Many-Armed Monster

Mithra looked at the lantern in her hand.

[Auxiliary Light Lantern: An exquisitely crafted lantern containing a miraculous light that can shine even in the lightless Eternal Night. Sense power can be used to adjust its range. However, its light may also illuminate deeper creatures of darkness. Use with caution.]

The information was clearly displayed. The price Anderet hadn't explained was included.

It was a typical riddle from Anderet. Interpreting it as attracting more monsters was probably accurate.

Following the instructions, Mithra adjusted the lantern's light.

Holding the lantern, its normal range was about five meters. While the light extended beyond that, it was much weaker.

Adjusting the range could turn the lantern into a "flashlight," focusing the light forward. The range seemed very long; she couldn't see the limits.

And, as Anderet had said, it didn't attract any attention from monsters. There were no signs of disturbances.

Mithra switched to flashlight mode and scanned the surroundings.

"Huh? This is Sun City, isn't it?"

Quickly, under the purple light, she noticed something was wrong.

The architecture wasn't Sun City's style.

Upon closer inspection, she realized it was indeed Sun City, but a version inhabited by strange monsters. A dark Sun City.

"A parallel world?" Mithra considered this interesting possibility.

Was this Eternal Night a parallel world, a mirrored version of the real world?

But Mithra wasn't familiar with Sun City. Even if she recognized it, she didn't know her precise location.

Since she didn't know her way around, she decided to look for something else.

She began investigating the monsters she had encountered earlier.

There were many types of monsters in Eternal Night.

The most common were the eyeless creatures that had attacked her.

[Creatures of Darkness: Once inhabitants of Eternal Night, they transformed into a new species after being cursed. When the light of humanity is extinguished, they become no different from beasts.]

Then there were large, eyeless dogs, similar to the eyeless humans, some of whom seemed to have transformed from eyeless humans.

There were also shadowy reptiles, grotesque insects with two heads, numerous limbs, and human-sized bodies. One had eaten Mithra's intestines.

Many other types, entirely new to Mithra.

They were similar in that, while most lacked fully developed eyes, their other senses were extremely sharp. Except for some closely related species, they were highly aggressive towards each other, engaging in deadly combat if they came close.

That explained the noise she had heard earlier.

If Mithra moved too much or got too close, she would attract these creatures. Her earlier pursuit was partly due to this.

But with the lantern illuminating her path, she hadn't encountered the "deeper creatures" mentioned in the description.

Mithra continued along the path, maintaining the flashlight mode.

After a while, she noticed an unsettling silence.

"..." After a pause, she continued walking.

Even with the lightest steps, she couldn't completely eliminate the sound. The eerie silence and emptiness created a different kind of fear.

Suddenly, in the lantern's light, a figure appeared on the path ahead.

Although it was just a silhouette, numerous arm-like branches sprouted from it. Its figure was slender, and from that distance, that was all that was visible.

The figure stood motionless in the street, and Mithra stopped to observe.

[Many-Armed Monster: A grotesque creature evolved from "Universal Hands," transformed by Eternal Night. For "Universal Hands," hands symbolize power, and multiple hands represent the pursuit of omnipotence.]

A living being, yet triggering Night Eyes' observation.

The description mentioned "Universal Hands." Was that another Wandering God?

Mithra took another step forward.

Her light footsteps echoed.

The figure's rhythmic swaying stopped abruptly.

The next moment, it trembled violently.

In an instant, the figure seemed to have moved closer.

Then, it moved again, even closer, this time a longer distance.

After several quick movements, it vanished from the lantern's light.

Rumble…

Swish!

It reappeared, directly beside Mithra.

Mithra saw long, black, slender hands covering its face.

As it approached, she saw the blades on its branch-like arms.

All the arms moved simultaneously, the blades slashing at her.

Mithra quickly retreated to create distance, but with a sudden movement, the creature vanished. She immediately switched the lantern from flashlight to normal mode.

The light enveloped her, revealing the creature at a similar distance.

Swish!

The blades flashed. Mithra drew her small knives, trying to defend.

But she was instantly cut, her flesh torn. She couldn't keep up with the creature's attack speed!

Her body was covered in wounds, her flesh becoming bloody and indistinct.

The creature's ability to vanish wasn't limited to movement; it could also disappear during attacks. Mithra was often cut before she even saw the blade.

Blue energy surged over Mithra's body, creating distance.

This time, the creature didn't immediately pursue but paused, seemingly realizing Mithra had vanished.

Hunting Shadow.

Except now, it was more like "Running Shadow."

As the Hunting Shadow's effect ended, the creature turned towards Mithra, vanishing again. This time, Mithra drew the Hunter Greatsword.

The eyes on the blade opened and closed instantly.

She swung the sword. Hunting Blade unleashed a circular wave of energy that sliced through the monsters surrounding her.

But the instant the blades connected, the creature vanished and reappeared before her.

Mithra threw the lantern at its feet, drawing her hammer and activating Reinforce Body.

Bang!

A powerful impact echoed. The ground cracked, sending stones and debris flying.

But the arm-blades formed a defensive net, blocking Mithra's hammer. The creature barely moved.

Swish!

Numerous blades danced across Mithra's chest, a gruesome display of violence as her chest exploded. Blood, flesh, and bone fragments scattered everywhere.

"Hungry!" Countless tongues erupted from the wound, sweeping up the debris and consuming it.

Sharp, jagged barbs, like teeth, sprouted from the tongues, wildly slashing.

The Many-Armed creature counterattacked, its blades slicing and stabbing.

Clang clang bang bang! The sounds of impact echoed as the brief struggle continued. Then, a blue Hunting Blade sliced through, disrupting the balance, severing several of the Many-Armed creature's arms.

The tongues lunged forward, piercing the creature.

Mithra slowly picked up the lantern she had dropped.

The purple light illuminated the scene. The small cuts on Mithra's face regenerated. A gruesome maw opened across her torn chest.

It was more grotesque than usual. Sharp teeth had grown, and the previously soft tongues were now strong and sharp, capable of acting as weapons.

"Hungry... hungry..." A muffled sound emanated from the maw.

Mithra wiped the blood from her face, smearing it across her skin.

"Be patient. I'll feed you."