A wave of pain crushed Lucien’s right hand.

"Muuu??"

Mumu woke up and cried anxiously, but Lucien patted Mumu’s head and gritted his teeth.

Shrrkkk.

Fire spider fur covered Lucien’s right hand and the bone grew, quickly forming the familiar black spider claw.

[-10% main dungeon energy]

Lucien’s inner soul was gritting his teeth in pain but outside, he looked calm, as if suddenly growing a monstrous hand was nothing.

At the same time, a sharp pain burst out of his tailbone and a bone slowly grew.

Ssrrkkkk.

The tail grew to several meters long, the root was slender but it grew bigger at the edge.

Slimy liquid slowly covered the tail and when the liquid dripped to the ground, the ground turned black, melting.

[-20% main dungeon energy]

[Main dungeon energy reserve: 35%]

In less than a day, the main dungeon energy had been depleted again but Lucien didn’t mind it.

The voice in his head slowly became louder.

—Eat....

Lucien’s vision blurred.

He swung his tail, cutting through the air.

Swish!

[Territory Descent: 00:20]

The moment Lucien’s claw and tail emerged fully— his aura burst like a raging fire.

The big worm entangled with the spider queen paused for a split second.

The small worm hiding underground also stiffened.

The hunters, who were tracking down the small worm, suddenly felt a wave of pressure hitting their backs.

It felt...

Similar— no, even stronger than the boss worm’s presence back then!

The hunters stiffly turned their heads around and saw...

Lucien.

No, not his face, but that monstrous claw.

And the tail.

Everyone held their breaths, sweat dripped down their forehead.

T-the humanoid monster—

He finally revealed his true appearance!!

The hunters backed away several steps, their vision flickering between the worm underground and Lucien.

Hummmm.

The worm underground twitched and a sense of crisis struck it.

No. It had to escape.

The worm that was still circling underground beneath everyone’s feet hurriedly wriggled away from Lucien and the big worm.

Its movement was as slow as a snail, but the hunters who noticed it couldn’t help but stamp their feet.

"It’s getting away!"

"Damn it!"

The hunters wailed, frustration burst out of their bodies.

Just when everyone felt that the future was bleak—

Tak!

Lucien kicked the ground and moved as fast as lightning.

+10% agility

The wind blew.

Swish.

The hunters reflexively closed their eyes and when they opened their eyes again...

The place where Lucien was standing— was empty.

He’s gone.

Everyone subconsciously turned their heads and saw Lucien’s figure several meters behind the big worm, facing it.

Then—

Swish!

A slender, black shadow struck the ground.

Bang!

The ground burst.

Soil splattered.

The small worm underground only felt the fierce sunlight suddenly poured in from above and the next second—

Tak!

Its body was thrown towards the big worm, drawing an arc in the air.

"Hisss!"

In the hunters’ eyes, time slowed down.

Lucien stepped closer to the big worm.

Shaa...

The deep chasm under his feet slowly swallowed the big worm’s lower body.

"Hisss!"

The worm’s body sank rapidly.

Thump. Thump.

It thrashed around, but the spider queen firmly pressed it down further.

The tall worm’s body slowly disappeared, leaving only its head.

It was then—

A chill brushed the back of its head.

"Hisss!"

The worm twisted its head around—

A pair of amethyst eyes came into view.

The worm froze.

The invading black chasm under its body crept up.

"Little stray."

A cold, chilling voice drifted in the wind, like a faint sigh.

"Your rent is due."

Swish!

A black claw cut through the air and pierced the black worm’s forehead.

Splat!

Simultaneously, a tail sliced the air and pierced the small worm behind.

Burst.

Blood spurted out from both sides.

"Hissss!"

Both worms let out mournful cries but soon, their voices faded.

The big worm’s head fell limp on Lucien’s hand.

Behind, the small worm’s body hung in Lucien’s tail, motionless.

The smell of blood spreads.

The hunters slowly covered their noses.

Their eyes widened as they watched Lucien swing his tail.

Tak.

The small worm’s body was thrown several meters away, discarded.

Without looking back, Lucien slowly retracted his claw on the worm’s head and flicked all the filth away.

Thud.

The big worm’s head slowly sank into the dark chasm.

Without looking at the big worm’s disappearing body—

Lucien patted the spider queen’s head and whispered in a voice that everyone could hear.

"Go back."

[Territory Descent: 00:10]

"Kiikkk!"

The spider queen snuggled its head at Lucien’s body before it slowly crawled back into the twisting void.

At the same time, Lucien turned his body around, walking towards the hunters.

Tap. Tap.

Shaaa...

The walls around him slowly disappeared.

Grrkkk.

The tail behind Lucien shrank.

Swish.

As Lucien’s feet passed through the small worm’s body, the body plunged into the chasm, disappearing without a trace.

Shaa...

The ground under Lucien’s feet turned back to soil.

Sshhkkk.

The giant web scattered like stars, drifting to the void behind.

Crack. Crack.

Behind Lucien, the cracked void slowly closed.

The twisted air dissipated, turning calm without a ripple.

[Territory Descent: 00:00]

Lucien stopped a few meters in front of the hunters.

Grrkkk.

His claw slowly retracted, turning back into his human hand.

Lucien smiled politely and spoke at the huddled hunters.

"It’s done."

In the hunters’ eyes, Lucien, bathed in blood, smiling...

He looked like a devil crawling out from hell.

The hunters stumbled back, hiccuping.

Silence fell upon the group.

Lucien kept that polite smile on his face but his inside was a mess.

—More...

The mini dungeon boss slapped its tail, urging Lucien.

Ahhhh! Get away, you greedy bastard!

Lucien’s inner soul kicked the mini dungeon boss and the two instantly tangled into a ball, brawling.

At the same time, a crimson panel popped up.

[Warning! Warning!]

[Two side effects are active!]

[Healing skills and purifying skills can’t offset the side effects!]

Lucien felt a burning fire in his throat and sweat dripped down his chin.

[Side effect: Mute for twelve hours]

As if it wasn’t enough, a wave of prickling pain stabbed his eyes and his vision blurred.

A faint black curtain fell upon his sight.

[Side effect: Partial blindness for twelve hours]

Mute. And partially blind.

For half a day.