As soon as you grasp the cane sword, you feel the tendrils recoil from it, and in that second of weakness the panther morphs into a giant ball of spikes, like a sea urchin, and it stabs at every single tentacle clinging to your legs. Soon you find yourself free to move, save for the one that's jabbed into your shoulder. It abruptly rears back towards the throne, trying to get away from you, but in that moment you see...

... in its attempt to dislodge you, the tendril has pulled you into the air, and as you hover, you realize you've got a straight shot to drive the sword through the hulking figure's heart, if you cut yourself free from the one lodged in your shoulder. You've only got one chance, but you can do it!