With a sudden spasm, the creature's body convulsed violently and writhed uncontrollably before finally becoming limp.
Lynn cautiously withdrew the sword from the creature's lifeless body, the weapon glistening with a mixture of blood and flesh. As the blade left its flesh, the creature's life force dissipated from its body, and it collapsed to the ground, motionless.
Lynn stood still, his gaze locked upon the fallen aberration, wary of any hint of reanimation or revival. But the aberration remained motionless.
With the tentacled aberration and stitched monstrosity both slain, an eerie silence settled over the expansive underground floor.
Lynn could feel his temporary enhanced muscles finally relaxing, the duration of his boosted state nearing its end. He had accomplished what was needed in the limited timeframe.
His swollen physique rapidly deflated back down to normal proportions as the [Cell Proliferation] state wore off. Lynn collapsed to one knee, breathing heavily. His body felt utterly spent, wracked by spasms.
He could feel the cells throughout his body screaming in protest, the backlash from pushing his body to the limits. Although no permanent damage, Lynn knew he needed some time for his body to fully recover.
But the gambit had paid off - the two powerful creatures were no more.
As the chaos and adrenaline rush receded, an overwhelming sense of accomplishment filled Lynn's mind.
The trial by fire in this nightmarish hospital had pushed Lynn to his absolute limits, both physically and mentally. But he had survived and grown stronger.
From nearby, Lynn heard hurried footsteps approaching. He looked up to see Alice coming over.
"That was beyond reckless," Alice chided, though her tone held more awe than true anger. She offered a hand, helping pull Lynn slowly back to his feet. His legs still trembled, barely able to support his weight
"I know, but it worked," Lynn said with a weak grin.
Alice seemed to sense his insincerity but let the matter go for now.
"It's not over yet," she said gravely. "Our original goal still remains - dealing with the calamity source that triggered this whole disaster."
Alice gestured to the corpse of the tentacled aberration. "Look there," she said.
As the seconds turned into minutes, an unsettling transformation began to unfold. The creature's lifeless body started to dissolve, its fleshy tentacles melting away and blending with the pooling blood beneath it.
Before long, the humanoid form was gone, leaving only an amalgamated puddle of dissolved flesh and blood. Alice's eyes remained fixed on the gruesome scene.
"There it is, the calamity source we've been searching for," she said grimly, pointing to the center of the viscous pool.
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Lynn followed her gaze. In the middle of the pool of fluid lay a round, fist-sized ball of dark, pulsating flesh. The surface appeared to have a deep slash across the middle, as if pierced by a blade.
Lynn's curiosity was piqued. He cautiously approached the remnants, wary of any sudden movements. This small orb of flesh was apparently the origin of the bizarre mutations and hordes of undead plaguing this hospital.
He noticed something, “It’s the thing that that I attacked inside the creature,” He muttered to himself "This must be the [Distorted Flesh] referenced in those confidential documents."
"In such a tiny vessel lies the power to unleash a terrible calamity," Lynn thought to himself. He couldn't help but reach out a tentative hand towards the serenely pulsating orb, as if drawn in by its presence. But he managed to stop himself short.
Alice interjected: "Do not get too close, even though the power of the source calamity is greatly weakened and is even damaged. There is still a chance of being contaminated by its power."
She paused a moment before adding "Let me first seal it to temporarily contain its power and break its connection to this forbidden space."
Lynn froze for a moment as he was facing his own lack of knowledge.
"How can she seal it?" Lynn pondered internally. He was again reminded of his ignorance and that he was still in an unknown world.
To avoid showing his lack of knowledge, Lynn simply nodded "Alright, I'll stand back. Be vigilant."
He took several steps away from the viscous pool and watched Alice.
Alice delicately pressed her finger against her teeth, a slight wince crossing her face as she punctured her skin until it started bleeding. With the utmost precision, she began to trace a circular pattern around the pool of fluid
Intricate symbols, strange and mysterious, flowed from Alice's hand as she etched them within the confines of the crimson circle. The air crackled with energy, seemingly drawn toward the mystical design taking shape before them. Each stroke of her finger seemed to imbue the symbols with a latent power, a connection to forces from beyond.
As Alice completed the intricate markings, a transformation began to unfold. The previously dormant circle pulsed with a soft, ethereal glow.
As the sealing reached its peak, the [Distorted Flesh], reacted with increasing intensity. Its pulsations grew more frenetic, as if struggling against the confines of the circle and the forces that sought to contain it.
Simultaneously, an ominous tremor rippled through the hospital, unsettling the very foundation of the building. Walls quivered, and the air was thick with an impending sense of calamity. Lynn's heart pounded in his chest, his eyes darting around the room, searching for any signs of danger.
Then, in a deafening moment of rupture, a resounding crack shattered the stillness. And just as suddenly as it had begun, everything ceased. The hospital fell into an eerie silence.
The silence was immediately broken by the familiar notification sound in his mind.
[The Player completed the hidden main mission: Break the forbidden space]
[Main Mission: Survive is automatically completed]
[Do you want to immediately leave the dungeon]
Lynn paused only a moment before responding firmly.
"No!" He has still some unfinished business in this dungeon.
[The Player will leave the dungeon in 30 minutes. Please prepare in advance.]
He refocused his attention on Alice who was kneeling beside the gruesome puddle, she produced a glass container and pair of thick gloves she picked previously from the ground. Donning the heavy gloves, she carefully fished the fleshy orb from the sludge and deposited it in the sealed container.
Lynn watched warily as Alice handled the object. But the [Distorted Flesh] sample remained inert within the glass, giving no reaction even as she scooped it up.
“For now, it seems to have been sealed," Alice said, holding up the container housing the innocuous looking orb.
“Take it." She gave it to Lynn.
Lynn took the sealed glass container and examined it closely. The fleshy orb simply floated motionlessly in the center, giving no hint of the terrible power it contained. He shook the container slightly, testing for a reaction, but nothing changed. For now, it seemed inert.
"So this small thing is responsible for all of this?" Lynn thought, still struggling to comprehend that the chaotic disaster that had engulfed this hospital originated from this tiny orb.