Thinking of all possible ways to survive the ordeal a couple of options opened up however most of them I didn't want to do.
If I wanted to I could use Aether or turn the worm into my puppet but doing so would reveal my most powerful abilities to the shadows.
I still couldn't pinpoint their location and I had no way of knowing if they were able to keep up with me but I had a feeling that they were able to.
After all, they are only slightly weaker than me but I've been using less than half of my true strength since I entered the dungeon.
Thus wanting to keep my true power hidden for the time being two feasible options laid before me.
I could attempt to run away but due to the injuries I sustained from the last attack I was unsure if I would be able to make it in time.
Which left me with one option left.
Gritting my teeth I summoned Nightfall again since the sword was knocked out of my hand when the second worm attacked.
Before it finished forming I activated the first rune as I sensed the sword become even more deadly.
Then while laying with my back to the ground I readied myself for the attack.
Not even a second later the sand under me exploded outward and hundreds of razor-sharp teeth appeared ready to tear me to shreds.
The moment the monster was before me and I could make out its complexion I threw Nightfall as hard as I could.
Aiming for its throat the sword bypassed all the teeth and struck the beast in the center of its mouth.
The momentum continued on after reaching its target and when the rune's effects came into play it only took a split second for the sword to cut through the body of the worm.
Having killed the monster I was only halfway through the thick of it as the monster was still ready to swallow me whole even after death.
Although it was nothing more than a corpse, its mouth was still wide open and by this point, gravity was doing its job as it was a matter of seconds until I fell into its mouth.
I wasn't as worried about the teeth anymore because they wouldn't be able to chomp down on me but what really terrified me was the toxic saliva.
The last thing I wanted to do was survive killing the worm but die to its digestive measures.
Knowing that there was nothing more I could do I unsummoned Nightfall and fell directly into the mouth of the worm.
When the last bit of light was blocked out and I could make out the flesh of the monster I instantly surrounded myself with Aether.
A second later I slammed into the side of the worm's throat and a large amount of corrosive saliva burned against the Aether.
Thankfully it couldn't break through and the Aether kept me alive however I was still falling further down.
Calling out Nightfall I dug the sword into the lining of flesh as I tried to slow my descent.
My momentum was slowing as the sword cut deeper and deeper into the worm but while doing so more and more saliva covered me.
I was still perfectly fine but it was melting my Aether reserves and it wouldn't be long until I ran out completely.
When I finally came to a stop dangling in the throat of the dead worm I was reminded of a similar scenario where I was hanging by Nightfall in an elevator.
Pushing that thought aside I got ready to cut out an opening and escape but just as I was about to do so I was forcefully slammed against the lining of the throat.
Startled by the suddenness of the situation, more of my body was covered in the toxic liquid and my Aether consumption doubled.
I tried to push back against the wall but it was impossible to do so as it felt like trying to lift a mountain.
That's when I realized what was preventing me from moving… the worm was falling.
When it attacked me it came straight at me vertically but now that it was dead it had no way of keeping itself upright which meant the corpse of the worm was falling.
Since the monster was so big I knew it would only be a matter of time till it hit the sandy ground.
Not wanting to remain in the body of a dead monster I went into overdrive as I immediately started carving out a hole to escape from.
Thankfully it wasn't too hard to cut through but I suspected that it was only like that because I was cutting out and not in.
When a big enough tear appeared I did my best to slip through it but the toxic saliva made it much harder than it should have been.
After I managed to get halfway through I looked down and saw that the ground was much closer than I wanted it to be.
Unfortunately, I didn't have a choice because if I didn't leave immediately the weight of the monster would come crashing down on me.
Giving myself a final push I fell out of a crack in the worm's skin as I dived toward the ground at an incredibly fast rate.
Making use of the minuscule amount of Aether that remained I coated my body and tucked in.
When I crashed into the ground my entire body shook and felt vibrations rise from the tips of my toes to the top of my head.
"Uhh."
Grunting, my stomach turned as quickly tried to get to my feet.
However, the pain radiating through my legs made it extremely difficult.
Yet when a shadow was cast over me adrenaline started pumping.
'I have to move.'
Forcing myself to the limit I slowly picked up my legs as I rose to my feet before limping away.
Behind me, I could feel the air pressure as the giant monster was nearing the ground but I didn't dare to look back as it was taking every bit of energy to keep moving.
I knew at my current rate there was no way I would make it to safety before I was crushed under the sight of the corpse.
Thus while gritting my teeth I called upon my luck to create a viable gift that would get me out of danger.
It didn't matter how much SP needed to be spent because if I didn't get out of there it would all go to waste as I would be long dead.
Feeling my wrist buzz my eyes lit up from knowledge entering my mind at a rapid pace.
A sense of euphoria and ecstasy mended in my mind as a new gift was created suited toward mobility.
Understanding the basics of the power I immediately activated it just as the corpse of the worm crashed down on the place I was just standing.
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