Chapter 126: The Third Draw! [Please Support with Votes!]

Fan Li had even abandoned the pursuit of slaughter points; the monster was terrifying, like a bush covered in thorns that made it impossible to approach. While slaughter points were important, being alive offered infinite possibilities.

As it stood, the Corpse-Suppressing Talisman was a one-time-use item, and as the summoner, Fan Li had received his due compensation.

【Seal?】

"Seal!"

After uttering the final word, Fan Li completely exhausted his strength and collapsed onto the ground.

A few seconds later, he felt a push from behind and was helped up. He turned his head to see Ellie standing beside him, panting heavily. Ellie had never looked like this before; her clothes were damaged in several places, her face was covered in dust, and her chest heaved rhythmically—a clear sign of severe energy depletion.

In her hand, she clutched a tattered bag. During the recent battle, Ellie’s satchel had been accidentally destroyed. It had been filled to the brim with snacks—a collection that held fond memories for her. Now, she held the bag out to Fan Li, as if asking if he could fix it for her.

Fan Li shook his head. "Luxury goods are one-time use. If it’s broken, let it be. When I can, I’ll get you a Gucci one—it’ll be much sturdier than this!"

Receiving his reply, Ellie did not insist. She simply placed the back of her hand against Fan Li’s forehead, sensing the weakness radiating from him. Then, she turned the bag upside down and pushed everything inside toward him. This time, her sincerity was evident; it was clearly no ruse.

Compared to the Butcher—who lay pinned beneath the rocks like a cold-blooded executioner—Ellie was more like a thoughtful, caring companion, albeit one with a hardcore edge that most people would struggle to handle.

Fan Li looked at the snacks, picked up a piece of chocolate, and popped it into his mouth. Though he had watched the battle between the monsters from the sidelines, the pressure he endured was immense. While the high-risk endeavor had rewarded him with his highest single-instance slaughter point total ever—a full 200 points—he had paid a heavy price: the Butcher was severely crippled, the Nightmare and Suffocation entities had vanished completely, and even his Corpse-Suppressing Talisman had been consumed.

Counting it all up, it had taken five monsters to truly kill the Corpse Giant. The giant’s terror stemmed not only from the number of survivors it had slaughtered but also from its astonishing, immortal physique; as long as its energy reserves were high, any part of its body could regenerate in a short time.

Thinking of this, Fan Li felt it necessary to pay extra attention to Liu Hao. To escape from such a monster—could he also be a legendary "Chosen One," or perhaps a favored child of the Dark Age?

After eating the chocolate and resting for a while, Fan Li didn't hesitate to silently command in his heart: "Summon!"

Having paid such a high price, he couldn't wait to see what kind of surprise the next monster would bring. With his previous experiences, Fan Li waited for a "miracle" to descend.

His vision blurred, and in a daze, he saw a woman suddenly appear before him. She leaned against a cold corner. Although they were only a few meters apart, she seemed completely unable to sense Fan Li’s presence—or perhaps, she had no energy left to scan her surroundings.

"Hah..."
"Hah..."

Heavy, ragged breaths escaped her. Her teeth chattered, and her entire body trembled as if embraced by a demon; a wave of extreme terror radiated from her. She stripped off her heavy clothing to reveal her belly. Her once-flat abdomen was now bulging, as if something inside were trying to break out, pulsing rhythmically and causing the woman fatal terror.

Panicked, she grabbed a small knife from her pocket. Her bones shook with fear, making it nearly impossible for her to control her arm effectively. Yet, she gritted her teeth and pressed the blade against her belly. Her mouth hung open, and the veins in her brain seemed ready to burst from the agony. With all her might, she plunged the knife into her stomach.

But this did not stop the eerie undulations. Even worse, the hilt of the knife seemed to be bound by something, making it impossible to pull out. Scalding blood flowed from her wound. The woman suddenly lifted her head, her eyes bulging with panic, and stared straight at Fan Li. She parted her lips and, with her final ounce of strength, uttered a single word:

"Run!"

Immediately, darkness engulfed Fan Li’s vision. The bizarre scene made him feel the woman’s helplessness as if he were in her place. Subtle, varying tones echoed in his ears, as if someone were critiquing the monster that existed in the shadows:

【Mother says there are no monsters in the world, but they truly do exist!】
【They have always been right beside us!】
【I worship its purity, unfettered by conscience, regret, or morality!】

"Whoosh!"

A cold breeze swept past his ears. Although everything seemed deathly quiet, Fan Li was certain that something had appeared beside him. A violent, oppressive will permeated the air, bringing a stifling, icy chill. It felt as if he were trapped in a glacier; even breathing became a struggle.

Just as this power reached its peak, Fan Li’s pupils contracted sharply. Before him, in the black mist, a monster exuding a metallic aura appeared—an eerie contrast of black and white, vivid and terrifying.

The creature had a metallic sheen, four limbs, and a long tail trailing behind. Its front and hind legs were distinctly different. Most terrifying was its head—a long, pointed skull with a horrifying face, all colored in shades of grayish-brown.

Liquid constantly overflowed from its mouth, and its tongue was exceptionally long and prehensile, sharper than any iron whip.

They were barely a meter apart; Fan Li could even smell the foul, fishy stench of the creature’s breath. Ellie, who had been standing beside him, was now motionless. Based on past experience, Fan Li knew he was currently on another plane of existence.

In the oppressive, dim space, man and monster surveyed one another. The creature, which looked as if it had been coated in metallic paint, stood between two-and-a-half to three meters tall. It looked back at Fan Li at the same moment.

"Graaa..."

Seconds later, it let out a soul-piercing roar, its terrifying maw dripping with caustic, sulfuric liquid.

Fan Li’s consciousness slowly solidified. Then, like waking from a deep dream, he saw Ellie looking down at the ground. Fan Li felt a shift and lowered his gaze, only to see that where there had been nothing before, there now lay a green egg, covered in a network of pulsating veins.