I was so dumbfounded I couldn't even muster a hollow laugh. I'd struggled against Baek Wol-hyang too, but how could anyone defeat such an irregular existence?
"This seems a bit unfair."
[This is an opponent you cannot defeat at your current level.]
'At your current level'? Does that mean I could become as strong as that bastard someday?
[Eden has detected us. Run.]
What?
Though over 40km away, Eden turned his head and looked directly at me. The bastard had crimson eyes.
Ghoul...?
The moment our eyes met, I felt like all my internal organs were being twisted into knots.
Gulp.
"Ghk!"
I vomited a mouthful of blood mixed with fleshy chunks.
My head spun. Surrounding sounds grew distant until I couldn't hear anything. I was falling. The ground rushed closer. I needed to do something, but my body refused to move. Consciousness faded away.
[Switching to Auto Mode.]
Just before impact, X barely managed to twist our body upright.
The sudden turn sent blood from my mouth into my windpipe, triggering violent coughs.
"Ghk! Kgh! *Cough* *cough* *cough* *cough* *cough*!"
After coughing for what felt like ages, I realized I was lying in the middle of a desert.
[Returning to Normal Mode.]
I remembered X had used Auto Mode even in that near-death situation.
"Hey... you fucking bastard... If you've got convenient features like Auto Mode, mention them earlier..."
[Auto Mode only activates when the Qualified One loses control. It cannot be used under normal circumstances.]
I decided I needed to curse this bastard out more even if I choked to death, when the ground shook violently enough to induce nausea.
"Ugh... It hurts, it hurts!"
The tremors seemed to penetrate every muscle. Agony like my flesh being torn apart overwhelmed me.
The sound of consecutive rock shattering echoed nearby.
Thump thump, thump, thump, thumpthumpthumpthump...
[A quest has occurred.]
Objective : Deal critical damage to Deathworm.
Reward : Elite Capsule.
Time Limit : 1 hour.
Failure Penalty : Death.
"No way... *cough*. I feel like I'm dying already."
[Adjusting Qualified One's condition. Enhancing physical recovery.]
Pfft.
A sting. Like a thin needle piercing the back of my neck. The nausea gradually subsided. My head still felt fuzzy, but I could probably move now.
"Did you heal me?"
[The Qualified One's condition has been adjusted.]
So the bastard does understand me.
A satisfied smile formed. My conditioning seemed to be paying off.
While feeling proud of X, the tremors stopped. Everything fell silent. Like a predator holding its breath before pouncing.
RUN!!
As I launched myself skyward, the sand where I'd been standing instantly collapsed downward. An enormous amount of sand got sucked into the four-pronged maw of the Deathworm that emerged.
GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR-!!
The Deathworm that burst vertically from underground pursued me at terrifying speed. Countless teeth lined its gaping maw. Getting swallowed meant instant death.
"Grrk-!!"
At the last possible moment before collision, I desperately veered sideways. The creature shot past my back at unbelievable speed. A direct hit would've been fatal.
The Deathworm soared far above me before finally stopping. It glared down while dripping viscous acidic saliva. Rocks touched by the acid melted like cotton candy.
I calmly ascended to head level. The creature shook its massive body, maw gaping as if welcoming me.
"Die."
[Using Minigun Lv.1.]
I unleashed minigun fire into its open maw. While its exterior had hard armor, the inner flesh was vulnerable. I might not kill it, but with luck, I could deal critical damage.
BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!
"GROOOOOOAAAR-!!"
The Deathworm contorted in agony when bullets struck its inner mouth. But compared to its size, the bullets were mere pinpricks. It shook its body tauntingly, maw gaping wide again.
"You little shit."
The moment my angry outburst disrupted my posture, the Deathworm spewed a torrent of green acid at me.
SPLAAAAAAAAAAASH-!!
"Ghk!!"
Sssssssssss-.
Though I dodged hastily, X's left shoulder got grazed. The acid instantly melted through X's shoulder, exposing my flesh beneath.
[Shoulder part severely damaged. Increasing energy extraction intensity.]
"Ugh."
Enduring X's accelerated milking speed, I pondered how to survive this crisis.
Running was the best option now. But according to the quest, I'd die if I didn't deal critical damage within an hour. I had to find a way to fatally wound the Deathworm.
Minigun bullets were too small against this monster. That left only the 'Hardcore Saw.' But could it deal meaningful damage?
[Using Hardcore Saw Lv.1.]
I gripped the Hardcore Saw. Though I'd first used it against Baek Wol-hyang, it got destroyed in one exchange. She'd been absurdly strong, but I'd still been deeply disappointed.
I carefully examined the reactivated Hardcore Saw. I'd already noted its chainsaw-like blade before.
But it doesn't function like a real chainsaw. Do I just swing it back and forth? Is this a weapon or a tool?
Click.
"Huh?"
I'd accidentally pressed the switch on the Hardcore Saw's handle.
VROOOOOOM-!!
"UOOOOH-!!"
The blade roared to life like a chainsaw. The sudden vibration nearly made me drop it.
The Hardcore Saw measured about 2m - excessive against humanoids but toothpick-sized against the Deathworm. To land a critical hit, I needed to persistently target a weak spot.
I activated Stealth. The Deathworm tilted its head in confusion when its prey vanished.
The most vulnerable exposed area was inside its maw. But entering would drown me in acid, melting me instantly.
Any other weaknesses?
I slowly circled its head searching for vulnerabilities. The creature seemed to be losing interest, preparing to leave.
If it escaped, I couldn't catch up at my speed. Game over.
"X, can you scan the Deathworm's head structure?"
[Initiating Deathworm body scan.]
X truly had all sorts of miscellaneous functions. Green lasers shot from X's eyes, scanning the Deathworm's head. Instantly, I could see through its skin to muscles, bones, and internal organs.
Good job, X.
Thanks to the scan, I found what I needed.
I moved close to the Deathworm's head and found a hole just big enough for me - its ear. Still stealthed, the Deathworm remained unaware of my presence at its ear canal.
I slowly entered the pitch-black ear canal, relying on X's built-in light to see.
"Gurgle?"
The creature finally sensed something wrong, making a confused noise.
Too late, asshole.
I stood before its eardrum, as large as my body. With the Hardcore Saw activated, I stabbed into the membrane.
Pop!
The eardrum burst like a balloon on contact. Before the Deathworm could thrash in pain, I swiftly dove through the ruptured membrane.
"GRWAAAAAAAAAAAAAK--!!"
Everything shook violently as the Deathworm writhed in agony. Pressed flush against the ear canal wall, I maintained stability while targeting my next objective.
Touching the opposite wall, I thought:
It should be beyond this.
I braced against the wall with my back, pushing with both legs for leverage. Then I began carving through the opposite wall with the Hardcore Saw.
VROOM-, GRINDGRINDGRIND. VROOOOM, GRINDGRINDGRIND, VROOOOOOM-.
Flesh and blood sprayed everywhere. I became drenched in crimson gore. Thankfully, its blood wasn't acidic, so X didn't melt.
After extensive digging, different organs appeared beyond the flesh.
"Heh... Found it."
I dove Hardcore Saw-first into the cochlea like an Olympic swimmer.
SHWIIIIIIIIIIISH.
I cleanly pierced through the cochlea into deeper regions. With its balance organ destroyed, the Deathworm could no longer distinguish directions.
A familiar notification flashed:
[Congratulations. Quest succeeded. Reward: Elite Capsule obtained.]
I stored the Elite Capsule in my pouch.
"Heh... Quest complete. But I can't leave yet. Though crippled, this bastard's still too dangerous. Need to finish it completely."
Finding the Deathworm's brain took considerable time. Despite its 100m body, the brain was only watermelon-sized.
VROOOOOOM- SSSSSSSSSSS-.
After thoroughly churning the brain with the Hardcore Saw, it turned into thick, soupy sludge.
Now it's truly over. With its brain destroyed, this bastard's done for.
After confirming the Deathworm's death, I exited through my entry point. Emerging from its ear, I inhaled fresh air. My legs trembled as tension released, dropping me to my knees.
"Ha- Fffucking hell- Can't believe I survived. Where the hell am I?"
This wasn't the desert where I'd fought the Deathworm. I found myself in a forested plain with a visible river. The creature must have traveled far during its death throes - astonishing, since Deathworms supposedly only inhabited deserts.
The full moon hanging in the night sky suggested considerable time had passed inside the Deathworm's body during my adrenaline-fueled state.
As I prepared to return to Woven territory to find Karin, consecutive notifications appeared.
[Karin is nearby.]
[Treasure is nearby.]
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