Nightmare Paradise : Starting as a Doctor

Chapter 162: Ruler of the Underground Mine

The tremors intensified, reverberating through the underground labyrinth as if the earth was awakening from a long slumber. Lynn adjusted his stance, maintaining balance as the vibrations grew violent.

Dust plummeted from the cracked ceiling, followed by a steady trickle of loose pebbles and rubble, penetrating the billowing clouds of black smoke and clattering against the ground like an ominous drumbeat.

Fortunately, the sturdy construction of the mining tunnel held firm, the reinforced walls resisting the strain. Had the structure been weaker, it would have collapsed, burying everything under a cascade of debris.

His eyes narrowed, extraordinary senses sharpened and alert, attuned to even the faintest disturbance. Then, through the swirling inferno, he finally witnessed it — an enormous figure piercing the crimson haze.

The true ruler of this subterranean domain had arrived. With incredible speed for its size, the towering beast surged forward, each step sending rippling shockwaves and destroying anything in its path.

Even its minions, the smaller arachnids, were not spared. They scurried about in frantic disarray, their attempts to escape proving futile as they got crushed and swept aside like detritus in a raging storm.

Undeterred by the chaos, Lynn's focus remained unwavering. "Its appearance means that I must be near the pollution source," he deduced, a glint of curiosity and anticipation flashing in his gaze.

Relaxing the grip on Flame Edge, the fiery aura gradually faded as he advanced to face the incoming threat. The blade had served him well, but the current situation demanded a different approach.

Before him loomed a titanic creature, its frame dwarfing even the largest spider monstrosities he had vanquished moments earlier. Thick, chitinous plates covered its body, gleaming like polished obsidian under the fire.

Multiple eyes, each the size of a human head, fixed their unblinking predatory stare upon him. They radiated a primal intent while the mouthparts clicked and snapped with bone-crushing force, dripping a viscous, corrosive venom.

The sheer scope and power were awe-inspiring, and he could sense the underlying intelligence behind those looks that hinted at a cunning beyond simple instinct, pushing him to be more cautious.

With a swift motion, he closed the distance. Simultaneously, he sheathed his sword and slid it back into its place. Freeing his hands, he extended them onward, palms facing the charging colossal.

As the distance between the two shrank, his skin rippled and distorted, externally bulging in strange patterns. The limbs enlarged rapidly, swelling to grotesque proportions within seconds.

Flesh ballooned along his fingers and arms, surging with new mass. Veins popped to the surface, jutting like earthworms burrowing beneath the stretched surface. Bones creaked audibly and popped as they elongated to match the rapidly inflating musculature.

When the transformation finished, his abnormal extremities nearly tripled in size. The giant beast let out a shriek of alarm as it registered the metamorphosis, mandibles clacking furiously at the unexpected sight.

But it was too late to rein in its momentum - the collision was now inevitable. Instead, Lynn pressed on, his pace accelerating as he deftly swung his modified hands forward, channeling the full force of his speed.

The impact was like a thunderous explosion, sending dust and debris swirling in the air, briefly obscuring vision. Even the blazes consuming the silk webs sputtered out, only to flare back to life with renewed intensity.

When the chaos settled, the monster found itself locked in place, its advance halted by the sheer strength of a grip. Lynn had clutched the enormous, writhing mouthparts with his oversized limbs.