Masked Slug-Cobra of the Mojave

As of today, there have been three sightings of a large and otherworldly creature deep in the Mojave Desert. Eyewitnesses claim to have seen a large, bloated, and slug-like organism approximately eight feet tall and fifteen feet long of dark indigo skin. The creature is noted to have a long, bulbous body, with the front portion of its body raised like a snake, and a cobra-like hood along its head and upper "neck." All witnesses claim it to have had a humanoid mask of bone on its supposed head, with four pointed spikes in the vague shape of a crown. Compared with the rest of its body, the mask is miniscule.

This "Masked Slug-Cobra of the Mojave" has been identified five separate times in the span of four months, first beginning in May of last year, then twice in July, once in September, and the most recent ocurring only last month.

These are the summaries of each sighting. Each one occurred at varying times of night.

1. A group of hikers, stopping at Kelso Dunes, reported seeing a large and dark mound slowly moving over the crest of a sand dune. Several other pedestrians stopped to view the oddity. The sighting ocurred at sunset, and the organism was approximately one mile away from the witnesses. The creature was noted to be moving slowly, but exact velocity could not be determined at that distance. The sunset prevented legible photos from being taken.

2. A trio of campers watched a pack of coyotes surrounding the creature, approximately one and a half miles away in the late afternoon. The coyotes were in a frenzy, attempting to challenge the creature. The campers attempted to get closer, but the coyote pack and strange creature had vanished before they could get close. Low resolution pictures and videos only proof of sighting.

3. A park ranger spotted a bulbous shape in the darkness outside of his station just before midnight. He stepped outside to observe. He spotted the creature's mask, staring straight at him. He reported the mask to have black voids for eyes. The ranger locked himself in a bathroom for the next half hour. A thin violet residue was left on the asphalt outside, disappearing in the dirt off the road. Security camera footage only showed a vague reflection from the creature's mask before the Ranger fled.

4. A rock climber abandonned a climb after hearing guttural gurgling on a rock outcrop above his line. Upon stepping back from the rock surface. He spotted the organism. Pictures show the creature, its body partially blocked from view by rocks. The mask is visible, but blurry. The dark eye holes are visible.

5. A park visitor, leaving the park after midnight, stopped to relieve themselves on the side of the road. Stumbling through the brush, they came within feet of the organism. The creature was described to be vaguely resembling a slug and a snake. It was approximately eight to ten feet tall, its upper body hunched forwards. It appeared around fifteen feet long at least, given the compressed shape of its body. The creature's form bulged and folded against itself, clearly dense with either body fat or muscle mass. The creature's dark purple skin had an oily sheen reflecting the light from the eyewitness's flashlight. From deep within the creature, muffled gurgling and burbling sounds could be heard, possibly sounds of digestion, given the half eaten carcass the eyewitness vaguely remembers being present. The organism's mask had closed eyelids, seemingly made of the same bone material. The eyewitness attempted to record footage from the safety of their vehicle, but the creature turned and fled at an unusually rapid pace, disappearing in the dark. The eyewitness reported jumbled text messages appearing on his phone after the recording, despite lack of signal service in the park.

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I've never drawn any monsters or cryptids before. I'm pretty stoked with this design. I plan to give it an evolved form soon. Got a few ideas to draw or commission as well. Stay tuned!

New monster OC and art: Opunui