Realm Gate Descends

Boom—!!!

A thunderous sound erupted the moment Moss rolled away, the ground cracking as if struck by a barbed whip!

Hiss hiss hiss…

The ground hissed, sounding like it was being corroded by strong acid, and a foul, sweetish smell flooded Moss's nostrils, startling her!

'That smell… it's so familiar!'

She instantly knew who it was, but she couldn't believe it!

'It shouldn't be here!'

In less than a second, Moss rolled and quickly regained her footing, instantly turning to face the approaching enemy.

The enemy that entered her sight was as she expected, yet also completely unexpected!

"It's you!"

Moss cried out, her expression instantly turning grim!

Crack crack crack crack…

A dense sound echoed in the suddenly quiet sewer, like a thousand iron needles tapping on the ground!

A dark green figure, shimmering with a metallic sheen, crawled slowly along the wall. Wherever its fangs and claws passed, black smoke billowed as if corroded!

Its body, nearly two meters long, dragged a thorn-covered tail nearly a meter long behind it, an utterly horrifying sight!

A Giant Centipede!

Moss's grim expression vanished, replaced by a smirk as she suddenly started to laugh.

"Yo! Look who it is, the shrinking turtle! It's a rare sight indeed! So, you finally managed to crawl out of that swamp pit? Why didn't you just stay in there?"

Hiss—!!!

Slam!

The Giant Centipede let out a series of hisses, its tail, unlike that of a normal centipede, whipping back and forth, striking the ground!

Although Moss couldn't understand what it was saying, she could tell from the agitated Mana emanating from it that the creature was in a very bad mood!

"Ooh ooh ooh~ Don't be so angry. Shouldn't I be the one who's angry?"

As Moss spoke, she slowly retreated, moving away from the Giant Centipede's attack range, her eyes subtly scanning the surroundings.

The frogs and lizards that had been fleeing earlier had, for some reason, gathered again, subtly surrounding Moss.

The surrounding creatures eyed her menacingly, yet Moss showed no fear. She chuckled and said to the Giant Centipede:

"Speaking of which, ambushing me… this is the second time, isn't it?"

"Last time you ambushed me, you had the advantage of that swamp pit, and I couldn't defeat you. Did you really think I was easy to bully…?"

Moss stared at the Giant Centipede, her lips curling into a smile, revealing sharp fangs. Mana mixed with killing intent surged from her body!

The profound Mana instantly impacted all the surrounding creatures, and in an instant, the encirclement around Moss expanded several times over, with the creatures daring not to approach!

Hiss—!

The Giant Centipede let out a sharp hiss, seemingly enraged by Moss's Mana surge!

Swish!!!

Its whip-like tail, swung by the Giant Centipede, lashed out at Moss, creating a sharp whistling sound!

But facing the Giant Centipede's attack, Moss acted as if she hadn't seen it, calmly squatting on the ground without moving!

Swish!

A sharp sound swept past, and the spike-covered tail grazed Moss's nose as it passed… it missed!

Moss had subtly and precisely calculated the perfect distance, causing the Giant Centipede to misjudge its attack!

Having missed its target, the Giant Centipede was spun around on the ground by its own momentum, completely disoriented!

At this moment, Moss let out a playful chuckle, lifted her head, and took a deep breath!

The next moment, flames erupted from Moss's mouth, completely engulfing the bewildered Giant Centipede!

The smell of burnt protein instantly filled the entire space!

Hiss hiss hiss!!!

The Giant Centipede thrashed in the flames, twisting left and right, letting out pained hisses!

It rolled on the ground, extinguishing the raging flames, and then furiously lunged at Moss again!

Still bearing a few stray embers, the Giant Centipede opened its thousand fangs and claws, lunging at Moss!

Clang!

Moss raised her claws to meet the attack, her Claws clashing against its fangs and claws in mid-air, producing a sound like metal colliding!

The two struggled against each other in their attack, locked in a stalemate for a moment. It seemed like a draw, but in reality, the Giant Centipede, with its massive size, was gradually overpowering Moss!

"As expected, its strength is greater than mine…"

Moss gritted her teeth and said, a smile suddenly appearing on her face!

"But without that swamp gas, how are you going to beat me!"

Flame Entanglement!

Moss's claws instantly emitted a scorching, dazzling red light, like red-hot iron!

"Flame Sword Strike!"

As Moss shouted, her claws spewed flames like a high-pressure spray gun, forming a sword-like shape!

This flame sword technique, created by imitating a human swordsman's strike, instantly cut into the steel-hard fangs and claws!

A straight slash!

One of the Giant Centipede's fangs and claws was neatly severed by Moss. The flames clung to the severed limb like thick glue, continuously burning it!

Hiss hiss hiss!!!

This blow was too severe!

The Giant Centipede let out a series of wails, falling to the ground and writhing uncontrollably, unable to extinguish the flames on its severed limb!

In the firelight, Moss looked down with cold eyes at the constantly twisting Giant Centipede, her claws descending once more!

Thwack!

The sword pierced through the Giant Centipede, pinning it to the ground. Flames surged into its body, completely burning it to ashes!

Ting!

A dark green crystal dropped into the ashes, emitting a faint, eerie glow!

A Magic Core!

Moss looked surprised. Had this centipede mutated into a Monster?

Was the Magic Substance in the swamp gas gathering area that dense?

Despite its large size, Moss was certain the centipede was very young and had only recently formed its Magic Core.

When Moss had encountered it before, it was slightly smaller than its current size. Apart from its unusual appearance compared to other centipedes, it had no special powers.

"The situation just now was too sudden. Even I didn't notice the abnormal activity of the Magic Substance within the Giant Centipede..."

Moss picked up the Magic Core, still with a hint of surprise on her face, and muttered to herself.

The difference between a Monster and an animal lies in their Magic Substance. Animals cannot actively use Mana; the Magic Substance within them is generally dormant.

Monsters, however, can use Mana, so the Magic Substance within them is always active.

As for why Moss concluded that the Giant Centipede's Magic Core had formed recently?

It was because the Giant Centipede was unskillful in its use of Mana. Its combat power hadn't changed significantly compared to before.

In its use of its abilities, the Giant Centipede acted like a complete novice, which was not how a Monster that had survived for a long time would behave.

"But why did it suddenly become a Monster?"

Moss's face was filled with confusion and solemnity, a faint sense of unease rising in her heart.

Something must have happened at the swamp gas pool!

Rumble rumble...

Just as Moss was contemplating, the ground suddenly began to shake!

The frogs and lizards that had been surrounding Moss but dared not approach were thrown into chaos, turning and fleeing in all directions!

"What's going on?!"

Moss's expression changed drastically. Feeling the ground shake, two words involuntarily came to her mind!

An earthquake!

"No! This is definitely not an earthquake!"

Moss sensed the chaotic Mana in the air and immediately lay down on the ground, pressing her ear tightly against it!

[Talent: Senses Enhancement + Mana Enhancement + Mana Release + Scout + Mana Perception (Active)]

Ultra-Wide Area Sonic Detection!

Squeak squeak buzz buzz chirp chirp...

Invisible Mana radiated outwards from Moss, and countless sounds flooded into her ears!

And the place with the most sounds was clearly to the northwest!

"It's fighting!"

Moss's eyes suddenly snapped open, and she turned with a grave expression, sprinting towards the cave!

Meanwhile, above ground, the City Guard's office building was blaring its alarm, a scene of utter chaos!

Ring ring ring ring...

"The Realm Gate has descended, all teams assemble!"

Tap tap tap tap...

A group of people rushed out of the building's entrance, their target clearly being... the sewers!