A Sticky Situation

Due to the webs he was caught in, Erik was unable to look at the creature above. “What? What is it? Don’t tell me we’re about to enter some sort of boss fight!”

Calum held his sword ready, waiting for the monster to make the first move. “That’s the biggest spider I’ve ever seen…”

Kia briefly glanced up while she attempted to cut Erik loose. The webs were too sturdy for her daggers to cut through in one slice. “That’s not just a spider… that’s a yaunmof…”

“A yaunmof?”

“A class B demon…”

Erik huffed. “We beat a class B demon before.”

She cut through another web, freeing Erik’s sword arm. “Not all demons in the same class have the same level of power, you know. The borum was on the lower side of class B. A yaunmof is on the higher end.”

Tilaya gripped her staff in apprehension. “I didn’t know you knew so much about the different classes of demons.”

“I did some studying while we were at the capital. I’m technically a class B demon. That is, if you ignore my Bloodsurge ability. That would bring me up to class A.”

The yaunmof launched itself at Calum, its bladelike legs aimed straight for his head.

He rolled to the side and stabbed the demon in the side of its abdomen.

It recoiled and spun around to face him. It raised its forelegs to attack, but a fireball to the face knocked it to the side. Its attention turned to Tilaya, the caster of the fireball.

It stared at her with its many glowing red eyes, filled with hunger and rage. It lunged at her, forelegs outstretched.

A barrier materialized in front of Tilaya, stopping the demon in its tracks. “Calum, distract it! I need time to cast Inferno.”

“Understood!” Raising his sword, he charged the yaunmof. Due to the webs covering the forest floor, he was slower than usual. It was too busy attempting to impale the barrier to notice him approaching.

The Faestinger glowed a brilliant purple. The yaunmof paused and turned around.

Just as Calum was about to reach it, its jaw opened, and a purple ooze launched from its mouth and sprayed his face. His skin burned intensely, and he stumbled backward, rubbing the acid off. His weapon fell silently to the ground, cushioned by the silky surface.

The yaunmof lunged at him, knocking him to the sticky floor. It stabbed his shoulders with its forelegs, piercing through his armor. “Kia, I need you!”

Kia had cut through all the webbing keeping Erik locked in place except for the ones around one of his legs. “Coming!” She whirled around and dashed into the fight.

The demon opened its mouth and snapped its head forward. Before it made contact with Calum, Kia sliced cleanly through its eyes.

It screeched and took a few steps back prior to jumping back into the trees.

Kia pulled Calum to his feet. “We need to get Erik out fast. I doubt its running–”

Acid landed an inch away from Kia’s foot. A few drops splashed onto her leg, causing her to recoil.

Calum squinted open his eyes, finally getting most of the acid off. His face still seared with pain. He picked up his sword, careful not to touch the web. “Tilaya, how’s that Inferno coming along?”

She whispered to herself. Magical flames surrounded her, and a gale picked up around her.

“Looks like she’s almost done. We need to get the yaunmof out of the trees so she can get a direct hit.”

“Watch out!” Kia pushed Calum back. A moment later, a pile of acid splashed to the ground directly where he was standing. 

"Thanks..." Looking up, Calum saw the yaunmof spit again.