Its movement was exactly like a gecko scaling a wall. Though it lasted only an instant, I clearly saw it wasn’t gripping with fingers—it pressed its entire palm flat against the surface, scrambling upward at terrifying speed…
Faster than any human sprint!
“What the hell is that thing?!”
I cursed under my breath, yanking out a crossbow bolt and drawing the string taut. Before I could nock the arrow, a shadow flickered at the edge of my vision. Instinctively ducking, I felt a long, whip-like tongue slash over my head—*CRACK!*—slamming into the ground behind me.
*SMASH!!!*
The sound of a steel whip splitting air. I stared dumbfounded as the cobblestone beneath that several-meter-long fleshy tongue shattered into fragments.
“Damn… how much force was that?!”
I sucked in a sharp breath. The next second, a gust of wind roared in my ears!
I thrust Great Black Eagle before me—
*It grabbed the crossbow!*
An immense force yanked it from my grip. Gritting my teeth, I squeezed the trigger!
*TWANG~~~~*
*SCREEEECH~~~~*
A shrill shriek pierced the air alongside the twang of the bowstring. Black blood splattered my clothes. Something *plopped* onto the ground beside me.
No time to look. The pull on the crossbow vanished. I leaped back, hurling Great Black Eagle into the nearby garden bushes, and lunged for the Samurai Sword’s hilt!
*WHOOSH!!*
Wind rushed past. A powerful force slammed into my right arm. Then—a long, slimy thing coiled around my body!
*Its tongue?!*
I didn’t know if it was truly a tongue, but one thing was certain: if this thing fully trapped me, I was dead.
Adrenaline surged. In that instant, a hot current flooded from my abdomen through my entire body. My heart hammered. A low *BUZZZZ* filled my ears. I slipped back into that strange supernatural state.
The world slowed. I saw the vein-covered tongue clearly now—slick with mucus and grit—already coiled once around my torso. But my left arm was still free!
A second later, and I’d have been finished.
Even in this heightened state, the monster was fast. Its tongue lashed toward me faster than its body could move!
“BREAK!!!”
A sharp cry tore from my throat. I whipped out the combat knife strapped to my chest. Left arm raised high—I slashed downward!
*SPLUTCH!!!*
Black gore sprayed across me. The severed tendril instantly went limp.
I tore free of the coils, straining to maintain the supernatural state. But exhaustion hit hard—I’d used it once this morning, and barely eight hours later, my body couldn’t handle the strain.
No time to dwell on it!
The monster’s mouth slowly opened in a pained roar. Its severed tongue retracted. I watched its throat bulge grotesquely as the tongue vanished. These creatures had evolved beyond human anatomy—beyond bones, they’d grown entirely new organs.
I’d learned through trial: this state lasted only three to five seconds. Twice a day, max.
Over a second had passed since I severed its tongue. In this state, time and space felt crystalline—I could reconstruct everything I saw into a perfect 3D model in my mind.
I threw myself sideways. Too late!
The supernatural state vanished like receding tide the moment I crashed into the bushes. Exhaustion nearly dragged my eyes shut.
But cold metal pressed against my palm—Great Black Eagle. I rolled, stomped the stirrup, and heaved the string back with every ounce of strength.
*URRRGH!*
*CLICK.*
The string locked into place just as a bloodcurdling shriek ripped from the monster—
*SKREEEEE!*
Chilling. But it revealed its position.
I snatched a bolt from my waist quiver, spun onto my stomach in the grass, and loaded it with practiced motions.
Next second—rapid footsteps? No. A wet, *squelching* sound. I snapped my head up!!!
One eye. One mouth. A body like a skinned human, veins and muscles exposed. Its round head and entire frame were covered in pulsating tumors. It charged on all fours like a hyena, reeking of decay!
*THUD!*
The shadow slammed into me. I’d barely risen when it sent me flying. White-hot pain exploded in my left shoulder—long claws had pierced clean through. A choked gasp escaped me.
*URK!*
Scenery blurred past. My vision filled with the five-story building—then spun to blue sky. My back crashed against cold metal.
*CLANG!!!!*
*Ugh…*
The impact rattled my bones. Dizziness washed over me in waves.
But the monster wasn’t done.
A shadow blotted out the sky. It loomed over me, that single massive eye—twice the size of a human’s—staring down.
*This is it… I’m dead. Great Black Eagle flew from my hands when I was thrown… Was I too arrogant?*
My body refused to surrender. My hand groped blindly behind me—fingers brushed rough metal. *Rebar.*
I remembered kids from the neighborhood stealing half-meter rebar rods from a construction site. Their mother’s screech echoed in my memory:
*“What do you need this for?! That sharp end could stab someone! Throw it away! Go do your homework!!”*
…Rebar. One end honed to a lethal point.
My only chance. One thrust when it pounced. I had almost no strength left…
But the monster didn’t pounce. Instead, a hand shot out—clamping over my face!
I watched helplessly as its palm filled my vision. Worm-like tendrils writhed across its skin.
*So… it climbs using these tendrils’ grip?*
It seized me. Instinctively, I grabbed its wrist with my left hand. Then—a brutal yank. It hoisted me by the head!
My entire weight hung from my neck. If my body weren’t unnaturally light, my spine would’ve snapped.
Why wasn’t it killing me? It held me high. My left hand gripped its tumor-covered forearm. My right hand… felt the cold, rough rebar behind my back. My last hope.
*Don’t rush… Don’t rush… One mistake, and I die.*
I couldn’t see, but it was studying me. Its height let it lift my 170cm frame effortlessly. Its hind legs supported its weight like a biped’s, yet moved with front-limb dexterity.
How high was I? Darkness pressed in. Tendrils squirmed against my cheeks—revolting. I wanted to vomit.
*Kill it now!*
*NO! Wait! Only one chance!*
I forced my muscles to relax. Maybe it wouldn’t sense the rebar hidden behind my back.
*Why isn’t it moving?*
Ten seconds passed. Suspended. No action.
*What is it doing?!*
Suddenly—a slimy hand slithered up my waist! Icy wetness made every hair stand on end. Nausea shot up my spine, prickling my scalp.
Then… it began tearing at my shirt!
*RRRIP!!*
Cool air hit my skin. Sunlight warmed my bare back. Its claws hooked into my undershirt—
*FUCK!!! Is it trying to mate with me?! I’d rather die than let that happen!!!*
The thought of that horror ignited pure fury.
My hidden hand thrust backward. The rebar rod—previously braced vertically against my spine—jerked forward like a spear.
“DIE, YOU BASTARD!!!”
