"Eat, eat a big piece!"
I was sleeping soundly when that mysterious voice suddenly reappeared in my mind, startling me from a pleasant dream.
"Believe in my lord and be granted eternal life!"
"What exactly are you!"
My fragile dream shattered instantly, and as I questioned, a ball of black mist appeared in my mind.
This black mist was boundless and formless. Within it, there seemed to be the wails of humans and beasts, and also a pair of scarlet eyes staring at me silently.
"What do you want, you ghost!"
"Accepting the blessings of the god and becoming a god-child is your destiny, you cannot escape!"
With only a low hum, the illusion in my mind vanished without a trace.
But I knew that this ghost was not gone, but lurking deeper, like a venomous snake poised to strike, ready to devour him at any moment!
"Batu, Batu!"
A familiar voice woke me. I opened my eyes and saw Ada's broad, round face.
"What happened, Batu! Are you alright?"
"You were suddenly sweating all over and your face was contorted in pain!"
I didn't rush to answer Ada's question, but took two deep breaths.
It was then that I suddenly realized that the body wrapped in bandages no longer hurt, and I cautiously lifted my arm in surprise.
Holy crap, I'm healed?
Such a severe injury, according to Ada, I survived only because of my superhuman physique. How could I have completely recovered in just a few days!
Just two days ago, I felt unbearable pain all over, struggling to even turn over. To be healthy so quickly must mean something happened.
I thought to myself that I had only been sleeping and eating for the past two days, and nothing else special had happened, except...
I suddenly remembered the voice without a clear face from my dream. My intuition told me that this voice was inseparable from the matter!
But what exactly did it want?
I fell into deep thought. Seeing that I hadn't spoken since waking up, Ada became anxious.
"Batu, what's wrong!"
Ada's vigorous shaking finally broke my reverie.
I originally wanted to sit up and talk to Ada, but on second thought, I stopped myself and continued to lie in bed, feigning weakness.
Although Ada and I have a good relationship now, some things are better kept to myself.
When I fought with the ghost commander back then, my sudden outburst could barely be explained away as a sudden berserk state.
Now, if it got out that I had completely recovered from an injury that would take months for others to heal, I wouldn't be able to explain it away with a few words. The High Priest would surely use it as an excuse to deal with me.
"Ada, I'm fine. I just dreamed of fighting the ghost commander again."
"Batu, you scared me when you showed me!"
Speaking of which, Ada's spirits suddenly lifted, and he chattered on, recounting the scene. He finally stopped speaking after half an hour, still eager to continue.
"Batu, don't worry. The witch doctor in the tribe said you'll be able to walk again in about a week. When you can go out, I'll roast a rabbit for you!"
After chatting with me for a bit longer, Ada turned and left.
A week?
I mused to myself. To hide my recovery, I had to play along with the witch doctor's prognosis and pretend to be gradually healing.
Now that the High Priest and I were sworn enemies, he would surely take this rare opportunity to strike at me!
At that time...
Hmph!
Thinking of this, I suddenly sat up and carefully untied the bandages on my chest.
I couldn't move before and had been wondering if the black spider on my chest had been exposed. Now was the perfect opportunity to find out!
As the bandages were unwound layer by layer, the mystery was finally revealed!
I looked down, and the black spider that had been on my chest was actually disappearing, leaving only smooth skin!
*Phew...*
I breathed a sigh of relief, but at that moment, an anomaly occurred!
Under my gaze, the formerly clean skin gradually revealed the black spider, which had now grown a sixth leg!
Holy crap!
I was stunned. This black spider could hide its presence and not be discovered by others!
My mood felt like a roller coaster, with extreme highs and lows. It seemed the voice that suddenly appeared during my fight with the ghost commander came from this black spider!
And it looked like it was about to recover!
Damn it! Time is running out for me!
I had a premonition that if this black spider's eight legs were fully manifested, something bad would happen to me!
In a daze, I seemed to see a colossal figure high above in the sky, its form indistinct, gazing at me with its scarlet eyes, like it was watching its impending prey!