The ruined city trembled.
The black cocoon towered over the shattered streets.
THUMP!
Like a heart beating within the street.
The sound echoed for miles.
Every pulse sent waves through the earth.
Buildings groaned.
Cracks spread across the asphalt.
The remaining black fog spiraled toward the cocoon.
Feeding it like rivers flowing into an endless abyss.
Kai stood amidst the destruction.
Kai's white flames flickered around the chain coiled tightly around his right arm.
They burned brighter than ever.
Not with rage.
Not with hatred.
But with resolve.
The System floated before Kai's eyes.
[WARNING!]
Forbidden Ritual Active: "Child Of Corruption"
Manifestation Progress: 31%
Kai quietly exhaled.
"...Thirty-one percent."
Kai's grip tightened around the burning chain.
"Its more than enough."
Kai leaned forward.
The next instant—
BOOM!
The pavement beneath Kai's feet exploded.
Kai shot forward like a white comet.
Even though his body screamed in protest.
His broken ribs protested in every movement.
His muscles felt as though they would tear apart.
Yet Kai never slowed.
Kai's eyes never left the cocoon.
"Before whatever's inside is born..."
"I have to destroy it."
───
The cocoon pulsed again.
THUMP!
Manifestation Progress: 34%
The sky darkened further.
The surrounding silenced.
The air became heavy.
Every breath felt like inhaling wet ash.
Kai continued running.
Fifty meters.
Forty.
Thirty.
Then—
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A ripple spread across the cocoon.
The smooth black surface bulged outward.
Something moved beneath it.
Kai narrowed his eyes.
"..."
Without warning—
SHHK!
A spear-like tentacle erupted from the cocoon.
It targeted straight toward Kai's chest.
Fast!
Kai twisted sideways.
The black spear grazed Kai's shoulder.
Blood sprayed into the air.
The tentacle slammed into the street.
BOOOOM!
Concrete exploded.
Chunks of asphalt rained across the road.
Kai never stopped moving.
Another tentacle burst from the cocoon.
Then another.
And another.
Within seconds—
More than a dozen black tendrils filled the area.
Each one thicker than a man's body.
Each one ending in razor-sharp points.
They moved together.
Like snakes hunting wounded prey.
───
Kai's instincts screamed.
Run.
Kai stepped back.
A tentacle narrowly missed his head.
Duck.
Another swept over him.
Its passing wind alone tore apart an abandoned car.
Kai slid beneath it.
The burning chain ignited.
White flames burst along every link.
SWOOSH!
Kai swung upward.
The burning chain wrapped around one tentacle.
Kai pulled.
The White Flame erupted.
The corrupted flesh blackened.
Cracked.
Then burst apart into glowing ashes.
The severed tentacle writhed violently before dissolving into black smoke.
The cocoon pulsed once more.
Almost instantly—
Another tentacle grew from the same spot.
Kai clicked his tongue.
"...It regenerates."
───
Manifestation Progress: 39%
The heartbeat grew louder.
THUMP!
The ground shook violently.
Entire buildings leaned sideways.
Glass burst from every remaining window.
Far away...
Kai saw shadows emerging inside the black fog.
Not Nightmares.
Not humans.
Just...
Shapes.
Countless silhouettes kneeling.
Heads lowered toward the cocoon.
Praying.
The sight sent chills racing down Kais's spine.
The ritual wasn't only changing the cocoon.
It was changing the world itself.
"Are those people the one settling in this area?"
───
A tentacle descended like a falling tower.
Kai leaped backward.
CRAAAAASH!
The impact shattered half the street.
Dust swallowed everything.
Another tendril pierced through the smoke.
Kai barely caught it.
The burning chain wrapped around the spear-like limb.
Kai's arm trembled violently.
"...Too heavy."
The tentacle pushed downward.
Kai's boots carved deep trenches through the concrete.
His muscles screams in pain.
White flames surged.
"Move!"
With a sharp roar—
Kai twisted his body.
The chain redirected the enormous limb.
The tentacle slammed into another.
BOOM!
The two collided.
For an instant—
An opening.
Kai disappeared.
Kai sprinted through the collapsing maze of tentacles.
One.
Two.
Three.
Each step brought him closer.
Twenty meters.
Fifteen.
Ten.
───
The cocoon suddenly convulsed.
The entire surface rippled.
A deep crack spread across its center.
From within...
Something blinked.
An eye!
Massive.
Pitch-black.
It slowly opened.
It looked directly at Kai.
Not with anger.
Not with curiosity.
Recognition.
Kai felt his entire body freeze.
While his heart skipped a beat.
For the briefest moment...
It was as if something ancient had looked back.
Something that should never exist.
Then—
The eye closed.
The crack sealed.
The cocoon continued pulsing.
Manifestation Progress: 44%
Kai's breathing became heavier.
Sweat mixed with blood across his face.
His injuries still hadn't healed completely.
Every movement hurt.
Every breath burned.
But Kai smiled.
A smirk one.
"...Good."
"If you're protecting it..."
"...then I'm on the right path."
White flames erupted once more.
Kai lowered his stance.
The burning chain coiled tighter around his arm.
His eyes locked onto the cocoon.
Then—
Kai exploded forward again.
BOOOOM!
The battle had only just begun.
To Be Continued...