Chapter 2017 Stitched Corpse Creature <TOC> Chapter 2019 Shadow Behind the Corner
Translator: SumTLMan
Something is approaching.
Getting closer and closer…
Rhine could feel it, a restlessness in the darkness moving hastily toward him.
As an outline, approximately three meters tall, gradually took shape in the darkness, Rhine’s gaze became fixed.
“Ifig?!” Rhine’s low call also drew Sanders’ attention.
But in the darkness, a creature that seemed to be piled up with fat appeared before Sanders. This creature was still a Stitched Corpse Creature, only it appeared much fatter, with layers of flesh piled up, and greenish grease oozing out from the stitches, emitting an intensely suffocating stench.
Having encountered a Stitched Corpse Creature before, seeing another, even a bulkier one, seemed somewhat normal. However, what truly surprised Rhine and Sanders was that embedded in the navel of this creature was a human skull.
The human had its eyes tightly shut, and although its face also bore many stitch marks, one could vaguely make out the features of a handsome man.
Moreover, Rhine and Sanders both recognized the identity of this human.
Ifig, a talented wizard from the Song of the Deep Sea. He had tragically fallen in the ruins two months prior and had not been seen since.
They had speculated that Ifig might have been controlled by creatures of the Nightmare Plane, like those humans from Sleepless City, possessed by parasites and turned into clowns dancing to the tune of Nightmare creatures.
If it were just a matter of being possessed, there might still be a chance to save him. But what they hadn’t anticipated was Ifig’s eventual fate, becoming part of a Stitched Corpse Creature.
Sanders had encountered Ifig, and although he was a proud individual, he refrained from joining the factional strife of the Song of the Deep Sea, instead remaining the purest form of wizard. Sanders admired him for this, yet never anticipated such a tragic end for him, which evoked a deep sigh from Sanders.
Rhine’s expression also carried a hint of pity, but such emotion was only superficial, not reaching his eyes, let alone his heart. After all, having lived for so long and witnessed countless separations of life and death, the mere fact that Rhine showed surface-level compassion was already significant.
Although Rhine felt sympathy for Ifig’s plight, he remained utterly vigilant in the face of the Stitched Corpse Creature before him. The true horror lay in the fact that the creature had utilized the skull of the wizard level Ifig as its main control. Even more daunting was the tangled Sphere Creature hanging atop Ifig’s head.
If their previous conjectures held true, the Sphere Creature could significantly enhance the abilities of the monster. Hence, this Stitched Corpse Creature, bolstered by the Sphere Creature, was not to be underestimated for its potential to undergo a startling metamorphosis.
Even Rhine, at this moment, had put away his relaxed demeanor.
Rhine whispered to Sanders, “Ensure Angel’s protection and establish a defensive barrier.”
As his words fell, Rhine took the initiative to attack the Stitched Corpse Creature. An unseen Silent Slaughter spell was directed straight at the creature’s navel——the skull of Ifig.
Despite the creature having two heads, the skull on the navel, especially with the Sphere Creature clinging to Ifig, was evidently the true central nexus!
Rhine aimed to strike it down in one fell swoop.
As Rhine made his move, Ifig suddenly opened his eyes. His eyes were once a beautiful sea blue, but now they were filled with a ghastly white!
As Ifig’s eyes opened, a barrier with faint blue water patterns emerged in front of him.
“The defensive spell of the Demon Manta Ray,” Sanders immediately recognized the barrier before Ifig. Originating from the Demon Manta Ray’s bloodline talent, the most potent gifts it brought, besides sonic attacks, was this defense spell.
Given the Demon Manta Ray’s natural sonic attack capabilities, its defense inherently offered high resistance to sonic attacks.
However, Sanders believed that no matter how formidable the Demon Manta Ray’s defenses, they shouldn’t withstand Rhine’s Silent Slaughter, a fundamentally different and superior force, not measurable in mere distances.
Yet, reality presented a shocking scene. Although the pale blue ripple barrier didn’t completely resist Rhine’s onslaught, when it shattered, the effects of the Silent Slaughter were significantly diminished. Ifig easily shrugged off the remaining impact.
Could it be, with Rhine’s third level true knowledge power, his mighty, unique spell was resisted by Ifig?
This incredible scene almost defied the basic principle of disparity in strength.
Shocked, Sanders could only think of one thing, the Sphere Creature! It must have amplified Ifig’s capabilities!
They hadn’t paid much attention to the Sphere Creature before, but now its terrifying nature was clear. The boost it provided to Ifig wasn’t a simple percentage increase but an unreasonable, exponential amplification!
Though the Sphere Creature itself lacked abilities, its current threat level significantly rose in Rhine’s and Sanders’ minds.
Still, surprised as he was, Sanders didn’t believe Ifig posed a threat to Rhine.
Ifig might easily block one Silent Slaughter, but what if he faced multiple? Silent Slaughter, comparable to a third level spell, would typically require extensive casting time. However, being Rhine’s creation, it could be cast instantly, coupled with Rhine’s endless magic power. Sanders doubted Ifig could withstand that.
As Sanders had anticipated, Rhine’s encounter wasn’t resolved with a single interaction. When he extended his finger again, what appeared wasn’t a singular invisible fluctuation but rather five distinct Silent Slaughter spells.
This layered damage was far from simple addition.
After withstanding the first Silent Slaughter, Ifig, indeed powerless to counter, could only use his physical body to protect his head.
With the augmentation of the Sphere Creature, Ifig’s left hand withstood two Silent Slaughters, and his right hand, another two.
Although Ifig was in a dire state, with both hands shattered into fragments, he ultimately survived.
This sort of accomplishment would undoubtedly be impressive in the outside world. However, Ifig couldn’t carry this victory back with him; his death in this place was inevitable.
Rhine extended his hand once more, directing it at Ifig.
However, at that moment, Ifig seemed to sense the imminent danger. He let out a fierce roar, and as the roar ended, massive amounts of energy began to dissipate from his body, moving from his skull to his limbs. The previously shattered left and right hands began to grow flesh buds and started sprouting at an incredibly rapid pace…
Such physical regeneration was uncommon but not unheard of. Yet, witnessing it on a Stitched Corpse Creature was a first for them.
Presumably, this was another ability of the Sphere Creature.
Rhine’s curiosity about the Sphere Creature grew. How exactly did this strange being alter and amplify monsters?
But curiosity aside, Rhine had no intention to study at that moment.
Killing Ifig was his sole purpose.
Without waiting for Ifig’s hands to regenerate, Rhine released the gathered Silent Slaughter from his fingertips.
Chapter 2017 Stitched Corpse Creature <TOC> Chapter 2019 Shadow Behind the Corner