The Moon Symphony

Trap

"Hey, Yari. We are back." Apo said, ruffling my hair.

I hurriedly went down from his back and looked around if anyone was awake. I don't know if how I would react if someone saw me on Apo's back.

"Hey, Ayari. Are you looking for us?" Ani said, laughing.

They were behind us all this time. I can see everyone's faces. Ani kept on laughing, while my siblings just smiled. It is so embarrassing.

"So tell me, how was your date in the woods?" Ani asked.

"What date? Who told you that?" I said, my voice cracked because of the embarrassment.

"Come on, don't be shy, Ayari. Look at your face, and it says what happened." Ani said.

"Stop it, Ani. We did not go on a date or did some romantic things like you are imagining." Apo said.

Nice save, Apo!

"So, why are you out there? And why is he riding your back?"

"Ayari got lured by the Awot. Luckily, I was awake and followed him. If not, he was eaten already by that gigantic plant."

"An Awot?" Everyone exclaimed.

I nodded my head in response.

"You are careless, big brother," Ester said.

"I'm sorry, guys. I was fascinated by those dancing lights I saw. That's why I followed them." I explained.

"Okay, we understand. But next time, please be cautious okay? Just like you are always telling us. Anan said and tapped my shoulders."

"Okay, I will."

"It's okay since Master, I mean Ayari, is fine now." Let's go ahead and have our breakfast and continue our journey. Baku said and headed to the tents to pick up food.

Later in the morning, after packing up our things. We continued our journey. Baku told us that it would take another day to get out of the forest. We need to pass the swamp first to get to the path leading outside.

As we ventured inside the forest, the grass grew taller, and the trees wholly covered the light from passing through. The air was cold and moist. The sound that we can hear was our footsteps and the rustling of the leaves. It's so silent.

Apo told us that usually the Diwata like this kind of place. They want the silence and the calmness of the area. After hearing those stories, I wish I can encounter one. I want to see many things, and especially I am the type of person who gets curious about everything, like what happened with Awot. I can say that curiosity kills the cat. I looked around, but for some unknown reason, the place is giving me some eerie vibes.

We continued following the path until we reached an area where there was no vegetation. It was a barren piece of land. Nothing was growing there like the plants were avoiding that specific spot. There was a stone in the middle of it, and some ancient text was written on it. The text says, "No life shall pass."

What does this mean?

"Baku, do you know what that thing is?" I asked and pointed at the stone.

Everyone stopped in their tracks and looked in the direction I pointed.

"What? I don't see anything?" Baku said.

"You don't see that stone? How about you guys? I asked and looked at the others.

Everyone had the same answer. What they can see is only the bare land. It's weird enough that I am the only one that can detect the stone. To prove to them that there is a stone in the middle, I told them to wait. I moved closer to the spot, and the stone is more visible now. I can sense some energy radiating from it.

"Hey, guys, don't you see this?" I said and pointed at the spot again.

Everyone had a confused expression on their faces.

"Come closer, guys!" I shouted.

Everyone started to walk where I was. Still, they can't see what I am pointing.

"Are you okay, Yari?" Apo asked.

"Of course, I am. Do you think I am hallucinating?" I sighed.

"Okay, we understand. The stone that you were not talking about is not visible to us, Big brother." Ester said.

"But--

Then all of a sudden, the ground started shaking. The bare land started glowing, and a magic circle beneath me appeared. It's too bright!

When the light cleared up, I was terrified by what I saw. Two gigantic spiders appeared in front of us. Their skins were made from stones, and their legs resemble a giant blade. What is it this time? The monsters growled and were getting ready to pounce at us.

"Look out! I shouted."

The monsters jumped towards them, but I'm glad that Ester was with us. She instantly cast a barrier, deflecting the enemies, pushing them backward.

I pulled out my dagger and ran towards them.

"What's that?" I asked and looked at Baku.

"I don't know either, Ayari." He answered.

"Maybe it's related to the stone I saw earlier, and I must have accidentally activated it," I said.

"It's okay, we have to deal with this now, or it might be dangerous for the others and the forest as well," Baku said.

"Understood," I said.

I gathered everyone and told them my plan. I'll go ahead and check things first, and I'll act as a diversion to let the others prepare. It's time to test our teamwork again.

I pulled out my dagger again and dashed towards the enemy. I lunged at the exterior shell of the spider.

Clang!

The shell was hard, just like I expected. I signaled Apo and Baku to get near me. I will take care of the first spider while Apo will go on the second one. Baku will act as a support. Apo summoned his spear and hurled it towards the enemy, but the spider deflected it.

"Look out!" Baku shouted.

Silk threads were thrown towards our direction, but we successfully evaded it. Apo summoned fireballs and hurled them on the lines to burn them down. It would be dangerous if anyone of us got caught in it.

"Again!"

Baku hurled ice shards towards the enemy, causing a delay in their movements. It was not that effective because they can still move. Our original plan was to freeze them first, then finish them off after. I guess we got no choice.

I signaled Apo to lure the enemies towards the center. I was going to do the same. I summoned light shards and directed it on the spider, but its shell was hard, reflecting most of my attacks. I ran towards where Apo was. Apo evaded, and the two spiders bumped on each other.

Now! I shouted.

Ester successfully charged her spiritual energy and summoned the Star Shatterer. The weapon transformed into a gigantic hammer. Ani then summoned a powerful gust and launched Ester on the air. The pressure from the Star Shatterer was so intense, making the ground tremble.

Meteoric Impact!

The spiders were hit by the hammer crushing them to the ground. The impact was so powerful, and it created a massive crater in the ground. The shockwave caused the trees to get uprooted.

It was successful.

The Star Shatterer is mighty indeed. But on the other hand, since Ester was not used to wielding it, she exhausted most of her spiritual energy. Anan dashed to where our sister was and cast an enchantment to replenish some of her power.

"Good job, guys!" I said.

We thought that everything was over already, but the spiders seemed to be reborn to our surprise. After all that attack, they managed to survive?

What's happening?