Chapter 9 An attack

Quickly rising to his feet, Icaros scanned his room, confirming there were no signs of intrusion yet. Before he could even think too much about it. A light of resolve flashed in his eyes. He had made his decision.

Carefully opening his door, he strained his ears, listening intently for any sound. But there was nothing-dead silence. Not even a pin drop could be heard. This eerie quiet sent chills down Icaros' spine.

He analyzed the situation rapidly. The only thing I felt was that massive tremor shaking the entire ship. Nothing else. Could I be wrong? Was it really an attack? Or perhaps something else? Regardless, a tremor of that magnitude cannot be caused by something trivial. I have to check it out.

Making up his mind, he stepped quietly into the corridor. It was empty. Not a single guard was in sight. Icaros knew this ship was vast, with many corridor and rooms, yet there should have been guards stationed here. The emptiness of the corridor was unnatural.

Maybe they were stationed elsewhere, he told himself, trying to push away the dread creeping into his mind.

I have two choices now. Search the other corridors, or even leave the ship entirely to find others... or check the rooms along this corridor first for the other participants.

After brief consideration, Icaros chose the latter. He walked toward the door directly opposite his own.

He knocked gently. "Is anyone there?" he asked, his voice flat and steady.

Silence. He knocked again, ready to call out once more, when his ears caught a faint, weak groan coming from the room next to his.

BOOM!

Icaros burst through the door. He barely suppressed his instinct to use his flying ability to float, which would have made his movement even faster.

The sight that greeted him made his hair stand on end.

On the bed lay a participant, the sheets soaked crimson with blood. Towering over them was a figure-an enormous humanoid creature, nearly eight feet tall. Its skin was the color of bark, yet possessed the slippery, unsettling texture of a snake. It was rough and uneven, clearly not human.

The moment Icaros entered, the creature turned with terrifying confidence. As it shifted, Icaros caught sight of a female body beneath it, blood pouring from gaping wounds in her torso and throat as she gasped for air.

The creature's face was disturbingly human-like, yet twisted and rough like wood.

Icaros had no intention of talking to a murderer. He was ready to strike-when suddenly, the creature's head shifted and morphed, transforming into the face of a fair-skinned young man wearing an arrogant, malicious smirk.

Icaros raised an eyebrow, his muscles coiling tight like springs, his eyes locked onto the enemy.

"You have surprised me," the hybrid said, the smirk never leaving his face. "To make such bold decisions at your age and experience level... you are quite sharp."

Icaros frowned. How could he know what I did in the corridor? Unless...

"With your talent, you could have become an outstanding disciple of the Li Sect after your first mission," the creature continued. "It is merely by chance that you were in the last room. I was just about to pay you a surprise visit before you interrupted me."

"I only have two questions," Icaros interrupted calmly, cutting off the monologue. "What are you? And what do you want here?"

The creature chuckled, then his face swiftly twisted into pure rage. "Impudent!"

His massive arms split open, erupting into countless writhing tentacles that slithered like snakes. His legs dissolved into wood splinters and viscous fluid, allowing his body to undulate like a serpent.

"There is an old saying: A dead genius is no genius at all," he hissed coldly. "You were never meant to leave here alive. And now... for your insolence, I will tear you to pieces! Nothing will remain!"

By now, his head nearly touched the ceiling, towering over Icaros like a living disaster. Yet Icaros stood his ground, his fear gone, replaced by unshakable confidence.

The creature's face reverted to its bark-like form, fangs bared as it roared.

Icaros moved to strike-but instantly, the floor shattered. Countless tentacles burst forth, seemingly having been hidden there all along. They lashed out, coiling around his limbs and lifting him into the air, spreading him wide and immobilizing him.

The monster wore a ghastly grin. It was confused for a second as to why Icaros hadn't tried to dodge, but the thrill of victory clouded its judgment.

It drew closer, looming over Icaros like impending doom. The tips of its tentacles hardened into sharp spears. Its murderous intent was undeniable.

Just a foot away, it slammed its other limbs into the wall and launched itself forward at blinding speed, aiming to impale Icaros.

It streaked across the room, weapons poised to strike.

But in that split second before impact, a smirk appeared on Icaros' face.

CRACK!

The tentacles binding his right arm were ripped apart as if they were paper. Icaros drove his hand forward, shaped like a sharp blade, straight into the creature's incoming abdomen. The monster was moving too fast to stop.

Their bodies collided. The creature's sharp weapons failed to pierce Icaros, but Icaros' hand sank deep into its body.

Shocked, the monster realized Icaros had struck directly where he had moved his heart, using a special technique to protect it. It was futile. Icaros gripped the organ tightly and ripped it out violently.

Hot blood sprayed across Icaros' grey robes.

"H-How...?" the creature gasped weakly before its body went limp, crashing to the floor.

Icaros stood there, drenched in red, holding a still-beating heart in his open palm.