It was an abrupt arrival—so sudden that even Xu Tao failed to detect it before it appeared.
All eyes turned to their backs, staring at the giant figure looming over them. Their expressions were filled with shock, fear, and confusion.
Behind them stood a massive monster.
It had a gaping maw, about the size of a house, with four red mandibles extending from either side. Its body was pitch black, with hints of orange at the ends—like flames—especially along its numerous sharp legs.
It had no eyes, as though it had evolved past the weakness of sight. A giant, powerful monster, through and through.
"R-Run!"
Xu Tao snapped back to reality and shouted.
"Steer clear of this monster! Don't try to fight it!" he clarified.
After all, the deep black name above its head—with glowing red font—told him three things:
One, its name.
Two, that it was a boss-type monster.
And three—
[Nine-Segment Crimson Yang Centipede, Lv. 1000]
—that it was level 1000, a full fifty levels above them.