...

  The windows of the laboratory in Kaalminar's second tower rattled, vibrating with the resonance of an ominous, unseen sound.

  The lab was a sprawling, hall-like facility, currently housing nine researchers, nine assistants, and twelve staff members. The heavy burden of overseeing this entire operation rested on the shoulders of the Research Director, Dr. Trisha.

  The skittering sound against the glass reached Trisha's ears. Sensing an impending disaster, she steeled herself and approached the massive observation window. She didn't go empty-handed; she held a cluster of specialized herbs concealed behind her back.

  "Shriek!!"

  A sound like sliding metal—enough to make one's skin crawl—echoed through the hall. The rhythmic tapping of sharp, chitinous legs against the outer walls was audible to every employee, assistant, and researcher present.

  And Dr. Trisha heard it clearest of all.

  Forcing a dry swallow, she peered through the glass.

  There was nothing.

  The wall was empty.

  Trisha exhaled a long breath she hadn't realized she was holding. She turned back to her team, who were all staring at her with wide, expectant eyes.

  "I was worrying for nothing. There's nothing out there—"

  Trisha's words died in her throat. The color drained from the faces of her staff as if they had seen a ghost. Or perhaps something far worse.

  The Shriek returned.

  The same sliding sound... the same rhythmic tapping of sharp legs against the wall, but closer.

  Much closer.

  Trisha's eyes widened as she noticed a massive, looming silhouette stretching across her own shadow on the floor.

  "Ma'am! Behind you!"

  Without looking back, Trisha lunged to her right with all her might. Simultaneously, the massive glass window imploded. A colossal, cylindrical beast stormed inside, its thousands of pointed legs clattering against the floor tiles. Shards of broken glass rained down like lethal confetti.

  All the researchers, employees, assistants ran away from their places screaming and ran towards Trisha, while Trisha quickly got up and saw that this monster was busy destroying the entire lab.

  Its body was encased in an impenetrable, deep-black and brown carapace that looked like cooled volcanic rock.

  Jagged spines protruded from its back, shredding machinery and shattering chemical vats as it moved. A sinister red glow, like smoldering coal, pulsed from the joints of its segments.

  The sound of its hundreds of legs hitting the floor in unison created a terrifying, rhythmic thrumming.

  Its face featured massive, pincered jaws, and while its eyes were small, they burned with a predatory, fiery red light.

  "It's a High-Level Millipede... Everyone, stay calm! It's herbivorous. As long as you don't provoke it, it won't attack."

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  Everyone immediately covered their mouths and pressed themselves against the corners of the room. They had no choice; most were Medium or Low-level fighters whose only "skill" was science. Trisha signaled a staff member near the telephone line to call for immediate reinforcements.

  Meanwhile, the thirty-to-forty-foot cylindrical beast continued its path of destruction, smashing every table and piece of furniture in its way toward...

  That room.

  The restricted vault that only two people had the authority to enter: Pranali and Trisha.

  It was the storehouse for rare gems, experimental herbs, and high-value alchemical prototypes.

  "Ma'am! Director Pranali says she is sending help as fast as possible!"

  Trisha heard the message, but her heart sank. The monster was barreling toward the one place it absolutely should not reach. She slowly pulled a key with a built-in remote from her coat pocket and pressed the button. The main lab doors began to slide open.

  "Ma'am, what are you—"

  "Shh!"

  "All of you, get out of this room now! I'll try to hold it off until help arrives."

  Even though Trisha had ordered it, none of them were willing to leave her alone. And seeing this, she had to resort to authority, otherwise they wouldn't leave.

  "Go! Now! That is an order!!"

  Reluctantly, they began to retreat. Before they could argue further, Trisha slammed the button to lock the doors behind them.

  Her responsibility was great, and her resolve was firm. She had to stop this beast from reaching the vault.

  "Look over here, you brainless cylinder! If I'm still here, what are you looking for over there?"

  Trisha's challenge held a hidden politeness, which failed to get the monster's attention. A true taunt needs to burn, making the enemy lose their mind and strike in a rage.

  But it wasn't as if Trisha was a combat expert. She had never faced a monster of this level head-on. At least not one of a higher monster than her. She knew the risks.

  Summoning her power, she struck at the line of the creature's legs. Thick, magical vines erupted from the floor, entangling several of its many limbs.

  When the beast found its momentum halted, it finally turned.

  It turned to see who had the audacity to stop it.

  "SHRIEK!!"

  It lunged at her with such blinding speed that she barely had time to react. She dove under a heavy research desk. But the millipede began smashing through the desks like they were made of cardboard. Realizing the cover wouldn't last, Trisha sprinted toward the other side of the lab.

  Fortunately, the millipede wasn't exceptionally fast, but what it lacked in speed, it made up for with its massive, sweeping reach.

  As Trisha ran toward the far wall, the millipede lunged with the full weight of its body. Trisha ducked just in time; otherwise, its pincers would have turned her into a pulp against the stone.

  The force of the impact was so great it left a massive hole in the wall. Trisha took the opportunity to sprint in the opposite direction....away from the vault.

  With another piercing shriek, the millipede pulled itself out of the wall and charged back into the room.

  Trisha was running with everything she had, but she made the fatal mistake of turning her head to check the distance between them.

  This is the moment where humans often fail. In the attempt to gauge an enemy's position, they lose sight of their own.

  That's exactly what happened to Trisha.

  Because she was looking back, she didn't see the monster's tail coming. The Gojar lashed out, and before she knew it, Trisha was sent flying across the lab.

  Before she could even attempt to stand, she was pinned. The monster's tail coiled around her, tightening its grip. Its sharp legs were poised like spears, ready to impale her. One strike would be enough.

  Trisha closed her eyes, preparing for the end. She braced for the killing blow...

  But she didn't feel anything...

  Instead, she felt a sudden, freezing gust of wind.

  When she opened her eyes, the monster's legs were frozen in mid-air, despite it straining with all its might to finish the kill.

  Trisha looked up and saw a tall figure standing before her. He exuded a level of power that could make anyone's blood run cold, even a monster with a hundred legs.

  The fiery red glow in the monster's eyes dimmed, replaced by a cold terror, as if it were staring directly into the face of its own death. And perhaps it was.

  "What a joke!"

  "I was sent all this way just to kill a brainless insect?!"

  To be continued...