A blanket of webs covered my entire body, disabling my movement.
SHWIP.
My tail was plastered to the ground with the webs it shot, keeping it safe from my blight. I had no means to defend myself now.
Tahk. Tahk. Tahk.
Shkwaaahhh...
The nestling walked in front of me and breathed on my neck.
I'm going to die.
...
...
I felt its warm saliva drip down my neck as it scanned my body. I struggled with all my strength, but these webs were very durable.
Zzzzzzzzhhhpppp...
I felt air suddenly brush against my back. The nestling tore an opening on the blanket of web, exposing my back to it. The same dripping sensation was felt behind me. No! No! N—UARGHKKKK!
Its mandibles pierced through my skin as it cleanly bit off a chunk of flesh from my back.
The horrible sound of raw flesh it was chewing resounded within my ears.
AHHGGKKK!
The brilliant light of hope which was ever-present a while ago vanished, and the pitch-black grasp of despair took hold of my entire soul. I tried to locate Elizabeth's current location, but the scent of blood and saliva clouded my smell.
AHHHHHHHKK!
Another painful moan managed to escape my sealed lips as the nestling ripped a massive chunk of flesh out of my back.
Crrraaackkk...
The sound of something cracking resonated behind me, and with it followed the sensation of my lower body disappearing. I've been effectively crippled by the nestling. It took me a few more moments to accept what had just happened.
「You have received critical damage」
Instinctively I opened my status. My thoughts were clogged, and my vision was constantly blinking.
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
「HP: 23/55」[Partially Crippled, Excessive Bleeding -3 HP per minute, Dazed, Incapacitated]
「MP: 55/55」
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
ELIZABEEETH!! KOOON!! PLEASEEEE!
My desperation reached its peak as I calculated that I'd die within a matter of few minutes.
I WAS NOT PREPARED TO DIE, PLEASE, SOMEONE HELP ME. ANYONE?! KEUGHK?!!?!
Annoyed by my desperate call for help, the nestling proceeded to cut off my left arm in hopes of silencing me.
GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!
SHWIK!
My right arm suffered the same fate as my left as it was cleanly severed by its jack-knife like claws.
H-help...
My consciousness began to blur, and everything began to feel cold. I squeezed the remaining air I had in my lungs to call for help, but only a faint voice deafened by the gentlest of winds came out.
Elizabethh...Kon....help...
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
「HP: 8/55」[Fully Crippled, Excessive Bleeding -5 HP per minute, Dazed, Incapacitated, No Possible Recovery]
「MP: 55/55」
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
「Death is Imminent」
「The God of Chances is disappointed by how far you've progressed」
「The Goddess of Wisdom agrees with the God of Chances」
「The God of Furnaces rejoices your death」
「The God of Hope wishes he can do something」
I'm about to die within a minute and a few seconds. My ears were ringing, but the clear footsteps of other nestlings coming near were vivid. My body felt so cold and numb at the same time.
Kuff. Kuff.
Blood poured down my lips as I coughed. I always had a positive attitude, even when on the verge of death, but there was no escape. It was impossible for Elizabeth and Kon to come in time. They should just run away instead.
There was no chance to save me.
Reality hurt.
KRRRRNCCHH!
My body flinched in shock as another mandible bit into my flesh. There were now two nestlings feasting on me. Soon there would be more than a dozen. I tried, right? I was unlucky from the start, but I tried, right?
The corners of my vision began to darken as death loomed over me. Ah, this was a familiar feeling. How many times have I seen this?
CRaaaaaaaCKKSHKNK
The sound of muscle and bone being torn resonated vividly within my body. The pain which kept me conscious slowly began to disappear.
My hearing began to muffle, my body went colder, and my vision was blurring even more. All the sensations I had were slowly dying.
SKREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEECHHH!
The two nestlings were screeching behind me. Were they rejoicing that I've finally succumbed? Damn this entire world.
SKREEEEEEEEEEEE—
ROAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRR!
A large shadow covered me as my consciousness began to wane. E-Elizabeth...? Just as I finished that wondering thought. Darkness embraced my vision, and the sweet embrace of death began to take hold of me.
I...just...neeeed...a...second...mooreeee...
She's...here...theeen...this...option...is...possible....
Now...
「Evolution Process Continued...」
「Candidate must be in a calm state before the evolution proceeds.」
「Candidate is found to be extremely calm」
「Evolving...」
「Evolution options are being brought up」
「Processing options...」
「Processing complete...」
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
「Evolution Options」
「Adult Blight Rat」
「Adult Blight Rat (Variant)」
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
「Rare Evolution Options:」(Pre-requisites required)
「Adult Blight Rat (Variant)」(Unlocked)
「Plague-touched Infant Blight Rat」(Locked)
「Lurking Shadow Infant Blight Rat)」(Unlocked)
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
With no time to think as death approached. I chose randomly.
「Success」
「Candidate will lose consciousness for a few seconds while in the process of evolution」
「Due to the candidate's state consciousness will return after approximately 28 minutes and 39 seconds...」
「Incoming death has been halted.」
「The God of Chances is surprised by the turn of events」
「The Goddess of Wisdom applauds your will to live」
「The God of Furnaces is disappointed that you did not succumb」
「The God of Hope is relieved」
"THIS PREY! IS MINE!"
And, before I lost consciousness. I heard an unfamiliar voice coming from the shadow that covered me, who I thought was Elizabeth.
Then came darkness and the loss of sensation.
...
...
...
SKREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEECHHH!
The nestlings rejoiced as they feasted on the struggling rat, which they pinned down. This was the rat that entered their home and killed one of their brethren. The insect which came with the rat was their priority, but sadly it escaped before they caught him.
SKREEEEEEEEEEEE—
ROAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRR!
The nestlings screeched in glee once more before being cut off as both of their bodies were helplessly torn in half by an unknown assailant. Bright green blood and ichor flowed down the assailant's claws as it stood above the semi-unconscious rat.
"THIS PREY! IS MINE!"
Roared the beast, which covered an unconscious rat-like beast under it. Claiming that the rat was his and no one else. The beast stood on four legs with grey fur reminiscent of ash covering its body. Sparks of embers flew off of its sharp fangs as it bared them at the gigantic insect figure in the distance.
SKREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEECH!!
ROAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARR!
The mother of the nestlings roared at the beast for stealing its prey, and the beast roared back with pride, confident that it could take on such a massive creature.
SWOOOP! SWOOOOP!
With ferocious speed, the beast swiped its claws in the air sending deadly blades of air towards the Butcher.
THUD.
The Butcher simply stomped its legs, and the wind pressure that emanated from the strength of its stomp scattered the concentrated blade of wind, only making a gentle gust of wind reach her.
Surprised by how the Butcher reflected its attack. The beast smiled in anticipation and roared!
"You're a strong one, aint ya?! But who gave you the right to hunt my prey, huh?!"
The beast's slanted amber eyes with distinct almond-shaped pupils gleamed with excitement as it prepared to launch another attack.
AWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
A howl heralding a great battle exited its maw as its ash-coloured fur began to redden with heat. The air around it began to dance and distort, with the exception of the area around the unconscious rat.
Its mouth began to drip with saliva that scorched the grass where it fell.
SHWIP! SHWIP!
The nestlings near the beast threw their sticky webs at it in hopes of pinning it down, but it was for naught. As their webs melted before they could even get close to their foe.
SWOOOP!
With one casual swipe of its paw, a heated blade of wind was sent towards one of the five nestlings near it, immediately cutting it in half and cauterizing any of its open wounds that cut left. The smell of burning flesh wafted towards its snout.
It inhaled deeply, taking in the scent as the heat around it began to rise even higher.
SWOOP! SWOOP SWOOP!
In quick succession, it cut down three more nestlings with ease with a swipe of its paw. The beast did not even take a glance at each one of them. It already knew that its strikes successfully landed.
The remaining nestling rushed towards it to try and hurt it, but like their other attempts, it was in vain. The nestlings were set ablaze as it came near. The beast, which towered a few feet above the burning nestling, looked down on it and stepped on it.
The rat which was under the beast remained safe from its scorching heat. It raised its head and looked at the Butcher straight into its compound eyes and declared.
"This rat killed my master, Jack! Only I have the right to kill him! If you dare come and intervene I shall show you what hell feels like!"