Chapter 14: Spinnetod's Web
The victim was a desiccated husk, drained of all moisture, a grim testament to a horrifying end. Adam grimaced. "You know, Ciri, I always thought 'eternal youth' was just a marketing gimmick for expensive creams. Turns out, it's a beauty secret that involves draining people dry. And frankly, the side effects are a little… extreme. Not exactly 'glowing skin' is it?"
[ New Wesen Type Discovered: Spinnetod. Information added to Library. ]
[ Wesen Behavior: Predatory, Life-Draining. Threat Level: High. Priority: Eradication. ]
They were tracking a Spinnetod, a rare, spider-like Wesen who drained its victims to sustain its youth. The news reports were full of similar gruesome murders, all with the same horrifying signature.
"Honestly, some of these Wesen are just… inherently evil," Adam muttered, his usual sarcasm tinged with grim determination. "No tragic backstory, no misunderstood motives. Just pure, unadulterated monstrosity. Like a really bad villain from a slasher movie. And I should know, I've seen a lot of slasher movies."
Ciri's face was set in a hard line, her eyes cold. "Such creatures are a blight. They must be removed."
"Agreed," Adam said, his voice unusually serious. "No mercy for this one. This is a 'hunt it down and burn it with fire' kind of mission. Or, you know, 'dissolve it with acid.' Much cleaner. And less fire hazard."
Their investigation, a relentless pursuit of the Spinnetod's victims, led them to a secluded, heavily guarded mansion. Nick and Hank were already on the scene, horrified by the latest victim.
"Alright, Ciri," Adam whispered, "here's the plan. We go in, we find the spider. We kill the spider. And then, acid. Lots of acid. For the spider. And anyone who gets in our way. No survivors. Literally."
They moved with a chilling efficiency, a blur of motion. Adam, using his Witcher durability, shrugged off a glancing blow from the Spinnetod's razor-sharp claws, his movements precise and lethal. He popped a Blizzard potion, the world around him slowing to a crawl as he moved with impossible speed. His eyes, for a terrifying moment, turned completely black, reflecting the dim mansion lights like twin pools of obsidian. He moved with enhanced speed and strength, delivering brutal, non-lethal strikes that incapacitated the Spinnetod.
The Spinnetod, a creature of ancient predatory instincts, suddenly froze. Its multiple eyes, wide with terror, stared at Adam's black eyes. This was not a Grimm. This was something else. Something ancient and terrifying. Something that looked like a human, but whose eyes were the void itself. The primal fear was overwhelming. It whimpered, its legs twitching uncontrollably.
Ciri, meanwhile, was a force of nature, her silver sword a blur, disarming and subduing the Spinnetod with lethal precision. She moved with a grim determination, her disdain for its actions evident in every fluid movement.
"Well, that was satisfying," Adam panted, his eyes flickering back to normal. "Nothing like a good old-fashioned spider hunt to get the blood pumping. And speaking of blood, let's make sure there's none left after we're done." He then produced the Acid of Dissolution. "Alright, clean-up crew. Let's make this thing disappear. Poof! No evidence, no fuss. Just like magic."
[ Kill Count: 1 Wesen. Level Up! Current Level: 4. Kills to Level 5: 16. ]
"Still Level 4, but progress!" Adam exclaimed, pumping his fist. "This is like a horror movie, but with a much more satisfying ending. And speaking of endings, you know, this whole 'eternal youth' thing? It's fascinating. People will do anything to avoid getting old. Even drain other people dry. It's like a really extreme skincare routine. With more murder."
Ciri, who was already meticulously wiping her sword clean, looked at him, a faint, almost imperceptible shake of her head. "You are… strangely amused by such things."
"It's my brand, Ciri. Embrace the chaos. And the dark humor. Now, let's go check on those kids. And then, maybe a celebratory pizza. Or, you know, a very large, very strong drink."
Nick, meanwhile, was horrified by the discovery of the Spinnetod. He'd seen a lot in his career, but this was a new level of depravity. He was grateful for the mysterious intervention that had saved the teenagers, but he was also deeply unnerved by the brutality and efficiency of the vigilantes. They were effective, yes, but their methods were… extreme. He still had no idea who they were, but he knew one thing: they were a force to be reckoned with. For better or worse.
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