Chapter 15: Blackmist Worm

Chapter 15: Chapter 15: Blackmist Worm

Next, she had to find a container to collect the water.

’Should I buy one from the trading channel?’

A flash of inspiration struck Seraphina Sinclair. ’Isn’t the toilet tank a ready-made container?’

’I just need to see if I can detach it!’

A minute later, Seraphina Sinclair returned, carrying a plastic barrel that was clearly smaller than 200 liters.

No one would believe that a barrel barely reaching an adult’s calf could hold 200 liters of water.

Seraphina didn’t believe it either, but she trusted the system’s description.

’Maybe it has some kind of magical spatial ability?’ Seraphina guessed.

After setting up the inlet and outlet ports, Seraphina began to wait quietly for one o’clock.

’It’s so noisy.’

’That’s Sunflower’s voice!’

Seraphina instantly perked up. Holding her breath, she yanked the window open.

Icy black rain immediately spattered the back of her hand. Seraphina snatched her hand back as a faint, stinging pain pricked her skin, as if she had been jabbed by a fine needle.

She glanced down and saw the skin where the raindrops had touched turn an unnatural, grayish-white, but it quickly returned to normal.

’So it really is toxic...’

Seraphina gasped and quickly extended the retractable hose out the window.

A steady stream of murky black water flowed into the purifier. Inside the device, the filter mesh immediately lit up with a faint blue glow, emitting a low HUMMM as it worked.

Seraphina kept her eyes fixed on the outlet spout.

Three minutes later, the first drop of purified water finally fell.

It was perfectly clear.

The droplet was crystal clear, indistinguishable from ordinary rainwater, and even carried a hint of a crisp, clean scent.

Seraphina caught it on her finger but didn’t taste it. The system had, after all, noted that the water from this purifier was not up to drinking standards.

’The last thing I need is an upset stomach.’

’But this still counts as a success, right?’

As Seraphina watched the clear water begin to pool in the plastic barrel, a genuine sense of accomplishment welled up inside her.

’Now I just have to wait.’

Seraphina turned, but before she could take a single step, a chill ran down her spine.

The feeling was identical to her encounter with the Rotting Corpse, only this time, the chill was even deeper, burrowing into her very bones.

Seraphina immediately spun back around, her eyes warily scanning the room. She subconsciously held her breath, straining to hear any sound.

But aside from the gentle sound of flowing water, there was nothing.

’Was I mistaken?’

Seraphina had always trusted her sixth sense.

Especially in a completely unknown world like this.

She didn’t lower her guard. Her hand was already touching the weapon at her waist.

As the atmosphere grew taut, Seraphina suddenly heard Sunflower’s thought: ’Ah... they’re inside. So gross.’

’Inside?’

’What are they?’

’Be more specific!’

Seraphina’s body grew even more rigid.

"What is it?" Seraphina asked in a low voice, but she heard no further thoughts from Sunflower.

Seraphina ground her teeth. ’I know I shouldn’t be thinking about this right now, but I really want to take Sunflower to see a doctor!’

’What kid has so few thoughts?’

’Think more, dammit!’

Outside, the drumming of the black rain against the window grew more intense, like countless tiny fingers clawing at the glass.

Seraphina suddenly noticed that the wooden floorboards near the drainpipe were darkening. It wasn’t the darkness of being soaked with water, but an unnatural, grayish-black that was spreading outward at a visible rate.

’Could this be it?’

CLICK.

A faint sound came from beneath the floorboards.

Seraphina’s pupils contracted. ’Insight!’

No response.

The sound was like a creature tapping on a wooden board with something hard, or perhaps the skittering of an arthropod.

Seraphina backed away slowly until her back hit the wall, her military knife held at the ready across her chest, prepared for anything.

’Insight!’ she repeated silently.

But the system panel still didn’t appear.

Seraphina tried focusing on several different spots and thinking ’Insight’, but it was useless.

’Or maybe the system knows I’m just guessing blindly. Until I actually identify it as a monster, Insight probably won’t activate, even if the creature is in my line of sight.’

The grayish-black area had already spread to cover half the room. The floorboards began to bulge slightly, as if something was squirming underneath.

’If this keeps up, it’s going to reach my bed! I just made it! I haven’t even slept in it for a single night!’

’And my supplies...’

Seraphina’s throat tightened, but she also felt a surge of anger. She had never encountered a situation like this.

The previous monsters had all appeared directly in the black mist; none had ever used this kind of stealthy infiltration.

’Isn’t this a bit much for a newcomer?’

But now was obviously not the time to be thinking about that. Something transparent flashed across her vision.

Seraphina’s reaction was instantaneous. ’Insight!’ she thought.

[Blackmist Worm (E-level)]

[Description: A hive-minded creature that inhabits the Blackmist Waters, capable of invading buildings through drainage systems. Individuals possess limited intelligence and are easy to deal with. However, when acting as a group, they display a high degree of coordination and incredible resilience! The mucus secreted from their bodies is mildly corrosive and can soften wood and metal. A low-level black mist creature!]

[Weaknesses: Extremely photophobic; strong light exposure causes its epidermis to carbonize. Its Regeneration Ability via splitting is significantly weakened in dry environments! (If you’re a newcomer reading this, we suggest you lie down and make yourself presentable. Your luck is just that bad.)]

’What the hell is that weakness description supposed to mean?!’

Seraphina was furious all over again, but she had to admit that this was by far the most difficult monster she had encountered since arriving in this world.

’But it’s only the second day!’

’If I’m already running into things like this, should I just give up and wait to die from now on?’

Grumbling was one thing, but self-preservation was another. Seraphina quickly grabbed the Hand-cranked Sunlight Lamp. Perhaps because the worms were nearly upon her, she moved with twice her usual Speed.

The sunlight lamp quickly erupted in a brilliant flash of light. The irradiated worms began to smoke, and amidst the curling fumes, Seraphina finally got a clear look at them.

They looked like slimy, black tentacles, using the black water on the floor for cover as they twisted and writhed in the air.

The worms’ bodies were covered in fine suckers, each with a ring of sharp, tooth-like structures at its center that glinted coldly in the dim light.

Seraphina’s stomach lurched.

The things looked like a cross between octopus tentacles and centipedes—soft yet aggressively menacing.

Even more terrifying, the sunlight lamp seemed to pose no threat to them at all.

The black water continued to spread at the same rate, and the worms advanced methodically. In other words, aside from allowing Seraphina to see the monsters, the sunlight lamp was completely useless.

No wonder the Insight description had told newcomers to make themselves presentable. It was because they had absolutely no way to fight back!