spider King's hand instinctively grasped the necklace his wife had given him, fingers curling around the centrepiece. "Your beautiful sapphire scales, of course," he replied without hesitation, his tone resolute.

A wide grin spread across her face. "I knew it! I told my cute spider friend the exact same thing!" Her hand slid down his chest with a teasing slowness.

His body tensed up again. "Hey! The water’s getting way too hot, and now this?" He stood abruptly, escaping her embrace. "Are you trying to—" He stopped mid-sentence, catching the sly gaze she was giving him. "—get me into trouble?"

With utterly shameless audacity, Mer Princess beamed at him, eyes gleaming like precious stones. "Why not… we could make a little dessert, yes? Just the two of us? The Queen wouldn’t find out, I promise!" She gave him the most exaggerated, pleading look she could muster.

The Spider King’s hand tightened on the necklace as he closed his eyes in a brief prayer. "LoveBound Necklace, give me the strength to resist this troublesome maid…"

"Just a tiny dessert!" she begged, her voice soft, teasing, and absolutely irresistible. "A teeny tiny one! I don’t want to be left out of the fun, you know."

He opened his eyes but then closed them straight away, resisting the gleam of her scales. "LoveBound Necklace, give me strength to resist this troublesome maid…"

"We’ll be quick!" she pleaded, moving in front of him, her expression the picture of innocent temptation. "I won’t take much of your time. Just a short bake, I swear. Please!"

"LoveBound Necklace, give me strength to resist this troublesome maid!" He repeated, his voice firm, but there was a slight waver in his resolve.

The troublesome maid wasn’t giving up easily. She pressed closer, her charms turned up to the maximum, batting her eyes as if she could break through his iron will. "We’ll be done before you know it. Just a teeny tiny dessert baking session… for me❤️?"

The Spider King’s grip on the necklace was fierce now, his face tense and his eyes squeezed shut. "LoveBound Necklace, give me strength to resist this troublesome maid!!!" he chanted, practically willing the necklace’s magic to shield him from her relentless advances.

A heavy silence hung between them. For a moment, it seemed like she might push further, but then the Mer Princess sighed dramatically, throwing her arms up in exaggerated defeat.

"Fine, fine!" she pouted. "But you’re no fun sometimes, you know?"

The Spider King, finally free of her barrage of requests, exhaled in relief. "This necklace is my only defence… without it, I'd be doomed..."

She smirked, giving him one last mischievous glance. "Don’t think the battle’s over, my King. I’ll get my dessert someday."

And with that, she swam off with a flick of her tail, letting the Spider King leave the now cooling bath.