One-Eyed Monster

Thus, Stan Sol walked toward the captive League Guard.

By the light of the Night Pearl, Igor saw the shape of that League Guard.

His face was blotchy red and white, his expression twisted, as if in struggle. His frame was thin to the point of being skeletal, and he trembled ceaselessly, as if terrified out of his wits.

”Help me, save me!” Seeing Stan Sol approaching, the League Guard kept uttering weak cries, and even the chains binding him jingled with his body’s violent trembling.

Stan Sol shook his cloak, which was his Sharkmon, intending to use it to control the man.

”Don’t be fooled by his state. At this moment, he is no longer that League Guard. Every movement he makes is controlled by that Insect Worm.” Dean Hoffman remarked.

”Is that Insect Worm really that formidable?” Igor was puzzled. He thought the man looked completely in pain, hardly like a threat. Nonetheless, from the aspect of Spirit Sensing, Igor could still sense great danger from the League Guard chained up.

The aura was off; the Spirit surrounding it had a bloody feel, which made Igor uncomfortable.

Just as Stan Sol was about to approach the League Guard, the formerly pained face suddenly turned more menacing, revealing white teeth before springing up and leaping at Stan Sol with bloodstained hands extended.

”Watch...” Before Igor could finish warning, Stan Sol’s cloak shielded him, and the Sharkmon let out a snarling hiss, then transformed into snake-like shapes, swiftly entwining the League Guard.

The speed was astonishing, causing Igor and others to be taken aback.

Perkins stared blankly at the scene and asked Dean Hoffman in confusion, ”You’ve researched these Insect Worms, haven’t you faced such dangers yourself? How did you avoid being attacked?”

”Well, actually, I’m puzzled too, but I managed through somehow, and this Insect Worm didn’t seem this fierce before. This is rather unusual; if I’d encountered today’s situation in the past, I’d certainly be in dire straits!” Dean Hoffman said, wiping his forehead; the earlier scene had indeed made him break into a cold sweat.

But it was not over yet. Although the League Guard possessed by the Insect Worm was now controlled by the Sharkmon, he still struggled and seemed to be struggling fiercely.

The League Guard controlled by the Insect Worm continued to gnash his teeth and hiss at Stan Sol.

It seemed that this League Guard held a special grudge against Stan Sol, a behavior that was hard to understand.

What exactly happened to cause such a drastic change in the League Guard?

Before they could ponder it, the League Guard broke free from the chains. If not for Stan Sol’s quick reaction, using the Sharkmon to restrain the League Guard’s frenzied actions, he could have wreaked havoc in this small underground chamber.

It was a strange phenomenon, leaving Igor at a loss for how to describe his feelings. He felt bouts of nausea as the Insect Worm tormented the League Guard into an inhuman shape, yet still used the man’s pitiful state to deceive others. Such a situation made Igor unable to stay calm, wishing to pull that Insect Worm off the League Guard right away.

”This situation is really tricky!” Dean Hoffman commented on the unfolding events, wanting to help but being stopped by Stan Sol.

No one else could fathom the ancient Hunter’s methods; they could only wait anxiously for Stan Sol’s next move.

The light of the Night Pearl was not very bright, and the medium-sized underground chamber couldn’t illuminate flames. No one could see the details of Stan Sol’s actions, only the pained cry of the controlled League Guard.

Before long, the Sharkmon loosened its grip on the League Guard, who fell to the ground like a pile of mud, while the Sharkmon transformed into a pincer shape, clutching a long worm reminiscent of an earthworm.

The light in the basement was unclear, unable to show the details of the worm’s body, and Stan Sol had no way to use fire to illuminate it. The worm kept writhing on the Sharkmon, as if trying to struggle.

”It’s the first time I’ve seen the worm separated like this. I tried many methods before but to no avail. Perhaps this is the old Hunter’s way, something ordinary people cannot achieve.” Dean Hoffman remarked.

”Is there any hope of saving the League Guard?” Igor asked with concern.

Nonetheless, Stan Sol gestured for silence, intending to carefully secure the Insect Worm.

Stan Sol took out a glass vessel, which looked somewhat special, with a turbid color, unlike other glossy glassware.

The wriggling worm was placed into this special vessel, after which Stan Sol stowed away his cloak and lifted the fallen League Guard.

”Take him to the surface; this isn’t a suitable place for his recovery.”

”Can you save him?” Hustace couldn’t help but ask at this moment, seeing how wretched the League Guard looked.

”I can only try; the Poisonous Bugs’ damage has penetrated his marrow. I fear his chances are slim.”

Rostov’s face twitched slightly. After sending out so many League Guards, only this one remained, and even he was in dire straits. It seemed unlikely they would ever clear up what happened back then.

”Also, I need lots of water, boiling water!” Stan Sol continued to instruct.

”I’ll arrange that for you,” Rostov replied directly.

”Have you found what you were looking for, Sol?” Igor asked, concerned.

”The intense reaction of the Insect Worm to me indicates it knows my blood, which makes me very curious about who the mastermind is.”

”Doesn’t matter who it is, such tactics are utterly despicable, quite cruel.” Perkins couldn’t help but comment.

”I have a feeling this Insect Worm is sending me a signal, a signal with a challenging tone.” Stan Sol continued, ”Regardless, the Insect Worm harmed my clansmen and ignited my revenge. Whoever it is, I will get to the bottom of it.”

”Now, they are also enemies to my League in Luona!” Governor Rostov declared with righteous indignation, deeply affected by the League Guard’s plight.

”After dealing with this Insect Worm, I want to check on Tobin. I can sense his presence here!” Stan Sol said.

”No problem, but first, let’s resolve the matter with the Insect Worm.” Dean Hoffman followed up.