Bab 649: Living Marionette

Jacob looked at the restless, glistening, pulsating cocoon. It emits an eerie bioluminescence. Inside, something tiny writhes, its form shifting and growing as it seems to devour the energy stored within the cocoon.

Suddenly, a tremor runs through the cocoon. More cracks begin to spiderweb across its surface, glowing brighter with each pulse. With a final surge of energy, the cocoon explodes outwards in a shower of shimmering shards. 

Autarch appeared in its place. It retains the basic centipede form but is now only nine centimeters long, and its body is as thin as fine black hair. Its exoskeleton is sleek, obsidian black, polished to a mirror sheen. 

Along its back run glowing red lines, pulsing with a faint light that seems to emanate from within. Each segment of its body is tipped with a razor-sharp claw, glinting ominously.