After an arduous hour, Alex triumphantly vanquished the relentless mutants that had viciously attacked him. The hall contained an abundance of potent mana, offering Alex an opportunity to replenish his depleted reserves. However, the physical toll on his body remained irreparable.
Dragging his weary and battered frame to the side, Alex stood in awe of the masterpiece he had unintentionally crafted. The floor now lay strewn with twitching, mutilated body parts and a sea of blood from the mutants.
Inwardly, he whispered to himself, "Even Picasso himself would struggle to create a more hauntingly beautiful painting."
Yet, the relentless battle had taken its toll on Alex, inflicting unrelenting pain upon his body and reducing his once-powerful muscles to strained broken remnants. He knew all too well that he was in no condition to face Kain, acutely aware of his limitations.
If he fought Kain in the current condition, Alex was sure that he would lose his life.
Far away, Kain stood inside a rune formation he had created. It created a glowing spherical shield around him protecting him from any sudden attacks. He was carefully using his staff to control the ancient rune formation for some nefarious purpose.
Kain, observing the chaos from a distance, maintained an air of nonchalance upon witnessing Alex's triumph over his horde of mutated minions. These wretched creatures were nothing more than kidnapped warriors transformed into abominations, devoid of any worth to Kain except as subjects for his twisted experiments.
A sardonic smile played across Kain's lips as he mockingly addressed Alex while expertly manipulating the underground maze.
"You appear rather fatigued. I shall graciously offer you some rest." he taunted, relishing in his knowledge of Alex's weakened state.
"Rest assured, your allies shall soon arrive, and together, we shall definitively determine who shall rightfully reign as the ruler of Pushpam City." His smile widened seeing the difficult appearance of Alex.
"I agree, I should wait for the others," Alex said deciding to wait. Kain was stupid enough to reveal the news that his allies would come here soon. It would be even stupider to not use this information to his advantage.
Enveloped within an impenetrable rune formation, Kain remained steadfastly shielded from any potential threats. His reluctance to step outside the protective barrier was evident, making it clear that he had no intention of engaging in confrontation.
The formidable shield surrounding Kain presented a difficult challenge, requiring a considerable amount of time and effort to dismantle. Alex knew all too well that any attempts at a surprise attack would prove futile. Consequently, he recognized that his only sensible course of action was to bide his time, allowing for much-needed rest and strategizing before launching a synchronized assault alongside his allies.
With this realization in mind, Alex intently studied Kain's every move, while Kain reciprocated the scrutiny with an unwavering gaze. The two adversaries were locked in a delicate stalemate, each cautious and reluctant to make the first move, aware that any hasty action could tip the precarious balance between them.
Alex took out some food and medicine from his inventory to consume in the meantime. To quickly recover his physical strength, there was no other way. He didn't mind using this opportunity to recover.
Kain keenly observed Alex's actions, fully aware of his opponent's scrutiny. However, he made a conscious decision to allow Alex to proceed unhindered, showing no inclination to intervene. Kain had his pressing agenda, a series of crucial tasks that demanded his attention and priority during this critical juncture. Consequently, he paid no mind to Alex's presence, considering him inconsequential and unworthy of his immediate focus.
As Alex took much-needed rest, Kain seized the opportunity to execute his calculated plan. With meticulous precision, he systematically herded the mutants, one by one, toward the horned mutant—a grotesque creature that seemed to hunger for its mutated brethren.
Upon contact with the other mutants, the one-horned abomination swiftly captured and subdued them, employing a bone-crushing embrace. The second-generation mutants, dwarfed in comparison to their assailant, transformed into nothing more than a grotesque bag of mangled flesh and shattered bones within the suffocating grip. Despite their futile struggles and agonized contortions, escape from the hug was impossible.
Following this grisly display, minuscule tendrils sprouted from the horned mutant's body, drilling their way into the helpless victim. These tendrils swiftly homed in on the worm-like structures residing within the mutant's body. Once they reached their mark, the invaded mutant lost all control, succumbing entirely to the invasive influence of the horned mutant's cells.
Then, a mysterious phenomenon unfolded before their eyes. The rib cage of the horned mutant contracted before rapidly expanding to a size capable of engulfing the entire mutant within its hollow embrace. The opened ribs revealed a thoracic cavity devoid of organs, including lungs and heart. The same eerie void echoed within the creature's abdomen—no trace of internal organs remained within its grotesque form.
This being existed solely as a vessel propelled by mana. Pumping blood, respiration of cells, and digestion of what it consumed. Everything took place by using mana and nothing else. The creature required no conventional organs for survival, relying solely on the power of mana to sustain its bodily functions.
Immediately after unveiling its rib cage, the horned mutant engulfed the entire mutant within its cavernous form, gradually assimilating it into its being. The grotesque assimilation mirrored the actions of a microscopic amoeba, capturing and digesting its prey with methodical precision.
—
"BOOOM!"
The resounding thunderous sound echoed through the air, capturing Alex's attention. His gaze shifted towards the section of the wall he had previously blasted apart. To his surprise, there was nothing there but an empty void.
"BOOM!" Another sound erupted, intensifying the reverberations within the chamber.
"BOOM!" This time, the sound grew even more pronounced, causing a jolt of alarm to course through Alex's body.
"OH SHIT!" Realization struck him like a bolt of lightning.
The deafening sounds were originating right beside the very wall against which he had been sitting. Reacting swiftly, Alex scrambled to his feet and leapt away from the imminent danger.
"BOOOOOM!" A colossal crash accompanied the destructive force that tore through the wall. Like a spider's web, cracks splintered across its surface before it succumbed to complete annihilation.
Exhausted, a figure emerged from the wreckage, nonchalantly wiping the sweat from his brow. Clad in a similar white robe as Alex, it was none other than Karthi, the future leader of the primal chaos tribe. He stepped forward, his presence commanding attention.
Following closely behind Karthi were two individuals—Chitra and his protector—both peering curiously through the shattered remnants of the wall. They scanned the area, relieved to find no signs of the mutant monsters that had plagued their path before.
As the dust settled, the newly arrived trio took a moment to assess the situation, their arrival injecting a fresh surge of hope into Alex's weary heart.
"White-robed guy!" Karthi exclaimed, unable to contain his excitement upon spotting the familiar figure of Alex within the chamber they had just breached.
"Look! The white-robed guy is inside the room. Didn't I say it? My senses are never wrong," Karthi remarked, gesturing emphatically towards Alex.
The individuals accompanying Karthi shared in his thrill, their eyes alight with anticipation as they witnessed the presence of the white-robed man, Alex, beyond the shattered wall. They had been diligently trailing him, intent on reaching the heart of the maze and uncovering the mastermind behind the spider gang.
It appeared that their search had borne fruit. As their gazes fell upon the figure standing within a protective shield of ancient rune formations, expertly manipulating the arcane symbols, a sense of certainty washed over them. They had indeed found their target—the one orchestrating the web of intrigue that had ensnared them all.
"Why are you standing there? Go kill him," Karthi demanded, his finger pointed squarely at the man who controlled the intricate rune formation. Urgency gripped him as he sought to swiftly eliminate the looming threat and escape the confounding maze that had drained him both physically and mentally.
Exhaustion seeped into Karthi's bones, his energy reserves depleted from the arduous journey. The surge of dense energy he had felt upon entering the room was all that kept him upright. All he desired now was to bring a swift end to the confrontation and find respite in slumber.
Without hesitation, Chitra conjured a colossal energy fist before her, harnessing the reserves within her own body. As a tier 5 warrior, she possessed a larger energy pool, enabling her to concentrate the potent energy into a physical manifestation. With focused determination, she launched a formidable attack toward Kain, aiming to shatter the protective rune shield that safeguarded him.
Caught off guard, Alex could only watch from the sidelines, devoid of time to issue a warning before Chitra's assault was unleashed.
"STOP!" He called out in hopes that Chitra would have enough time to stop her attack. But even then, it was too slow. The energy fist blazed fast, directly hitting the rune shield that protected Kain.
"Shit!" Alex cussed aloud while covering his ear. Even before they came, he had already analysed the runes on the protective shield of Kain. So, he knew what would happen once they launched an attack against it.
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