Onkie dashed along the river bank, snorting loudly as she chased a strange Ensouled from a distance. The creature looked like a spider and it had eight legs like one. However, there were a variety of plants growing out of its exoskeleton that ranged from large arrow-like leaves to blooming flowers. It was so dense that it hid the creature’s body from view. More like a walking plant than an insect, the leaves rustled and flowers swayed as it ran.

The spider reached a ravine that led to the river. With great agility, it leaped over the gap and into a small clearing. It paused to look left, then right.

“Shee!” It let out a high-pitched squeal filled with frustration.

It could not retreat into the jungle to its left. The reason why became apparent as Wander appeared out of the underbrush, his eyes squinting into a predatory smile. The spider also could not keep running forward as Zachary blocked its way, waving a long bamboo spear from side to side.

“Shee!”

The leaves covering the spider’s forelimbs started to shake violently. A moment later, a large number of leaves detached from their stems, becoming arrowheads that shot wildly forward.

Zachary thrust out his palm, already ready for this attack. Eternum surged out of his soul sea, glowing bright green, as it quickly formed an octagonal shield.

Ping! Pang!

The shield blocked a few arrows while the others flew all over the place. The aim was bad but each leaf was razor sharp.

A wayward leaf arrow even hit his shin, cutting through his lizard skin pants and burying deep into his skin.

“Damn it!” Zachary shouted and hissed in pain, “Onkie, Wander, go!”

His two summons advanced, drawing the spider’s attention away. It spun around and launched similar barrages at the two other opponents. Wander simply retreated into his shell and suffered no damage. Onkie could only bear the attack, relying on its thick brown mane.

"Shee! Shee!" The beast hissed at the three enemies which had invaded its territory. There was anger as well as fear contained in that declaration.

It turned towards the river, the only way that wasn't blocked. It wouldn't be able to make it in one jump and the current was swift. But the current danger outweighed the risks so it went for it. Its eight limbs contracted in an instant and exploded into action.

The spider flew through the air in a perfect arc, its leaves and flowers fluttering against the wind. It landed in the water with a splash, about two-thirds of the way across. It started to madly swim in an attempt to get to the other side. However, it could have never foreseen the craftiness of its pursuers.

If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

"Whiskers, attack!"

Zachary's shout was like a strike of lightning that changed the spider's fate in an instant. The river beneath erupted as the beast lurking within appeared. Whiskers, with its massive body that was two meters long and about half as wide, rammed headfirst into the spider's body from beneath. There was a series of sharp cracking sounds as its limbs were crushed.

Whiskers quickly followed with a powerful swipe of its tail, sending the spider flying back out of the water. It landed with a dull thud on the riverbank, once again surrounded by its enemies.

"Shee!" It let out a cry.

The spider managed to get up but before it could run, Onkie sent it tumbling with a heavy tackle.

"Heee..." It moaned in pain.

Its limbs twitched weakly, most of them broken. It no longer had the strength to stand or fight back.

"Good, keep it pinned," Zachary said.

Onkie did so, taking a seat atop the helpless creature.

Zachary sighed in relief. After catching his breath, he walked over, limping slightly. He took out a fresh soul orb, not a summoning card. This spider was strong and had great potential. He had already decided to make it a core member of his squad.

He pulled the sharp leaf from his shin and let some of the blood drip onto the crystalline orb. A small hole appeared, letting the blood in to mix with the nectar inside. Eternum surged as the soul orb was activated, as the mysterious energies within combined with his blood and gained the attributes of his soul.

Once ready, he held out the orb and poured the clear elixir into the spider’s mouth. The beast tried to struggle and did so for a while afterward. Its will was strong. But it couldn’t resist this potent concoction that was capable of subduing souls.

"These flowers smell nice," Wander said.

He shuffled over and sniffed the large, bright red flowers that grew out of the spider's body, the ones that were sadly being crushed by Onkie’s bottom.

"Wander don't eat that. It could be poisonous."

"They're not. I can tell. But I'll wait until you've captured our new friend before I have a snack."

Zachary shook his head and looked toward Onkie. There was a large amount of arrow-shaped green leaves stuck in her fur. Upon closer inspection, there were a few places where the leaves had gone in deep enough to draw blood.

"Wander, go help Onkie. She's injured."

"Oh, alright!"

Zachary looked at his own wound which was bleeding steadily. He leaned over and rolled up his pant leg. He once again called upon ability summoning. A spring green light filled his palm as it emitted a soft breeze. He directed Wander’s healing ability towards his shin and watched as the wound closed up rapidly. After a short while, what remained was only dried blood.

By the time everyone was healed, the spider had stopped struggling. But the soul bond had not completely formed yet due to its stubbornness. Zachary knelt in front of it and raised the empty soul orb to his forehead. He sent his soul force into the orb which was then transferred to the beast.

The response was one of ferocity and aggression. As a wild Ensouled, it was the tyrant of its little patch of the jungle. It had lived its whole life alone, killing and surviving alone. It didn't want to bow down to another.

However, it was still a soul at the novice rank. Against the steady suggestion of a much greater force, as well as the intoxicating effects of the soul orb, it could not resist forever.

Zachary waited patiently until the beast finally gave in, seeing no other way to live. As its soul surrendered, its body turned into a streak of light and entered the soul orb.

"Welcome to the team," He said softly, "I promise that you won't regret your choice."