Pollution

"Get lost!"

Amid Mary's scream, a mechanical arm swept across.

Although Fetch had cut through a tentacle, the tremendous force sent him flying. It was as if he had been struck head-on by a locomotive, and he crashed into a massive tree.

The Blade of Decay flew high from his hand.

A dark shadow flashed past.

As though he and Fetch had planned it beforehand, Warren caught the Blade of Decay, descended from the sky, and drove it into Mary's back.

Splat!

Countless mechanical tentacles flailed about, and Warren was sent flying as well.

But like a drunkard, Mary swayed on her many tentacles before finally collapsing to the ground.

Threads of black engine oil continuously seeped from her wound.

Then her body began to turn somewhat transparent, as did the nearby Storm Manor.

She was not truly a mechanical creature, after all, but a bizarre monster!

As she died, the strange power shrouding this area also began to dissipate.

A bright moon emerged in the sky.

"Dad... Mom..."

Mary murmured. Her many tentacles retracted into her body, and her tiny figure rapidly vanished.

In the end, all that remained was a somewhat damaged, rusty gear.

"A mysterious item—a containment artifact!"

Warren's eyes lit up as he prepared to fly over and pick it up.

He moved quickly, while also casting several slowing spells toward Jenny.

They had only become teammates because of the danger. Once the crisis was over, their alliance was bound to fall apart.

Warren reached out.

Just then, he saw the woman look over.

A black-and-red eye appeared on her forehead, staring straight at him.

For an instant, Warren felt dazed, along with a sense of mental contamination.

'A monster?'

He was utterly shocked. This woman was actually a madwoman who had fused with monster bloodline!