"Something's wrong!"
The feel was off. A normal human body has a spine, making it hard to slice cleanly in half. Yet this cut was swift and unimpeded, like slicing through dark bread.
Sophia sensed the danger. Instantly, a golden Holy Light coated her skin. Right then, two whip-like Tentacles lashed at her. The Holy Light blocked them, but the force still shoved her back nearly a meter. That showed their terrifying power.
"What is this thing?"
No blood oozed from the severed corpse’s wound. Instead, countless Tentacles sprouted. Two long ones—the culprits that attacked Sophia—whipped forward.
The upper half of the body rose on Tentacles, making guttural sounds like fists pounding a wall. Then, neat red cracks split the mayor’s face, running from scalp to neck beneath his clothes. Like a blooming flower, they spread open, revealing a brain wrapped in pink Tentacles and a writhing mass beneath.
Mimic Tentacle—a deadly variant. It let victims stay unaware as their bodies, except the brain, were replaced. The mayor’s organs were long gone; only his mind remained. Normally, it barely affected him, just tweaking his attitude. But in deep sleep, it seized his body for its own tasks.
Now exposed, the mayor’s body was useless. The protected brain was swiftly devoured by Tentacles.
Smarter than ordinary Tentacles, it consumed human brains to learn and grow. Thus, it always ranked top three on threat lists. No one had tasted it—and Rein had zero interest. She cared more that this Tentacle seemed fixated on her.
Tentacles sensed the world in many ways. This Mimic Tentacle used eyes—two of them, perched on specific Tentacles, locked onto Rein. With partial human intelligence, it knew how to threaten: kidnap a weaker target without attacking, buying escape time. But true to its nature, it couldn’t resist girls. Rein absolutely didn’t want its touch.
Rein could crush it alone. A prepared Mage was untouchable. But she couldn’t prepare now—Hill stood beside her, unmoving. Rein had no clue what Hill was thinking.
Countless Tentacles, snake-like, lunged at Sophia. She stayed calm; the Holy Light shielded her. These attacks meant nothing. After slicing a few, she noticed the mass shifting sideways, inch by inch, as if searching.
Sophia realized Rein and Hill were behind her. During a lull, she glanced back. Hill looked off—flushed like she was drunk, her body swaying unsteadily. Rein hesitated to cast magic, held back by Hill’s presence.
Sophia slashed the Tentacles around her and rushed to Hill. Feeling a shoulder to lean on, Hill slumped into Sophia’s arms, eyes closing as if asleep.
"What happened?"
"She was drugged..."
Rein eyed the eager Tentacles. They wanted to attack but feared Sophia’s strength.
"Take her back first! With her here... I can’t fight properly!"
"Can you handle it alone?"
"Don’t forget those basement Tentacles couldn’t touch me."
"Then be careful!"
Sophia hoisted Hill onto her shoulder and hurried away, leaving Rein alone against the writhing mass.
