Rise of the Eromancer

55  Chapter 55: At Least You

"...Arachnea? Did you just say Arachnea...?"

"...No."

No. That was really the only word that was escaping out of most of the Faceless Crew's mouths. Even Rhys, who was currently exchanging stares with Arachnea, had his mind completely filled with a sort of whistle that caused everything to just be silent.

Rhys has only been with the Faceless crew for a little more than a month. But throughout that short span of time, he had spent the 24 hours of a day with them without fail. They ate together, they told stories, they all slept close together… and they all laughed together.

There wasn't even a minute when they weren't close.

…They were family.

Even the always sleeping No. 3, Nate. The number of times Rhys had a conversation with No. 3 could probably be counted on one hand, but the times they did already made Rhys know what kind of person he is.

He once requested No. 3 to make him fall asleep when he couldn't, but No. 3 refused to use his abilities on Rhys… and instead just gave him his most comfortable pillow. Rhys hasn't even had a chance to return it.

But now… he was looking at No. 3, who was probably never going to wake up again.

"No. 3!"

And as Rhys and Arachnea were staring at each other, No. 2 and the others started rushing toward Arachnea.

"Wait, wait!" Rhys tried to grab No. 2, but he sunk deep into his shadow and disappeared, "No. 1, don't attack it!"

"No. 6, retreat back to the jeep!"

"Why...!?"

"Just return to the jeep and drive away!"

No. 1 clearly heard Rhys, but he did not listen to him as he ran close to Arachnea; placing his palm on the ground as he released a shock strong enough that it completely burned the dried leaves that were scattered on the ground.

These burning leaves did not get the chance to become embers in the air, however, as No. 5 ran over them as he rushed toward the large arachne. No. 4 was using his knife as a distraction as it violently flew around Arachnea.

Even when enraged, the Faceless Crew still had enough synergy to do a coordinated attack; completely surrounding Arachnea at all sides as No. 2 emerged from the ground beneath it.

"Shit, no… no!" Rhys was about to join the attack, but his steps quickly halted as soon as he realized something — even when completely surrounded, Arachnea's eyes were still just completely settled on him.

And then, with a smirk growing on her beautiful pale face, she casually caught No. 4's flying knife between her fingers. And there and then, Rhys also realized…

…that they were completely outmatched.

"No. 1! Retreat! Just run!" Rhys let out a roar, but it was completely drowned by the screeching wail that was coming out of No. 1's mouth.

"Rah!" No. 1's nose began bleeding as the lightning that was trailing from his hands like a snake became even more violent; almost as livid as his raging scream.

"No. 5! Stop it!" Rhys rushed toward No. 5, who was running back and forth trying to knock Arachnea off balance, but he could not even grab No. 5's arm before he just once again rushed toward the large arachne, "We can't win!"

"No. 6."

"...No. 2," Rhys's breaths stuttered as finally, someone listened to him as No. 2 suddenly emerged from his shadow, "Tell everyone to retreat! We can't win against—"

"We know."

"Huh...?"

"We know we can't win," No. 2 looked Rhys in his covered eyes; his voice, unusually calm, "We can't even outrun it. I don't know how you could quickly identify it...

...but you called it Arachnea?"

"You... know what it is?"

"Who, Rhys. Who," No. 2 stared at Arachnea, "Arachnea is closer to a god than a monster. She's just playing with us. She's... Threat Level 10."

"...10?"

"I told you... we were already. But... at least you. At least let us pretend we're trying to save you." n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

"Wh—" And before Rhys could say another word, No. 2 just suddenly pushed him down to the ground; causing him to remember how the students of Old York High pushed him into the monsters.

This time, however, No. 2 pushed him away from the monster.

"Why would you…" Rhys did not even need to ask why No. 2 did that. Because soon, No. 2 started floating in the air—no. He wasn't exactly floating, Rhys could see a hint of glimmer wrapping across his entire body… a thread,

"Why…? Rob… you…"

And as a whisper escaped Rhys, he realized that only his words traveled in the air; everything else just became silent, even the rustle of the leaves became somber. Rhys turn to look at the rest of the Faceless Crew…

…only to see all of them also trapped in Arachnea's web, completely still.

"...Run, Rhys," No. 5's mask was sliced open as the thread wrapped around his head became tighter, allowing Rhys to see the most gentle face he had ever seen in his life, "Run, we have already talked about this before... the youngest should live. At least... you."

"No… Wait, Derek… wait, wait…" And as blood began oozing from the thread, Rhys could really only look at Arachnea, "Wait, wait… Arachnea, stop… please stop."

And once again, for the 2nd time in his life, Rhys found himself kneeling.

"Rhys!" No. 1 let out a scream. And although his mask was still completely intact, he could see how clear and resolute his eyes were, "We were already dead as soon as we stepped off the jeep!"

"Brad. No... It's… it's after me," Rhys forced a smile, "You guys can get away, I promise. Just… just stop struggling."

"Nhh!" No. 4 let out a gnarling scream, causing Rhys to quickly look at him. And although he couldn't speak and couldn't move, what little movement he could do with his hand… he was using it to tell Rhys to just run and leave them.

"No, no…" Rhys wanted to grab the thread with his hands to rip it in half, but he couldn't even take a single step as a shadow wrapped his entire foot.

"You fucking brat." And as No. 2 spoke, the shadow very slowly pulled Rhys away from the prison of threads, "What happened to always listening to orders…?"

"Rob…" Rhys turned to look at No. 2… only to see tears escaping from his mask and trailing down on it.

"Go, just fucking go…" No. 2's voice slowly cracked as the thread wrapped around his neck tightened; blood, now falling on the sides of his neck like a waterfall.

"No… no!" Rhys tried pulling his foot, but the shadow tugging him away was stronger as he found himself getting farther and farther away from his friends; his voice, almost turning into a whimper as he tried to reach for No. 2, "Please, Rob… please don't do this! I can't… …I can't lose anyone anymore."