Kai and Alira tensed at Rusk’s words.

  The surrounding air chilled. Alira tightened her grip on her ice sword. Kai scanned the surroundings.

  Why didn’t he notice anything with his spatial sense? How could Rusk sense a disaster he couldn’t? Was it because fate blessed Rusk?

  Regardless - this was dire news.

  “What disaster? Where’s it coming from?” Kai asked.

  Rusk’s frown deepened as he pointed to his chest.

  Is he about to go crazy? I still need to recover my soul essence.

  Ashes!

  Alira readied her frosty blade, assuming a combat stance.

  Kai rushed to clarify the situation before it got bloody. “What’s the problem?”

  Rusk sighed and peered at the ground. “I don’t know whether I should weave a shirt or a t-shirt…if I get it wrong, it’ll be a fashion disaster and the noble spider will scold me! Please help me, Kai. I need your wisdom!”

  Kai’s right eye twitched. Alira’s blade remained steady.

  This fool got us worked up for nothing! I should let Alira chop him up.

  “Rusk…next time, be clearer with your words! We thought there was real danger approaching!”

  Rusk’s shoulders drooped even lower. “Ah…sorry,” he looked at Kai with glistening eyes. “…will you help me?”

  Kai sighed. “Weave the shirt. You copie—was inspired by my trousers, right? It’s part of a suit, so it’ll work with the outfit.”

  Rusk’s eyes widened, and he nodded with excitement. “Thank you!”

  Kai glanced at Alira. She was studying him with an eyebrow raised, her sword lowering reluctantly.

  “Do we really want to stick with…” Alira gestured toward Rusk with her lowered sword. “This man?”

  “Can you slaughter three Marked in seconds?”

  Alira lowered her shaking head.

  The threads surrounding Rusk connected and collapsed. Moments later, Rusk wore a fashionable white shirt, holding a small ball of bundled thread in his hands.

  I guess he won’t have to get naked in our next fight - if that thread ball lasts.

  After glancing at his outfit with a smug smirk, Rusk moved away from the bloody chunks that used to be men and sat down, crossing his legs. He closed his eyes as if meditating.

  I suggested resting to recover essence, but…isn’t he taking it too far?

  The atmosphere shifted. The air thickened. A gargantuan weight pressed down on Kai’s shoulders. He held his ground, standing tall. Alira was doing the same.

  The shift didn’t feel malevolent, but when was that ever a guarantee of safety?

  Many dangerous beings hid their cruel intentions.

  Kai glanced at Rusk. A small, graceful creature perched on his shoulder.

  Not just any creature - a spider. One that somehow seemed noble and refined!

  Kai couldn’t grasp how a spider could radiate nobility, but he couldn’t deny his eyes. He almost wanted to drop to his knees in submission - but he had met Kharon. The Dreadful Prince’s aura was more domineering than this spider’s.

  Kai fought the urge to prostrate himself on the ground.

  Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

  Thread God.

  Thread God’s voice was soft, entrancing - like a web of silk:

  “Boy, you’ve put my advice to good use! This outfit does not pain my eight eyes like your last ensemble. My shameful student shows some promise!” Thread God pounced onto Rusk’s head, lifted one of her eight furry legs and tapped it down several times.

  It was…patting Rusk on the head like an approving mother with a toddler. Kai had no idea how to react to this strange yet wholesome scene.

  “Thank you, Master! I—I admit, I had a little help…” Rusk gestured for Kai to come closer. Kai did as asked. “Master, this is Kai. He is blessed with the wisdom of great fashion sense! Look at his exquisite suit!”

  Kai offered a polite bow to the Thread God.

  He had ample experience in appearing obsequious to those more powerful than him. So he knew to show respect to a god. Even a ‘lesser’ god was still a god.

  Marked were ants before deities.

  The noble spider’s eight eyes burned into Kai, and a warm sensation washed over him. It felt like…approval. Maybe even…admiration?

  He hid his shock behind a polite smile.

  Was Kharon’s suit that impressive? Kai had thought wearing a black suit in the Darklands would make him look silly.

  Kharon’s wisdom prevailed again - or did he know Kai would meet Thread God?

  A suit of plate armour wouldn’t interest a God of Threads…

  A seed of greed bloomed in Kai’s heart.

  Can I have two bodyguards and a God ally? Is my luck changing for the better?

  The fabric of Kai’s dark suit tugged softly. He looked at the disturbance and found a thread connected to his shoulder. The noble spider climbed along the thread at a rapid pace.

  He used all his willpower to maintain his ninety-degree bow with stoic indifference. Kai didn’t fear spiders - he admired their quiet deviousness.

  He feared gods.

  As the spider reached his shoulder, she skittered across his back while mumbling - half talking to herself, half to Kai.

  “Hmm…this stitching…impressive. Ah, what a polite young man. Rise, would you? I can’t appreciate the full view with you hunched over.”

  Kai straightened. The noble spider continued crawling over him at speed.

  “Yes…yes! Beautiful, sublime, magnificent!” Kai’s eyes widened as the noble spider leapt onto his head. A soft tapping sensation followed.

  After delivering her earnest praise, Thread God leapt down to Kai’s shoulder and asked a dangerous question: “Who made this suit?” Her eight eyes were wide and eager.

  Could he lie to a god? Could he protect his secrets?

  Kai was honest and vague in equal measure: “My big brother made it for me.”

  Thread God’s eight eyes glistened. “Can I meet him?”

  “…I’ll ask him - if we survive this trial.”

  The noble spider jumped in excitement. “Don’t worry about that. The threads of your fate are long and mysterious. You won’t die today…unless you can resurrect yourself!”

  Kai didn’t know whether to feel relieved or apprehensive.

  Could he resurrect? He was the son of Death God.

  But…no.

  If she could see Kai’s fate threads, she could see Rusk’s fate threads too. She didn’t warn Rusk about dying today - so his threads must be long too, right?

  That pointed to a high chance of their survival. Relief blanketed his body.

  But he couldn’t be careless. Fate could be cruel and kind.

  There were no guarantees.

  He had to do everything in his power to ensure his success. Kai’s greed bloomed like a golden flower.

  “Honourable Thread God, your great wisdom humbles me. May I call you an ally?”

  Thread God made an unusual sound - Kai assumed it was laughter. “An ally? How can a god ally with a simple Marked?”

  Kai expected as much.

  “Ah, I think you misunderstand me, glorious Thread God. I only want to call you my ally. It’ll help persuade my brother to meet you. I won’t ask you for any favours,” Kai lied.

  Thread God waved one of her furry legs. “Oh, that’s no problem. If I can meet the master behind this suit, tell him we’re allies! Don’t expect me to help you in any battles, though.”

  “Of course.” Kai bowed his head to the noble spider. “Thank you, Thread God.” He had no intention of asking for help anytime soon, but he was already scheming to swindle Thread God into giving him a Gift.

  Kai had to play the long game - but this was the first step. Once he had his foot in the door, even a god couldn’t escape his machinations.

  Thread God rose on her thin, furry legs, puffing out her chest. She appeared awfully smug - as much as a spider could appear smug.

  She tapped Kai’s shoulder a few times, then used her thread to return to Rusk.

  “Boy, you’ve found a pleasant companion. I approve!”

  “Thank you, Master. Oh, there is another companion…” Rusk gestured towards Alira.

  Alira bowed the most refined bow Kai had ever seen. “It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Great Thread God.”

  Thread God visibly tensed; her eight eyes shook, and her gaze shot back to Rusk.

  “Boy! Why didn’t you warn me?! I must prepare before gazing upon a fashion catastrophe like this young girl! What a cruel boy!”

  Alira’s mouth twitched, and her shoulders tensed. Kai held back laughter at her in her oversized armour.

  “A pity! Beautiful children mustn’t be presented in such ugly attire. You must save this girl from herself! A good student should know how to teach.”

  “Sorry, Master.” Rusk nodded firmly. “I will, Master.”

  “Now, leave me alone until you complete the trial…unless you find another divine suit like the one that boy is wearing.” Thread God’s form deconstructed into ethereal threads.

  The atmosphere became lighter, the weight pressing down on Kai evaporating. Alira rose and stood straight once again.

  “Lady Alira…” Alira cut Rusk’s words short when her chilling glare locked onto him. Kai made the prudent decision to change the subject.

  “Should we check our points?” Although points held little meaning in this sacrificial trial, Kai was curious about where they ranked on the leaderboard.

  Thank you for taking the time to read this chapter.

  I hope you enjoyed seeing our trio get a chilled break before things go to hell for em.

  Are you scared of spiders?

  Would you rather live in a house with 100 spiders or 100 flies?

  Consider it.

  Imagine how annoying and invasive those obnoxious flies are. Buzzing in your face, acting like they own the place.

  Then remember how peaceful and respectful of your personal space spiders are. They even do chores, like eating annoying flies for you.

  I promise I'm not a disguised spider who learned to type.

  Then again, how would you know? If I were a spider - would I reveal my spidery identity? It never worked out well for Peter Parker.

  Living with 100 spiders is an easy decision, right? Or am I crazy? Comment your choice below.

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  Support this story for free with a Follow, Rating, and Review.

  All of the above helps the story get in front of more people - which helps me write more chapters for you.

  Should I bold all system messages or keep them as they are?