I landed right in the middle of the party venue.
Rolling across the ground with a loud rumble, I knocked over several tables before coming to a stop.
As I stood up, a chaotic uproar erupted around me.
"Jivodan!"
It was Ferris's voice.
But I didn't have time to pay attention.
I thought a giant centipede was no big deal. I was wrong.
In my line of sight, emerging from the dark sediment pooling in the forest, were countless giant insects. Squeaking, grinding, chittering—there were far too many.
The one that flung my massive body aside with ease was a giant beetle at the forefront. Flanking it were two equally massive mantises, and behind them lurked the centipede from earlier.
That wasn't all. Around us were ants, longhorn beetles, and tiger beetles—all enormous and aggressive, oozing out of the forest.
It wasn't just the party venue under attack; the entire city was being overrun. Screams began to rise in the distance.
This was a full-blown B-grade horror panic. Perfect for me, a horror enthusiast.
I casually swung my butcher knife, but the lead beetle deflected it effortlessly and slammed into me.
Its hardness was incrediblenot chitin. It felt entirely metallic. I'd need to put my weight into it to deal a fatal blow.
I braced for the beetle's charge, then quickly retreated.
A sharp shadow flew in from the left.
Instinctively, I crossed my knife, and sparks scattered across the dark sky.
That was a mantis's strike. It's insanely fast—frankly, I couldn't see it. If you stay still, the mantis's sharp follow-up attacks will tear you apart. It just sliced my shoulder.
I kicked the ground, pushing back its thick scythe-like limb.
The mantis's reach was longer than my butcher knife, so I'd have to close the distance seriously to sever its torso.
I dodged another charging beetle, then turned to assess the situation.
The aliens were fleeing in terror, many already devoured. The once-beautiful garden was drenched in blood and flesh. Ferris and Lydia were frantically dodging the giant insects, while Abigail was nowhere to be seen.
Lydia was fighting with her bow, Gradnega, but she was outmatched.
These giant insects were far stronger than any beast I'd faced before coming to this city. If left unchecked, the two of them were in danger.
As I ran in, I rammed into some large, cockroach-like creature chasing them, sending it flying. I then positioned myself to protect them, glaring at the surroundings.
"Jivodan!"
"Jevoddan, Ferris!"
I couldn't understand what they were saying, but I kicked an insect leaping at them from behind, sending it flying.
I swung my butcher knife, slicing through the air, and the giant insects around us froze, seemingly intimidated.
We were surrounded on all sides by massive insects.
"Jevoddan, I've lost Abby! Sorry!"
She was worried about that? I love her.
"Don't leave my side."
I crushed a giant flea-like bug with the flat of my butcher knife as it lunged at me.
The probing attacks continued, but I swatted them away one by one, like flies. I stomped on a long, slender creature crawling toward me, killing it. It was hectic.
After a while, as I held my ground, the circle around us slowly widened, and from the gap emerged the monstrous centipede, writhing forward.
Its countless red legs moved in terrifying precision, coiling before us. It felt like the leader. Where's Abigail?
"Are there beasts like this too?"
Honestly, I didn't know the details. I asked Lydia.
"They're… the Great Clan."
"The Great Clan?"
I swung my massive cleaver, wiping insect ichor from the blade onto the ground, and asked again. Ferris replied,
"The Titans—the warriors serving the Dominion Clan. They should be extinct… how is this possible?"
"Either way, they won't let us off easily—"
I said, letting go of Lydia's hand and stepping forward. Suddenly, the coiled centipede's body spun rapidly.
Two sharp, red lights flashed from the black whirlwind.
I instinctively used my butcher knife as a shield.
Nearly simultaneously, a tremendous impact tore through my body.
My heavy frame slid several meters.
Looking down, I saw two deep gashes in my butcher knife's blade.
The centipede's tail had two sharp, red appendages, which it had swung at me with sword-like precision. That was dangerously close.
Seriously?!
If my butcher knife breaks, things will get tough. I'd better close in.
I charged the centipede head-on, taking the initiative.
It uncoiled with a *Zuzozozof*, and its fangs clashed with my downward-swinging knife. It felt like striking rock—incredibly hard.
We locked in a standoff, glaring at each other at close range.
My muscles tensed, veins bulging from my shoulders to my arms. The sharp scent of clenched teeth filled my nose.
Astonishingly, our strength was evenly matched. What kind of power was this?
The thick blade of my butcher knife and the centipede's red fangs ground against each other with a grating sound.
Suddenly, I felt weightless.
My vision spun, and before I could brace myself, a strong impact hit my back.
It's… flinging me around with my butcher knife still in its grip!
Weightless again.
This time, I was slammed into nearby trees.
The centipede recklessly hurled me, snapping thick tree trunks, until it lifted me high into the air.
From above, I saw Ferris's tearful face and Lydia biting her lip.
And at the edge of my vision—a woman with silver butterfly wings on her shoulders. Now!
…By the way, Number Five, do you have a grudge against me? This is too much—it hurts like hell… I'm getting serious now, but don't get mad later, okay?
Still held aloft, I flicked out my tongue like a frog.
My dark, sticky tongue, coated in an eerie pink mucus, wrapped around the centipede's head, still biting my butcher knife.
The next moment, white smoke began to rise with a *Hissss* from where my tongue touched the centipede's exoskeleton.
*Vile Whip*—one of my corrupted abilities.
Weightless again.
This time, the centipede loosened its fangs, dropping me. It couldn't endure the burning sensation on its exoskeleton.
Landing with a *Thud*, I spun my body and delivered a heavy blow with the flat of my butcher knife, using the momentum.
*Crack!* The butcher knife snapped. The gashes from earlier were deeper than I thought.
The struck centipede lost its balance from the impact and toppled sideways.
A cloud of dust billowed up.
As the battle haze cleared, I appeared, gripping one of the fallen centipede's legs.
I ripped it off with a *Snap*.
The centipede's ichor splattered on me, but I ignored it, gripping another leg and tearing it off.
*Snap, snap.*
One by one, I ripped off the giant centipede's red legs. It writhed in agony, wrapping itself around me.
Despite being constricted by its immense strength, I didn't stop tearing off its legs.
*Snap, snap.*
Something in my body groaned, but I didn't stop.
Its countless legs thrashed, scratching my face. My butcher knife slipped off, but I kept tearing.
The pain fueled my ferocity, which I desperately suppressed by chewing on the ripped-off legs. Delicious.
*Snap, snap, snap.* With each leg torn off, warm, sticky ichor splattered my face, but I didn't stop. It was getting fun.
The centipede was the first to break.
Releasing me, it lurched once, then retreated into the forest, leaving a trail of ichor.
I won…
Centipedes regrow their legs after molting, so it's fine, right?
With their leader defeated, the insect army began to retreat.
Like a receding wave, the giant shadows melted back into the forest.
Just as I watched them disappear,
—"Answer the call of flames, Liberan Pyrosmalagda."
A message pierced my brain directly, and my body convulsed, arching backward.
Simultaneously, a lightning-like agony surged through my brain, engulfing my entire body.