“F*ck.”
As the man swore, smoke billowed out from the gas mask that covered his face.
The smoke, as if embodying the man’s anger, soon dissipated, mixing with the dampness of the sewers.
The sticky smell that flowed down mingled with scattered metal scraps, emitting a putrid odor.
If nothing had covered his face, it seemed like he would have coughed so hard his throat might have dried up and twisted.
The putrid smell eventually merged with the dark puddle spread across the vast space’s floor, from which a terrible fishy smell rose.
The smell of blood was thick.
The scent of gunpowder mixed with that of stagnant water.
In the midst of this, a giant crocodile lay fallen, riddled with holes. The dark puddle appeared to consist of substances that had come from the crocodile’s body.
The crocodile, which could have easily crushed a person, now lay tattered. Its massive body still twitched, indicating that it hadn’t yet breathed its last. Despite the damage, it showcased a tenacious vitality fitting its size.
However, it was clear it would only last a few more seconds before dying.
After all, no matter how large, it was still just a crocodile.
But there was no trace of triumph on the face of the man hidden behind his gas mask, only unease and anxiety.
As the man watched the crocodile take its final gasps, he shouted at those rifling through the area near the dying crocodile.
“Have you secured the target?”
“Not yet—”
“Damn it! Fall back!”
Wasn’t this supposed to be over already?
Though they felt perplexed, those who had been searching around the crocodile immediately retreated upon hearing the man’s order. After all, not questioning orders was one of the key traits of the suppression team. Even if they harbored doubts, they had to follow orders to survive.
Ploosh.
And at the same time…
The body of the crocodile, which had just taken its final heartbeat, began to melt away suddenly.
It was as though a child had squished modeling clay during tactile play. The crocodile dissolved without a trace, blending with the dark, stagnant water and disappearing entirely, filling the sewer with a foul stench.
Isn’t this the perfect situation to search for the target that just fled toward the crocodile?
The ones who had retreated felt strange about this, but they didn’t question it. It was one of the virtues of being part of the suppression team—questioning meant risking survival, and following orders meant staying alive.
Ker-plunk!
Then, unexpectedly, an incomprehensible sound filled the sewer.
It was a strange noise, as though something massive had swallowed a stake driven into the water.
Ker-plunk!
Moments later, a giant column of water surged upward.
The towering water spout sprayed foul污水in every direction. The mixture of various kinds of filth emitted an overwhelming stench.
Swooosh…
With a sound like pouring rain, the crocodile emerged from the bottom of the sewer, which didn’t seem deep at all.
Strangely enough, dangling from the crocodile’s nostrils was something resembling mucus—though it was actually the silhouette of a small girl, shimmering with a bluish hue.
“So it was there all along.”
There, right in front of them, was the target they had been searching for—the “Amalgamated Liquid Monster.”
The man frowned at the sight.
“I heard it lacked intelligence.”
The creature’s behavior contradicted the report he had read. Rather than the mere blob of liquid described in the report, this being appeared to possess both intention and intellect.
This suspicion solidified when the creature appeared dangling from the crocodile’s nose.
Its earlier actions—escaping by using the crocodile as a shield—already hinted at some form of strategy, but now it was clear.
The situation had changed.
It seemed safe to assume that the gooey creature hanging like mucus was entirely different from what had been reported before.
And that was an ominous sign for the man and his team.
Even the smallest changes were lethal when dealing with a Singularity.
If you didn’t know, you paid the price.
In some games, ignorance was a reason to take a hit. But inside the Singularity, ignorance equaled death.
If the man hadn’t issued his commands earlier, one of his team members might have already been caught like bait in the crocodile’s snapping jaws—only this time, they wouldn’t come back to life like the crocodile.
They weren’t like it—they didn’t regenerate.
The man was a rational person.
“Everyone, retreat. Pull out of here immediately.”
He chose to leave before the crocodile’s attention shifted back to them.
Because if they survived, they could always come back.
—
What in the world is going on here?
Since becoming this sticky body, I didn’t think anything could surprise me anymore—but I was wrong.
When the crocodile appeared, I was a bit startled but figured it wasn’t that unusual.
I mean, why wouldn’t it be there?
There’s that urban legend about giant crocodiles living in American sewers, right?
Turns out, it isn’t entirely a myth. Records exist of crocodiles over two meters long being discovered, and even here in Korea, there are records of smaller ones being found.
…Though, that was quite some time ago. I thought this story had turned into a ridiculous urban legend by now.
If such a large crocodile truly lived here, you’d think it would be a bit frightening.
But that wasn’t even the end of my surprise.
I was still marveling at the sight of the giant crocodile when, after letting out an exclamation of astonishment, I sensed someone sneaking up behind me while I was staring at it, transfixed.
I glanced back to find someone creeping toward me, holding what looked like a vacuum cleaner.
Judging from their appearance, I realized they were clearly there to capture me, and I was startled.
Whether because of that or something else…
The crocodile went berserk.
And gunshots rang out.
With a mind as cold as when I was attacked by the wild dogs, I immediately made a decision.
If I stayed here, they’d catch me.
Once I’d made my judgment, my actions were swift.
I figured that moving toward the bloodied, thrashing crocodile would buy me some time, at least delaying them from finding me.
…Not that I had much choice anyway.
A vacuum cleaner was coming for me from behind.
So I flattened myself near the crocodile.
Given the crocodile’s immense size, there was plenty of space underneath for my small, squishy body. And since I didn’t need to breathe underwater, it was a relatively comfortable hiding spot.
As I lay there under the croc, swallowing the putrid smell that dripped onto me, I waited for an opportunity.
Eventually, the crocodile stopped moving.
I thought it was odd for its size not to put up more of a fight, but then again, the barrage of bullets probably justified its end.
Still, it was somewhat baffling how easily it died.
While I was flattened beneath the crocodile in the stagnant water, strange helmeted figures approached the creature.
Unable to do anything but stay still, I held my figurative breath.
As this was happening…
Someone shouted, and I was suddenly overwhelmed by an indescribably repulsive taste, as though someone had smeared every substance I’d ever thrown up all over me.
As I recoiled from the grotesque sensation,
Ker-plunk!
A column of water surged upward, lifting me off the ground.
Startled by the sight, reminiscent of a grenade blast sending up a water spout, I instinctively clung to whatever I could grab.
When I finally regained my senses, I saw what appeared to be a massive cave-like structure right before me.
Out of this cave spewed hot breath and filth.
Then I realized—it wasn’t a cave.
…It’s the crocodile’s nostril.
Which meant…
I glanced down and saw the cavernous, sharp teeth beneath me, arranged perfectly for grinding whatever ventured into them into food scraps.
Only then did I realize that the water spout had been caused by the crocodile.
Instead of the one that had been shot and killed earlier, a lively, healthy crocodile now stood tall.
Despite the relatively shallow water, it managed to heave itself upward with great force.
At that point, I just gave up on trying to understand.
After all, my current condition already defied logic, didn’t it?
It seems there are countless secrets hidden on this blue planet I call home.
That revelation, oddly enough, was exciting.
My curiosity, which had brought about this transformation, evidently hadn’t been extinguished.
Though recognizing that I was still myself, amid this beating heart…
My circumstances remained unchanged.
I was still surrounded by the people who had gathered around me, aiming their guns and vacuums, all the while being suspended in the crocodile’s nose.
What a surreal scene.
Still, time seemed to be on my side.
When the apparent leader shouted, the others began retreating in an organized manner. Even I, with no military knowledge, could tell how precise their movements were.
Had the crocodile not appeared, I might very well have been captured by that vacuum cleaner and taken away with them.
…Then again, would it have mattered if I had been captured?
I don’t know.
I instinctively decided to flee when I sensed someone was trying to capture me.
Though I couldn’t help but feel a bit apprehensive.
Before my body changed, I’d never even known that these kinds of things, these kinds of sights, existed.
It led me to suspect that some force might have been intervening.
With the excitement came an unsettling anxiety.
Would I have suffered a grim fate had they captured me?
Ironically,
I had to follow them.
Dripping down from the crocodile’s nostril like mucus, I began trailing behind them.
Thanks to the crocodile’s rampage, I managed to stick to their rear without them noticing. They continued their journey through the sewers, already exhausted.
Passing through a complex route, a scene I had never seen emerged before me.
Swooosh…
The sound of water falling somewhere in the distance could be heard, and before me stood a metal grille.
Tunk, tunk, tunk.
A ladder could be seen, which those pursuing me had climbed. Beyond it, a faint light seeped in.
Not the dim glow of a bulb, but the harsh light of a spotlight.
Yes.
I had finally reached the exit of this damp, moist place.
—
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