"U-Uugh..."

Genichiro's vision was milked with haziness. He could hardly distinguish anything from well...everything as it was a total mess of blur. Though regardless of his dazed senses, Genichiro could somehow sense (a power shared amongst many many POV characters) that he had fallen into a very dangerous place. A place of death. A place inducing horror and frigid agitation, much unlike the sanctum that layed far above. A spider's lair.

Genichiro's vision finally cleared, allowing him to view his surroundings and- oh would you look at that- thick webs wrapped around him, trapping him in their velvet embrace. His brows furrowed and his breathing steadied. His mind was still dazed, his thoughts - still a misty fog and he could not find any strength in his limbs.

He noted after a minute of hazy inspection that he was inside some kind of wide cave. Beyond that, he couldn't say much about his surroundings. It was so dark he could barely make out the shapes of the walls. The ghostly white spots in the shadows managed to provide enough reflected light for that.

Wait...White webs...A web surrounding him...He was in a web...Dark wide cave...

Finally the light bulb that was Genichiro's brain switched on and mild panic and confusion immediately swept in like a tornado. Spider webs were supposed to be no bigger than a man's head right? Yes, yes they were. Which meant he had fallen into the lair of something very unorthodox and likely very deadly. Which meant...that he should probably flee when still had the chance.

"Ngh, come on...hah..."

Genichiro could almost give the impression that he was extremely calm in this unnerving situation while he was wriggling one of his hands free. He tore parts of the web with throaty grunts and slight winces. It almost seemed like this was a mere minor inconviniance to him. Being the leader of rapidly decaying clan and all, carved his expression into a near-constant stony gaze.

But when one looked at the details of his facial features, they would know...Genichiro was panicked. Not quite on the verge of hysteria, just filled with ever-increasing dread and trepidation for what's to come if he didn't free himself in time. Sweat started pouring down his face and torso at the effort of tearing down the web. The occasional twitch of the eyes which he could not control. The shaky breaths that he let out. Those were all subtle but clear signs of the fright brimming inside him.

Great, he thought, disaster by disaster. First the wolf forced him to abandon his own stronghold, then those damned monkeys led him to fall of the Illusive Hall and now a spider was probably planning to make him one of its meals. The Ashina Heir was reaaally starting to consider the notion that the fauna of Japan detested him. Was it him using animals as weapons and changing them into unrecognizable abominations for his own ends what triggered mother-nature? Well if so, he had one thing to say about that: 'That's totally unfair!'

The drive of his mental monologue and the emotions it exuded helped in freeing his left arm. With a sigh of relief and satisfaction, Genichiro shook it once to get the muscle tissue to work properly and started directing it towards the hilt of his blade.

For the time in quite a while, it seemed luck was on his side. Whatever monstrousity had captured him, clearly wasn't any more intelligent than your average spider as it had left him with his weapon. He could even feel the bowstring brushing against his back, now that his senses had fully returned.

When his fingers wrapped solidly around the handle, Genichiro swung with all his might and the next second he fell down to the ground with a thud. A swift and clear cut in all directions. The web had been cleaved in half masterfully. His grandfather would've been proud.

Unfortunately, those moments of silent satisfaction and slight pride left Genichiro as a vile cackle echoed throughout the cave. Genichiro jolted up. A strange sound, like the crawling of many legs, hastily approaching him. Genichiro drew his bow in reponse.

"Leaving so soon? Just as I was about to make my introduction when you were awake? How ill-mannered. I expected more of someone with the attire of a lord."

Genichiro's eyes narrowed. Was that a female voice? And it sounded surprisingly smooth and elegant for...whatever was crawling in the darkness. He guessed his captor was some kind of shapeshifting demonic spirit.

"Do you tie all your guests in thick webs, clearly intending to feast on them or is that just to scare them into hospitality?"

"A bit of both, honestly. I'm emberassed to admit, but..."

Genichiro dashed to the side on pure instinct. The web was fired in such high speeds it was almost akin to a bullet. Only if bullets where blurs of white. An unnerved scoff appeared on his face, further deepining when a girlish giggle reached his ears.

"Terror suits you men soo perfectly!"

Genichiro muffled an annoyed grunt.

"And I'm not emberassed to admit that death suits you perfectly."

His attack came just as unexpected as the monster's. A wave of arrows struck the stone walls and pillars and Genichiro silently prayed that he had hit his target. His eye twitched as he felt something large, clearly inhuman, move swiftly through the darkness.

"Tch..."

"Fu fu fu...Good, good~. I like it when they struggle." the purred menacingly, amusement and subtle threat clear in her voice. "Makes devouring you all the sweeter."

Once again, he was sweating. Once again, he looked awfully calm and confident on the outside and once again, he was actually quite frightened. So what did he do in such a disadvantageous situation?

"Facing me would only put an end to your days of feasting."

He tried to put on a front. Such was the genuis of a prideful leader of a clan. And for a moment, his words seemed to have the wanted effect. A silence befall the cave, as if the monster had flet. Just as Genichiro was sighing his sigh of relief, the monster boomed with laughter. Eight eyes glowing with malicious intent appeared as if from thin air and Genichiro felt his face pale a little.

"Ha ha ha ha ha! You say such bold words in the face of your imminent death..."

Genichiro didn't know what hit him until he was slammed against a nearby pillar. He didn't even have time to breathe, to think or to even blink. He felt a sharp stinging pain in his mid-section. Hairy fangs that were way bigger than had any right to be had pierced him on his sides, holding him tightly in place.

He saw the body connecting to those eight malicious eyes. There was no doubt about it anymore. It was a spider alright. A spider the size of two blazing bulls. Which made all of its disgusting details awfully clear to the naked eye.

Then he felt something cold and soft touch grasp his chin and when it forced him to look up, Genichiro's perception of things got more convulated ten folds. It was like he was looking at two completely different beings, who had been forcefully merged together.

Looking downwards, all one would see was the horrifying hairy insectoid. Looking upwards, one would see a woman of otherwordly beauty and serenity. Her pale skin contrasted with everything around her, adding more to her otherwordly appearance. Of course, the image was all but ruined by her menacing red eyes and her wicked smile. Appearances were indeed decieving.

"I wonder if you could back them up." she said, finally finishing her sentence.

Looking at the beastial beauty(wtf, Gen?) in front of him, realization finally dawned on his face. The monster he had the displeasure of confronting was...

The Jorogumo.