38: Humanoid Centipede

Chapter 38: Humanoid Centipede

As Synoh and his team prepared to retreat, the cavern's oppressive silence was shattered by a disturbing sight. The lifeless bodies of the giant centipedes began to stir, their segmented forms twisting and merging unnaturally under the influence of a mysterious surge of mana that permeated the air. Meth, ever vigilant, sensed the impending danger and urgently alerted the team.

**Meth:** (grimacing) Everyone, be on guard! There's something terribly wrong with these centipedes.

Synoh quickly assessed the situation, his mind racing with strategies to protect his team and ensure their escape. He ordered them to prepare for a retreat while prioritizing the safety of the wounded.

**Synoh:** (firmly) Prepare to withdraw! Get the injured to safety!

Just as they were about to retreat, a disturbing disturbance echoed through the cavern. From the depths emerged a grotesque humanoid figure, a horrifying amalgamation of centipede segments and human features. With unsettling speed, the monstrous entity charged towards them, its insectoid limbs thrashing wildly.

**Unknown Humanoid Centipede:** (emitting a guttural shriek, its eyes gleaming with malevolence)

**Synoh:** (gritting his teeth) Brace yourselves! We have company!

The knights swiftly formed a defensive line, weapons poised to repel the creature's frenzied assault. Synoh, maintaining his composure amidst the chaos, analyzed the creature's movements, searching for any weaknesses they could exploit.

**Synoh:** (thinking quickly) Aloy, Dred, focus on its limbs! Meth, cover our flank!

Aloy and Dred launched a coordinated barrage of mana-infused attacks, aiming to sever the centipede-like limbs of the creature. Meth deployed defensive spells to shield their exposed flank, intercepting the creature's attempts to flank them.

**Dred:** (grunting with effort) It's resilient, but we can take it down!

The battle raged on, the knights fighting with determination against the relentless onslaught of the humanoid centipede. Despite the creature's formidable resilience and agility, Synoh's strategic commands and the team's collective strength began to wear it down.

**Synoh:** (focused) Keep pushing! We cannot afford to let it overwhelm us!

Gradually, the creature's movements grew sluggish, its monstrous form battered and weakened by the knights' relentless assault. Sensing an opportunity, Synoh rallied his team for a final coordinated strike.

**Synoh:** (calling out) Now! Finish it off!

With synchronized precision, the knights unleashed a final onslaught of attacks, targeting the creature's weakened segments and exploiting its vulnerabilities. The humanoid centipede let out a final, piercing screech before collapsing to the ground, its monstrous form dissipating into a swirl of unnatural mana.

**Aloy:** (breathing heavily) Is... is it over?

**Meth:** (surveying the area cautiously) It appears so. But what was that thing?

**Synoh:** (grimacing) I'm not sure, but we must report this to Captain Elara immediately. Let's regroup and return to the village.

Then, the humanoid centipede got generated by some kind of mana and it seems the monster become so much stronger than before. Then it becomes humanoid elder centipede.

Meth: Guys!!

Dred: Are you kidding me!!

Aloy: How!?

Other: Are we gonna die!!!

Synoh: GUYS !! DON'T PANIC!!!

The monster then attack them, Synoh then said in his mind, I cannot go all out. If I do, I might hurt my teammates or even worse, kill them. They struggling defending the monster attack.

As the monstrous humanoid elder centipede closed in, overwhelming them with its ferocious attacks, Synoh swiftly made a critical decision to protect his team.

**Synoh:** (urgently) You guys, get out of this tunnel! Take the wounded to safety. I'll buy us some time.

**Dred:** (concerned) Are you out of your mind? I know you're strong, but you can't take on that monster alone!

**Synoh:** (authoritatively) It's an order!

**Dred:** (gritting his teeth) Fine... But if we save the wounded and decide to come back, it's our choice.

**Synoh:** (smirking confidently) Exactly.

With resolve in his eyes, Synoh summoned his dark magic, coating his sword with its ominous energy. He launched into a whirlwind of sword techniques, each strike calculated to exploit the creature's vulnerabilities. Dust and debris filled the tunnel as Synoh engaged the monstrous centipede, his movements a blur of precision and power.

Meanwhile, in the shadows of the cavern, a mysterious figure observed the battle silently, barely audible whispers escaping its lips.

**Unknown Voice:** (muttering to itself, unheard by Synoh) I've been waiting for this fight,seems likes the experiment is a success but I need to go now. Farewell, for now. Heyahaha, master will be pleased by this.

Back in the heart of the battle, Synoh continued to press his advantage, driving the creature back with relentless determination. The monstrous centipede, though formidable, found itself gradually overwhelmed by Synoh's unwavering assault.

**Synoh:** (focused) Just a bit more!

With a final burst of energy, Synoh delivered a decisive blow, piercing through the creature's defenses and striking at its core. The humanoid centipede emitted a harrowing screech, its monstrous form crumbling into the darkness, dissolving into the strange mana that animated it.

**Synoh:** (breathing heavily) Is it... finally over?

**Dred:** (rushing back, relieved) Synoh! You did it!

**Synoh:** (sheathing his sword) Barely... Let's get back to the others.

As Synoh and Dred regrouped with the team, they made their way out of the cavern, leaving behind the unsettling presence and the remnants of the defeated centipede creature. With each step, they carried with them the weight of their encounter and the urgent need to report back to Captain Elara.

**Dred:** (still in awe) That was incredible, Synoh. I didn't think we'd make it out of there.

**Synoh:** (smiling faintly) We did what we had to do. Now, let's get back to the village. We need to inform Captain Elara about everything we've encountered.

With their mission far from over and the mysteries of the centipede creature lingering in their minds, Synoh and his team made their way back through the tunnel, determined to unravel the truth behind the strange events and ensure the safety of the village.