GODZILLA- CH-42. Returning Empty-Handed and Preparing for Slumber Once More

The white worm was furious. A creature had dared to intrude into its domain, disturbing its slumber—a transgression it could not tolerate.

For a beast that had long ruled the icy plains uncontested, such disrespect was unforgivable. It didn't matter who the intruder was; anyone disturbing its peace would pay dearly.

The white worm had been in a sour mood for years.

The reason was simple—a swarm of tiny creatures engulfed in flames had been repeatedly provoking it. Despite their frailty, no matter how many it killed, more would emerge to replace them.

It despised fire, and it loathed the fiery little reptiles even more.

Over time, the white worm came to understand why these insignificant beings kept harassing it.

It was its own desire to expand its icy territory, transforming the environment into a cold, desolate wasteland, that had driven them to retaliate.

To the white worm, which lacked any concept of morality, their resistance was nothing more than a futile act of defiance.

Though the creatures annoyed and angered it, the worm hated the warmer climate beyond its icy domain even more. Venturing out to eliminate its foes was simply not an option. Its obsessive-compulsive nature kept it focused on slowly expanding its icy habitat, transforming the surrounding environment in line with its desires.

The worm believed that one day, its frozen domain would stretch as far as its eyes could see.

Its relentless expansion wasn't born of necessity or strategy—it was merely an instinctual urge. The white worm acted without reason, driven solely by its primal desire for an icy world.

Over countless years, it had exterminated innumerable creatures, including other large beasts, to realize this vision. In doing so, the white worm had developed an arrogant mindset—it believed itself invincible.

But now, when it found another intruder in its domain, its reaction was immediate and violent.

When the white worm first saw James and the four other beasts, it hesitated briefly. However, its arrogance quickly dismissed any doubt.

"They're just larger reptiles. They can't possibly challenge me in my own domain!"

With that thought, the white worm charged at James and his companions with ferocity.

James and the other beasts were momentarily stunned by its audacity.

"So arrogant? So reckless?" James thought. "Does it think it's invincible, like the giant octopus in the sea?"

Before James could react, the water lizard roared and lunged at the white worm, eager to prove itself.

The water lizard had been harboring frustration since its losses against the giant octopus and the giant snake. This was a rare opportunity to vent its anger.

Surprisingly, the trilobite, usually slow and clumsy, followed the water lizard into battle. Its countless legs churned furiously, propelling it forward like a deranged, armored tank.

The water lizard melted the ice beneath its feet as it charged, instantly reforming it into a massive ice spear using its innate abilities.

Inspired by the weaponry of the four tribes, it had conceived this tactic on the spot.

Weapons made a significant difference, and the ice spear was far more formidable than ordinary ice.

However, just as the water lizard approached, the white worm opened its massive maw and exhaled a freezing mist.

The mist froze the water lizard in its tracks, encasing it in solid ice.

The white worm lunged to deliver the killing blow, its serrated jaws aiming for the immobilized lizard.

But before it could strike, the trilobite crashed into the white worm with the force of a speeding tank, sending it sprawling.

The impact shattered part of the white worm's upper body, eliciting a furious roar as it turned to confront the trilobite.

In that moment, the water lizard shattered its icy prison with a roar, grabbing its spear and thrusting it at the white worm's head.

The spear pierced the worm's skull but failed to penetrate deeply, breaking apart under the worm's dense, jade-like hide.

Despite this, the water lizard clung to the worm's head with a ferocious grip, veins bulging as it attempted to strangle the beast.

The white worm, unwilling to yield, exhaled another wave of freezing mist, engulfing them both in an icy haze.

The battle raged on, with the trilobite providing unexpected support.

Its motivation? The thought of roasted worm meat reminiscent of the octopus legs it had enjoyed before.

James watched the scene unfold with a mixture of amusement and exasperation.

He had initially intended to intervene, but the water lizard's insistence on proving itself stayed his hand.

Three days later, the battle ended with the water lizard dragging the lifeless white worm like a defeated serpent.

As for the worm's fate?

Joining the team was no longer an option—it was well and truly dead. The sight of its hollowed-out, jade-like skull made that abundantly clear.

The white worm's body was eventually roasted and shared among the four beasts, who devoured it with relish.

James, however, abstained—not out of kindness but sheer disgust.

He wasn't afraid of insects but found the idea of eating them revolting, especially as the juices from the roasted worm meat burst forth with every bite.

Still, it was better this way. With full stomachs, the four beasts were unlikely to stir up trouble as they continued their journey.

After their feast, James led the group onward.

From his observations in outer space, he had confirmed the presence of a mysterious barrier covering the other half of the planet, connected to the frozen north.

The barrier extended over land, sea, and even into the Southern Hemisphere.

James had delayed investigating it earlier due to other pressing matters. But now, with everything else settled, he could focus on understanding the barrier's nature.

Breaking it wasn't an option—his previous attempts in space had proven futile. Instead, he sought to determine whether the barrier was one-way or two-way, whether it could be breached underground, and whether anything lived within the fog-shrouded world it concealed.

The giant tree on the other side of the barrier was particularly concerning.

Towering over two to three hundred kilometers, its immense branches and foliage covered nearly a fifth of the opposite hemisphere.

Next to such a colossal entity, even beings as massive as James and his companions would seem like ants.

For his own safety, James needed to investigate thoroughly.

After nearly two weeks of travel, marked by thirteen sunrises and sunsets, the group finally reached their destination—a land consumed by a violent blizzard.

The snowstorm was so intense that even James and the others struggled to see.

When the giant snake accidentally struck the invisible barrier, James knew they had arrived.

As expected, the barrier remained impenetrable, and the world beyond was still obscured by an impenetrable white fog.

Even attempts to survey it from above using the giant moth revealed no clues—the barrier extended into the troposphere and deep underground.

For now, the mystery remained unsolved.

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