As the ground exploded, countless black fungal filaments surged wildly from beneath the earth like a tsunami, a flood, like innumerable enraged giant serpents pouring forth.
These filaments were thicker, denser, and faster than any she had seen before. Carrying a virulent poison capable of corroding souls, they lunged straight at Amara.
Amara let out an angry roar, and dark energy exploded from within her.
A black shockwave spread in every direction, blasting apart the first wave of incoming filaments.
Fragments of filaments flew everywhere. Even after landing, they still writhed and grew. More filaments surged forward, more numerous and faster than before.
She was devouring the fragment and could not fully mobilize her power.
Dark energy and the power of creation clashed within her, leaving her able to wield less than half her usual strength.
The filaments coiled around her arms, ankles, waist, and abdomen. Their virulent poison seeped into her skin, and the power of decay spread wildly.
Her arms began to rot.
Her skin turned black, split open, and oozed pus.
The filaments cut her ankles until they bled. Drops of black blood fell to the ground and immediately sprouted a small patch of fungal mat. Her waist and abdomen were bound so tightly she could barely breathe, while her ribs creaked.
"Get away—!" she shrieked.
Dark energy exploded again, even more fiercely than before. A huge swath of filaments was blasted apart, but the shattered filaments began regrowing in midair. Before they even hit the ground, they had already become new filaments and lunged at her again.
She was trapped.
The Creation Fragment in her hand still glowed, still struggled.
She gripped the fragment. Her fingers had already rotted away, leaving bone exposed, but she did not let go.
She knew that if she released it,