I must reach the second level.
Isn't it time for you to awaken from your slumber, O germ?
Inside the lieutenant's body, there was a white membrane hanging in a vein, and inside that membrane was a still body, but suddenly it began to throb very slowly: doom, doom, doom, doom… and after only moments, it started to beat faster and faster.
Outside, the lieutenant began to laugh loudly: "Hahaha! You have brought this upon yourselves, you rebels! Now you shall face a fate worse than death."
Outside the cave, Mihon, Amis, and the mute girl felt that something strange was happening inside the cave.
Amis looked toward the villagers: "Leave this place."
The villagers didn't understand anything, but Amis raised his voice: "Get out of this place immediately, you fools! Leave this place!"
The islanders were shocked: "What is happening?"
Mihon turned toward them, then said: "If you wish to die, stay in this place."
As soon as the chief heard that, he said: "Bring the boy, let's get out of here."
Quickly, the villagers ran off, holding their weapons in their hands.
In the cave, the sounds of laughter grew louder, and the place grew colder.
"What's happening?" said Ames.
Mihon replied: "It seems the lieutenant is entering the second level of the germ for the first time."
"Are we going to let him? We'll be in trouble."
Youray suddenly appeared beside them: "What's going on? What is this cold aura filling the place?"
"Let's go in," said Mihon.
Mihon stepped forward, the others behind him, and as he advanced, the place grew colder.
Inside, the lieutenant was laughing: "Yahahahaha!" loudly and insanely. "Come on! Now we'll see who dies last, and we'll know who has the upper hand!"
He spoke as if he had lost his mind, and suddenly he went silent. A cold breeze began to blow in the cave. At that moment, the lieutenant let out a terrifying scream. Inside his body, the creature within the cocoon was awakening, and it began to crack.
As for outside, the lieutenant's body began to crack, and his screams grew more intense.
Mihon and the others arrived at the place where the lieutenant was. What they saw horrified them: the lieutenant was screaming violently, and four jagged brown legs were tearing through his abdomen and emerging from it, while his head was growing longer, and as it extended, its color began to turn gray.
Mihon narrowed his eyes and said, "He's losing control."
Ames asked, "Why is he losing control?"
"As far as I know, the primary reason for losing control is being unprepared to enter the next level. That is the most likely reason for his loss of control."
Suddenly, silence filled the place. The ear-piercing screams could no longer be heard—only the sound of cracking remained. And with each crack, the cave grew colder, until parts of the cave began to freeze.
The lieutenant's body began to change—his neck grew longer, and his head was no longer what it once was. Only two large eyes were attached to the front of an organ resembling a rat's tail placed upon his neck. Those eyes were black and extended slightly forward. As for the body, another jagged brown leg emerged. His body began to take form, now stretched backward and slender, adorned with brown and white patterns, and bearing brown-and-white wings. In the center of his chest, there was a white circle with a black circle inside it.
Everyone was shocked by the horrific sight.
"Is that… a monster?" said Amis.
Mihon nodded: "That's the germ's true form."
"I wonder… what is this germ's name?" said Youray.
"We don't know much about germs," said Mihon.
(The shape of this germ resembled that of a leafhopper insect.)
"We have to kill it now before it regains control of its body."
"If it regains its consciousness, we'll be in serious trouble," said Mihon.
"Attack together!"
Mihon, Youray, and Ames charged together.
"Germ of Chains, Chains of Destruction!"
"Germ of Bones, Pillars of Bone!"
"Scythe of Death!"
Mihon launched his chain swiftly toward the lower body of the germ, Youray fired a bone toward its head, and Amis closed in with his scythe and swung it at its legs.
Mihon's chain bounced off its body, and Youray's bone passed beside its head as the germ tilted it.
As for Ames's scythe, it too bounced off after striking its legs.
"What a tough hide!" said Mihon.
Mihon looked at the others: "Again, attack!"
Mihon with his chain, Youray with his bones, Amis with his scythe. But all their attacks were deflected.
Suddenly, the germ let out a horrific scream. Mihon, Youray, Ames, and the mute girl all grabbed their ears—it was a terrifying cry that reached all the way to the village, where everyone collapsed unconscious.
As for those in the cave, everyone began bleeding from their noses and ears without exception. After that, a vile, suffocating, evil aura rose, until everyone was struggling to breathe.
"Mihon, we'll die if we stay here!" said Ames.
Mihon watched the germ as it emitted a faint red aura, surrounded by an aura filled with evil.
"Come on, let's leave this place."
The group retreated, and as they did, the germ fell silent. With its silence, the murderous intent emanating from it intensified.
Mihon and the others looked behind them—the germ was no longer there. Only green liquid with white smoke rising from it remained in the spot where it had been.