Giant Red Skull Centipede

The Giant Red Skull Centipede, Prototype One is a towering abomination with a long, segmented body resembling that of a centipede. Its head resembles a giant human skull missing the lower jaw, with three empty eye sockets that hide impenetrable darkness. Its chitinous carapace is so black that it seems to absorb the surrounding light, while its enormous skull is vibrantly scarlet, as if it had been bathed in an ocean of human blood until the surface of the ancient bone fully absorbed it. Even with most of its body still on the ground, its scarlet skull looms at least a hundred meters above it. Hundreds of ghastly maws are located on the inner side of its belly, gnashing myriads of teeth and revealing the crimson flesh of the monster.^[1]

In Chapter 3205, it was described as being as long as a mountain chain, with its head reaching the heavens. Clouds surrounded its scarlet skull like a crown and spilled out of its terrifying eye sockets. It had a myriad of bloody maws and ten myriads of dreadful legs. When it moved, it was as if the rivers of the Underworld spilled from the depths of earth, consuming the world like a tide of darkness.

Despite appearing to be a Nightmare Creature, the Giant Red Skull Centipede is actually a construct woven out of manifested shadows and controlled by Shadow's will. Shadow created the monster by manifesting its carapace, muscles, tendons, fangs, and all the other parts of its enormous body, connecting them together into a functional organism and breathing a false spark of life into it through his nuanced control. Its flesh is equal in toughness to that of a Supreme being because it is infused with Shadow's Supreme essence. Its bones and flesh were deliberately given their distinctive colors by Shadow. The creature's immense presence and the malevolence of its Will are derived from a sliver of Shadow's own presence and Will, which he revealed when the monster appeared.^[1]

The Giant Red Skull Centipede can move below and above ground really fast and possesses numerous ways to kill enemies. Its sturdy body and menacing appearance make it capable of instilling fear in its adversaries. However, it cannot fly, as adding a sufficient number of wings would introduce too many points of vulnerability to its carapace.^[1]

It possessed a profane carapace that could not be burned even by White Abyss's flames. Its carapace was forged from adamantine darkness and was too tough to be pierced, with not even a scratch left on it after Lady Irian struck it with her spear. Its armor consisted of plates with cracks between them, which Arelen exploited by sinking his talons into the gaps.^[2]

The Giant Red Skull Centipede emerged from beneath the city, causing the ground to shake and a ghostly chill to permeate the air. The soldiers of Lady Irian's army scattered and fell, while their horses foamed at the mouth and went mad from terror. Those present felt the icy breath of Death, and their limbs grew weak and feeble.^[2]

The creature was confronted by three Transcendents: Arelen the Altar Sage, Lady Irian the Blade of Dawn, and Noctis the Beast of Twilight. Lady Irian struck first with her spear, but its carapace was too tough to be pierced. Arelen then assumed his Transcendent form, his wings reaching toward the heavens. His talons sank into the cracks between the plates of the creature's armor, while his beak struck its scarlet skull like a hammer falling on an anvil.^[2]

During the battle, the Giant Red Skull Centipede unleashed a terrifying call that scattered all hope. Even Lady Irian could not withstand its ghastly power and fell to one knee, spitting a mouthful of blood. Noctis subsequently rushed forward like a torrent of pale moonlight, sinking his vicious fangs into the creature's black carapace. He tore at it with his claws and shredded its neck in his jaws.^[2]

The Giant Red Skull Centipede was slain by the combined efforts of the three heroes. Arelen held its skull in place, Noctis tore apart its neck, and Lady Irian delivered the decisive blow, severing the skull from the Nightmare Creature's endless body.^[2]

The creature writhed in its death throes, causing hills and forests to perish in the violence. Fortunately, the warriors of Lady Irian's army had retreated to the city wall by then, or they would have perished as well. After the Nightmare Creature lost its life, its body turned into a tide of darkness and flowed back into the depths of earth. Not even its ghastly skull remained, and only two enormous soul shards were left behind. Arelen and Lady Irian each took one of the soul shards.^[2]

• The creature was known as the corpse worm that devoured the flesh of Beast God's first avatar and was considered the bane of First Humans. White Abyss herself had once battled the Giant Red Skull Centipede, but the creature's profane carapace withstood even her flames.^[2] (based on gossips in Chapter 3205)
• In truth, the three Transcendents had barely managed to destroy the construct. Shadow had even considered giving in a little, but Noctis stepped up and helped them bring it down. All three heroes were severely wounded during the battle and barely survived.^[2]
• The name Giant Red Skull Centipede, Prototype One was given to the construct by Shadow himself. He considered it a fitting name for the monster he had created. Shadow had previously considered creating a better vessel for Snuggle (the lost soul ), envisioning it as a battle golem. He believed the construct was sturdy, fast both above and below ground, equipped with numerous ways to kill enemies, and menacing enough to instill fear in its adversaries.^[1]