CHAPTER 50: LAND OF RUIN II

[The Forest Leech has devoured two living beings.]

[The Forest Leech has grown stronger.]

Right before their eyes, they watched as the monster took on a new form.

It was now larger and more physically developed, looking to have gained more muscle.

’It gets stronger by eating...’

The thought slipped through his mind.

Was he seriously supposed to fight this?

Unless he used his divine blessing, his chances of winning were slim, especially if the monster kept eating.

Jayhan glared and then whispered to Kara.

"Hey, do you think you can buy me time to kill the leech?"

Kara tensed up.

"Nope, nuh-uh, we are not doing that. We’ll battle these small fries together before even thinking to battle that thing."

Jayhan whispered back,

"If we do that, then the monster has the option of eating the dead. That’s how it gets stronger."

"...Are you being serious?"

"You just saw it devour a lizard, no?"

Silence crept in for a while, only broken by the low growls of the lizard monsters dancing around them.

"Alright, fine. But you better not die, or I’ll kill you."

"Got it. You too. And be careful!"

"Sure will..."

Soon after, Jayhan charged past the lizard monsters barricading his path, severing their limbs and heads as he went.

Kara, on the other hand, stood behind, activating her divine blessing, which allowed her to use Ishtar’s authority—an arsenal of multiple abilities.

At first, she stared, sending lightning arrows that hurled toward the monsters like a machine gun.

Once she was bored, she began attacking them one by one, flames dancing around her wrists.

Meanwhile, Jayhan was already closing in on the monster.

Gripped tightly was his dagger, a blizzard of flames forming in its wake.

As he charged toward the monster, he detected it had already taken notice of him.

’It can’t see, right?’

According to the information, the Forest Leech lacked the ability to see.

Nine times out of ten, that also meant it would have its other senses heightened.

Seeing as the leech had turned its entire body toward Jayhan, it was safe to assume it was either listening to his footsteps or its intuitions were flaring up.

Jayhan took note as he got nearer, making sure he had his eyes everywhere in case there was going to be an unexpected attack.

The moment he covered the distance, he leaped up slightly, not making a single noise.

His eyes locked onto the monster’s neck.

One strike—that was all he needed.

The monster’s ability was still unknown, so taking risks was not up for debate.

Getting a firm hold on the dagger, Jayhan got ready to make the attack.

His body blazed at a rapid pace.

It was then that the unpredictable happened.

The leech raised one of its hands and, in what seemed like a second, struck Jayhan to the side.

It was so fast, Jayhan barely knew it was coming until he got hit.

Like a rag doll, his body fell to the ground, making multiple tumbles before stopping right next to a tree.

Before Jayhan could think to stand to his feet, the leech had stretched its hand from a far distance.

With a precise grip, it held Jayhan against the tree, practically imprisoning him there.

’No way...’

Jayhan could not move, as it felt like the monster’s strength was increasing with every passing second.

Kara, who was still fighting the other lizard monsters, took notice of this.

Her worry was evident, yet she didn’t back down from doing what her darling had instructed her to do.

If she were to step in, then that would give the lizards a more advantageous position, as they would not hesitate to use the distraction.

Thus, she kept fighting.

Jayhan was still struggling to break free.

The fact that the monster was moving closer to him didn’t help the situation.

’I don’t have a choice—’

He wanted to use his divine blessing.

Since brute force didn’t work, trying his luck with fire might do the trick.

A human.

Jayhan’s eyes widened in shock.

’...Did it just speak?’

He lifted his head to see that the Leech was standing not too far away.

Opening its drooling mouth, the monster voiced again:

Were you sent here... by them?

For the first time since the apocalypse began, Jayhan had run into a talking monster.

This never transpired in the game.

Normally, he would be freaked out.

But the fact that the monster hadn’t killed him yet meant it wanted to learn something.

Calmly, Jayhan responded,

"A talking monster..."

You spoke back. The last human I tried to communicate with died after he tried to kill me.

"Is that why you have me held here?"

The Leech paused for a while.

I was told you were kind and intelligent. Yet, you people seem to act on impulse rather than reason.

"Did we disappoint?"

I doubt it.

It moved closer, its huge, rugged face inches away from Jayhan.

There is nothing to be disappointed about. I am smarter. I never had high hopes to begin with.

[The character Kara is anxious about your safety.]

Jayhan could already tell that with a few more conversations with the monster, he could learn something valuable.

Calming Kara down was the first thing to do if he wanted to focus on the convo.

Giving Kara the side-eye, he whispered something to her through his mind skill.

That is your counterpart, I assume. She is quite skilled with a blade. Unfortunately, she is not my prey.

"And who is your target?" Jayhan uttered back.

The Leech goggled at him for a while, green, deep eyes looking directly into his soul.

The most promising human.

Jayhan raised a brow.

For so long, I have lived as the predator in this world. Many who contested me were counted among my assemblage of triumphs I have sought over the years.

I battled monsters twice my size, conquered a whole race, and commenced a new revolution in a world once governed by great monsters.

From a single vermin, I evolved to be the nightmare of the ruined land. And now I aspire to a new form, a new challenge, another world to fall under my many selves I hold most endearing.

Jayhan listened.

The ominous voice of the Leech was almost putting him in a trance.

I was desolate. Success downed my very existence and purpose. Without this, my ambition no longer stands. A body with no tendency. A world left unconquered awaited me, and I understood this.

As such, when a being in the sky came to me with a bargain—a way to escape this world—I could not forsake it.

’A being in the sky? Is it talking about them?’

Jayhan asked, his eyes filled with conviction.

"What deal did you make?"

That is something I can’t share, human.

The Leech stood upright, looking toward the far right of the forest.

You have come to this world in pursuit of compensation yourself. At the end of the day, we both have an objective we yearn to acquire. I do commend that. You are substantial, for a human. I am beyond that.

Many who reach here in search of a way out will find none. You may think the beings who conveyed you here favor you, but they do not. The scales of fate will tip toward my side, and with a new form, I shall ascend to a new world.

"You seem confident about that. Humans can be stubborn."

Ah yes, I am well aware. Humans are quite the specimens, as I have been told. I won’t deny it—there is a probability of some of you making it out of here alive. There might even be a chance that not a single one of you will die.

A suitable attainment, if you play your cards right.

Although for one of you...

The monster tautened near.

Only death awaits, and despair for any who follow. I will uncover you and consume you, all in the name of my drive for triumph. Don’t keep me waiting. I shall do the honors of looking for you.

As the monster spoke, Jayhan realized multiple things. But only two stood out.

One, the Leech was looking for a specific person. The requirement was unknown, but it was clear it was still searching.

And the second was something that he failed to realize sooner:

It wasn’t that the forest was alive.

It was quite the opposite.

Everything was dead.

All that existed belonged to the Leech.

The Leech was everywhere... at all times.

Because in that moment, every lizard that had stepped out of the forest and other monsters still hiding in the darkness—

All had their eyes on Jayhan.