Two twisted figures approached Mithra on the narrow bridge. Their legs had transformed into insect-like limbs tipped with claws, while their hands were ragged blades.
The first figure attacked, its hands whipping out like blades.
Mithra fastened the lantern to her hip, swinging her hammer to deflect the blades. A swishing sound came from behind.
"Hungry..."
The maw extended its tongues to block the attack.
Swish!
The soft tongues were easily cut, allowing the blades to pierce Mithra's back. The blades, upon entering her flesh, broke and sank deeply inside.
"Tch, if you're not going to help, stay back," Mithra muttered, enduring the excruciating pain.
"Hungry... ugh..." The maw retracted its injured tongues.
The battle with the Many-Armed Monster had depleted her energy. She had been saving her energy, but these two figures proved more difficult than expected. It wasn't the maw's fault.
Before Mithra could say anything else, a pulling force came from behind, trying to drag her away.
Mithra activated Reinforce Body in her legs and pushed forward, resisting the force.
Simultaneously, the two figures attacked again.
Mithra activated Control Object on both hands, drawing another sword. Hammer and sword danced in her hands. Instead of blocking, she aimed for their heads.
The two figures landed on Mithra's shoulders, their blades piercing her flesh. The barbs on the blades tore at her flesh but didn't penetrate deeply. With a pull, they tore two chunks of flesh from her shoulders.
Simultaneously, the hammer and sword struck the figure in front of her.
A sword to the neck, a hammer to the head.
Bang!
The figure's head was severed and crushed, but its body only staggered, seemingly unaffected, continuing to slash at Mithra's legs.
Mithra ignored the force pulling her from behind, letting her legs go slack as her body was pulled backward, dodging the blows.
Simultaneously, three swords emerged from her back, piercing the figure behind her.
Using Control Object, she manipulated the three swords to spin her body, quickly dismembering the figure.
Despite the two blades in her back and the falling flesh, Mithra didn't pause. She steadied herself, her cloak billowing, and charged forward.
The headless figure lunged at her.
As they neared, Mithra suddenly leaped sideways, falling from the elevated passage.
The figure's slashing attack missed. Before it could react, Mithra had moved beneath it, slashing with blue energy-imbued claws that left trails of wood and stone debris as they tore the figure in half.
"Hungry..."
The maw extended its tongues.
Mithra, after a moment of hesitation, allowed it. Dealing with the remains was troublesome; letting the maw handle it was more efficient.
The maw even consumed the blades embedded in her back. It seemed the twisted figure had tried to insert something into her body, but the maw took care of that.
As her claws reverted to hands, Mithra flexed her fingers, activated Stabilize, retrieved her hammer and sword, and raised her lantern, continuing her ascent.
Reaching the top of the stairs, she saw nothing but darkness. Of course, she could use the lantern. Perhaps there would be a "pleasant surprise."
This was the large mass of flesh she had seen earlier—the flesh village atop the wall.
But upon closer inspection, she found that much of the mass was decayed and hollow.
The outer flesh still showed slight movement, but it wouldn't last much longer.
Entering a hole in the mass, she found many grotesque, incomplete limbs, mostly motionless.
Reaching the deepest part, she found a cluster of severed, vein-like tubes hanging limply.
"This is where many cursed creatures were born," Mithra concluded. "And there should be a central component here, but it's gone."
Turning, she found a vaguely formed face on the fleshy wall.
"...It's me," Mithra said flatly.
This mass of flesh was mimicking the objects they had "seen." The twisted figures she had encountered earlier were probably copies.
Mithra crushed the face on the wall with a hammer, ignoring the pitiful shriek, making sure it was thoroughly destroyed. Such a mangled thing was hardly a face, and even if she wasn't handsome, it was still insulting.
After another quick look around, Mithra left.
The five-person Chrysalis team had entered this Realm of Eternal Night and taken something. The importance of that object was obvious; something that could control so many cursed creatures was probably similar to the Night Hunter Greatsword—a vessel containing the Chrysalis's power.
And their actions had led to them being copied by the Chrysalis cursed creatures in this world.
Mithra encountered three. There might be two others.
Clearly, with the core item taken, the activity of the cursed creatures had decreased significantly, and decay had set in. The first twisted creatures she encountered were probably weak because of this.
Having mostly solved the mystery, Mithra, satisfied with her trip to Eternal Night, headed back towards the Southwestern District, planning to visit the Xyrin energy point.
Since the five-person Chrysalis team had been here, they must have entered and exited through the Xyrin energy point.
Mithra had entered thanks to Anderet's gift. How did they get in?
Lost in thought, Mithra swayed, her eyes turning bestial, flickering rapidly.
Hmph, hmph, hmph…
A low growl, like a beast, suddenly echoed.
Mithra stopped and activated Stabilize.
Ding.
Slightly better, but only slightly.
"Tch, you're excited because this is Eternal Night, aren't you?" Mithra said quietly, looking into the darkness.
There was no reply. Mithra sighed softly.
She extinguished the lantern and put it in her pouch.
"It's not your fault. I'll just let you play," she whispered into the darkness, her voice quickly becoming strangely bestial.
"Roar—!"
A powerful roar echoed, disturbing the calm darkness.
Then, the hunt began.
...
Mithra walked through Sun City's streets. The residents cast strange, fearful glances at her; everyone avoided her.
This was because she was covered in blood, much of it still fresh. Combined with her impassive expression, she looked like a homicidal maniac showing off her handiwork.
Mithra wasn't, of course.
After activating her beast form in Eternal Night, she had briefly indulged in her newfound power. She had calmed the wolf and bear, returned to her human form, explained to her hungry maw that she wasn't a monster, then activated Stabilize several times before locating an exit near the Xyrin energy point, finally returning to reality.
Honestly, after this cycle of transformations, she felt much better. She'd try again when she had the opportunity.
What? The blood on her body?
Wasn't it normal for a killer to be covered in blood? She wasn't going to use a Water Miracle to clean herself. She'd clean up at her temporary residence.
Eventually, the alerted Guard Corps escorted Mithra back to the mansion.
They told her she had been gone for three days. That must have been how long she spent in Eternal Night.
They hadn't been worried when she had initially disappeared, thinking it was just another Enchanting Land citizen.
But her sudden return had certainly attracted attention. Nino would probably come looking for her.
And she had something to tell him.
But first, a shower.