The one retrieved from The Void

The remains of the fallen creature began to shift again, the flesh writhing and contorting as though possessed by some malevolent force. Pieces melded together, growing larger and more grotesque with each passing second. The new form emerged—a massive caterpillar-like monstrosity. Its elongated body bristled with small, malformed hands instead of legs, each clawed and twitching unnaturally. Its head was a grotesque abomination, a bloated mass with two bulbous, unblinking eyes and a gaping, circular mouth filled with thousands of razor-sharp teeth spiraling inward.

The Sculpture's eyes gleamed with ecstasy. "Oh," he breathed, his voice trembling with excitement. "This… this is exquisite! It's been so long since I've been inspired to create something of this magnitude. You're pushing me to my magnum opus!"

Vas finally spoke, his voice cutting through the tension. "Care to explain?"

The Sculpture froze for a moment, his expression shifting as he heard Vas's voice. "Oh, that voice," he gasped, clutching his own face as if overwhelmed. "Such a heavenly voice… music to my ears." He sighed deeply, his cheeks flushed. "Since you've graced me with that divine sound before I end you, I'll indulge you with a little explanation."

He gestured dramatically to his latest creation, its twisted form wriggling and snarling behind him. "You see, my ability to create and give life to my art was always... let's say, inconvenient. There were limitations. My creations lacked permanence and cohesion. So, I made an Amrita Pact. The deal was simple but elegant—I can only bring a new creation to life once the previous one is utterly destroyed."

He stepped closer, his eyes glowing with unrestrained fervor. "And oh, how that changed everything! The constraints force me to evolve constantly, to push the boundaries of my artistry. With each opponent I face, my work adapts, becoming a reflection of their essence."

His smile widened, a manic gleam in his eyes. "But this," he said, gesturing to the grotesque caterpillar, "this is my masterpiece. The culmination of everything I've learned and everything you've brought out of me. Isn't it glorious? I hope you like it, hunny."

The Sculpture's voice dripped with sickening affection as his monstrous creation let out a guttural roar, its countless teeth grinding together in anticipation.

Vas simply nodded, his expression unreadable. The Sculpture's words had inadvertently planted an idea in his mind, but now wasn't the time to dwell on it. The corridor stretched out long and narrow, its oppressive walls limiting his maneuverability. Every step he took echoed faintly, a reminder of how confined the space was. He needed a strategy, fast. The beast was an overwhelming opponent, and in such a restricted area, his options for evasion or counterattack were few.

The creature advanced, its grotesque maw unhinged wide, revealing rows of jagged, blood-stained teeth. Its malformed arms twitched as it moved, scraping against the walls and leaving deep gouges. Each lumbering step sent tremors through the floor, cracking tiles and dislodging debris from the walls. Vas leapt backward, his every motion precise yet calculated, maintaining as much distance as possible while searching for an opening.

His mind raced. The creature's regeneration was nearly instantaneous, undoing any damage as if mocking his every attack. The Tenebra blades, wrapped tightly around his forearm by their razor-thin wire, gleamed faintly in the dim light. With swift, deliberate movements, he hurled the blades forward, the wire unraveling in a deadly arc. Each strike landed with precision, carving deep into the creature's flesh.

Black ichor sprayed from the wounds, but the regeneration was relentless. The flesh knitted itself back together as quickly as he could cut it, leaving no room for lasting damage. Frustration built within Vas, but he forced himself to remain calm. Every attack was a calculated move, not out of desperation but to test the limits of the creature's abilities. It was becoming clear—this wasn't a fight he could win through conventional means.

With a grim resolve, Vas made his decision. He stopped retreating and deliberately stepped forward. The creature lunged, and this time, he didn't dodge. Instead, he let it devour him whole.

The Sculpture's eyes widened in shock and then narrowed in disbelief. "Oh... my god," he murmured, a pout forming on his lips. "He gave up. How boring." He sighed theatrically, his expression tinged with disappointment. "Well, at least he's mine now."

"Don't count on that just yet," The Negotiator interjected, his tone calm but edged with wariness.

The Sculpture turned to him, tilting his head with a sly smile. "Oh, are you jealous, darling?" he teased, his voice dripping with mockery. "If you like, I can wear his face and... we can do some fun things together." He bit his index finger suggestively, his grin widening.

The Negotiator's lips curled into a grimace. "Jealous? Not even close. I'm more concerned—and frankly, terrified—of why he let himself get eaten."

"Terrified?" The Sculpture's amusement faltered for a moment, replaced by genuine curiosity. "And why, pray tell, would you be terrified?"

The Negotiator's eyes narrowed. "I haven't known the kid for long, but after dealing with him just once, I realized something. He's not normal. Not by any stretch of the imagination."

As if on cue, the creature began to convulse. Its hulking body trembled violently, and streaks of eerie green electricity crackled across its grotesque form.

Inside the beast, Vas gritted his teeth. His gamble had paid off. He'd bet that The Sculpture, in his obsession with perfection, had focused entirely on the creature's external regeneration—making it nearly invincible against outside attacks. But its insides? That was another story. Vas had deliberately allowed himself to be swallowed whole, confident that The Sculpture wouldn't have accounted for internal sabotage.

The real challenge wasn't causing damage—it was inflicting damage that would last. And for that, he had just the tool. Summoning Thundershard, Vas unleashed its devastating power. Green arcs of electricity surged through the creature's body, spreading with lethal efficiency. Flesh sizzled and muscles spasmed uncontrollably as the energy coursed through its very core.

Outside, The Negotiator smirked knowingly. "Told you," he said, folding his arms. "That's twice now that kid has exceeded my expectations. You don't mess with someone like him."

"What's happening?!" The Sculpture shrieked, his theatrical demeanor replaced with a mask of panic. "How is this possible?! This shouldn't be happening!"

The creature's body began to betray it. Jagged cuts started forming across its thick hide, leaking dark blood that pooled on the floor. The regeneration process attempted to stem the bleeding, but the electricity surged through each wound, disrupting the healing and leaving the creature exposed.

"Told you to be scared," The Negotiator muttered under his breath, watching the scene unfold with a grim satisfaction.

The Sculpture's face twisted in anguish. "No, no, no! This isn't fair! How—why—my masterpiece!"

The beast that had once seemed so unstoppable now staggered and fell apart piece by piece. Its towering form collapsed to its knees, ichor pouring from countless wounds. Each drop of blood tried to crawl back to its source, desperate to heal, but the relentless current of electricity denied it.

Vas, still inside, drove Thundershard's energy to its limit. The beast's agony was evident in its twisted, jerking movements. Its roars grew weaker, turning into gurgles as it succumbed to the damage. Finally, with one last convulsion, the creature collapsed entirely, its malformed body reduced to a smoldering, motionless heap.

The Sculpture fell to his knees, his face contorted with disbelief. "No... my creation... my perfect creation..." His voice was a broken whisper, trembling with despair as he stared at the ruin of his once-mighty masterpiece.

Vas emerged from the wreckage, bloodied but resolute. His eyes locked onto The Sculpture, a silent challenge blazing within them.

"How did you do that?" The Sculpture asked, his voice a mixture of disbelief and exhaustion as he slumped against the wall, visibly defeated. His once arrogant demeanor had withered under the weight of his failure, and the shattered remnants of his creation lay scattered around him.

"I just took a shot," Vas replied nonchalantly, his tone calm and matter-of-fact, as if the intense battle moments earlier hadn't pushed him to the brink.

The Sculpture blinked, his lips curling into a teasing smile despite his apparent defeat. "Well, now what?" he asked, his voice taking on a playful lilt. "Are you going to kill me? Or…" He leaned in slightly, biting his lower lip suggestively. "Have your way with me?"

Vas's expression remained flat, unimpressed. "Not interested," he replied dryly, his lack of reaction draining the humor from the Sculpture's face. Then, without missing a beat, he leaned closer, his sharp eyes boring into the defeated man. "But, pray tell, what's going on in the underground floors?"

The Sculpture raised a brow, his surprise briefly overtaking his exhaustion. "That's what you want to know?" he said incredulously. "Well, things are a little complicated down there."

"Complicated how?" Vas pressed, his tone sharp and focused, cutting through the Sculpture's attempt to be coy.

The Sculpture sighed, realizing there was no evading the question. "The floors up to the fourth are under the rule of some muscle-headed brute who calls himself The Rope. He's obsessed with opening the doors to the fifth and sixth floors. He thinks if he can get through, he'll find out if the so-called seventh floor even exists."