In the heart of the valley after walking for a considerable time, they finally found the cause of the virus's proliferation in the area, an Ether Monolith, it had a nice name, but this monolith was anything but pretty, made of the flesh of various animals and insects fused and twisted, the source of the high rate of corruption in the region.
"Something isn't right" Mantis said.
"This monolith is definitely too exposed for something that is important" Mollusk.
It seemed that bad luck followed Mollusk, because as soon as his words sounded, booms could be heard coming from the trees behind the monolith.
Several trees further back were knocked down in a zigzag path, but still keeping one objective in mind, the monolith.
"Guys, move away, we don't know what it could be so be careful" Astra quickly shouted orders for them to move.
As soon as the four of them moved away from the monolith, what was coming towards the area where they were also arrived and revealed itself with incredible speed.
It was a surreal and monstrous creature, a long and slender body, seemingly made of white muscle fibers, its entire body seemed to contort inside, its head was a large mouth perpetually open with rows and rows of irregular teeth, the upper part of its jaw looked like a human being who had had his mouth horribly pulled down to his own belly, still having arms made of white fiber that had turned black when it reached his hands, then the back of his head seemed to have several distorted gills that secreted a kind of black blood/sludge.
That... That looked like a hideous and disfigured Dragon.
"W-w-what the FUCK IS THIS SHIT!!!?" Kaido shouted when he saw that being.
"What the hell is that face!!?" Mantis screamed for the first time so far, but that didn't stop her from unfurling her scythes.
"I don't want to fight him! This thing looks like one of those damn oriental dragons" Astra exclaimed in panic.
"It's not a dragon you idiots, it obviously wouldn't be one, it's an Imugi or at least something close to it if we're talking about mythology" Mollusk said as he began to change shape.
"Let's attack before he starts doing something with the monolith, we can't predict what kind of action he'll take" Mollusk took the lead and took the reins of this next battle.
"What the hell, let's go then!!" Kaido shouted from the side as he extended his claws.
The creature's presence was suffocating. The Imugi, with its twisted body of white muscle fibers, jagged teeth and the horrific fusion of gills and black slime, roared like a living nightmare. His eyes seemed to search the soul, while the pulsing flesh of the grotesque monolith in the background emanated corruption.
"There is no room for error!" Astra shouted, her eyes shining with determination as her clones began to form around the group.
Mollusk was the first to act. His body began to distort and fade, taking the form of a translucent serpent that disappeared into the landscape. Completely camouflaged, he moved through the shadows, approaching the Imugi to test it.
The creature cracked its neck in confusion as it tried to locate the unseen threat. Without hesitation, Mollusk launched a blast of corrosive acid at the monster's back, eliciting a deafening scream as the Imugi's twisted flesh began to burn.
The distraction was just what Mantis needed. With almost supernatural agility, she ran in a zigzag pattern, her scythes shining like blades of light. In a precise leap, she delivered deep cuts to the Imugi's upper body, making it momentarily lose its balance.
"Let's see how many parts of this monster we can dismantle!" she shouted, her movements resembling a deadly dance.
The Imugi, now furious, reacted violently, using its long tail to sweep the area around it. Kaido planted his feet firmly on the ground, his scales shining as they reflected the sunlight. The tail struck his chest, but he barely moved, only gritting his teeth.
"My turn." He advanced like a beast, his sharp claws tearing the Imugi's muscle fibers with each strike. Even when the creature tried to bite him, he dodged with brutal movements, using his jaw to sink a venomous bite into the base of the monster's neck.
The venom began to spread, blackening the surrounding muscle fibers.
Meanwhile, Astra led the supporting attack. Her clones surrounded the Imugi, leaping in to distract it with quick, precise attacks. While the copies kept the monster occupied, the real Astra manipulated the water around her, creating liquid whips that wrapped around the creature's tail and the human arms on its head, hindering its movement.
"Now, all together!" Astra shouted, as Mollusk emerged from the shadows and launched more acid, corroding the Imugi's chest. Mantis took advantage of the opening to climb up the creature's body, delivering devastating cuts along its spine.
Kaido, with a ferocious roar, leapt high and dug both claws into the monster's back, forcing it to the ground.
In the final moment, Astra channeled all the water within her reach, forming a massive, high-pressure sphere.
With a scream, she threw the blow directly at the Imugi's exposed chest. The blast of water echoed like thunder, ripping through the creature's body and silencing it forever.
The creature fell with a heavy thud, the black slime around it beginning to ooze. The four warriors looked at each other, exhausted but victorious.
"Good job, guys," Mollusk said, wiping a drop of acid from his hands.
"Good job, nothing," Kaido replied, spitting on the ground. "That was crap, and I still have the taste of monster in my mouth."
Astra let out a weak laugh. "And yet, we won. Let's go back. We have a long walk ahead of us."