Crash—!!!
A thunderous boom erupted the instant Moss rolled away, and the ground split apart as if lashed by a thorn-covered whip!
Hiss hiss hiss...
The ground made a sound like it was being eaten away by concentrated acid. A sickening, fishy-sweet stench flooded Moss's nose, making her heart jolt!
This smell... it's so familiar!
She immediately knew who had come, but she still couldn't believe it!
It shouldn't be here!
She had less than a second to think. Moss rolled over and quickly regained her footing, then instantly looked toward the attacking enemy.
The enemy that came into view was just as she had expected—and yet completely unexpected!
"You!"
Moss cried out, and her expression immediately darkened!
Clack clack clack clack clack...
A dense clattering echoed through the suddenly silent sewer, like a thousand iron needles striking the ground!
A dark-green figure shimmered with a metallic sheen as it slowly crawled along the wall. Wherever its fangs and claws passed, wisps of black smoke rose as if the surface had been corroded!
Its body was nearly two meters long, with an iron-spiked tail almost a meter in length dragging behind it. The sight was enough to make one's skin crawl!
A Giant Centipede!
The unpleasant look on Moss's face vanished, and the corners of her mouth curled into a smile.
"Oh! Isn't this the turtle that hides its head? What a rare sight! You actually made it out of that methane pool one day. Why didn't you stay in there?"
Hiss—!!!
Smack!
The Giant Centipede let out a series of hisses. Its tail, unlike that of an ordinary centipede, whipped back and forth, lashing the ground!
Although Moss couldn't understand what it was saying, the volatile Magic Power within its body told her that it was in a very foul mood!
"Oh, oh, oh~ Don't be so angry. Shouldn't I be the angry one?"
As she spoke, Moss slowly backed away from the Giant Centipede's attack range, discreetly observing the surrounding environment.
The frogs and lizards that had originally fled had gathered again for some reason, vaguely surrounding Moss in the center.
The creatures around her watched her with hostile intent, but Moss showed not the slightest trace of fear. She chuckled and said to the Giant Centipede:
"Come to think of it, this is the second time you've ambushed me, isn't it?"
"When you ambushed me last time, you had that methane pool on your side, and I couldn't beat you. Don't tell me you thought that meant I was easy to bully...?"
Moss stared at the Giant Centipede. The corners of her mouth lifted, revealing sharp fangs, as Magic Power mixed with killing intent burst from her body!
The deep Magic Power instantly struck every creature nearby. In an instant, the encircling creatures around Moss withdrew several times farther, all of them afraid to approach.
Hiss—!
The Giant Centipede let out a sharp hiss, apparently enraged by the impact of Moss's Magic Power!
Whoosh!!!
Under the Giant Centipede's swing, its whip-like tail came hurtling toward Moss, bringing with it a shrill rush of wind!
Yet in the face of the Giant Centipede's attack, Moss simply crouched on the ground as if she hadn't seen it, making no move at all!
Whoosh!
A sharp sound swept past. The spike-covered tail skimmed past Moss's nose... and missed!
Moss had secretly and precisely calculated the distance, causing the Giant Centipede to misjudge her position!
Since it had missed its target, the Giant Centipede was carried around by its own force, spinning several times across the ground and becoming completely dazed!
At that moment, Moss let out a mocking chuckle and raised her head to take a deep breath!
The next moment, flames gushed from Moss's mouth, completely enveloping the dazed Giant Centipede!
The stench of scorched protein instantly filled the entire space!
Hiss hiss hiss—!!!
The Giant Centipede struggled constantly within the flames, twisting from side to side as it let out agonized hisses!
It rolled across the ground, smothering the raging flames, then charged at Moss again in a fury!
Still trailing a few flames, the Giant Centipede opened its mouth wide and lunged at Moss with a thousand fangs and claws!
Clang!
Moss raised a claw to meet the attack. Her Claws collided with its fangs and claws in midair, producing a metallic clang!
The two sides wrestled against each other during the clash and became locked in place. They appeared evenly matched, but in truth, the Giant Centipede's massive body was gradually suppressing Moss!
"As expected, you're stronger than me..."
Moss gritted her teeth as she spoke, then suddenly smiled!
"But without that methane, how are you going to beat me?"
Flame Bind!
Moss's claw instantly glowed with a dazzling, scorching red light, like a block of iron heated to a burning red!
"Flame Sword Strike!"
With Moss's loud shout, flames erupted from her claw like a high-pressure spray gun, taking the shape of a sharp sword!
This flaming sword technique had been created by imitating a single strike of human Swordsmanship. It instantly cut into the Giant Centipede's steel-hard fangs and claws!
With one straight slash!
The fangs and claws on one side of the Giant Centipede were neatly severed by Moss. The flames clung to the severed limb like viscous glue, burning it without pause!
Hiss hiss hiss!!!
The strike had been far too severe!
The Giant Centipede let out waves of mournful cries and collapsed onto the ground, curling and twisting constantly, yet it could not extinguish the flames on its severed limb!
Amid the flames, Moss looked coldly at the Giant Centipede writhing beneath her feet. The flaming sword in her hand descended once more!
Puff!
The sword pierced through the Giant Centipede and pinned it to the ground. Flames surged into its body, completely burning it to ash!
Jingle!
A dark-green crystal fell into the ashes, radiating a faint, eerie glow!
A magic core!
Moss looked somewhat surprised. Had this centipede actually mutated into a magical creature?
Was the Magic Essence in that methane gathering place really so dense?
Although this centipede was enormous, Moss was certain that it was very young. Its magic core had only formed recently.
When Moss had encountered it before, it had been slightly smaller than it was now. Aside from its appearance, which differed from other centipedes, it had possessed no special power.
"The situation just now happened too suddenly. Even I didn't notice that the Magic Essence inside the Giant Centipede had become unusually active..."
Moss picked up the magic core, still wearing a trace of surprise as she muttered under her breath.
The difference between magical creatures and animals lay in their Magic Essence. Animals could not actively use Magic Power, so the Magic Essence in their bodies was generally dormant.
Magical creatures, however, could use Magic Power, so the Magic Essence in their bodies remained active at all times.
As for why Moss was certain that the Giant Centipede's magic core had only formed recently—
It was because of the Giant Centipede's lack of proficiency with Magic Power. Its combat ability had not changed significantly compared to before.
When it came to using its own abilities, the Giant Centipede acted completely like a novice. That was not how a magical creature that had survived for a long time would behave.
"But why did it suddenly become a magical creature?"
Moss wore a puzzled and solemn expression, and an ominous premonition faintly rose in her heart.
Something must have happened over at the methane pool!
Rumble rumble rumble...
Just as Moss was still thinking, the ground suddenly began to shake!
The frogs and lizards that had been surrounding Moss but had not dared approach immediately descended into chaos, turning and fleeing in all directions!
"What's going on?!"
Moss's expression changed drastically. As she felt the shaking ground, two words involuntarily surfaced in her mind!
An earthquake!
"No! This definitely isn't an earthquake!"
Moss sensed the chaotic Magic Essence in the air. She immediately lay down and pressed her ear firmly against the ground!
Talent: Senses Enhancement + Mana Enhancement + Mana Release + Detection + Mana Perception (Active)
Ultra-Wide-Area Sonic Detection!
Squeak squeak squeak, buzz buzz buzz, chirp chirp chirp...
Invisible Magic Power radiated outward with Moss at the center, and countless sounds instantly flooded her ears!
The place with the most sounds was none other than the northwest!
"It's the sound of fighting!"
Moss suddenly opened her eyes. Her expression solemn, she sprinted toward the cave!
At that very moment, aboveground, the alarm bells blared in the City Guard's office building, throwing everything into chaos!
Ring ring ring ring...
"The World Gate has descended! The whole team, assemble!"
Tap tap tap tap...
A group of people hurriedly rushed out of the building, and their destination was none other than... the sewer!
Before you continue