IBHJ Chapter 908

"Yes, he's my close friend, and I love him," Enkidu said with a smile.

Shirou shuddered and quickly stepped away. Though Enkidu looked and sounded feminine, he had no idea if she was actually male or female. Seeing that she was even flatter than Artie was as a child, he couldn't help but think of her as a trap.

"Hm? What's wrong, King of Knights?"

"Oh... it's nothing."

He knew the love Enkidu spoke of was probably familial, but her words still caught him off guard. He'd better steer clear of Gilgamesh in the future. As he thought this, an innocent voice suddenly came into his mind.

—It smells good.

Who!?

Shirou's heart jolted. Although his black mud had absorbed some of the Vortex's curse and become Evil Blossom, the mud's basic abilities, like blocking mental attacks, remained. But a thought had just pierced through the mud's barrier and echoed in his mind.

—You look tasty.

Who are you? He asked mentally.

—I want to eat you. Eat your bodies, eat your pancreas, eat your concepts... No, no, Gaia-chan will scold me for this. No, that's not right. Gaia-chan is no longer here, she won't jump out to lecture me anymore.

Gaia-chan?

He was stunned, then turned to Mordred and Enkidu. "Did you hear any voices?"

"What do you mean, Mom?" Mordred looked puzzled. Suddenly, the Grail in her hand burst into flickering light.

"Strange, why's my cup glowing?" she fiddled with the Grail, completely baffled.

"A voice? You heard a voice in your mind?" Enkidu asked.

He nodded. "Yes. You've been here the longest, Enkidu. What do you think?"

"It could be Ishtar messing with your mind... but, in a possessed state, she shouldn't be able to do this." Enkidu sounded unsure.

Clearly, this had surprised even Enkidu. It was an unknown phenomenon.

Shirou instantly went on high alert, concealing Evil Blossom within his shadow.

—I want, I want so much to eat you.

—You have my scent on you, you're marked delicacies. Want to eat, but Gaia-chan, no... Want to eat, but, no... Want to eat... It should be fine to eat you.

—You came in here yourselves, Gaia-chan has been punished, the annoying Mercury has also been sealed...

Then the voice in his mind fell silent.

Suddenly, the air turned thick and heavy.

Instinctively, Shirou, Mordred, and Enkidu huddled together.

"Did you feel it, King of Knights?"

"How could I not?"

As the voice in his mind vanished, an oppressive weight descended on them, as if the world itself were against them, and every cell in their bodies was wailing.

The ground trembled violently, and the surrounding trees rustled ominously. Then, with a deafening boom, gravel and leaves rose from the ground, forming a giant hand that reached out to grab them. At the same time, branches snapped and whipped through the air, lunging towards them.

Enkidu quickly formed the Chains of Heaven into a massive iron ball, swinging it with immense force to shatter the approaching hand and branches.

Seizing the opportunity, Shirou and Mordred bolted.

With a deafening crack, the earth beneath them split open, swallowing rocks and trees into a gaping abyss. Fortunately, they had managed to dodge just in time.

Standing on the edge, they peered into the depths of the fissure, where sharp earthen spikes grew from the rift walls.

Rustle rustle rustle...

The trees around them shook violently, their rustling leaves sounding like demonic laughter. Green moss and withered vines intertwined, forming grotesque, wrinkled faces.

"Want to eat, want to eat, want to eat..."

The ghostly faces moved their lips, repeating those chilling words over and over. A pure, unadulterated malice filled the air.

A cold dread gripped their hearts. It reminded him of the Forest of Einnashe, but this was even more terrifying.

He knew they were in grave danger.

"Run!" He scooped up Mordred and sprinted towards the boundary he had previously calculated.

This hidden map had mutated beyond recognition. He had a gut feeling that if they were consumed by this unknown entity, they would die. Not the kind of death where consciousness returns to the body, a death of little consequence, but the kind of death where even the soul and records would be eaten.

...

What was this thing? What had happened to this connection point?

Rin Tohsaka, who had been venting her anger by furiously bombarding the ground, suddenly stopped. Even she had noticed the abnormality in this hidden map.

"No, it can't be. How did it awaken?" she stared at the mutating forest in shock.

Suddenly, a beam of rainbow light flew from the distance, striking her body. She clutched her shoulder and turned around in surprise.

The Angels of Destruction she had controlled before were now staring at her with menacing red eyes, like hungry wolves eyeing their prey.

"What... what are you doing?" Rin stammered.

"You look like you might taste very good," the angels replied, their eyes flashing with greed.

...

"This is a problem," the blonde angel in shining silver armor murmured, setting down her greatsword and turning her head. Her emerald eyes gazed into the distance with concern, her delicate brow furrowed.

"What's wrong, Heaven's Corpse?" Pluto, lounging on a large tree and munching on an apple, asked curiously.

"My main body has awakened," the Heaven's Corpse replied.

"Someone invaded your map? How bold. The one with the 'God's Brain' just cleared the first stage, and now someone's entered yours, the seventh stage," Pluto remarked.

"Well, this wasn't meant to be a solo quest. The stages are there, and it's natural for people to stumble in, defeat the guardians, and take the fragments. But as long as the God's Brain doesn't reunite with the other fragments, it shouldn't be a problem."

The Heaven's Corpse paused, then looked at Pluto. "That's why everyone was so upset when you were defeated."

"Don't remind me, I'm already reflecting on it. What a disgrace... I should've imitated that strong personality like Saturn did," Pluto grimaced, then looked back at the Heaven's Corpse. "But from the wager's perspective, isn't it good your main body has awakened?"

"Not at all," the Heaven's Corpse shook her head. "I'm different from the others. I'm a predator type who is driven by instinct. Once my main body awakens, it will hunt. In other words, it will break the rules and devour any humans or foreign objects that enter my map—be it concepts, souls, spirits, thoughts, or physical bodies. Even the system won't be able to save them."

"That terrifying?"

The Heaven's Corpse nodded solemnly.

"Isn't that great? You want to eat anyway. Before Earth disappears, it's a good chance to have a taste. At least you'll have something to miss later," Pluto said, doodling on the tree branch.

"That's true," the Heaven's Corpse nodded, then stared at Pluto with glowing red eyes. "Actually, I'd like to taste you too."

"Hey!" Pluto sat up startled, glaring at the Heaven's Corpse.

She chuckled. "Just kidding. We're on the same level, I can't prey on you. Besides, I'm only interested in Earth. After all, I was created to invade it."

"You're too dangerous, Heaven's Corpse..." Pluto paused, then added, "Just like that vortex."

Hearing this, she smiled. "But isn't it reassuring at a time like this? At least no one will pass my stage. Because it's not a game anymore, it's a real hunt...!"

...

"Food. Food."

"Want to eat. Want to eat."

"I want to eat you all. I want to eat you all...!"

Demonic faces spread throughout the hidden map, their malicious voices a chaotic chorus of hunger. The entire place pulsed with pure, predatory malice.

Suddenly, countless vines shot out like hungry tentacles, tearing through the air towards Shirou with terrifying speed.

In a flash of light, he drew Excalibur, cleaving through the vines with a single stroke.

"We have to get out of here, now," Enkidu said, her voice grim.

Shirou nodded. He was well aware of this. This hidden map had transformed into a hunting ground. The entire map was the hunter, and they were its prey.

It reminded him of the Forest of Einnashe, but the malice and oppressive atmosphere here were far worse.