Arteus and Ava stood frozen, the world around them a whirlwind of white snow and the roar of the giant spider's approach. The creature's shadow fell upon them like a shroud of death, the ground trembling beneath the weight of its monstrous form. The air grew colder, the snowflakes dancing in a frenzied waltz around the monstrosity's black body. Its eyes, gleaming like twin moons in the night sky, bore into them with an intensity that seemed to pierce through their very souls.

'Arachnid', known to the people of Avaricia as 'Frost Spiders', these monstrosities were notorious for their unmatched speed and insatiable hunger. Their eight legs, muscular and furred with thick snow, propelled them across the landscape with a swiftness that defied their size. Each step they took sent tremors through the ground, cracking the ice beneath their weight. The villagers of Barley had heard the chilling tales of these creatures since they were but children, whispered around the fires of their longhouses. The very thought of facing one was enough to make grown men tremble and pray to the gods for mercy.

Yet, despite their fearsome reputation, the human realm remained untouched by their deadly embrace. Frost Spiders were creatures of the demon-realm, a place where the very air was thick with malice and the landscapes were a twisted reflection of the natural world. Their diet, exclusively carnivorous, was a testament to the harshness of their environment. In a world where survival was a daily battle, they had evolved to be the most terrifying predators, yet they had shown an unexplained aversion to crossing the veil into the human lands.

So, what was one doing here?

Scratch that, its the end of the world.

The real question should be how many of them have made their way here.

Arteus's heart hammered in his chest like a war drum as the frost spider's shadow enveloped them. He and Ava exchanged looks of shock, their breaths misting in the frigid air. Without a word, they both knew what needed to be done. They split up, running in opposite directions to draw the creature's attention, their boots digging into the snow as they sprinted away from each other.

The spider, momentarily confused by the sudden movement, let out a wail that seemed to shake the very heavens. The sound was a mix of anger and confusion, a cry that echoed through the frozen wasteland like a siren's call to the other monsters of the prophecy. For a moment, it remained still, its massive body poised and tense as it tried to discern which human to pursue.

And then, with a decisiveness that sent a cold shiver down Arteus' spine, the creature's gaze fell upon Ava, her smaller frame racing away from the chaos. The spider's legs pumped like pistons, and it took off after her with a speed that belied its size. The ground trembled with each step, the very air seeming to scream in protest as the beast barreled towards her.

Arteus immediately slid to a halt, the snow crunching under his boots as he reversed direction. He knew that the creature's speed was unmatched, that it would catch Ava in seconds if he didn't act. Adrenaline surged through his veins, a fiery river that drowned out his fear.

He took off after the spider, his legs burning with exertion, his eyes never leaving Ava's retreating form. The snow whipped around them, a blizzard of white that stung his eyes and obscured his vision. Yet, he pushed onward, driven by a primal instinct to protect.

As the spider gained ground, Arteus reached deep within himself, his fingertips tingling with the power of chaos. He threw his hand out to the side, the ground shuddering beneath his touch. The earth groaned as if in protest before it obeyed, lifting great slabs of ice and snow like the hand of a giant from the frozen depths. The slabs shot through the air like missiles, each one aimed at the spider's thick, fur-covered legs.

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The creature's eyes went wide with surprise as the first slab slammed into its side, sending a spray of frost into the air. It skidded to a halt, the impact sending ripples of snow cascading around it. The spider's legs thrashed, trying to regain balance, but Arteus didn't give it a chance. He sent another slab hurtling towards it, this one aiming for the creature's face. It dodged, the slab narrowly missing, but it was enough to buy Ava some precious seconds.

"Run faster!" Arteus's voice boomed across the clearing, a thunderclap that seemed to resonate within the very soul of the earth. The words were not a suggestion, not a plea—they were a command that Ava felt deep in her bones. Her legs moved of their own accord, propelled by a sudden burst of speed that she didn't know she had. Her heart pounded in her chest, a wild, untamed rhythm that matched the drums of fear that echoed in her ears.

"You don't think i'm trying?" Ava's voice cut through the howling wind like a whip, her eyes flashing with determination. The snow swirled around her as she sprinted, each stride seemingly fueled by the very essence of the prophecy itself. "I can't use the armament like you do!"

"Really?" Arteus' voice was a mix of incredulity and concern.

"Yes really! Now do something quick!" Ava shouted back over her shoulder, her breath coming out in ragged gasps.

"On it!" Arteus bellowed, his eyes narrowing with determination. He focused his power once again, the earth groaning beneath him as it responded to his call. The ground before the spider began to rumble, snow and ice shifting and rearranging themselves into a towering barricade. It grew higher and higher, a monument to his desperation, each stone and icicle a testament to the strength of his will.

The creature tried to go around the barricade, its massive legs pumping, but Arteus was swift with his magic. He raised more walls, each one taller and denser than the last, corralling the spider into a shrinking space. The spider's eyes flashed with anger, its mandibles snapping with a sound like ice breaking under pressure.

The Arachnid was now trapped, its once unbridled fury now confined within a prison of stone that Arteus immediately reinforced with a thick shell of ice. The creature's legs thrashed against the unyielding barrier, the sound of its enraged wails piercing the frozen air like shards of crystal. Ava, her breaths coming in ragged gasps, watched from a safe distance as the spider's frenzied attempts to break free grew weaker, its body trembling with exertion.

"Now what?" she panted, turning to Arteus.

"Wanna crush it with a giant hand?" Arteus asked with a hint of a smile, his eyes gleaming with mischief as he considered their next move.

"Ew, no." Ava's nose wrinkled at Arteus' suggestion, the thought of crushing the spider with a giant hand making her stomach churn. "Let's just stick to what we know, alright?"

"Suit yourself," Arteus chuckled, the sound echoing in the tense silence that had settled over the clearing. He nodded in understanding and reached over his shoulder, his hand wrapping around the handle of his trusty axe.

He took a deep breath, the cold air burning in his lungs like a dragon's fire. He could feel the power of the chaos swell within him, a storm of flames and embers that yearned to be released. His eyes narrowed as he focused on the blade of his weapon, the steel gleaming in the dim light. With a flick of his wrist, he sent a wave of fire cascading down the axe's length, the metal hissing and glowing red-hot. The air around the weapon shimmered with heat, the snow at his feet melting into a small pool of water.

The spider's movements grew more frantic as it sensed the change in the air. Its legs pounded against the icy prison, the force of its blows cracking the barricade. But Arteus was ready. He took a running leap, the heat from his blade leaving a trail of steam in his wake. As he reached the apex of his jump, the axe blazed like a star in the night sky, a beacon of fiery determination.

The moment of impact was deafening, the sound of metal meeting chitin resonating through the clearing like a thunderclap. The spider's screech was cut short as the axe sank deep into its body, the green blood spurting forth like a geyser. The creature's legs twitched, the force of the blow sending it crashing to the ground with a thud that echoed through the barren landscape.

Some of that blood arced through the air, an emerald ribbon in the snowstorm, and caught in Ava's hair. She stumbled back, her eyes wide with horror as she felt the warm, sticky substance cling to her. The smell was overpowering, a mix of iron and something alien that made her stomach roil. Her hand shot up to her head, the feel of the blood on her skin making her gag.

"Gross."

-To Be Continued-