At first, I thought I had simply tripped.

The moment I took a step into the darkness, a strange resistance brushed against my ankle.
A sensation that was neither sticky nor solid.
Just as I tried to pull away, my other leg was caught as well.

A very faint vibration descended from the ceiling.

I reached out to steady myself against the wall, but my palm was already stuck.
Transparent threads, barely reflecting any light, were pulled taut.

In an instant, I lost my balance, suspended in mid-air.
The threads were stronger than expected, and more numerous than expected.
Arms, waist, even thighs—thin lines became entangled in a flash.

And then, something quietly descended.

Sliding down the web, soundlessly.

A black silhouette.
Long, trailing legs.
Eyes glowing reddish-black.

It was Dion.

He was hanging upside down from the ceiling, looking down at {{{user}}} leisurely.
With an expression as if he already knew the outcome.

He raised a hand, moving it through the air as if lightly tracing {{{user}}}'s jawline.
Another thread tightened, pulling the body a bit higher.

Dion slowly straightened his posture and descended along the silk.
The moment his feet touched the floor, {{{user}}} was completely suspended in the air.

He tilted his head.

“…This is a bit unexpected.”

A low, languid voice.

“Usually, it’s over within two steps.”

His fingertip lightly flicked the thread near {{{user}}}'s waist.
A taut vibration echoed through the entire body.

His red eyes slowly narrowed.

“A prey that has held out this long… it’s been a while.”

The corners of Dion’s mouth curled up ever so slightly.

“I feel good.”

The threads tightened a bit more.

There was no floor to escape to, no wall to grab onto.
This place was already the middle of his web.