The mutation began to spiral uncontrollably. In the next moment, the creature's body began to swell dramatically. Its exposed flesh formed countless bulges, as if something was frantically writhing and struggling inside, desperate to burst out.
Outlines of human faces, tentacles, and other indescribable shapes continuously emerged and pulsed on its surface.
"Warning... Encountering unknown mutation disturbance... Initiating high-level analysis... Launching emergency full-scale suppression... Target analysis... Target analysis successful... Commencing countermeasures... Warning... Target experiencing abnormal rapid mutations... Analysis data invalid... Commencing secondary analysis... Secondary analysis successful... Launching countermea... Warning... New mutation detected... Data invalid... Third deconstruction... Data invalid... Fourth deconstruction... Data invalid..."
A cacophony of jumbled voices resonated from within the creature, echoing its turmoil. Outside, Babe, who had managed to break free due to the unexpected turn of events, opened its mouth wide in shock, staring at the contorting, bulging monstrosity. It couldn't comprehend what had just happened.
However, it could distinctly sense that, at that very moment, inside that creature, an innumerable amount of inexplicable entities were burgeoning at a wild rate. And what's more, it realized that all these growing entities bore the scent of that human boy!
By its side, the half-shattered form of the Blood Clad Evil Spirit suddenly opened her eyes. Under the influence of the potent Flesh Regeneration Potion, her mangled body began to heal rapidly.
"What... What is..."
Before she could process the situation, her gaze was captivated by the distorted, grotesque form of the creature in the distance. And at that very instant, she sensed a familiar presence emanating from within the creature.
"Could it be..."
Her complexion turned deathly pale, and she forced herself to her feet.
"Lynne?!"
"Unable to decipher... Data corrupted... Mutation rate exceeds core analysis capacity... Initiating highest level consumption directive... Activating paramount countermeasures..."
"Spiritual counterattack initiated... Furnace mode activated... Biological extermination mode commenced... Consumption... Hunt... Warning... Annihilation..."
The fleshy monstrosity began to screech wildly. Countless arms that grew from its body thrust straight into its own flesh with a sloshing sound.
[Warning! Affected by the flesh puppet's growth, mutation spiraling out of control!]
[Warning! External flesh interference detected! Mutation spreading rapidly!]
[Ding! A Level-9 mutation has occurred in your body!]
[Ding! A Level-9 mutation has occurred in your body!]
Sloshing—
Almost instantaneously, under the horrified gazes of the Blood Clad Evil Spirit and that massive tongue, a gigantic tentacle covered in hollow human faces exploded out of the creature's body.
With a shudder, the tentacle stretched out hundreds of meters into the sky. A roar resonated throughout the heavens. Such immense force caused the entire street to rumble and quake.
"What... What in the world is that?"
At that moment, even the Blood Clad Evil Spirit couldn't help but retreat in fear. For she clearly saw that the terrifying faces spreading across that monstrous tentacle bore an exact resemblance to Lynne!
Twisted, chaotic, calamitous!
And in the very next moment, another transformation occurred. A massive gash abruptly tore through the monster's immense vertical eye, from which copious amounts of thick, crimson fluid began to pour.
"Waa—Waa—"
The horrifying cries of infants echoed. From within the thick, crimson fluid, embryonic babies struggled to free themselves. And strikingly, each baby bore a face identical to Lynne.
[Babe's Sanity -50]
[Blood Clad Evil Spirit's Sanity -40]
At that moment, even the Blood Clad Evil Spirit was petrified by the horrifying spectacle. A fear that seemed to pierce one's very soul, continually tainting one's vision.
And these were just two calamities that had broken free. She clearly saw that inside that monster, countless creatures writhed and screamed.
"Biological extermination activated... Biological extermination initiated... Commencing emergency annihilation..."
Rapid commands emanated from within the creature's body. The flesh monstrosity struggled. One of its arms suddenly morphed into the head of a dragon covered in tumorous growths, spewing scorching breath toward the wailing embryonic infants on the ground.
Whoosh—
Terrifying flames engulfed the terrain.
On the other side, arms sprouting from it started frantically entangling with the tentacle covered in countless faces, ceaselessly tearing and hunting. The scene quickly devolved into a chaotic brawl.
"Warning... Third, fourth, and fifth unidentified mutations are about to break free... Biological extermination... Annihilation..."
Squelch—Squelch—
Almost the instant that voice sounded, several continuously contorting flesh amalgamations burst from the creature's back. Features chaotically fused onto them, and as soon as they appeared, they screamed and bit into the creature's body. The monster was overwhelmed. Countless arms sloshed around, hurriedly dealing with these new mutations.
This terrifying scene left the Blood Clad Evil Spirit pale-faced. She quickly activated her spectral vision. And when she saw the internal situation clearly, her face contorted in horror.
"Lynne!"
In truth, she could no longer distinguish Lynne's silhouette within.
Twisting within the creature was essentially a mass of flesh undergoing ceaseless lethal mutations! Endless, fearsome mutations, much like the gushing of floodwaters from a breached dam, erupted from that chunk of flesh.
Disaster! An almost unimaginably tainted calamity!
"Warning... Unable to contain... Biological extermination failure... Target threat level escalated to zero..."
"Initiating emergency flesh reconstitution... Activating emergency contingency plan..."
The voice emanating from within the creature grew increasingly frantic. And in the very next moment, its entire bodily tissue began to compress inward. An uncontrollable and persistent high temperature radiated from every inch of its body, ceaselessly squeezing its internal structure.
It seemed to be attempting to purge the internal mutations entirely using this method.
[Ding! Host's flesh undergoing comprehensive invasion and consumption! Host's life severely depleted!]
[Ding! Your body has undergone a Level-9 mutation!]
[Ding! Mutation failure. Flesh severely interfered at the cellular level. Abnormal life form detected! Abnormal material composition!]
[Warning! Host's body undergoing an unknown special mutation!]
[Ding! Unknown level mutation detected! Unknown level mutation has developed sentience! Unable to control! Unable to control!]
At that very moment, the Blood Clad Evil Spirit's spectral vision was abruptly severed. But in the split second, before the connection was lost, she caught a glimpse of something horrifying sprouting from that contorted mass of flesh. Almost simultaneously, the monster's body began to swell dramatically, continuously exuding thick, viscous blood.
"Warning... Special unknown mutation detected... Unable to decipher... Hastening reconstitution process urgently... Target displays intense hostility... Target displays overwhelming consumption desire... Flesh reconstitution constrained...
Warning... Target begins to consume structure... Spiritual countermeasure ineffective... Flesh reconstitution ineffective... Biological extermination ineffective... Target rapidly growing... Structural damage at 12%... 21%... 26%... Unable to contain... Unable to contain..."
In the outside world, under the gaze of the Blood Clad Evil Spirit, the numerous protrusions on the monster's skin began to smooth out at a visibly rapid pace. Yet, it didn't seem like a mere suppression. Instead, it appeared as though something was devouring it from the inside.
"Hee hee hee—hahaha—"
From within, a series of eerie childish giggles echoed, sending chills down the spine of the Blood Clad Evil Spirit. Her pupils trembled. For that laughter mirrored the very same deranged chuckles she herself emitted when she transitioned into her combat form.
For a fleeting moment, a horrifying suspicion took root in her mind. Inside the beast, some unimaginable catastrophe was unfolding, and among it, remnants of the curses and shards of her body that had previously been consumed.
"What... what is this...?"
Suddenly, she witnessed the arms that sprouted from the monster retract as if they were being pulled directly into its core, collapsing inward. One after the other. In just a blink, all of its arms were yanked forcefully into its body.
"Hee hee hee—hahaha—"
Following closely, the tentacle covered with Lynne faces that had previously erupted from the creature was also abruptly drawn into the monster's form. And after that came the countless, terrifying embryos spilling out.
Crunch—crunch—
The dreadful sound of gnashing emanated continuously from the creature's insides.
[Blood Clad Evil Spirit's Sanity -10]
[Blood Clad Evil Spirit's Sanity -10]
"Warning… Warning… System failure… Damage to body at 88%… Warning… Target begins to consume the core… Target commences consumption… Sss… Warn…"
The Blood Clad Evil Spirit shuddered violently. The abruptly interrupted voice filled the Blood Clad Evil Spirit with an overwhelming surge of unease. Then she saw the monster's pupils quickly fade, its massive body, as if drained of all strength, collapsed to one side. It was as though something had completely hollowed it out from the inside just moments before!
Crack—
A gash appeared on one side of the body. A blood-soaked hand dangled out from the gash, twitching slightly before falling still.
Blood Clad Evil Spirit stood there, stunned. For a moment, her mind was utterly blank, lost in bewilderment. It wasn't until she snapped back to reality that her breathing became labored.
"The flesh puppet... is dead?"
...
Meanwhile, in the Dark World, within a tower that stood inverted on the ground.
Boom—
A deafening explosion suddenly erupted from some facility at the base of the tower. The violent energy fluctuations instantly wiped out all life within that area.
"Warning… Warning… [Blood-Flesh Puppet Type 3] connection lost… Target search initiated… Damage at 98%... Complete linkage failure…"
Inside the Hanged Tower, piercing warning alarms continued to sound. Fierce flames spread from the control facilities, and countless personnel, their faces pale, fled from the corridors in panic.
"What's happening?!"
From the deepest part of the Hanged Tower, a somber and raspy voice emanated from a large bubbling container.
"Master! The Type 3 flesh puppet we dispatched to hunt down Bloodsaw and his allies has lost connection! The backlash wave burned the Type 3 puppet's control base!"
A figure cloaked in black robes hurriedly entered the chamber through the main doors. Around that immense container, at the many massive tables, dozens of demonic beings all changed color in shock.
"Is this some kind of joke?!" A towering demonfolk, several meters tall, stood up, his face twisted in rage. "The Type 3 Flesh Puppet is the pinnacle hunter of our Demonfolk Association, unmatched except by Origin-level beings and those of the King class! Who in this Dark World could possibly oppose it?!"
The surrounding demonfolk all wore grave expressions. For in recent times, the destructive power and hunting prowess of the Type 3 Blood-Flesh had been evident to all.
Within the last three days, all the rebels of the Demonfolk Association who refused to return had been almost entirely wiped out by the relentless pursuit of the Type 3 Puppet. And just five days prior, one of their Puppets had even engaged with a mighty being of the King class. Though it was defeated, the opponent also struggled against their puppet.
"Bloodsaw?" From the immense container at the center of the hall, a raspy voice emerged. "I am familiar with him. The original puppet was led by him and four others in a five-member council. However, the current generation of flesh puppets has far surpassed that era. He doesn't have the capability to destroy my masterpiece."
The crowd exchanged glances, all with furrowed brows.
"Order," The raspy voice sounded again. "Pinpoint the location where the connection to the Type 3 Puppet was lost. Immediately dispatch the Predator Squad and send the Type 3 Puppet Unit 4 to the target site for urgent reconnaissance. We must obtain the most accurate information!"
"Yes!"
The crowd bowed in acknowledgment.
...
Wandering Soul Lane.
A street enveloped in a rising dark mist.
The Blood Clad Evil Spirit rushed swiftly to the fallen creature, forcefully tearing open the gash on its body. But when she saw the interior, even she couldn't help but gasp, her complexion turning ashen.
For the inside of the beast seemed to be entirely hollowed out, leaving just a thin outer shell. The inner walls were littered with countless gnawing marks.
Clearly, not long ago, an indescribable and terrifying mutation occurred within this monster. Now, all the mutated flesh tissues were gone, which led one to speculate whether they had been entirely consumed by something.
"Lynne, are you alright?"
She gritted her teeth, swiftly shaking her head to cast all the fear behind her. With swift motions, she broke through the monster's empty husk, grabbing the hand and forcefully dragging it out from the shell.
Splash—
A torrent of putrid blood gushed forth. Lynne's body resembled a freshly born infant. His clothes had long since been lost, but what was eerie was that his body remained undamaged, not missing any parts.
It was as if all the horrifying events that had just transpired had nothing to do with him. And the more normal he appeared, the more she felt an indescribable sense of strangeness and horror.
"No time to think! Let's get out of here!"
The Blood Clad Evil Spirit swiftly hoisted him onto her back. Lynne leaned against her shoulder, eyes shut, his left hand hanging limply, swinging with inertia. But what went unnoticed was a long tongue that suddenly extended from the palm, licking the bloodstain on the back of his hand, before quickly retracting.
...
The mutation began to spiral uncontrollably. In the next moment, the creature's body began to swell dramatically. Its exposed flesh formed countless bulges, as if something was frantically writhing and struggling inside, desperate to burst out.
Outlines of human faces, tentacles, and other indescribable shapes continuously emerged and pulsed on its surface.
"Warning... Encountering unknown mutation disturbance... Initiating high-level analysis... Launching emergency full-scale suppression... Target analysis... Target analysis successful... Commencing countermeasures... Warning... Target experiencing abnormal rapid mutations... Analysis data invalid... Commencing secondary analysis... Secondary analysis successful... Launching countermea... Warning... New mutation detected... Data invalid... Third deconstruction... Data invalid... Fourth deconstruction... Data invalid..."
A cacophony of jumbled voices resonated from within the creature, echoing its turmoil. Outside, Babe, who had managed to break free due to the unexpected turn of events, opened its mouth wide in shock, staring at the contorting, bulging monstrosity. It couldn't comprehend what had just happened.
However, it could distinctly sense that, at that very moment, inside that creature, an innumerable amount of inexplicable entities were burgeoning at a wild rate. And what's more, it realized that all these growing entities bore the scent of that human boy!
By its side, the half-shattered form of the Blood Clad Evil Spirit suddenly opened her eyes. Under the influence of the potent Flesh Regeneration Potion, her mangled body began to heal rapidly.
"What... What is..."
Before she could process the situation, her gaze was captivated by the distorted, grotesque form of the creature in the distance. And at that very instant, she sensed a familiar presence emanating from within the creature.
"Could it be..."
Her complexion turned deathly pale, and she forced herself to her feet.
"Lynne?!"
"Unable to decipher... Data corrupted... Mutation rate exceeds core analysis capacity... Initiating highest level consumption directive... Activating paramount countermeasures..."
"Spiritual counterattack initiated... Furnace mode activated... Biological extermination mode commenced... Consumption... Hunt... Warning... Annihilation..."
The fleshy monstrosity began to screech wildly. Countless arms that grew from its body thrust straight into its own flesh with a sloshing sound.
[Warning! Affected by the flesh puppet's growth, mutation spiraling out of control!]
[Warning! External flesh interference detected! Mutation spreading rapidly!]
[Ding! A Level-9 mutation has occurred in your body!]
[Ding! A Level-9 mutation has occurred in your body!]
Sloshing—
Almost instantaneously, under the horrified gazes of the Blood Clad Evil Spirit and that massive tongue, a gigantic tentacle covered in hollow human faces exploded out of the creature's body.
With a shudder, the tentacle stretched out hundreds of meters into the sky. A roar resonated throughout the heavens. Such immense force caused the entire street to rumble and quake.
"What... What in the world is that?"
At that moment, even the Blood Clad Evil Spirit couldn't help but retreat in fear. For she clearly saw that the terrifying faces spreading across that monstrous tentacle bore an exact resemblance to Lynne!
Twisted, chaotic, calamitous!
And in the very next moment, another transformation occurred. A massive gash abruptly tore through the monster's immense vertical eye, from which copious amounts of thick, crimson fluid began to pour.
"Waa—Waa—"
The horrifying cries of infants echoed. From within the thick, crimson fluid, embryonic babies struggled to free themselves. And strikingly, each baby bore a face identical to Lynne.
[Babe's Sanity -50]
[Blood Clad Evil Spirit's Sanity -40]
At that moment, even the Blood Clad Evil Spirit was petrified by the horrifying spectacle. A fear that seemed to pierce one's very soul, continually tainting one's vision.
And these were just two calamities that had broken free. She clearly saw that inside that monster, countless creatures writhed and screamed.
"Biological extermination activated... Biological extermination initiated... Commencing emergency annihilation..."
Rapid commands emanated from within the creature's body. The flesh monstrosity struggled. One of its arms suddenly morphed into the head of a dragon covered in tumorous growths, spewing scorching breath toward the wailing embryonic infants on the ground.
Whoosh—
Terrifying flames engulfed the terrain.
On the other side, arms sprouting from it started frantically entangling with the tentacle covered in countless faces, ceaselessly tearing and hunting. The scene quickly devolved into a chaotic brawl.
"Warning... Third, fourth, and fifth unidentified mutations are about to break free... Biological extermination... Annihilation..."
Squelch—Squelch—
Almost the instant that voice sounded, several continuously contorting flesh amalgamations burst from the creature's back. Features chaotically fused onto them, and as soon as they appeared, they screamed and bit into the creature's body. The monster was overwhelmed. Countless arms sloshed around, hurriedly dealing with these new mutations.
This terrifying scene left the Blood Clad Evil Spirit pale-faced. She quickly activated her spectral vision. And when she saw the internal situation clearly, her face contorted in horror.
"Lynne!"
In truth, she could no longer distinguish Lynne's silhouette within.
Twisting within the creature was essentially a mass of flesh undergoing ceaseless lethal mutations! Endless, fearsome mutations, much like the gushing of floodwaters from a breached dam, erupted from that chunk of flesh.
Disaster! An almost unimaginably tainted calamity!
"Warning... Unable to contain... Biological extermination failure... Target threat level escalated to zero..."
"Initiating emergency flesh reconstitution... Activating emergency contingency plan..."
The voice emanating from within the creature grew increasingly frantic. And in the very next moment, its entire bodily tissue began to compress inward. An uncontrollable and persistent high temperature radiated from every inch of its body, ceaselessly squeezing its internal structure.
It seemed to be attempting to purge the internal mutations entirely using this method.
[Ding! Host's flesh undergoing comprehensive invasion and consumption! Host's life severely depleted!]
[Ding! Your body has undergone a Level-9 mutation!]
[Ding! Mutation failure. Flesh severely interfered at the cellular level. Abnormal life form detected! Abnormal material composition!]
[Warning! Host's body undergoing an unknown special mutation!]
[Ding! Unknown level mutation detected! Unknown level mutation has developed sentience! Unable to control! Unable to control!]
At that very moment, the Blood Clad Evil Spirit's spectral vision was abruptly severed. But in the split second, before the connection was lost, she caught a glimpse of something horrifying sprouting from that contorted mass of flesh. Almost simultaneously, the monster's body began to swell dramatically, continuously exuding thick, viscous blood.
"Warning... Special unknown mutation detected... Unable to decipher... Hastening reconstitution process urgently... Target displays intense hostility... Target displays overwhelming consumption desire... Flesh reconstitution constrained...
Warning... Target begins to consume structure... Spiritual countermeasure ineffective... Flesh reconstitution ineffective... Biological extermination ineffective... Target rapidly growing... Structural damage at 12%... 21%... 26%... Unable to contain... Unable to contain..."
In the outside world, under the gaze of the Blood Clad Evil Spirit, the numerous protrusions on the monster's skin began to smooth out at a visibly rapid pace. Yet, it didn't seem like a mere suppression. Instead, it appeared as though something was devouring it from the inside.
"Hee hee hee—hahaha—"
From within, a series of eerie childish giggles echoed, sending chills down the spine of the Blood Clad Evil Spirit. Her pupils trembled. For that laughter mirrored the very same deranged chuckles she herself emitted when she transitioned into her combat form.
For a fleeting moment, a horrifying suspicion took root in her mind. Inside the beast, some unimaginable catastrophe was unfolding, and among it, remnants of the curses and shards of her body that had previously been consumed.
"What... what is this...?"
Suddenly, she witnessed the arms that sprouted from the monster retract as if they were being pulled directly into its core, collapsing inward. One after the other. In just a blink, all of its arms were yanked forcefully into its body.
"Hee hee hee—hahaha—"
Following closely, the tentacle covered with Lynne faces that had previously erupted from the creature was also abruptly drawn into the monster's form. And after that came the countless, terrifying embryos spilling out.
Crunch—crunch—
The dreadful sound of gnashing emanated continuously from the creature's insides.
[Blood Clad Evil Spirit's Sanity -10]
[Blood Clad Evil Spirit's Sanity -10]
"Warning… Warning… System failure… Damage to body at 88%… Warning… Target begins to consume the core… Target commences consumption… Sss… Warn…"
The Blood Clad Evil Spirit shuddered violently. The abruptly interrupted voice filled the Blood Clad Evil Spirit with an overwhelming surge of unease. Then she saw the monster's pupils quickly fade, its massive body, as if drained of all strength, collapsed to one side. It was as though something had completely hollowed it out from the inside just moments before!
Crack—
A gash appeared on one side of the body. A blood-soaked hand dangled out from the gash, twitching slightly before falling still.
Blood Clad Evil Spirit stood there, stunned. For a moment, her mind was utterly blank, lost in bewilderment. It wasn't until she snapped back to reality that her breathing became labored.
"The flesh puppet... is dead?"
...
Meanwhile, in the Dark World, within a tower that stood inverted on the ground.
Boom—
A deafening explosion suddenly erupted from some facility at the base of the tower. The violent energy fluctuations instantly wiped out all life within that area.
"Warning… Warning… [Blood-Flesh Puppet Type 3] connection lost… Target search initiated… Damage at 98%... Complete linkage failure…"
Inside the Hanged Tower, piercing warning alarms continued to sound. Fierce flames spread from the control facilities, and countless personnel, their faces pale, fled from the corridors in panic.
"What's happening?!"
From the deepest part of the Hanged Tower, a somber and raspy voice emanated from a large bubbling container.
"Master! The Type 3 flesh puppet we dispatched to hunt down Bloodsaw and his allies has lost connection! The backlash wave burned the Type 3 puppet's control base!"
A figure cloaked in black robes hurriedly entered the chamber through the main doors. Around that immense container, at the many massive tables, dozens of demonic beings all changed color in shock.
"Is this some kind of joke?!" A towering demonfolk, several meters tall, stood up, his face twisted in rage. "The Type 3 Flesh Puppet is the pinnacle hunter of our Demonfolk Association, unmatched except by Origin-level beings and those of the King class! Who in this Dark World could possibly oppose it?!"
The surrounding demonfolk all wore grave expressions. For in recent times, the destructive power and hunting prowess of the Type 3 Blood-Flesh had been evident to all.
Within the last three days, all the rebels of the Demonfolk Association who refused to return had been almost entirely wiped out by the relentless pursuit of the Type 3 Puppet. And just five days prior, one of their Puppets had even engaged with a mighty being of the King class. Though it was defeated, the opponent also struggled against their puppet.
"Bloodsaw?" From the immense container at the center of the hall, a raspy voice emerged. "I am familiar with him. The original puppet was led by him and four others in a five-member council. However, the current generation of flesh puppets has far surpassed that era. He doesn't have the capability to destroy my masterpiece."
The crowd exchanged glances, all with furrowed brows.
"Order," The raspy voice sounded again. "Pinpoint the location where the connection to the Type 3 Puppet was lost. Immediately dispatch the Predator Squad and send the Type 3 Puppet Unit 4 to the target site for urgent reconnaissance. We must obtain the most accurate information!"
"Yes!"
The crowd bowed in acknowledgment.
...
Wandering Soul Lane.
A street enveloped in a rising dark mist.
The Blood Clad Evil Spirit rushed swiftly to the fallen creature, forcefully tearing open the gash on its body. But when she saw the interior, even she couldn't help but gasp, her complexion turning ashen.
For the inside of the beast seemed to be entirely hollowed out, leaving just a thin outer shell. The inner walls were littered with countless gnawing marks.
Clearly, not long ago, an indescribable and terrifying mutation occurred within this monster. Now, all the mutated flesh tissues were gone, which led one to speculate whether they had been entirely consumed by something.
"Lynne, are you alright?"
She gritted her teeth, swiftly shaking her head to cast all the fear behind her. With swift motions, she broke through the monster's empty husk, grabbing the hand and forcefully dragging it out from the shell.
Splash—
A torrent of putrid blood gushed forth. Lynne's body resembled a freshly born infant. His clothes had long since been lost, but what was eerie was that his body remained undamaged, not missing any parts.
It was as if all the horrifying events that had just transpired had nothing to do with him. And the more normal he appeared, the more she felt an indescribable sense of strangeness and horror.
"No time to think! Let's get out of here!"
The Blood Clad Evil Spirit swiftly hoisted him onto her back. Lynne leaned against her shoulder, eyes shut, his left hand hanging limply, swinging with inertia. But what went unnoticed was a long tongue that suddenly extended from the palm, licking the bloodstain on the back of his hand, before quickly retracting.
...
