Chapter 36 - Fake Palace
Lucas' fingers fumbled in his pocket, his heart pounding quickly, and the blood roaring in his ears. He had no plan. No strategy. No real hope. But as he grasped the small object in his trembling hand, it felt familiar, like a whisper from a forgotten past.
The miniature palace.
Shi Yang had given it to him with cryptic words... this was all he had left.
He pulled it from his pocket, the cold metal gleaming in the dim light. For a moment, he hesitated. He could hear the mocking laugh of the Spider Queen echoing in his ear. Darlene was gone. Andre was sprawled in the web. Xin was too far away to help. The world around him was collapsing. Yet despite it all...
He pressed his palm against the palace.
A bright light exploded from it, a dazzling glow that almost blinded him. The light swallowed everything... the ground, the walls. Lucas held his breath, his body frozen by the intensity of the light.
Then, just as quickly as it came, the light vanished.
Lucas blinked, and his vision started to clear. His heart stopped racing.
He was no longer in the same place.
The ground beneath his feet felt different, solid, regal. When he looked down, he saw golden wings spreading from his back, their tips sparkling with their own light. He raised his hand to his face, feeling the cold, smooth skin, and his golden eyes widened in astonishment. His hair was long and black, flowing freely as if the wind had taken it in a storm.
He was flooded with a sense of detachment, an indifference he had never known. He felt powerful. Unstoppable.
Then, he saw her.
The Spider Queen stood before him, a twisted smile on the corners of her lips. She hadn't noticed him yet. She was still facing Andre's broken body, her movements spider-like, slow and deliberate. But Lucas... Lucas had changed.
His voice came out calm, almost detached. "Why... why did you kill them? Why? Why?!"
The queen slowly turned, her eyes meeting his. She didn't look surprised. No, she looked... intrigued. For a moment, there was a glimmer of something in her eyes, something like recognition.
She tilted her head, her fingers trembling. "Hmm... who are you?" she muttered softly, coldly.
In that instant, Lucas' focus snapped back. This was real. The power was real. He clenched his fingers into a fist, and golden energy surged from his body.
"Well then... I'll show you power, you damn witch!!!" he yelled, each word dripping with anger and desperation.
Before she could respond, Lucas spread his wings wide, and the golden aura pulsed with strength. He surged forward in an unbelievable flash, his wings crashing into her with unnatural force. Her white dress flew, torn by the wind. She was pushed back, her body lifting off the ground.
She soared through the air, crashing into the far wall, her body leaving a crack in the stone where it hit. The impact was supposed to be enough to finish her off. But the Spider Queen was not easily broken.
Her eyes burst with fury, and her body slowly rose, unfazed by the brutal blow. Blood flowed from her lip, staining her pure skin. Yet even this seemed to not disturb her.
Lucas advanced. His golden wings spread widely, casting a massive shadow as he moved toward her. She staggered toward her feet, wiping the blood from her mouth with her bloodied hand.
"Hah... do you see the power now? This is power!" His voice rang out in the air, sharp and mocking. "This is authority!!"
The Spider Queen slowly stood up, her eyes narrowing as she wiped the blood from her face with a smirk. "Oh... I see now..." She tilted her head as if sizing him up. "Where did you get this treasure, boy?"
Lucas froze. The smile on her face told him something was wrong, but his mind was still trying to adjust to the transformation. He laughed bitterly, the sound echoing in the room.
"Hah? Can you speak normally? Hahaha, no questions, you will die today..."
His words were empty, boldness hiding the uncertainty boiling inside him.
She lifted her eyes, then raised an eyebrow. "Hah? I asked you a question..."
And then she vanished.
Lucas' heart shuddered. His eyes scanned every corner of the room, searching for her. He could feel her cold presence everywhere.
She appeared on the ceiling. Her laughter echoed, spiraling and mocking.
"Why didn't you answer?" Her voice came from every direction.
Before Lucas could respond, webs began falling from every corner, trapping the air in a deadly net. But Lucas was faster now. He had the power. He moved behind her in an instant, his fist blazing with golden energy.
Without hesitation, he struck her in the back.
The strike connected, but the Spider Queen was ready. At the last moment, she dodged and grabbed his arm with a swift, inhuman motion.
"Do you know?" she said, her voice filled with mockery. "You're weak... so weak... Hahaha."
She twisted his arm, and the world around Lucas tilted. He gritted his teeth, trying to pull away, but her strength was incomprehensible.
"This power doesn't even reach Rank A!" she mocked, her voice full of contempt.
Lucas held his breath. "What? This is Rank S power, the treasure gave it to me!"
She let out a low, mocking laugh, her grip tightening. "Hahaha, who told you that? Did some fraudsters deceive you? Who was it? Hahaha!"
The laughter hurt, but there was something else. Something Lucas couldn't quite place. He tried to pull away, but it was as if his body was stuck, as if his power was being drained.
Then, the world turned cold.
His hands... his hands were bleeding. Purple blood oozed from his skin, dripping onto the floor in small, unsettling droplets. He looked down in disbelief.
"What's happening...?" he stammered.