章節 20: Aren's Awakening and Victoria's Secret
Keiran's house was once again messy and disorganized; pizza boxes, randomly scattered clothes, peculiar posters, and strange accessories filled the room. Aren entered the house and silently sat on a couch, his gaze fixed on something in the distance. But this time, Keiran's eyes were locked on the living spider on Aren's back. It was something he had long been curious about, yet never asked because of the distance between them.
Keiran decided it was finally time to ask the question that had been on his mind. Without taking his eyes off Aren, he said, "That spider... you've never mentioned it, but it's not just an accessory, is it? I noticed it's alive. What is this creature?"
Aren felt a slight movement on his back. He slowly reached behind him, and the spider elegantly climbed onto his shoulder. Its black, glossy legs trembled slightly on his shoulder. As the spider stood motionless, one of its small legs lifted in what almost seemed like a wave. A faint smile appeared on Aren's face, though his voice remained cold and serious.
"Her name is Victoria. She's like family to me."
Keiran observed Victoria closely. Aren's words made it clear that this creature was more than just a simple bug. The spider, perched gracefully on Aren's shoulder, seemed intelligent and had a personality of its own. Without taking his eyes off Aren, Keiran asked, "Victoria, huh? Quite an interesting companion. Let's see, let's say hello." There was a hint of a sarcastic smile on Keiran's face, but this time, genuine curiosity was also there. He tilted his head slightly, softening his voice, "Hello, Victoria."
At that moment, Victoria raised one of her small legs in what seemed like a deliberate wave, almost as if acknowledging Keiran's greeting. Keiran's mouth opened in shock, and a mixture of surprise and amusement sparkled in his eyes. He let out a short laugh and leaned back in his chair. "Unbelievable! She actually waved!" His eyes were shining with amazement.
"So, what's it like?" Keiran asked, now even more intrigued. "I mean, she's really a spider, but somehow more... different. Do you have some sort of bond with her?"
Aren tilted his head slightly, his eyes briefly meeting Keiran's before returning to the spider on his shoulder. "It's a strange feeling... I don't fully understand it, but I see her as family."
Keiran's smile grew wider as he looked at the stoic warrior in front of him. This creature that Aren simply referred to as "family" seemed to hold more emotional significance than Aren himself ever did. "Interesting. Really interesting," said Keiran. "I never thought someone like you would show such attachment. But this... I think this makes you even more intriguing."
Aren accepted Keiran's comment in silence. Keiran's constant teasing and sarcastic remarks, though somewhat unsettling, hinted at a kind of understanding. As the silence lingered, the spider on Aren's shoulder slowly climbed back to his back, and Aren returned to his usual stillness.
---
Aren and Keiran began walking through the depths of a silent forest. The leaves of the trees swayed gently in the wind, and birds could be heard chirping in the distance. Aren looked around with a mix of curiosity and suspicion and asked, "Why did we come here?"
Keiran turned back to Aren with a faint smile. "For training, of course."
Aren frowned, confused, and asked, "Training for what?"
Keiran's expression grew serious as he continued, "You haven't yet unlocked your half-human, half-beast form. Your aura exceeds 70, but you still don't have your animal-human form. If you're going to fight the Genetic Control Office, you need to awaken this form. Otherwise, you won't stand a chance against them. They have people far more powerful than you can imagine."
Aren took a deep breath, determination shining in his eyes. "Alright, so what kind of training will this be?"
Keiran suddenly became serious, and his aura spread around him. As his energy intensified, his body underwent a dramatic transformation. His eyes turned a bright pink, sharp and filled with intense lines. His hair grew longer and flowed like waves, and his body was covered in a sleek yet sturdy pink armor. A glowing pink katana appeared in his hand.
"This is my half-human, half-insect form," Keiran said in a calm yet commanding voice. "Everyone's living form is unique; sometimes, it manifests in entirely different ways."
In an instant, Keiran moved as if gliding through the air and suddenly appeared in front of Aren. He was so fast that Aren couldn't even see him move. A mocking smile appeared on Keiran's face. "Come on, I expected you to at least see me even with my incomplete form. If you're going to fight the Genetic Control Office, you need to be much stronger than this."
Aren gritted his teeth and launched an attack. Keiran dodged each of Aren's moves with graceful ease. No matter how fast or powerful Aren's strikes were, Keiran always shifted his position skillfully, evading every blow. Aren's punches and kicks cut through nothing but air, failing to find their target. Keiran didn't counterattack even once; he seemed to be merely testing Aren's abilities, enjoying the battle as if it were a dance.
Finally, with a light smile, Keiran said, "Now it's my turn." He raised his katana gracefully and swung it gently. The pink energy that gathered around the blade shot toward Aren with incredible speed. Aren tried to evade, but he was too slow; he attempted to block the wave with his arm, but the energy wrapped around him, cutting deep into his flesh. Even though he was in pain, he didn't retreat; he stood his ground despite his wounds.
Sweat poured down Aren's face, and his breathing grew heavy, yet a faint smile curled at the edge of his lips. That smile showed that he was enjoying the struggle despite everything. Keiran paused for a moment, surprised by the sight, his eyes filled with both astonishment and a hint of satisfaction.
"Well, well," said Keiran, with a mocking but genuine grin, "Looks like we finally got to see you smile."
Aren, despite his pain, stood tall in front of Keiran with that same smile. To him, this fight wasn't just a test—it had become a real challenge. Keiran kept watching Aren without losing his serious expression, but with a hint of admiration, recognizing that the potential within Aren was starting to awaken.
As the battle between Aren and Keiran continued, Aren's inner strength began to stir. Each blow, each move, brought more of his hidden power to the surface. Keiran's aura intensified, while a similar energy began to emanate from Aren. Suddenly, Aren's body underwent a transformation; massive spider legs sprouted from his back, and his eyes turned completely black. The most striking change was the black crown that appeared on his head, floating above him like a royal symbol.
At that moment, the female spider Victoria appeared beside him, quietly circling around Aren with care. Victoria stood close, as if ready to protect and guard him. Although Aren seemed unaware of this, Victoria's presence and posture were incredibly striking, her gaze fixed solely on him as though she existed only to accompany him.
Keiran studied Victoria with a focused gaze. He realized this spider was anything but ordinary. His research had taught him that Victoria belonged to a very special species: the Emperor Tarantula. This legendary species was known as the king of spiders, particularly identifiable by the black crown on the heads of the males, marking them as royalty.
What intrigued Keiran even more was the nature of the female Emperor Tarantulas. Female tarantulas were intensely loyal and possessive toward their mates. They would jealously guard their partner, tolerating no other creature near them. During mating seasons, they became even more dangerous, acting aggressively to protect their chosen mate from any perceived threats. Yet, despite their aggressiveness, they would always listen to their mate's commands; that was the only aspect of their behavior that could be controlled.
As Keiran pondered these traits, a thought crossed his mind: according to legends, the Emperor Tarantula species had been extinct for 300 million years. How, then, could Victoria still exist? He briefly considered this question but realized something even more important.
A broad smile spread across Keiran's face. He finally understood why the female spider stayed so close to Aren. That spider was Aren's wife! And this realization made Keiran burst into laughter. "Hahahahahahaha! Human and beast in a relationship! Truly incredible!"
Aren, looking at his transformed body, heard Keiran's laughter and fixed his gaze on him. "What's so funny? Is there something amusing?" he asked, his voice filled with anger.
Keiran, trying to compose himself, still smiling with a hint of mockery, said, "No, nothing. Just thought of a funny joke, that's all."
Aren couldn't grasp the true meaning behind Keiran's sarcastic words. He was unaware that the female spider's closeness to him stemmed from a unique bond. He believed the spider was merely family, but in reality, she was bound to him like a devoted partner. Keiran, on the other hand, had completely figured it out and was laughing at the irony of the situation, both amused by Aren's ignorance and entertained by the hidden relationship.
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