CHAPTER 149: [ALL EYES ON ELI]

’Amazing.’

That was the only word Eli’s brain could form.

His chest heaved, lungs stuttering with every sharp inhale.

His body still trembled from the earlier chaos, drenched to the bone, adrenaline tearing through every nerve — and yet, he couldn’t look away.

The scene before him didn’t look real. It looked like something torn out of a nightmare— or a legend.

Mel’s vines were everywhere.

They burst from the water like living serpents, thick and covered in hooked thorns that gleamed faintly under the dim cavern light.

Dozens—no, hundreds—of them writhed upward, wrapping around the octopus’s massive limbs, constricting like iron coils.

The sound that followed was a grotesque symphony—wood straining, flesh tearing, water churning.

The creature shrieked, a deep, wet sound that rattled Eli’s bones. Its bulk convulsed violently, but the vines only tightened, thorns embedding deeper into its slick, black flesh until thick, tar-like blood spilled into the water.

"Thornveil—BIND!" Mel roared, voice breaking under the strain. His glowing veins pulsed bright green, spreading down his arms like molten light.

The vines responded.

They moved—alive, aware—slithering tighter, sprouting more spikes, splitting into thinner coils that crawled over the creature’s body.

The more it struggled, the stronger the vines became, feeding off the monster’s own corrupted mana.

And then—

Mio moved.

A snap like cracking glass echoed as silver threads whipped through the air.

Each strand moved faster than Eli’s eyes could follow—cutting across water, light, and space itself. Mio’s fingers danced in precise, ruthless motion, weaving patterns that blurred into complex sigils midair.

The threads shot out, embedding into the cavern walls, ceiling, and the shattered ground beneath the flood. The impact reverberated through the chamber, sharp and metallic.

And then, in seconds—

The threads connected.

A massive web shimmered to life, glowing faintly like moonlight over rippling water. Its lattice wrapped the entire cavern—every exit, every path, locked down.

A trap.

A prison.

A kill zone.

Eli could hardly breathe. His yellow eyes widened in awe.

’It’s working...’ he thought, barely able to believe it. ’Mio’s control—his precision—it’s insane. And with Mel’s Thornveil reinforcing it, it’s like...’

He swallowed hard.

The octopus screeched again, the sound deafening this time. It slammed its tentacles against the bindings, water exploding outward in massive waves.

The ground cracked beneath the force—but the vines held. Mio’s threads glowed brighter, slicing into flesh that tried to resist, pulling tighter until the creature’s limbs quivered from the strain.

"Keep it still!" Mio shouted, his voice strained with the effort of maintaining hundreds of active threads.

His hands were trembling, blood dripping from between his fingers where the mana strings bit into his skin. "If it slips out—it’ll attack us again!"

"I know! I’m trying!" Mel’s voice cracked as he dropped to one knee, veins burning bright as his vines burrowed deeper.

The roots split stone, crawling like veins through the earth itself, feeding on the dungeon’s raw energy.

And then—

"Zaira," Kairo’s voice cut through the chaos like a blade through smoke—steady, calm, but carrying a command that left no room for hesitation. "It’s your turn."

Zaira’s eyes snapped open. Her skin was pale, almost translucent under the eerie light.

Her shoulders trembled from the mana drain, breath uneven, but she nodded once and forced herself to step forward.

"I can’t do it, Captain..." she whispered, voice trembling. "It’s an S-Class. It’s practically a boss monster."

Kairo met her gaze, black eyes unwavering, his tone quiet but absolute. "You can."

Her lips parted, disbelief flickering through her expression. "But—"

"Focus," Kairo interrupted, calm but sharp, his words cutting through her doubt. "You said you’ve always wanted to do more, right? This is your chance. I know you can do more."

Zaira froze, staring at him for a long moment. Her hand rose instinctively, running through her drenched blonde hair.

Her usual confident smirk was gone—replaced by uncertainty, her lips trembling slightly.

But then—

She exhaled. Once. Twice.

And something shifted in her eyes.

Resolve.

She stepped forward again.

The water rippled beneath her boots as she raised her trembling hands.

Then—

Her aura burst outward like a wave of moonlight.

The cavern filled with a pale blue glow that seemed to breathe.

The energy spread from her palms, rippling through the air, cascading over Mio’s threads and Mel’s vines until the entire web shimmered like glass.

The atmosphere bent and warped—the air thick with energy.

Zaira’s power took shape.

Her illusions bled into the world, ghostly and surreal. Dozens of images flickered into existence—distorted reflections of the hunters, mirages of light and color dancing across the water.

The octopus’s many eyes darted frantically, unable to tell which was real.

Eli’s breath hitched.

The air itself looked alive. Aura clouds of green, silver, and blue mingled, pulsing around the bound creature.

The octopus froze mid-thrash. Its red eyes dilated.

For a moment, it looked almost human in its confusion.

Then the mirage deepened—the cavern twisting in on itself, Zaira’s illusion pulling the monster’s senses apart, fracturing its mind into panic.

Its shrieks echoed, deafening—then dulled.

Its movements slowed, spasmed, and finally began to still.

"Holy shit..." Eli whispered under his breath, eyes wide in disbelief. "They’re actually—"

"Zaira," Kairo’s voice snapped, cutting through. "Keep it stable."

"Y-Yeah..." she panted, beads of sweat rolling down her temple. Her hands were trembling violently now, fingertips glowing from overuse. "Just—just a little longer."

The cavern fell eerily quiet, save for the low hum of mana and the faint crackle of tension in the air.

Kairo stood at the front, half-submerged in water, his posture unshaken. His sword—formed from hardened blood—hung loosely at his side, its crimson edge still gleaming faintly under the blue glow.

His black eyes scanned the battlefield: Mio’s trembling hands guiding the threads; Mel’s glowing veins feeding energy into the vines; Zaira’s flickering aura straining to hold the illusion together. Every piece of the puzzle was locked in motion, perfectly aligned—barely holding.

And then his gaze landed on Eli.

"...What’s the plan?"

Eli blinked, his stomach dropping. "Wh—what?"

Kairo didn’t even flinch. His tone stayed even, but there was weight in every word. "You’re smart, Eli. Very smart."

"I—what? No, I’m not—"

"You are." Kairo’s interruption was smooth but firm, leaving no room for argument. "You see things faster than anyone here. You warned us before every attack. You read the battlefield. If you have a plan—say it. Now."

Eli’s throat went dry. His pulse hammered in his ears.

He wanted to deny it, to insist that he didn’t know what the hell he was doing—but Kairo’s gaze held him still, calm yet unyielding.

He looked around, desperate for help. Mio was trembling, knuckles white, every thread in the air shaking under strain.

Mel was on one knee, sweat dripping, the ground around him cracking from the sheer force of his Thornveil.

And Zaira—she looked ready to collapse, blood seeping from her nose, her body glowing faint blue as her illusions wavered.

They were all at their limit.

And still... they were trusting him.

’I have to think.’