SPIDER-CHICA!

The gang found themselves standing before what could barely be called a building—a dilapidated, makeshift bookstore that had seemingly been forced into the shape of a library. The exterior was cracked and crooked, as if it had grown tired of standing upright. Its windows, darkened by layers of grime, were tinted black, giving no hint of what lay inside. Across the front, the words Public Library were painted in faded, uneven strokes, like a relic from a forgotten past.

Raphaela furrowed her brow. "How can this be a public library? It looks like it could collapse any second."

Ben shot her a sharp glance, eyes narrowing. "Ah, skepticism... again. When will you ever learn, Jasmine?"

Jasmine blinked in confusion. "I didn't say anything—"

Ben clutched his chest dramatically, staggering back with an exaggerated gasp. "Raphaela!" he cried, as if in agony. "I fear you've caught it too... the Doubting Thomas disease. Truly tragic, though he was a rather decent fellow."

Raphaela raised an eyebrow. "Are you serious?"

Ben approached her, gently placing a hand on her forehead as if checking for a fever. "No need to panic, child. There's still time to cure you—just open the door."

With an exasperated sigh, Raphaela stepped forward and grasped the door's handle. The moment her fingers touched the cold, rusting metal, a jolt of unease shot up her spine. Reluctantly, she pushed it open.

The door creaked, an unnerving wail echoing into the air. When she stepped inside, her breath caught in her throat. Stretching before her were endless rows of towering bookshelves, each packed with ancient, dust-covered tomes. But the shelves didn't end—they spiraled downward into an abyss, disappearing into an infinite void that seemed to swallow the light itself. The air felt heavy, charged with an almost unbearable sense of the unknown. It smelled of old parchment and forgotten secrets.

Looking up, Raphaela gasped. The ceiling wasn't a ceiling at all—it was the open sky, impossibly bright and sunny, as if the day had bent itself to exist in this strange realm. Clouds drifted lazily, but they were far too high, distant in a way that made her feel dizzy, like she was standing on the edge of the world.

And then, as if the surreal atmosphere wasn't enough, she spotted something truly absurd. A towering, decaying T-Rex shuffled between the shelves, its skeleton half-rotted yet still impossibly alive. It wore oversized, comical granny spectacles perched delicately on its nose as it carefully placed books on the shelves, its bony hands moving with an eerie gentleness.

Raphaela's heart raced. She took an instinctive step back, slamming the door shut. Turning toward Ben, her voice trembled with a mix of disbelief and anger. "What... the hell is that?!"

Ben's expression was calm, almost smug. "What?"

"You know what," she shot back, her pulse still pounding in her ears.

"That was insane," Jasmine whispered, still wide-eyed, cradled in Rapheala's arms 

Ben chuckled darkly. "Well, ladies, perhaps next time you'll learn not to judge a book by its cover." His smile faded into something more serious. "Come on, now. You've had your little shock. We can't waste any more time."

Without waiting for them to respond, Ben flung the door open again. This time, as they stepped inside, the world had shifted once more. Gone was the bright sky. Instead, they found themselves beneath an endless, star-streaked night. The air was thick with wonder, the kind of night where the heavens stretched forever, revealing swirling galaxies and radiant nebulae in vivid, impossible colors. Stars burned and blinked in patterns that seemed almost alive, like the universe itself was aware of their presence.

The shelves were no longer dusty, ancient relics. They shimmered now, gleaming with ethereal light as the books pulsed gently, as if filled with untapped magic. Planets hung lazily between the towering aisles, their surfaces glowing faintly as they slowly drifted by. Each one appeared to hold entire worlds within them, glimpses of vast oceans, towering cities, and endless forests just beyond the surface.

Ben's voice broke the silence, his tone almost reverent. "Welcome to the Public Library. Infinite knowledge awaits you... if you dare reach for it."

The infinite library stretched around them, a realm of boundless knowledge and impossible wonders. Raphaela, still mesmerized by the cosmic ceiling, couldn't help but quip, "Does everything here come with a catchphrase?"

Her words were cut short by a bone-chilling shriek that shattered the ethereal silence. Jasmine's eyes widened in disbelief. "Holy cosmos! That's... that's an actual alien! A little green man!"

Raphaela, her curiosity overpowering her shock, unceremoniously tossed Jasmine aside and approached the diminutive extraterrestrial. She flashed a toothy grin that was probably meant to be friendly but came across as slightly unhinged. "Hello there!"

The alien's complexion shifted from forest green to ashen gray in terror. Ben, exasperated, yanked Raphaela back by her hair. "For the love of all celestial bodies, can't you see you're terrifying him? One might think you've never encountered an alien before."

"We haven't!" the girls protested in unison.

Ben sighed, a hint of melancholy in his voice. "They used to visit frequently, you know. Then they vanished. Who knows what you humans did to spook them off? Anyway, we're not here for an extraterrestrial meet-and-greet. We're looking for Marba. Is he in?"

The alien, regaining its composure, produced a holographic tablet from thin air. "Do you have an appointment?"

"We don't," Ben replied, oozing confidence.

"Then I'm afraid I can't-"

"Tell him, his old friend Hastur is here."

The alien hesitated, then vanished in a shimmer of light.

Raphaela, overcome with emotion, dramatically fell to her knees. "Where are you, my brother?!" she wailed to the cosmos.

"Shhh!" The zombie T-Rex librarian attempted to shush her, but its efforts only resulted in its arm detaching with a soft 'plop'.

Jasmine grimaced. "Well, that's unfortunate."

The alien reappeared, startling everyone. "He will see you now."

Ben straightened his nonexistent tie. "Right, everyone. Best behavior. Raphaela, do something about that hair, and for heaven's sake, fold up those extra limbs. You look like you're searching for interdimensional Wi-Fi. Jasmine... well, just try to look presentable."

They huddled around the alien, and in a flash of light that tasted faintly of stardust and old books, they materialized in an opulent office. Floor-to-ceiling bookshelves lined the walls, each tome whispering secrets of the universe. At the center stood an imposing desk, and atop it perched a wooden owl that seemed to follow their movements with unnervingly lifelike eyes.

As they took in their new surroundings, the air crackled with potential. Whatever – or whoever – awaited them here, it was clear their adventure was about to take an even more extraordinary turn.

The alien gestured with a fluid motion. "Please, be seated."

They settled into chairs that seemed to embrace them, Raphaela gently placing Jasmine on her lap. As the alien glided out, the wooden owl on the desk swiveled to face them, its eyes flickering to life with an otherworldly glow.

"Hastur!" the owl's voice resonated with ancient power. "Old friend, it's been eons. Still favoring that avatar, I see. How have the cosmic winds treated you?"

"I've weathered them well," Ben replied, but his voice had transformed. It now carried a commanding presence that seemed to bend reality around it.

The owl's head tilted, curiosity evident. "Ah, the King in Yellow himself graces us. And you've brought companions on your journey."

"Indeed. This is Jasmine and Raphaela," Hastur introduced.

"H-hello," the girls stammered, their voices a mix of awe and trepidation.

The owl's gaze seemed to pierce through dimensions. "I suspect this isn't a cordial visit to reminisce about old times?"

"Your perception remains sharp," Hastur replied. "I seek information."

"Direct as ever," the owl chuckled, its tone taking on an ominous edge. "But you know well that knowledge of this caliber comes at a price."

Hastur nodded, a knowing glint in his eyes. "Let me guess - you require an... acquisition?"

"Close," the owl's eyes gleamed with dark anticipation. "This time, it's acquisition and elimination."

Hastur glanced at the girls, who nodded solemnly, understanding the gravity of the situation. "We accept your terms."

"Excellent," the owl's voice dripped with sinister glee. "I trust you're prepared for the challenge, diminished as you may be. Your target is a Yokai."

"A Yokai?" Raphaela exclaimed, unable to contain her surprise.

The owl's attention snapped to her, its gaze intensifying. "You're familiar with these spirits?"

"Yes, they're from-" Raphaela began, excitement momentarily overriding caution.

"Don't say it," Jasmine hissed urgently.

"-the anime I watch," Raphaela finished, her enthusiasm dampened.

"Ah, yes. Anime," the owl responded, its tone carefully neutral yet tinged with amusement.

Hastur leaned forward, his presence filling the room. "If I may inquire, who is our target, and what drives this request?"

The owl's eyes glowed with an intensity that seemed to draw the very shadows closer. Its voice, now a haunting whisper, filled the room with an otherworldly chill.

"This spirit," it began, each word laden with ancient dread, "was once human. But humanity wasn't enough. She clawed her way into witchcraft, then ascended to become a fox spirit. Yet even that power failed to sate her endless hunger."

The air grew thick, making it difficult to breathe as the owl continued its tale. "She sought to become a key – not just any key, but one capable of sealing my brothers and sisters within Solomon's flask. Her ultimate goal? To drain the Goetia of all our power, to claim it as her own."

Raphaela and Jasmine exchanged wide-eyed glances, their hearts pounding in unison with the gravity of the revelation.

"Her ambition knew no bounds," the owl's voice grew harsher. "She dared to wage war against my father, attempting to wrest control of the underworld itself. We had no choice but to act."

The room seemed to darken, shadows dancing at the edges of their vision as the owl described an unholy alliance. "My father, in his infinite cunning, forged a plan with the emperor of that era. Together, we managed to strike her down, sealing her essence within the Seki stone."

A moment of tense silence fell, broken only by the sound of their own ragged breathing.

"But now," the owl's eyes flared with an urgent, terrifying light, "the unthinkable has happened. The seal has shattered. She roams free once more, her heart burning with vengeance. Already, one sealing agent rests in her grasp. All that remains between her and unimaginable power is Solomon's flask."

The owl paused, the weight of cosmic dread hanging in the air. "The name of this being, this force of chaos we unleashed upon the world, is-"

"Tamamo no Mae!" Raphaela shouted, leaping from her seat, her voice a mix of excitement and terror.

The name echoed through the room like a forbidden incantation, leaving them all to wonder what horrors they had just invited into their lives.

"That is correct, Raphaela Gomez. Born to Elaina and Diego Gomez. Raphaela, your name comes from your mother's great-grandmother," the owl said, its voice smooth yet laced with ancient knowledge.

Raphaela's brow furrowed. "How… how do you know that?" she asked, her heart quickening.

The owl's glowing eyes fixed on her. "We know everything, little one. But let's not waste time on trivial details. Do this task for me, and I will tell you exactly where Medea is."

Her breath caught at the mention of that name. "Medea… But how are we supposed to get to Japan?"

The owl's feathers rustled as it tilted its head slightly. "You're a Jorogumo, aren't you? You've devoured enough souls to give you significant power. Opening a gateway spell shouldn't be too difficult for you."

Raphaela blinked in confusion. "A gateway spell?"

The owl sighed, a hint of amusement in its voice. "You've barely scratched the surface of your abilities, haven't you? Fine. I'll give you a book detailing every power you possess. You're going to need all the help you can get. Do this for me, and I'll reveal exactly where Medea is. Do we have a deal?"

Its eyes now shifted to Ben, who hadn't spoken a word since the conversation began. His gaze was steady, calculating.

"Deal," Ben said finally, his voice firm.

"Good," the owl replied, closing its eyes as if sealing the pact. It turned away, its presence diminishing, leaving the room feeling suddenly colder. Without warning, the little green alien appeared beside them, its strange aura filling the space.

With a blink, they were teleported to the lobby. The alien handed Raphaela a worn, leather-bound book.

"Thank you," Raphaela said, still feeling disoriented.

"My pleasure," the alien replied with a mischievous grin, before vanishing into thin air.

The group hurried outside toward the towering tree, Ben leading the way. He muttered an incantation, and with a soft shimmer, they stepped through the gate and returned home. Raphaela's phone buzzed in her pocket. She glanced at the screen, her eyes widening.

"Twelve minutes?!" she exclaimed, looking around in disbelief.

"Oh, right," Ben said casually. "I forgot to mention. Time works differently there. One minute here equals an hour there. That's why I was never in a rush."

"Interesting," Jasmine murmured, clearly still processing everything.

Ben stretched, a sly grin playing on his lips. "Well, I'm heading home. You might want to do the same. I've got a feeling your dad's calling in an early shift today."

Raphaela shot him a look. "You wouldn't dare…"

"As I said, sometimes I just can't help myself," Ben said with a smirk.

Raphaela sighed, shaking her head. "Oh, before I go, I learned something new on my way here."

She tossed the book to Jasmine and took a few steps back, her posture shifting. She crossed her arms over her chest and crouched low, tension rippling through her body. Then, with a powerful leap, she spun into the air. A thunderous bang echoed, and golden smoke billowed around her. When she landed with a booming thud, the smoke cleared, revealing her true form—her Jorogumo form.

Jasmine's eyes widened in awe. "Is it just me, or is she bigger than last time?"

Ben nodded slowly. "Yeah, she's definitely grown."

Raphaela grinned, her form towering over them. "Come on, no time for chit-chat. Let's go."

Jasmine didn't hesitate, hopping onto Raphaela's back with a laugh. "Alright, I'm coming!"

"Let's see who wins now!" Raphaela called, her voice rumbling with excitement as she dashed forward, racing toward home, her friends holding on tight.

The night air whipped past them, the thrill of the unknown just beginning to unfold.