Sephiran, still in his Hell Body, gripped his war bat tightly as he watched the Wyrm Worm burrow back underground. His eyes darted across the trembling cave floor.
"It’s gone underground! Mother! It’s coming from everywhere!"
Maddy quickly made sure both of her sons were safe before issuing a sharp command.
"Form a circle! It’s using its two maws like separate entities. Arach, watch the ceiling! Sephiran, the floor!"
The two sons answered in unison.
"Yes, Mother!"
Both Maddy and Arach activated Tremor Sense, feeling the subtle vibrations traveling through the stone. They could already tell where the creature would erge.
They began counting together as the Wyrm Worm surged upward through the earth.
"Three... two... one..."
THUD!
The Wyrm Worm erupted from below. But it wasn’t the main head. It was the other maw, the one at the tail. The Man Eater Maw burst from the ground in front of Sephiran: a disgusting, fleshy orifice lined with rows of hooked organic teeth.
But instead of biting him—
It exhaled.
A thick, rancid breath blasted into Sephiran’s back, filling the air with a nauseating stench that instantly dulled his reflexes.
"GROSS! IT SLLS LIKE ROTTEN EGGS!"
Sephiran swung his war bat, but the foul fog made the air feel like thick molasses.
"Mother... I—I feel weak..."
The crimson glow of his Hell Body flickered like a dying bulb, fading in uneven pulses.
Maddy rushed forward and clutched her baby boy protectively in her arms.
"The breath is weakening you. It’s likely so kind of debuff!"
She quickly checked his face and breathing, her hand brushing his cheek, making sure the poison hadn’t sunk too deep.
"You gotta stay here while I teach this cannibal worm a lesson."
"Y-yes, Mother... cough!"
"Very good. Just stay put and heal."
Her eyes narrowed as she raised one hand.
"Absolute Light Manipulation: Heaven’s Crib!"
A radiant sphere of condensed light blossod around Sephiran, folding into a smooth cradle of solid luminosity. The glowing structure ford layered shields, like protective petals closing around him. The foul air couldn’t seep inside; every ripple of the barrier purified the space within.
But Maddy didn’t stop there. Her mind reached into another trait she had acquired. Floral energy threaded into the construct.
Soft green veins began to grow through the golden light like living vines, spreading gently across the interior surface of the cradle.
The system reacted instantly.
[System Notice]
[Congratulations! By integrating Photosynthetic Regeneration into your Heaven’s Crib, your skill has been upgraded.]
[Skill Modified: Heaven’s Crib → Heaven’s Healing Crib]
[Heaven’s Healing Crib: Condensed light forms a protective enclosure that shields allies from harm. By integrating flora traits, the structure now nurtures and restores whoever is inside, accelerating recovery while maintaining absolute protection.]
Within the glowing cocoon, tiny leaf like motes of light began drifting through the air. Warm, green gold energy flowed around Sephiran’s body. The foul tension in his face slowly faded as the healing light washed over him, restoring his strength little by little.
Sephiran blinked in surprise, his breathing easing.
"M-Mother... it’s warm..."
Maddy placed a hand against the glowing surface, her expression softening for just a mont.
"Of course it is. Just rest in there, sweetie."
Her gaze lingered on him as she thought about what had just happened.
"He also has a Divine Body... that should make him immune to most status conditions. But that gas didn’t poison him."
Her eyes narrowed as she analyzed it.
"It simply choked the air itself, turning every breath into a struggle. The stench was so overpowering that Sephiran couldn’t breathe properly. The sll alone forced his chest tight, draining his strength little by little."
Then her eyes shifted back to the massive cannibal worm. Her smile disappeared.
"Now... let’s talk about that disgusting breath of yours."
The Man Eater Maw shrieked, sensing the shift in the atmosphere. It tried to retract, its fleshy rings rippling to dive back into the safety of the dirt, but Maddy was already mid air.
"I will make sure that stolen mouth of yours will be back from it’s fallen user! Absolute Light Manipulation: Divine Armant - Execution!"
The entire purple veined cavern flashed white as streaks of golden light erupted around her.
First, an axe of solidified radiance crashed down into the maw’s cheek, smashing it sideways and pinning the creature to the ground. The impact shook the stone.
Before it could thrash, Maddy was above it, a Spear now solidified on her arms and She rained them down like teors, transfixing the worm’s body to the stone.
The spears dissolved into light as two swords ford in her hands, moving in a flickering dance of high speed slashes. The blades carved through the soft flesh of the maw, slicing it into writhing ribbons.
The worm’s shrieks echoed through the cavern.
"And the final word..."
Maddy landed lightly on the stone. The swords vanished. In their place, a bow of pure light appeared in her grasp. A radiant arrow ford along the string, humming with condensed divinity.
She aid calmly at the worm’s body.
"I know your real maw is hiding in there."
Suddenly, another maw, a third one, burst from the worm’s midsection and lunged straight at her footing.
But Maddy was faster. Before the jaws could snap shut, she pulled a translucent arrow from her bow, its tip glowing with the heat of a miniature sun.
She fired instantly.
The arrow streaked forward like a beam of light, punching straight through the Man-Eater maw’s gullet before detonating into a towering pillar of purifying fire. The entire mouth disintegrated into glowing ash that scattered across the cavern floor.
"Huff..."
Maddy steadied herself, watching the burning remains.
"A Wyrm Worm eats other worms to grow new maws. One on the other end... one on the tail... and of course there must be a main head that devoured those two in the first place."
Her eyes narrowed toward the creature’s massive midsection.
"And that one... is hiding in the center."
She drew another arrow slowly, her voice dripping with disgust.
"You thought you could eat and grow another maw? No way, cannibal."
She clicked her tongue.
"What a horrible worm species."
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