Miyagi took a deep breath, casting a glance back at Li Wang and the medic to ensure they were somewhat stabilized. His gaze then hardened as he turned to the rest of the group.
"We cannot break through the mutated centipedes' shells with a frontal assault," Miyagi stated calmly, pointing toward the approaching creatures. "But their movement has a glaring flaw. They slither forward in a serpentine manner, slow and cumbersome. If we can seize the right moment and focus our attacks on their joints or heads, we might be able to breach their defenses."
Li Wang struggled to his feet, lifting his head to stare at the massive creatures with furrowed brows. He nodded reluctantly. "But how are we supposed to get close? Their tendrils are lashing too fast—getting near them is almost impossible."
After watching the medic finish his healing, Narcissus quickly activated his powers, shouting, "Miyagi, I'll hold them off. You and Li Wang, attack from different sides!"
No sooner had the words left Narcissus' mouth than the surrounding iron blocks and rods responded to his command. The scattered metal fragments on the ground swiftly converged, spiraling upward, and in the blink of an eye, a solid defensive barricade materialized before them. The towering five-meter iron wall stood like a shield, separating them from the oncoming mutated centipedes.
"This should buy us some time!" Narcissus gasped, sweat beading on his brow from the sheer focus the power demanded. His eyes gleamed with determination, his hands never ceasing their movements. With a sharp flick of his wrist, several razor-sharp iron rods shot forth, speeding like arrows toward the centipedes, striking their hard shells with precision.
Yet, the sound of the iron against their armored exoskeletons was a harsh screech, leaving only faint scratches. The centipedes, sensing the threat, began to writhe restlessly, their tendrils whipping with greater frenzy, and emitted low, guttural roars of anger.
"The exoskeleton is as hard as expected..." Narcissus frowned slightly but did not relent, continuing to manipulate the surrounding iron blocks in an effort to ward off the centipedes' relentless assault.
"Narcissus, you're incredible!" Li Wang exclaimed, feeling a slight easing of the pressure. Yet, he knew full well that defense could not hold forever. Turning to Miyagi, he whispered, "We must act now, while we still have the chance."
Miyagi nodded, his gaze unwavering. He understood well that the centipedes' defense was formidable, but this moment was their only opportunity. Clenching his fists, he said to Li Wang, "I'll draw their attention. You strike at their weak points when the moment arises."
Li Wang hesitated no longer and nodded resolutely.
In a sudden burst of movement, Miyagi dashed out from behind the defensive wall, unleashing his "Domain Hand Blade" in a swift arc towards the centipede ahead. Yet, when only a faint scar appeared on its exoskeleton, his heart sank. He knew his strength was not lacking, but these creatures' defenses far exceeded his expectations.
"How strong are these things?" Miyagi gritted his teeth, swiftly retreating to avoid the centipede's vengeful strike.
From the rear, Narcissus, still commanding the iron blocks, sensed Miyagi's struggle. He too realized that their current attacks were insufficient. "Miyagi, be careful! Their shells are even tougher than we thought!"
"This won't work…" Miyagi muttered, his mind racing for a new strategy. His sharp eyes scanned the centipede's body, searching desperately for a more vulnerable weak spot.
At that moment, the centipede thrashed violently, growing more frenzied in response to the earlier assault. Its massive tendrils lashed out wildly, like a web of sharp iron, forcing Miyagi further back. As he dodged, he felt the urgency of time pressing in.
On the opposite side, Li Wang reacted swiftly, seizing the moment when the centipede exposed a gap. He drove a powerful punch into its abdomen. Yet, despite the sheer force of his blow, the exoskeleton merely cracked in a few places, refusing to break apart. Frustration weighed heavily on him, his breathing quickening with exertion.
"These creatures are too much!" Li Wang shouted, his eyes filled with helplessness.
"We need more power…" Miyagi muttered under his breath, when a sudden spark of inspiration lit his eyes. "Narcissus! We can't rely on singular attacks. We need to combine your metal manipulation with my Domain Hand Blade!"
Narcissus immediately grasped Miyagi's idea and nodded in agreement. "Miyagi, unleash your Domain Hand Blade. I'll gather the iron rods into a massive spear and drive it into the opening you create, then Li Wang will strike from behind to hammer it deep into the centipede."
Narcissus' plan ignited a glimmer of hope in all three. Without hesitation, Miyagi clenched his fists, channeling his energy into the Domain Hand Blade. He took a deep breath, eyes locking onto the centipede's body, fully aware this was their only shot.
"Ready, go!" Miyagi's voice rang out as he slashed at the centipede's exoskeleton. This time, Narcissus' iron rods had already gathered, swiftly forming a gigantic, razor-sharp spear that launched directly into the crack Miyagi had carved.
"Li Wang, now!" Narcissus shouted, swinging his arm to guide the spear straight into the mutated centipede's breach. Without hesitation, Li Wang summoned all his strength into his right arm, a determined light flashing in his eyes. With a mighty roar, he struck the spear's rear with a forceful punch.
The spear, like a colossal drill, violently pierced through the centipede's hardened shell, driving deep into its flesh. The creature let out a bloodcurdling screech, its body convulsing wildly as its tentacles flailed, but this time, it could no longer resist.
"We did it!" Miyagi exclaimed, finally allowing a breath of relief as the centipede's body collapsed, its strength drained.
Narcissus wiped the sweat from his brow, smiling faintly. "We've broken through their defenses. Now let's press the advantage; there are still more centipedes."
Just as they celebrated their success, a mutated centipede suddenly lunged from behind Miyagi, its pincers sinking savagely into his right arm. Agonizing pain coursed through him, his face paling instantly, sweat pouring down his brow. He was lifted high into the air, helpless in the centipede's grip. The creature's strength was immense, his body teetering on the verge of being torn apart.
Seeing this, the others panicked, shouting his name in terror.
"Miyagi!" Li Wang and Narcissus called out simultaneously, rushing forward to help, but the distance was too great.
However, Miyagi's gaze remained unwavering. Though pain surged through his consciousness like a relentless tide, he knew he could not afford to show weakness at that moment. Enduring the excruciating agony, he gritted his teeth to suppress any sounds of distress and instead forcefully thrust his entire right arm deeper into the centipede's maw.
"Miyagi, what are you doing?" Li Wang exclaimed, his eyes wide with disbelief.
Narcissus was equally taken aback, a whirlwind of thoughts racing through his mind as he struggled to comprehend Miyagi's reckless act.
At that moment, Miyagi let out a thunderous roar that reverberated across the battlefield: "Domain Hand Blade!"
With that shout, an intense surge of energy erupted from Miyagi's right arm, causing the centipede that clamped down on him to emit a piercing wail. His hand blade tore through the creature's insides like a razor, and with a blinding flash, the centipede's body was cleaved in two, blood splattering like a crimson mist, accompanied by a searing rush of air.
The massive form of the centipede collapsed, crashing to the ground and raising a cloud of dust and debris. Meanwhile, Miyagi fell to the earth, his right arm bleeding profusely, yet he remained resolute, refusing to utter a single groan.
"Miyagi!" Li Wang and Narcissus rushed forward with the medic, their hearts sinking at the sight of Miyagi sprawled on the ground, pallid and with a ghastly wound on his arm.
Inside the shelter, the atmosphere was stifling and tense. Everyone watched the fierce battle outside through the surveillance screens, the colossal shadow of the centipede loomed like a harbinger of death before the defensive barrier. Many were pale, unable to conceal the fear that gripped them, worried whether this fragile wall could withstand the onslaught of such terrifying creatures.
Hades stood at a vantage point within the shelter, intently observing the unfolding chaos outside, his mind a tumult of anxiety. He understood that Narcissus and the others were fighting valiantly for their refuge, but with Miyagi injured, the situation appeared increasingly dire. Concern for the ultimate outcome of this battle gnawed at him.
Suddenly, his attention was drawn to Kaires nearby. Hades fixated on the strange phenomena surrounding him. The hair on Kaires' arms stood on end, as if an invisible force was coalescing around him. A peculiar disturbance rippled through the air, subtly hinting at the presence of static electricity.
Hades furrowed his brow, abruptly realizing that this was no ordinary occurrence. He called out to Kaires with urgency: "Kaires! What is this 'static electricity' surrounding you? Is this… your ability?"
Kaires was momentarily taken aback, glancing down at the changes enveloping him. Tiny currents danced between his fingers, intensifying gradually. He could feel a powerful force surging within him, an unfamiliar yet profound sensation, as if a latent power was awakening.
"This… is my ability?" Kaires murmured to himself, disbelief etched across his face. His body grew increasingly tense, the currents swirling in the air as if poised to erupt at any moment. Those around him began to notice the anomaly, instinctively stepping back, eyes wide with terror.
Hades narrowed his eyes, swiftly assessing the situation. He recognized that this moment could represent a turning point amidst the crisis. If Kaires could truly harness this power, it might become the key to repelling the mutated centipedes.
"Kaires," Hades urged, his tone steady yet laced with anticipation, "try to focus your mind and control this power. We need it now more than ever."
Taking a deep breath, Kaires sought to steady himself. His hands ceased to tremble, gradually beginning to command the pulsing currents. As he concentrated, the static electricity intensified, coalescing into tiny bolts of lightning that danced around him.