"This is a disaster," said Youray.
Everyone stopped and began to look around.
In a swift flash, the chain with violet eyes wrapped around the Mute and pulled her from her place.
Boom! An explosion occurred in her place, and if Mihon had been a little late, the Mute would have been killed instantly.
Mihon swiftly wound his chain around his hand, then headed toward the germ that was in the Mute's place.
The chain buzzed like lightning! He struck with force. Mihon looked around him: "Get out of here!"
Youray didn't respond to him; instead, he lunged at the germ with him, and so did Ames, who attacked as well.
Youray and Ames said at the same moment: "We take this journey together. If we die, we die together. If we stay, we stay together."
The Mute was shocked at that moment; she was about to die. Sweat began pouring from her.
Mihon looked at her: "You get out of here. Go to the ship immediately."
Black eyes began watching everyone, then, once again, they approached the Mute, but Mihon pulled her with his chain, and another explosion occurred in her place.
"This damned germ... it's targeting the Mute!" said Youray.
"Why?" said Ames.
"It's fighting us instinctively… It hasn't fully awakened yet. If it fully awakens, we'll be annihilated," said Mihon.
And after the germ saw Mihon preventing it from killing its prey, it turned toward him.
"This is your chance—get out of here!"
The Mute looked back and began running. She could fight, but not against this terrifying monster.
The germ attacked Mihon, but he did not retreat. He launched toward its chest, but as soon as he approached it, it swung its front leg.
Boom! Mihon was hurled toward the wall. Like grass, just a small flick was enough. Mihon began coughing up blood, his head was injured, and he started to bleed.
The germ stood four meters tall—it was far too large for Mihon and the others.
After Youray and Ames saw Mihon in that state, they attacked together with full force. Veins began to show on their faces.
"Germ of Bones—Bones of Death!"
He sent thin, spiked pillars of bone toward the germ's head. "Scythe of Death—Wind Breaker!"
The attacks were unleashed. Boom! Boom! Clouds of dust rose into the air. But inside the dust, there were two eyes glowing with intense killing intent.
Mihon stood up, wiped the blood from his mouth, and looked toward Ames and Youray, then started to smile a bitter smile: "Come on, let's attack together."
Both Ames and Youray nodded their heads in agreement.
Mihon released a slime from his body that began to take the shape of a chain. Thick fog started pouring from Youray's bones. Ames held his scythe, which emitted intense cold. They attacked as one.
The chain wrapped around the germ's long neck, and Mihon lunged toward it.
"Before it fully awakens, we have to end this!" said Mihon.
A powerful kick from Mihon struck its neck. It staggered backward. A thick white fog filled the place, and with it, bones slithered like snakes, writhing as they headed toward the germ's eyes.
Ames approached the germ and leapt high, swinging his scythe toward the neck bound by chains, but as he neared, the germ swung its leg.
An explosion cracked the walls! Ames was flung like a leaf falling from a tree on a stormy day.
The germ began twisting its neck back and forth. Mihon moved with each turn of its neck, crashing into the walls.
As Youray's bones approached, the germ retreated, then leapt high and released a green liquid from its mouth—positioned directly beneath its eyes—toward Youray's bones, dissolving them instantly.
Then it charged toward Youray. Youray turned his body slightly, and the germ's serrated leg flew past him, grazing his clothes. It struck the ground, and an explosion sent Youray flying into the wall. He slammed into it and fell to the ground.
Mihon fell as well, after having been hanging from his twisted chain around the germ's neck.
"Yah… what a cunning beast… we have to kill it quickly!" said Mihon.
"It's very strong, but we have to try!" said Youray.
"Ames, Youray and I will keep it busy. You be ready, and strike hard!"
"Got it!" said Ames.
Mihon raised his hand, and a bloody red chain appeared, filled with violet eyes. "Chain Germ, whip!" "Bone Germ, bone spikes!"
The chain snapped forward like a whip toward the germ's body, while Youray's intertwined bones also headed toward it.
Ames stealthily sneaked from behind and approached it.
The germ emitted a buzzing sound from its mouth, then began spinning rapidly, repelling Mihon and Youray's attacks. As for Ames, the sneaking one, as soon as he got close, it noticed him. It swung its serrated brown leg toward him.
Ames let out a groan and put his scythe in front of him. Its leg struck the scythe and sent him flying back against the wall.
Then it moved quickly toward where Mihon and Ames were — the germ was in front of them. As it did with Ames, it swung its leg. The two flew like leaves toward the wall.
The three lay on the ground, bleeding from their mouths and heads.
The germ stood still. After a moment, it let out a loud scream, like a crow's cry but in a single breath. Mihon and the others covered their ears because the scream hurt their hearing.
The Mute was currently far from the cave. With the germ's scream, she stopped, covered her ears, and fell to the ground, beginning to writhe.
Inside the cave, the germ fell silent, then turned toward the three lying on the ground, drenched in their blood—Ames coughing up blood, Mihon trying to stand, and Youray staggering in pain. The germ began advancing toward them, looking first at Ames, then Youray, until her gaze settled on Mihon. She raised her leg, pointing at Mihon.
Mihon swung his chain toward her neck, but the germ tilted her neck and lifted her leg toward the sky. Mihon smiled; he had been awaiting his death. He no longer had the strength to stand.
While Mihon had been looking at her body, now he stared into her black eyes, and their eyes met. What Mihon saw were eyes staring at him, but what the germ saw was utter darkness… two vast black holes staring back.
Before those black eyes, she was like an ant staring at an elephant. She closed her eyes and bowed her head toward the ground.
The germ slowly began retreating until she reached the cave's entrance. There, she turned, spread her wings, and flew away swiftly, terrified, as if she feared something...