The Goblin Spider

In the mountainous regions of ancient Japan, there was a treacherous mountain pass that connected two important villages. This pass had once been a busy trade route, with merchants, pilgrims, and travelers using it regularly to journey between the settlements. However, for several months, strange and terrifying things had been happening to anyone who attempted to cross the mountain alone.

Travelers who entered the pass would disappear without a trace, leaving behind only their abandoned belongings scattered along the rocky path. Those few who managed to escape and return to tell their tales spoke of enormous webs that seemed to appear from nowhere, and of a monstrous creature with many glowing eyes that moved through the shadows with supernatural speed.

The local authorities were baffled by these reports and unsure how to address the situation. Some believed that bandits were responsible for the disappearances and were using fear tactics to discourage investigation. Others thought that wild animals might have taken up residence in the pass. But a growing number of people began to suspect that something supernatural was at work.

Among those most concerned about the situation was a young samurai named Yorimitsu, who served the local lord and was known throughout the region for his courage, skill with a sword, and dedication to protecting innocent people from harm. Yorimitsu had heard all the reports about the mysterious disappearances, and he was determined to investigate the matter personally.

“My lord,” Yorimitsu said during a meeting with his master, “I request permission to travel to the mountain pass and discover what is causing these disappearances. The people are becoming too frightened to use this important route, and trade between the villages is being severely disrupted.”

“I appreciate your dedication, Yorimitsu,” the lord replied, “but many brave men have already attempted to investigate this mystery, and none have returned. I cannot afford to lose my best samurai to whatever danger lurks in those mountains.”

“With respect, my lord,” Yorimitsu persisted, “that is exactly why I must go. If we allow this threat to continue unchallenged, it will only grow bolder and more dangerous. Besides, I have training and skills that ordinary travelers do not possess. I believe I have a better chance of success than those who have gone before me.”

After much discussion, the lord reluctantly agreed to allow Yorimitsu to attempt the mission, but only on the condition that he would take several other samurai with him for support and protection.

“No, my lord,” Yorimitsu said respectfully but firmly. “If this creature is as cunning and supernatural as the reports suggest, a large group would only provide more targets and create more confusion. I must go alone if I am to have any hope of success.”

Despite his lord’s concerns and the warnings of his fellow samurai, Yorimitsu set out for the mountain pass on a clear autumn morning, carrying his finest sword, a bow with a quiver of arrows, and provisions for several days of travel. He had also brought along several items that might prove useful against supernatural creatures: blessed salt, paper talismans inscribed with protective prayers, and a small mirror that was said to reveal the true nature of demons and spirits.

As Yorimitsu approached the entrance to the mountain pass, he immediately noticed signs that confirmed the travelers’ frightening reports. The path was littered with abandoned belongings – sandals, traveling bundles, pieces of clothing, and even some valuable items that bandits would certainly have taken if they were responsible for the disappearances.

More disturbing still were the enormous spider webs that stretched between trees and rocks along the path. These webs were far larger than anything that could have been created by ordinary spiders, with strands as thick as rope and patterns so intricate that they seemed almost artistic in their design.

Yorimitsu examined the webs carefully, noting that they were positioned in such a way that they would be difficult for a traveler to see until it was too late to avoid them. Some of the webs showed signs of having recently captured large prey, with torn sections and what appeared to be remnants of clothing caught in the sticky strands.

“This is clearly the work of something far more dangerous than ordinary bandits,” Yorimitsu murmured to himself as he continued deeper into the pass. “I must be extremely careful and alert if I hope to survive this encounter.”

As he proceeded along the treacherous path, Yorimitsu used his samurai training to remain constantly aware of his surroundings. He listened for unusual sounds, watched for movement in the shadows, and tested each step carefully to avoid walking into any hidden traps.

The mountain pass grew narrower and darker as the afternoon progressed, with tall rock walls on either side that blocked much of the sunlight and created an atmosphere of gloom and foreboding. The silence was particularly unnerving – there were no bird songs, no insect sounds, and even the wind seemed muted and strange.

As evening approached, Yorimitsu realized that he would need to spend the night in the pass if he hoped to encounter whatever creature was responsible for the disappearances. He found a relatively open area where he could see in all directions and set up a small camp, building a fire and preparing to keep watch through the night.

“If this creature truly is supernatural,” Yorimitsu thought as he settled down to wait, “it will most likely appear during the hours of darkness when its powers are strongest and when travelers would be most vulnerable.”

He did not have to wait long. Shortly after midnight, Yorimitsu became aware of a subtle change in the atmosphere around him. The air seemed to grow thicker and more oppressive, and he could hear a strange clicking sound that seemed to come from multiple directions at once.

Looking up, Yorimitsu was horrified to see an enormous spider descending from the darkness above him on a web strand as thick as a ship’s rope. The creature was larger than a horse, with a body covered in coarse black hair and eight legs that moved with horrible grace and precision. Most terrifying of all were its eyes – dozens of them, glowing red like burning coals in the firelight.

The goblin spider, for that was clearly what this supernatural creature was, landed on the ground near Yorimitsu’s campfire with surprising lightness despite its massive size. It regarded the young samurai with obvious intelligence, tilting its head in a way that suggested it was studying him and calculating the best way to attack.

“So,” the spider spoke in a voice like the rustling of dead leaves, “another brave warrior comes to challenge me. How refreshing. Most of my recent visitors have been merchants and pilgrims who provided little sport before becoming my dinner.”

Yorimitsu was startled to discover that the creature could speak, but he quickly composed himself and responded with the dignity befitting a samurai warrior.

“I am Yorimitsu, servant of Lord Minamoto, and I have come to put an end to your reign of terror in this mountain pass,” he declared, drawing his sword with practiced skill. “You have killed innocent people and disrupted the peace of this region. I challenge you to honorable combat.”

The goblin spider laughed with a sound like breaking glass. “Honorable combat? How amusing. I am a creature of magic and cunning, young samurai. I do not fight according to your human concepts of honor and fairness.”

With these words, the spider suddenly spat a stream of web material toward Yorimitsu, who barely managed to dodge aside in time to avoid being entangled. The web struck a large rock behind him and immediately hardened into something stronger than iron chains.

Yorimitsu realized that his conventional fighting techniques would not be sufficient against such a supernatural opponent. He would need to use all of his intelligence and cunning, as well as his physical skills, if he hoped to defeat this monster.

“You are fast,” the spider acknowledged with grudging approval. “But speed alone will not save you from my webs. Soon you will be caught, and then you will provide me with entertainment for many hours before you finally die.”

The spider began to circle around Yorimitsu, moving with incredible speed and shooting web strands from various angles to try to entangle him. The young samurai used his agility and training to dodge most of these attacks, but he quickly realized that he was being gradually surrounded and would soon have no room to maneuver.

Thinking quickly, Yorimitsu remembered the items he had brought for protection against supernatural creatures. Reaching into his pouch, he pulled out the small mirror and held it up so that it reflected the goblin spider’s image back at itself.

The effect was immediate and dramatic. Upon seeing its own reflection, the spider let out a shriek of rage and pain, recoiling as if it had been struck by a physical blow. The mirror, blessed by Shinto priests, revealed the creature’s true demonic nature and caused it genuine harm.

“Clever boy,” the spider hissed, its many eyes now glowing even brighter with fury. “But that trick will only work once. Now I will show you powers that no mirror can deflect.”

The goblin spider began to weave with incredible speed, creating new webs all around the area where Yorimitsu stood. These webs were different from the earlier attacks – they seemed to shimmer with their own inner light and moved of their own accord, like living creatures seeking to entrap their prey.

Yorimitsu found himself in increasing danger as the magical webs closed in around him from all sides. He slashed at them with his sword, but even his finest blade could only cut through a few strands at a time, and the spider was creating new webs faster than he could destroy them.

Realizing that he needed to take more drastic action, Yorimitsu pulled out the paper talismans inscribed with protective prayers and threw them at the approaching webs. Where the sacred papers touched the spider’s creations, the webs burst into flames and were destroyed.

However, Yorimitsu had only a limited number of talismans, and he could see that the spider was far from defeated. He needed to find a way to attack the creature directly rather than simply defending against its magical abilities.

As the goblin spider prepared to launch another assault, Yorimitsu noticed something important about its behavior. Despite its supernatural powers and apparent confidence, the creature always kept its distance from his campfire and seemed uncomfortable when the flames burned brightly.

“Of course,” Yorimitsu thought to himself. “As a creature of darkness and shadow, it must be vulnerable to light and fire.”

Acting on this insight, Yorimitsu quickly grabbed a burning branch from his campfire and thrust it toward the advancing spider. The creature immediately backed away with a hiss of pain and anger, confirming his suspicion about its weakness.

“You cannot hide behind fire forever, samurai,” the spider taunted, but Yorimitsu could hear uncertainty in its voice for the first time since the battle had begun.

“Perhaps not,” Yorimitsu replied, “but I don’t need forever. I only need long enough to defeat you.”

Using the burning branch as both weapon and shield, Yorimitsu began to advance toward the goblin spider, forcing it to retreat deeper into the shadows. However, he knew that this strategy had limitations – the branch would eventually burn out, and he needed to find a way to deliver a decisive blow while he still had the advantage.

As they maneuvered around the rocky terrain, Yorimitsu noticed that the spider was gradually being driven toward a narrow crevice in the cliff wall. This gave him an idea for a strategy that might end the battle quickly.

Pretending to stumble, Yorimitsu allowed the spider to think it had gained an advantage and was about to attack. At the last moment, he threw the burning branch directly at the creature’s eyes, temporarily blinding it, and then rolled to one side.

The goblin spider, unable to see clearly and moving at high speed, crashed directly into the narrow crevice and became wedged between the rock walls. Its massive body was too large to fit through the opening, and its legs were trapped against the stone.

Seizing this opportunity, Yorimitsu drew his sword and struck at the spider’s vulnerable underside with all the skill and strength he possessed. His blade, forged by master swordsmiths and blessed by shrine priests, pierced the creature’s supernatural defenses and inflicted a mortal wound.

The goblin spider let out a final shriek that echoed throughout the mountain pass, and then its enormous body began to dissolve into shadows and mist. Within moments, nothing remained of the creature except a few wisps of dark smoke that were quickly dispersed by the mountain wind.

As dawn broke over the mountain pass, Yorimitsu surveyed the scene of his victory. The supernatural webs that had been scattered throughout the area had all disappeared with their creator’s death, and the oppressive atmosphere that had made the place so frightening was already beginning to lift.

Over the following days, Yorimitsu searched the spider’s lair and discovered the remains of many victims, which he treated with proper respect and arranged for honorable burial. He also found various treasures and personal items that could be returned to the families of those who had been lost.

When Yorimitsu returned to his lord’s castle and reported on his successful mission, the news spread quickly throughout the region. Within a week, merchants and travelers were once again using the mountain pass safely, and trade between the villages was restored to its former levels.

The story of Yorimitsu’s victory over the goblin spider became one of the most famous tales in the region, inspiring other warriors to face supernatural threats with courage and cleverness rather than relying solely on physical strength. It also served as a reminder that even the most powerful evil creatures could be defeated by those who combined bravery with wisdom and proper preparation.

Years later, when other supernatural threats appeared in different parts of the land, people would often say, “Remember how Yorimitsu defeated the goblin spider with fire and mirrors. Perhaps these new monsters also have weaknesses that can be discovered and exploited.”

And indeed, Yorimitsu’s example inspired many other heroes to research the nature of supernatural creatures and develop specific strategies for fighting them, leading to a golden age of monster-hunting that made the land safer for ordinary people who simply wanted to travel, trade, and live their lives in peace.

The mountain pass where the goblin spider had once terrorized travelers became known as “Victory Pass” in honor of Yorimitsu’s triumph, and a small shrine was built there to commemorate the battle and provide protection for future travelers. To this day, people who journey through that area leave small offerings at the shrine and whisper prayers of gratitude for the brave samurai who rid the world of one more threat from the supernatural realm.