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inspired by "The Empty Skies" by Swallow The Sun
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I ran into one of these nightmares only once, and I hope to never again. The research of this horror I refuse to take further part it; it may be left up to my colleagues. The beast is as large as a mountain, and it moves in a dragging, sluggish fashion, which appears slow at a distance but it is actually quite fast because of its sheer size. The locomotion of this much mass is bizarre, but I think I have a very close guess as to how it actually works. Its lower body I believe is one massive foot, much like a slug or a snail, which ripples forward to move it along. The cone-like needle legs are actually toes of the foot, which help to grip the ground and continue to shove it forth. I'd be excited to study it further if it weren't for this beast's awful …nature. I shudder even at the memories. The two long probes on its snout wave back and forth, like it's tasting the air. Unlike most predators who aim to pick off the sick or weak as easy meals, this monster prefers the healthy, the strong, the ones most full of life. When it senses a particularly hearty area, it raises its chin to reveal a massive slit in its throat through which thousands of wispy tentacles emerge. I call them wispy because in comparison to the beast they seemed as thin as silk; in reality however, each is as wide around as I am. How exactly it feeds I am not sure, when I saw it I ran along with every other living thing as far away from it as I could. When it left the ground and trees were littered with carcasses. I could see no wounds but the life of each was clearly gone. The bodies were fed upon by the local carnivores, but much of it was left to rot, devoured by the bacteria and invertebrates. Normally I believe all creatures have their place in the world, but the demeanor of this one was so abhorrent and soulless I cannot shake the feeling it was a void embodied.
