https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-21-Terrifying-Neighbor-Lurking-Danger/13535095/
Chapter 22: The Giant Brain - A Beast's Desperation!
Chapter 22: The Giant Brain - A Beast's Desperation!
Luo En closed his eyes, trying to pinpoint the source of the anomaly, but the eerie sensation vanished as quickly as it appeared.
"Strange..."
He muttered to himself, unease prickling his skin as he sat up.
At that exact moment, the commotion from the neighboring room intensified violently.
This was no longer any sound a human could make - it resembled a beast's anguished roar, interspersed with the grating screech of metal scraping against bone.
"It seems the worst-case scenario has come to pass..."
Luo En whispered, a chill of foreboding crawling up his spine.
In one fluid motion, he sprang from his bed, movements silent and swift. All those hunting drills his father had forced upon him back in the Kingdom were finally paying off.
The cacophony next door grew frenzied, punctuated by heavy thuds of something slamming against walls. Something massive thrashed within that cramped space - growling, crashing, howling in agony.
Luo En hesitated briefly, rapidly assessing his predicament. As Darend's direct neighbor, he was most vulnerable to this nightmare unfolding. Andie's warning echoed in his mind - about the horrors of mutations from the Black Mist Jungle. In their early stages, most mutants retained fragments of reason. But as time passed, that sanity would erode, consumed by primal bloodlust until only a killing machine remained.
Even more terrifying was the fact that once rationality was lost, mutation strength skyrocketed. Through complete self-restraint and frenzied consumption of nutrients, they could temporarily reach terrifying power levels—nearly matching High Apprentices.
With two months still remaining until the assessment, he couldn't afford to gamble with his life here.
"Darend's mutation has begun", Luo En deduced swiftly. "By the time the enforcers arrive, it'll be too late. I must leave immediately."
Dressing in haste, he grabbed his wooden sword and stuffed valuables into his robes. "Better a fallen comrade than this humble cultivator", he muttered grimly. "Survival comes first. I'll deal with this at dawn."
As he finished packing, the unnatural noise from next door abruptly ceased. A chilling silence followed, broken only by wet crunching sounds - bones snapping, muscles squirming.
Heart pounding, Luo En crept to his door, easing it open just enough to peer into the corridor. Empty. Most candidate apprentices had either retired for the night or remained in deep cultivation, oblivious to the monster lurking among them.
He needed distance first - then he'd notify the enforcers from safety.
Taking a steadying breath, Luo En silently slipped out, preparing to flee.
The moment he stepped into the hallway, the wall exploded. A twisted figure burst through like a cannonball, crashing through debris into the corridor.
Shards of brick and wood filled the air, choking dust swirling with the inhuman roar.
Reacting instinctively, Luo En leaped backward just as the monstrous projectile flew past. Shards grazed his cheek.
"Damn it!"
Could this... truly be Darend?
His eyes widened in disbelief at the grotesque figure before him. The soft-spoken scholar was gone. In his place stood a creature of nightmare.
Darend's body contorted in agony, his robes torn open to reveal writhing muscle fibers beneath. But the true horror was his head - the skull split open as if pried apart from within. A pulsating, translucent brain protruded, veins slithering across its surface like live wires. Faint blue lights flickered within, electricity dancing between neural pathways.
"Luo... En..." The abomination recognized him, speaking in a guttural double-voice. "Flee... now..."
The last spark of humanity flickered and died. Darend's eyes turned hollow, pupils expanding into bottomless voids.
"Wu... Ao!"
His words dissolved into a bestial screech. The exposed brain's glow intensified, pulsing violently.
A shockwave of invisible force slammed into Luo En. It felt like being struck by a sledgehammer to the chest. Thanks to his Knight Attendant physique enhancements, he survived the attack, though his insides felt like they'd been crushed by some colossal fist. Without these enhancements, he'd surely be vomiting blood by now.
The mutated brain beast ceased all pretense of recognition, emitting piercing shrieks. Each soundwave grew stronger than the last. The wooden railings splintered, doors rattled violently in their frames.
Luo En knew there was no saving Darend. The Black Mist Jungle had one rule for such cases - eliminate the threat!
Judging by the creature's muscular bulk and devastating sonic assaults, fleeing would be suicide. Turning his back would guarantee death.
Resolve hardened in his chest. All hesitation buried deep, Luo En's mind narrowed to one primal thought - survive.
The mutation roared, recognizing the challenge. With terrifying speed, it charged. Muscular legs exploded against the floor, closing the distance in an instant.
Luo En didn't panic. Channeling Solar Corona Swordsmanship, he sidestepped at the last moment, his breath perfectly synchronized with his movement.
At the same time, his blade sliced toward Darend's leg.
【Perfect evasion and counterattack! Foundational Swordsmanship experience points +2】
The sword struck with a dull thud. Darend staggered, momentarily off-balance, but quickly recovered, though his next charge was noticeably slower.
This time, the beast opened its maw, releasing a special sonic resonance. The air warped, forming semi-transparent rings of energy racing toward Luo En.
He dodged sideways, narrowly avoiding the first wave, but the second ring slammed into his shoulder. Pain exploded through his body as his right arm went numb.
This wasn't mere physical impact - it combined spiritual energy with soundwaves. The prototype sound wave magic Darend had been researching.
Struggling to create distance, Luo En's resolve strengthened when Darend tilted his head back, releasing an ear-splitting shriek. Powerful sonic rings erupted from the pulsating brain, creating omnidirectional shockwaves.
Blood trickled from Luo En's lips. He knew he couldn't last much longer. If this continued, he'd be killed by pure force.
As the beast prepared another sonic assault, Luo En acted on instinct, unleashing a cantrip he'd mastered.
"Slime Splash!"
Channels of spiritual energy surged. A viscous liquid launched from his fingertips, striking Darend's feet.
The substance solidified instantly, pinning the monstrosity in place.
【Precision strike! Slime Splash experience points +2】
The mutated Darend roared in rage, struggling against the bonds. But the slime held fast. Though he couldn't move, the sonic attacks continued.
The slime's effect weakened rapidly. Within seconds, one foot broke free.
If the beast fully broke loose, Luo En's fate would be sealed.
Using the brief restraint to his advantage, he weaved through the sonic rings, searching for an opening.
Soon, he noticed a pattern - after each sonic blast, the mutation needed a moment to recover. The grotesque brain pulsated, needing rest between attacks.
"Now!"
Seizing the pause, he darted behind Darend. Up close, he could clearly see the pulsating blood vessels across the exposed organ.
No hesitation. He raised his sword and struck with full force at that vulnerable target!
(End of Chapter)
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