Chapter 354: Indignation

Chapter 354: Chapter 354: Indignation

The Rotmire Crawler’s body convulsed violently, all its tentacles drooping lifelessly. It let out a short, mournful cry as its massive body crashed to the ground, unmoving.

’A D-level Supply Box... secured!’

Seraphina Sinclair didn’t even glance at the corpse. She spun around immediately, her gaze locking onto the Backstab Ape that was still in a standoff with the Gloom Hatchling.

Seeing its companion slain, the Savage Ape’s eyes glinted with even greater ferocity. It seemed to have finally made up its mind.

It ignored the Gloom Hatchling in front of it, which had a strange aura but no apparent intention to attack. With a furious roar, the Bone Spikes on its back stood erect. It crouched slightly, about to lunge at Seraphina Sinclair with all its might!

Just then, the unexpected happened!

The Gloom Hatchling, which had only been posturing, suddenly moved.

It no longer pounced or clawed at the monster as before. Instead, it abruptly opened its mouth and spat a small... dark cloud of mist toward the ground beside the Savage Ape.

The cloud of mist wasn’t large, but the moment it hit the ground, it spread rapidly, forming a dark area about half a meter in diameter.

All light within the area was completely devoured, as if by a miniature black hole.

The Savage Ape’s charging path happened to pass right through it. It seemed to sense something was wrong and tried to change direction, but it was too late.

One of its feet stepped into the viscous darkness.

"ROAR?!"

The Backstab Ape let out a howl of pain, shock, and anger.

The darkness seemed to be intensely corrosive. The moment its foot made contact, the gray fur covering it curled up and was instantly burned black. Its flesh followed, sizzling audibly and emitting plumes of acrid white smoke.

More importantly, the dark area also seemed to have a powerful adhesive quality. The Savage Ape’s foot was caught as if in a bog, its movements instantly restricted. The momentum of its charge was thrown off, and it stumbled forward awkwardly.

Seraphina Sinclair was also startled by the Gloom Hatchling’s sudden new ability, but her combat instincts were already etched into her very bones.

The very instant the Savage Ape lost its balance, she shot out like a cheetah, her Wind-stepping Boots leaving an afterimage on the ground.

The blade of her Water Dragon Roar tore through the air, aimed straight at the Savage Ape’s throat, which was exposed as it reared back in pain.

A flash of the blade, and the Savage Ape sensed the mortal danger. A crazed light entered its eyes. Ignoring the intense pain and the binding on its foot, it twisted its body forcefully. One long, clawed arm swiped viciously at Seraphina Sinclair, while several Bone Spikes on its back shot out like crossbow bolts, flying toward her chest and abdomen!

If those hit, Seraphina Sinclair would be gravely injured, if not killed.

The turn of events was sudden, but Seraphina Sinclair’s combat awareness was more than a match for it!

Her pupils contracted. Instead of slowing, her forward momentum actually increased as her body, with incredible flexibility, dropped into a slide toward the side. She skimmed just above the ground, ducking under the arc of the Savage Ape’s swinging arm.

The incoming Bone Spikes flew past her back with a piercing whistle, embedding themselves in the floor and walls behind her with dull THUDS.

In the instant she slid under the Savage Ape, Seraphina Sinclair thrust the tightly gripped Water Dragon Roar upward with all her strength!

"SQUELCH!"

The sharp tip of the blade precisely pierced the Savage Ape’s relatively soft underbelly, running it through at an upward angle until the hilt was buried.

Warm liquid instantly drenched her wrist.

The Savage Ape’s body went rigid. Its sweeping arm fell limp, and the madness in its eyes was quickly replaced by disbelief, intense pain, and a fading light.

A gurgling, deflating sound escaped its throat. Its massive body swayed, then crashed sideways, landing right on the edge of the still-present dark area, which produced another sizzling sound.

Seraphina Sinclair steadied herself and took a deep breath. Her gaze followed the sound to the slowly fading dark area, then shifted to the culprit—the Gloom Hatchling.

The little thing was lying on the ground, panting heavily. Its body rose and fell slightly, suggesting that last attack had taken a lot out of it.

It was covered in dust and some grime from its earlier tumble, looking a bit of a mess. But its red, vertical pupils, which usually held a hint of confusion or grievance, were now surprisingly bright. It stared intently at the fallen Savage Ape’s corpse, glanced around warily, and then cautiously raised its head to look at Seraphina Sinclair.

’Is it... looking for praise?’

’Or is this its awkward way of proving, ’See? I’m not completely useless’?’

Seraphina Sinclair said nothing, merely walking over step by step, her blood-dripping Water Dragon Roar still in hand.

She first went to the two D-level Supply Boxes and stored them in her Silver Moon Earrings.

’As much as I want to open these two Supply Boxes right now, this isn’t the time to check them.’

After dealing with her loot, she walked over to the Gloom Hatchling and looked down at it.

The Gloom Hatchling seemed a little nervous under her gaze. The tip of its tail twitched unconsciously, and a very soft "whine..." escaped its throat. It was as if it were testing her—testing why this human, who hadn’t come near it for so long, was suddenly approaching.

Seraphina Sinclair crouched down and held out her hand.

The Gloom Hatchling instinctively pulled its neck back.

But Seraphina Sinclair’s hand didn’t land on its head. Instead, it settled on the white fluff on the side of its neck, stroking it gently.

’To be honest, it doesn’t feel particularly good.’

The white fluff was stained with dust and a little of the monster’s foul blood, making it somewhat stiff and matted. It was far from the soft, fluffy fur it had when it was younger.

Moreover, beneath the fluff were cold, hard scales. If Seraphina Sinclair pressed a little harder, she could feel their unyielding texture—a clear sign that this was no harmless pet.

And yet, Seraphina Sinclair’s fingertips paused.

"That thing from before, what was it?"

Seraphina Sinclair’s voice was calm, betraying no emotion.

The Gloom Hatchling blinked, seemingly not understanding the question.

It nuzzled its head against Seraphina Sinclair’s hand, completely failing to comprehend what she was saying.

Seraphina Sinclair patiently pointed at the lingering traces on the floor, then at the Gloom Hatchling itself, and asked again, "That thing you just let out, what was it?"

The Gloom Hatchling seemed to sense the softening in her attitude, or perhaps it was simply enjoying being petted.

The "whine" in its throat turned into a more docile purr, and it even tilted its head up slightly to give Seraphina Sinclair better access.

But it still didn’t answer.

Or rather, it was incapable of answering in a way Seraphina Sinclair could understand.

Seraphina Sinclair finally realized that trying to force an answer out of it was a classic case of talking to a brick wall.

She pulled her hand back, her dangling fingers slowly clenching into a fist, revealing her inner indignation.

’I worked so hard to get the Water Dragon Roar and finally be able to use Water Blade. I thought I’d finally gotten one step ahead of the Gloom Hatchling. But it looks like this carefree little thing probably mastered that incredible power a long time ago, without me even knowing it. That dark mist, with its powerful corrosive and binding traits... it could have an astonishing effect at a critical moment.’