fish485
patreon
Chapter 29
🕑 Added 2023-11-11 02:42:33 +0000 UTCIn the basement.
Cloaked, Lynne pressed hard against his bleeding chest. With gritted teeth, he drew a blade and swiftly cut away the rotting flesh from the lower half of his legs. He gasped heavily, sweat beads forming and dripping from his forehead.
He had been too overconfident! Truly, he had underestimated the situation! Facing such a creature, he should've known better! They had numerous ways to detect one's location!
Experience! His combat experience and crisis management skills were still lacking!
Had he not donned the [Blood Fiend's Cloak] in that critical moment, he might not have survived.
[Blood Phantom's Cloak]
[Quality: Rare]
[Feature: Allows the wearer to hide their aura and pass through solid matter like a phantom.]
[Description: Intangible spirits have always been a deep-seated fear in people's hearts. Thus, monsters from the abyss crafted this cloak, enabling you to become intangible like a malevolent spirit. However, be cautious: once you wear it, you'll lose all your offensive capabilities.]
Lynne clenched his teeth, holding his chest, his gaze fixed intently on the basement door.
"I've been too complacent these days, forgetting the true nature of this world. Death can strike at any moment..."
With effort, he spat out a mix of blood and bits of internal organs. Without hesitation, he took out the Flesh Regeneration Potion and poured it over his severed legs and pierced chest.
Cracking his neck, he mused, "As expected, having a high physical constitution comes in handy during critical times. But I really have to thank Master. If I hadn't undergone that surgery back then, I might've been done for!"
Squelch, squelch—
The Flesh Regeneration Potion began to work. The torn flesh of his chest and legs started healing at an unimaginable speed. For a potion effective even on a fairy with strong drug resistance, its regenerative effects on a normal human were simply astounding. In just a few breaths, Lynne's body was fully restored.
Lynne gasped for breath, forcing himself upright. He stretched, feeling the aches and pains of his body that had nearly fallen apart. Almost simultaneously, a system notification echoed in Lynne's ears.
[Ding! Your body has undergone a Level 1 mutation!]
[Ding! Your body has undergone a Level 1 mutation!]
[Ding! Your body has undergone a Level 2 mutation!]
Thump, thump—
Two barbed tentacles sprouted from Lynne's back. The skin on the nape of his neck split apart, slowly revealing a vertical eye.
[Ding! System has detected three controllable mutations and is analyzing the target...]
[Ding! Analysis complete!]
[Blood Flesh Tentacles: Connected to the central nervous system, can be controlled to retract and grow at will.]
[Specter Vertical Eye: Connected to the visual cortex, can pierce obstructions and detect specters.]
Swish—
Under Lynne's control, the two tentacles brandished their sharp barbs, hovering before him. He gritted his teeth, narrowing his eyes, "Perhaps I can test these out. After all, the revolver still had a considerable damaging effect on that creature!"
After all, it was a demon hunter's sidearm, a high-quality weapon against the demonic!
Click—
He disengaged the revolver's safety. The very next moment, cloaked in his blood-red cape, Lynne phased through the wall like a specter.
Under the gaze of the Specter Vertical Eye, Lynne instantly spotted the colossal flesh creature in the corridor. His senses heightened to an acute focus. Moving like a phantom, he navigated within the walls, inching closer to the creature.
Whoooosh—
A streak of crimson shadow darted past the creature. The now-recovered monstrosity slowly turned its gigantic pupil, scanning the surrounding walls. Its myriad of frenzied arms poised, ready to strike at any moment.
Swoosh—
From behind, a streak of bloody shadow zipped by. The creature's back suddenly erupted with numerous eyes, all fixated on the corridor behind it. But almost at the exact moment its attention shifted, Lynne's narrowed eyes emerged from a crack in the door of the adjacent alchemy room.
"It's over for you!"
Instantly, Lynne pulled the trigger!
Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang—
Six consecutive shots. Six demon-hunting bullets pierced through the door, embedding themselves into the creature.
For a split second,
Crackle—
Holy electricity erupted across the creature's body. The demon-hunting revolver had an overwhelming effect on the creatures of the Dark World. The sacred power was the bane of most monsters!
In mere moments, Lynne could see the creature's movements becoming sluggish. Revolver reloading. This was an excellent opportunity to finish it off!
Swiftly, Lynne drew his boning knife. But just as he was about to burst forth, he noticed six eyeballs emerging from the bullet holes, their hollow gazes locking onto him. A massive sense of impending doom flooded over him.
"Damn!"
Lynne's face paled. He instantly draped his cloak, preparing to phase through the wall. But it was too late. Those empty eyes fixated on him.
Hiss, hiss, hiss, hiss, hiss, hiss—
With a low cry of agony, Lynne's face and the skin under that gaze started to dissolve, emitting smoky tendrils, leaving him disfigured as if melted by acid.
The creature's gaze carried a curse!
Gritting his teeth against the intense pain, Lynne swiftly rolled away, vanishing underground.
...
"Whooch, whooch,"
In the basement, Lynne gasped heavily. He uncapped a new vial of Flesh Regeneration Potion, pouring it over his dissolved face and neck. The crimson liquid seeped into his skin. The wounds on his face rapidly healed.
Simultaneously, system notifications rang out.
[Ding! A Level 1 mutation has occurred!]
[Ding! A Level 1 mutation has occurred!]
Splash—
From the reflection on the wall, two massive tentacles swiftly emerged from Lynne's shadow. But Lynne paid them no mind. His gaze was stern, using his specter vertical eye to observe the creature from a distance. He quickly noticed that the six bullets which had lodged into the creature's flesh were gradually being pushed out by its very own flesh. The electrical currents enveloping its body also diminished swiftly.
Could it be... in just two rounds... the creature had already adapted to the holy damage of the demon-hunting bullets?! Or had it triggered some special form to counter his attacks?
"This isn't good..."
Lynne frowned. His main reliance now was his demon-hunting revolver. If the creature could significantly resist holy damage, then not only defeating it but even approaching would become exceedingly dangerous! He quickly regained his composure. The previous probing was rash; he must remain level-headed.
"I need to get out of here first and then strategize."
Lynne was resolute. Defeating this creature with his current strength was clearly impossible. Without another word, he phased through the wall, heading outward relentlessly. Acting brashly when overpowered wasn't bravery but impulsiveness.
Furthermore, he was still a Level 9, deemed useless. Though he possessed a few potent artifacts, these couldn't compensate for the sheer power disparity. Now, he had to follow his heart's guidance.
Lynne's expression was grave as he navigated through the underground. Meanwhile, the vertical eye on his back ceaselessly tracked the creature's movements.
Time sped by. Yet, just as he had left the boundary of the Bloodsaw Potion Shop, the creature's form flickered in his spectral vision and then vanished.
Did it mask its aura?!
Lynne's face paled.
Hum—
A terrifying presence surged from behind. Almost instinctively, Lynne sidestepped.
In an instant, a gargantuan hand, like a phantom, pierced through the ground, grazing his cheek, shattering the side of his face, and tearing away half of his eyeball. It was the spectral hand that had pierced his heart earlier!
To his astonishment, the creature could target him even while he wore the Blood Phantom's Cloak!
Thud—
Lynne's body tumbled across the street for several meters. Clutching his bleeding left eye, he gritted his teeth, quickly rolled over, and plunged underground. Moving ceaselessly, like a specter, he swiftly retrieved the Flesh Regeneration Potion and poured it determinedly over his wounded cheek.
Swish—
His flesh mended rapidly.
[Ding! Your body has undergone a Level 2 mutation!]
In an instant, a tear appeared in his neck, revealing another new specter vertical eye. Dual Vertical Eyes!
Almost simultaneously, the aura of the previously vanished creature reappeared within the sight of the two vertical eyes. The moment he discerned it clearly, Lynne's pupils constricted sharply. He saw the ethereal massive hand that ceaselessly chased him from behind.
The arm of that hand was still connected to the creature, but its wildly growing arm seemed to ignore the barriers of the ground, persistently pursuing him. Moreover, because they were all spirit state, the giant hand could harm him even through his cloak! And one of the creature's eyes was firmly locked onto him, tracing his every move.
"Damn it!"
Lynne couldn't help but curse under his breath. The situation had turned on its head in an instant. What had been an advantage under the cloak now became his vulnerability.
Trapped beneath the cloak, Lynne was powerless to launch any sort of assault, even firing his gun was impossible. But that monstrous hand could, and was relentlessly aiming to attack him!
"I must find a way to shake off that hand!"
Gritting his teeth, Lynne's gaze darted around rapidly. In an instant, his eyes settled on the Bloodsaw Potion Shop. Without a hint of hesitation, aided by the four tentacles, he accelerated to his maximum speed, rushing from beneath the earth into the shop.
Swish—
He hastily tore off the cloak. Moving like a spider, Lynne used the tentacles to swiftly climb the walls, charging straight into the loft where he slept.
"Found it!"
Frantically, Lynne threw open the cabinet door. His eyes fell upon the abundant potions inside. Yet, almost simultaneously, within the sight of his specter eyes, that spectral hand burst through the ground, directly piercing towards the loft.
That moment, Lynne's eyes narrowed sharply. He swiftly raised his boning knife, its gleaming sharp edge shimmered, and with a swish, he shattered the potions in the cabinet. The green potion splattered all over him, tainting the crimson blade in his hand.
"Damn it!"
In that moment, every muscle in his body tensed. Knife gripped firmly in both hands. Using all his might, he stabbed downward at the floor! And almost simultaneously, the screeching spectral hand tore through the floorboards, the blade stained with the potion impaled the center of the monstrous palm.
Hiss—
The sound of dissolving rang out, and the hand let out a scream akin to a scorched infant.
Creak—
Creak—
The potions on the ground acted like sulfuric acid, rapidly stripping the skin off the spectral hand.
[Spirit Materialization Potion]
A concoction his master had developed, capable of allowing physical beings to interact with ghosts and spirits! As an apprentice, he had stored copious amounts of this potion! For on a regular day, facing a variety of customers, one must be adequately prepared! And now, it was clearly the time for this potion to shine!
Squish—
With a fierce expression, Lynne yanked out his boning knife and with one decisive slash, severed the encroaching arm. The contents of an entire cabinet of potions spilled heavily onto the floor, the viscous liquid splashing across the bedroom. The demonic limb slammed against the wall. It contorted violently, emitting smoke as if it had been scorched.
Gasping for breath, Lynne didn't hesitate for even a moment. He quickly reached into the cabinet, snatching up more potions. He knew he couldn't linger here, he had to...
Suddenly, a piercing sound resonated as flesh was penetrated.
Lynne's pupils dilated in shock, the front of his throat bulging out. From behind him, on the floor smeared with green potion, a slender hand manifested, driving directly through the back of his neck, grasping his spine.
Drops of crimson blood dripped down. The vertical eye on the back of Lynne's neck trembled as he recognized the hand that attacked him. He knew that hand all too well. It belonged to the fairy.
Instantly, memories flooded back – the fairy had come to the potion shop, speaking of her encounter with a giant. She'd narrowly avoided being devoured, sacrificing an arm in her escape.
The realization hit him. The giant she'd met was this creature! And it meant that after consuming her arm, the beast had gained a strong resistance to potions. The common potions had no effect on that hand!
Despair. Overwhelming despair washed over him. Yet, just as the hand threatened to snap his spine, Lynne let out a guttural roar, directing all his blood towards the four tentacles.
The sound of piercing was incessant.
Under Lynne's desperate control, the four tentacles rapidly coiled and burrowed into the slender hand that clamped down on his spine. Yet, even then, cracks began to form on his spine. But Lynne's frantic resistance made a difference, causing the hand to falter slightly under the writhing grip of the tentacles.
Seizing this brief respite, Lynne violently broke free from the hand's grasp. With a fierce turn, he swung his boning knife. The hand, along with his tentacles, was cleanly severed in two. It dropped heavily onto the floor, still attempting to crawl, its eerie shrieks echoing.
Gritting his teeth, Lynne mustered his remaining strength to pin the wriggling hand to the floor with one last stab. But then, his strength waned, and he slumped against the cabinet. He didn't even have time to use the Flesh Regeneration Potion, for in his spectral vision, he saw the creature returning to the entrance of the potion shop.
Time was running out.
In this dire moment, Lynne reached into his pocket, his bloodied hand gripping the heart tightly.
[The Heart of the Faceless!]
Images of the beast flashed across his mind, and with his spectral gaze, he fixed his attention on the creature below.
"Let's play," Lynne snarled. His fingers plunged into the heart, and inky blood gushed out, as if countless spirits screamed within.
Almost instantly, downstairs, the immense creature froze. Its enormous eye contracted sharply. It was as if its core had been struck with unimaginable force. One by one, its eyes burst like exploding beads, oozing thick, viscous fluid.
The countless arms sprouting from its body seemed to lose control, writhing and violently tearing at its own flesh. Distorted human faces emerged from its bloated form, screaming, as if something was trying to burst out from within.
"Core heart... struck by unknown effect... Holy resistance malfunctioning... spectral sensing failing... cellular restraint weakening... curse binding diminishing... Initiating emergency repair... countdown... 20...19...18..."
