Perhaps sensing a familiar presence, the malevolent - god - like fleshy mass, which had hitherto lain dormant, quivered violently. Subsequently, it slowly heaved its bulk, and a profusion of densely - woven filaments fluttered around the stele at its center.

  Glen had assumed the formidable guise of a seventh - level werewolf. The purest essence of the curse exuded by him elicited expressions of awe from the two figures behind.

  Initially, the antler - man had discerned Glen's constitution to be that of a fifth - level werewolf. However, upon Glen's transformation, he manifested as merely a third - level werewolf. At that moment, the antler - man entertained suspicions that the Forest Will here was perhaps trifling with them.

  But now, to his astonishment, the werewolf before him was capable of a second transformation, attaining a form surpassing the fifth - level. The exact level eluded him, yet it was undeniably fearsome.

  "Take heed, you two. Refrain from gazing upon the stele beneath that entity. It poses a grave danger," Glen cautioned as he edged closer to the malevolent - god fleshy mass.

  "So, you've already fallen victim to it," the antler - man remarked, as if privy to the matter. "That is the very bone of the malevolent god's corporeal form. Without the requisite physical constitution, one most assuredly cannot look upon it directly."

  As they conversed, Glen engaged the fleshy mass in a collision.

  The colossal shockwaves, while unable to significantly mar the terrain, presented a far different scenario for the antler - man and the enigmatic female mage.

  They were compelled to fully activate their defensive mechanisms to shield themselves from the shockwaves' harm.

  Despite possessing a modicum of experience, Glen found himself grappling with great difficulty in facing the entity once more. Not only could he not penetrate its defenses, but its attacks were nigh - impossible to evade.

  The massive red greatsword proved equally ineffective against the fleshy mass. His steel claws, however, were more serviceable for defense.

  This time, instead of expending the entirety of the dragon's breath from the Blazing Fang in one go, he infused the dragon's breath into his steel claws, seeking openings to launch attacks.

  Their skirmish resembled a tempestuous black gale swirling around a sphere, rendering Glen's form nearly indistinguishable to the two observers in the distance.

  "Have you located the malevolent god's primary root?" The antler - man interposed his power in front of the mysterious female mage, withstanding the onslaught.

  The female mage set aside her wand and was rapidly inscribing something on the ground with both hands. She did not respond to the antler - man's query.

  The latter understood this to signify that she had not found it.

  He directed his gaze towards the battlefield, his mind filled with wonder at the terrifying nature of this confrontation.

  Glen, however, was far from comfortable in the heat of battle. The densely - packed filaments were incredibly difficult to dodge, and he had been struck on several occasions.

  Although he could heal his wounds instantaneously, the filaments were capable of siphoning off the curse power within his body the moment they pierced his flesh.

  This undoubtedly augmented his exertion, significantly shortening the duration of his transformation.

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  The surface of the malevolent - god fleshy mass was now replete with a criss - cross of claw marks, all merely superficial, inflicting no substantial damage.

  Glen realized that the fleshy mass harbored no vulnerable points. Consequently, he redirected his attacks towards the filaments below.

  He was loath to approach that area, for it was the source of the filaments. One misstep, and he could be impaled like a pincushion.

  However, time was of the essence.

  Thus, upon seizing an opportunity, he endeavored to draw near the base of the malevolent - god fleshy mass, aiming to deliver a strike.

  Yet, the difficulty proved insurmountable, and several attempts ended in failure.

  He was left with no choice but to attempt a switch to ranged attacks.

  The flames on the gauntlets adorning Glen's arms shifted subtly. Spotting an opening, he launched several slender flame blades, which struck the underside of the fleshy mass.

  The fleshy mass merely had several filaments severed and seemed unfazed. However, its attacks grew notably more fierce.

  Is it roused? … Glen sensed a glimmer of hope and redoubled his efforts, unexpectedly severing the roots of the filaments beneath the fleshy mass with successive flame blades.

  The malevolent - god fleshy mass gradually descended into a frenzy, commencing to sway erratically.

  The onslaught persisted, and the filaments were severed one by one, unveiling the upper portion of the stele ensconced within.

  This seemingly triggered a mechanism. A spine - chilling shriek, capable of shattering eardrums, suddenly emanated from the malevolent - god fleshy mass!

  Glen, in his seventh - level werewolf form, was sent hurtling through the air by the shriek, and the red greatsword went flying to the side.

  A red, tongue - like appendage, coated in viscous fluid, emerged from the fleshy mass and slithered to the ground, inching slowly towards Glen.

  At such a sluggish pace, it should have been impossible for it to reach him. However, Glen's body seemed to be immobilized and sealed. Lifting a single hand taxed his strength to the limit.

  Even the surrounding cursed black smoke came to a complete standstill.

  Though he knew not the intent of that repulsive entity, Glen was certain that if it made contact with him, dire consequences would ensue.

  Should I transform again? … He was torn.

  In the current predicament, retrieving the moonstone was out of the question. He would have to sacrifice a measure of his sanity, perhaps more than just a modicum.

  At this moment, he teetered on the brink of losing control. His sanity was like a dam holding back a cataclysmic flood. Once breached, the situation would likely spiral out of control.

  He might never regain consciousness.

  Just as Glen prepared to allow the wolf - toxin within him to spread further, a most peculiar force coursed through his body, enabling him to break free from his bonds instantaneously.

  The tongue - like appendage quivered and then rapidly withdrew beneath the fleshy mass.

  Glen turned to behold the antler - man, a hole had opened on his forehead, from which wisps of green energy wafted forth, connecting to Glen.

  "This is a power exclusive to my kin! It will endure for a while longer! It has a certain efficacy in subduing the malevolent god! Hold on a little longer!" the antler - man shouted.

  Glen merely nodded. He understood that the two were engaged in a task of great import, pivotal to the elimination of the malevolent god before them.

  A new round of conflict commenced. Bolstered by this strange power, Glen finally tore through the skin of the fleshy mass.

  A copious amount of corrosive divine blood spilled forth.

  Instinct warned Glen against excessive contact with the blood, and the antler - man in the distance provided an explanation:

  "The blood of the malevolent god inflicts irreversible harm upon the bodies and souls of us mortals. Avoid getting too much on you!"

  Just as he finished speaking, the mysterious female mage behind him abruptly employed magic to project a line of text before him:

  "I've found it. Make him retreat."

  Without hesitation, the antler - man shouted again: "Withdraw from the malevolent god now! Brace for defense!"

  Glen, on the verge of tearing more wounds in the fleshy mass, came to an abrupt halt and hastily retreated. The filaments pursued him relentlessly.

  However, as the female mage incanted a spell, a flash of red light suffused the entire space. The attacking filaments all halted in unison and then plunged rapidly into the ground.

  Turning around, Glen once again beheld those disturbingly abnormal human eyes, emerging on the ground beside the fleshy mass. The eyes darted about, as if in search of something.

  Finally, the gaze fixed upon the mysterious female mage in the distance.

  Countless filaments lunged towards the female mage. But before they reached her, she had already completed her spell.

  The malevolent god emitted that dreadful shriek once more and wrenched its entire body from the ground. A pit remained where it had once rested. As the fleshy mass withdrew, a gush of divine blood spurted forth like a fountain.