Stealing kill

Lex crawled into the narrow, fleshy hole, the wet surface clinging to him as he squeezed through. The walls were soft but firm, and as he moved deeper, the tunnel seemed to tighten around him, making each inch forward more difficult. 

His knife slid into his hand without a thought. He then started cutting through the meat, which was like sawing through a tough rubber. 

He grunted as the blade bit into the thick flesh, carving just enough space for him to continue crawling.

The tunnel stretched on, and with every cut, Lex felt the weight of the body around him, as though the dead Titan's muscles were still trying to crush him. Finally, after what felt like hours of pushing and slicing, he reached the end and pulled himself out of the tight opening, falling forward into a small cavern.

The air here was just as thick with decay, the walls made of twisted flesh and bone. It wasn't a large cave—just big enough to hide in. He pressed his back against the wet wall, wiping the blood and grime from his face as his eyes scanned the chamber ahead.

Several Red Cells were moving across the floor in synchronized patterns. They weren't even vaguely humanoid like the immune cells; they were more like oversized centipedes, their segmented bodies pulsing with fat and muscle. Their skin had a dull, reddish hue, not from blood but from the color of the material they transported.

They were grotesque creatures made for a single purpose: maintaining what was left of this fortress.

Though long dead, the Titan's body was still trying to sustain itself by transporting anything it could spare to fuel the body. Dead muscles, bones, and organs were being carried through the tunnels, all to keep the body alive.

If the immune cells were the guards, then these Red Cells were the workers, dragging the remains of fat and nutrients through the decaying organs, keeping the rotting husk running for as long as possible.

Akin to a fortress in slow collapse, the body was trying its best to survive and was doing everything it could to sustain itself.

Lex watched from the shadows as they crawled back and forth, their thick legs tearing at the fleshy ground, moving like they were on some automated task, too focused on their purpose to notice him.

'Titans' bodies are truly a biological masterpiece. Even dead, the body continues to work desperately.' Lex thought as he patiently waited for something.

A sudden screech echoed through the cave, high-pitched and metallic, followed by the sound of tearing flesh. Lex didn't react, his eyes narrowing as something dark moved at the far end of the cave, ripping into one of the Red Cells.

The cell writhed, its body splitting open as thick, black tendrils wrapped around it, pulling it apart with unnatural strength.

An invader

'Good timing. I am glad I was quick enough.' Lex thought as he silently observed the scene.

Despite the body working tirelessly to sustain itself, nothing could last forever. The body had to use its own muscles and everything it could to keep itself alive because of the now lack of resources. 

But that wasn't the only issue the body had to face. Parasites like this invader had found a way in, feeding on the corpse, speeding up the inevitable collapse.

The Titan's death had turned this body into a battlefield, and whatever had just attacked the Red Cells wasn't part of the Titan. 

The invader tore through the workers like they were nothing, black tendrils shredding their bodies into pieces. Blood and fat splattered the ground, mixing with the already foul-smelling air.

Then, out of nowhere, an immune cell shot into the cave at an impossible speed. It was just like the one that had attacked Lex earlier, moving faster than the eye could track.

It crashed into the invader, slamming its gelatinous body into the black tendrils, the two forces colliding with a wet, bone-crunching sound. The battle was brutal, the immune cell relentless as it clawed at the invader, tearing at its black limbs.

Lex didn't wait. This was a perfect opportunity to get some coins. He moved carefully, staying low as he crept toward one of the dying Red Cells. The creature twitched, its body mangled by the invader's attack, but it wasn't dead yet.

"Fifteen minutes left. Maybe less." said Lex as he plunged his knife into the next Red Cell.

The cell let out a weak, gurgling sound as he neared, but Lex didn't hesitate. He plunged the blade into the soft flesh between its segmented body, twisting the knife as deep as it would go.

It wasn't easy; even injured, the Red Cell's thick hide resisted his strikes, and Lex had to put his full weight behind each stab. Finally, after several thrusts, the cell went limp, its body shuddering before collapsing into the blood-soaked ground.

Breathing hard, Lex pulled his knife free, wiping the blade on his already ruined clothes. The fight between the invader and the immune cell continued in the background.

[You have killed a Titan's Red Cell. 120 coins have been awarded.]

[Total earnings: 120/200 000]

Lex ignored the notification. He quickly started to seek around for any other Red Cells that were still alive and could be killed. This was the only opportunity he would get so much kill for free. He didn't even need to kill the invader or the immune cell, not that he could

He just needed to kill the Red Cells to get coins.

After a few minutes, he found a bigger one. But this one was far less injured.

'I don't have a lot of time. About 12 miunutes' Lex thought as he slowly walked towards the Red Cell.

As if sensing Lex's presence, the creature turned, its many legs scuttling across the ground. Its body was large, almost the size of a horse, and its skin was a dull, crimson color.

It let out a low growl, its mouth opening to reveal a row of razor-sharp teeth. Lex didn't hesitate. He lunged forward, his knife flashing through the air as he struck the creature's soft spot.

His blade bit into its tough hide. The Red Cell let out a pained cry, its body lashing out in a frenzy. As if he could predict future, Lex dodged the attack with ease.

The creature's movements were sluggish, and its attacks were easily avoided thanks to its injury but that didn't meant that killing it would be any easy. Even injured, the Red Cell was a powerful opponent because of their tough hide.

Lex kept up the pressure, his knife flashing as he slashed at the creature's exposed flesh. His attacks were precise and deadly, each strike finding its mark.

After a few moments, the Red Cell collapsed, its body twitching as it died.

Lex breath heavily but didn't waste any time. He quickly finished the creature off, plunging his knife into its soft underbelly.

[You have killed a Titan's Red Cell. 120 coins have been awarded.]

[Total earnings: 240/200 000]

Once again, he didn't have time to dwell on the notification. There were still more Red Cells to kill. He pushed forward, scanning the battlefield for anything still moving. Every second counted.

After a few minutes, Lex barely had time to kill another cell. Time's almost up. Now was not the time to be greedy. If he was found, he would immediately die.

Using the last of his strength and energy, he crawled back into the narrow tunnel he had entered earlier.

Barely entering the hole, the cave had fallen once again in silence. Something had won.