Colin didn’t stop moving, casting one Magic spell after another.

Flames flared into existence time and again, striking his opponent.

Although the Carrion Insect shrieked continuously, its forward momentum didn’t lessen in the slightest, like a slowly approaching grinder.

From behind him came the continuous sound of tentacles lashing against a Shield.

As he chanted the Spell, flames flickered incessantly before his eyes.

At the same time, Colin’s mind was also racing, and he was now thinking about only one question—’What should I do?’

He didn’t know how long the old Guard behind him could hold out.

Although he was indeed experienced, he was no longer young, and high-intensity physical combat was definitely not his forte. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Watching the Carrion Insect draw ever closer, Colin could only feel despair.

The key was that the Guard had a Shield, while he had nothing but a sword.

If he was struck by one of these Carrion Insects, he would likely be paralyzed and left to their mercy.

It was said that victims of bear attacks witness themselves being eaten alive. ’I wonder what fate awaits me at the hands of these monsters...’

WHOOSH!

Another Flaming Arrow shot out.

The monster’s wails were right in his ears, and Colin could even smell the strange odor of flames scorching slime.

He stared intently at the monster before him.

Although his mind had been a chaotic mess just moments ago, Colin had paradoxically calmed down at this critical moment.

’I only have one chance,’ he thought.

Blocking with his sword was definitely not going to work. The monster’s tentacles were like whips, a type of weapon that was least afraid of being blocked by a blade. Besides, he had no other means of attack besides the sword in his hand.

’So, how should I defend myself?’

’Trading blow for blow is out of the question. If there are more Carrion Insects behind this one, then even if I manage to kill it in one strike, I’ll be poisoned and left at their mercy anyway.’

At this thought, the answer became obvious to Colin.

’Use my Leather Armor as a Shield, block the enemy’s attack, and take it down in a single blow!’

The Carrion Insect’s advance slowed, its slime-covered tentacles poised to strike.

Consequences, success rate, alternative plans...

Everything was thrown to the back of his mind.

Aside from his memories of sparring with Langgrin, the only thing left in Colin’s mind was the murderous intent to see his enemy dead.

A short Spell was chanted.

The experience from hundreds, even thousands, of Castings was enough for Colin to boost the power of the Emerald Flame Sword to its maximum in that instant. The scorching Flame was so intense it began to turn white.

Colin stepped forward and charged.

’Kase and the Guard were both hit in the neck. So why does it have to be an attack on the back of the neck?’

’This monster’s toxin can paralyze the entire body... Perhaps the toxin affects the brain? The closer the strike is to the brain, the faster the toxin takes effect?’

Vaguely sensing this through his knowledge of modern medicine, Colin raised his blade high.

His arms, protected by Wrist Guards, shielded his face as he suddenly leaped during his sprint, pouncing toward the Carrion Insect.

THUD, THUD, THUD.

Three muffled impacts came from his chest.

Colin paid it no mind, swinging his weapon with all his might.

Reinforced Emerald Flame Sword!

The flaming blade came crashing down, hacking deep into the Carrion Insect’s charred head.

The Flame burned even more merrily. The monster before him writhed madly on the ground like a slug sprinkled with salt, its heavy body slamming against the surrounding walls with loud THWACKS. A moment later, it went still.

Then, the Flame on the blade shot out and coalesced into an arc of light.

The next moment, this arc of light slashed violently toward the area behind the Carrion Insect.

A familiar shriek echoed out.

’So this thing was being pushed forward by its own kind,’ Colin thought. ’No wonder it was charging so hard.’

Immediately after, a rustling sound came from behind the Carrion Insect’s corpse.

Just as Colin was bracing for a second Carrion Insect to come down the corridor, several shouts came from the distance: "Old Bran! Old Bran, are you here?!"

"Hurry over, we’re about to be overrun!"

The old Guard’s shout followed immediately from behind him.

Taking a moment to glance back, he saw that the Carrion Insects on that side were also starting to retreat. It seemed these monsters were like ordinary scavengers and didn’t like to pick fights with tough opponents.

Only then did Colin finally let out a sigh of relief.

"Are you guys alright over there? This monster’s corpse is blocking the path."

The reinforcements on the other side of the corridor shouted again, and the old Guard replied, "We can go around! Wait for us there!"

At this time, the two people lying on the ground also began to slowly regain their movement.

It seemed the Carrion Insect’s toxin only lasted for about a minute. It wasn’t too severe.

"This thing’s got some real kick. I thought I was a goner," Kase said, shaking his head. "I wanna collect some of its slime. You guys got any bottles?"

The old Guard took out three glass vials with stoppers and a pair of leather gloves from his waist pouch and handed them over.

He added, "These are for collecting evidence. Help me get a sample, and the other two are yours."

"Can this slime be used directly?" Colin asked.

"I remember they sell specialized Carrion Insect toxin on the black market, so it’s probably useful for something." After speaking, the old Guard gasped for a few breaths and sat down on the ground. "Let me rest for a bit, dammit."

Colin glanced at the Shield in the man’s hands.

It was almost completely covered in a thick layer of transparent slime, a testament to how many times the Carrion Insect had attacked him.

It was a miracle that this Guard had managed to hold on.

For Kase, who had spent years living in the wild, collecting some toxin with leather gloves was child’s play. He had three vials of Carrion Insect toxin in just a few minutes.

The group then proceeded down the corridor, planning to circle around to the pile of bodies on the other side.

The surroundings were frighteningly quiet; the distinctive movement sound of the Carrion Insects was gone.

His mind at ease, Colin glanced at his Panel.

-----------------

[Commission: Protect the Cleaner]

[Rating: 4 (Mortal)]

[Reward: 150 Skill Level, Power +1]

-----------------

He’d gambled his life for a single attribute point.

’I wonder if it was worth it...’

Remembering what had just happened, Colin’s scalp tingled with fear.

He didn’t consider himself a brave person. Even so, after two carriage escort missions, he felt his courage had at least reached a barely passable level.

But this time, the sight of a giant slug over a meter tall charging at him had made Colin never want to enter a sewer again for the rest of his life. No matter how great the reward, he would have to think long and hard about it.

That feeling, a mix of disgust and terror, was truly unbearable.

After walking a short distance, the group finally made it around.

Six City Guards were standing where the pile of corpses had been.

There were fresh signs of vomit on the ground. It wasn’t hard to imagine their reaction to seeing the scene.

Since they didn’t find any of Kiran’s footprints leading out of the area...

The group had to fight back their nausea and search through the pile of bodies for a while longer. They finally found Kiran, who had been unable to move for a long time due to continuous paralysis from the toxin.

Aside from his eyeballs, no other part of his body could move at all.

Now that they had found their target, there was no reason to stay any longer.

The Guards noted the location of the corpse pile, and then the group prepared to carry Kiran back to the Surface.

A few of the Guards felt that Kiran was incredibly lucky. After all, under these circumstances, he was almost completely unharmed, aside from being poisoned and scared half to death.

In Colin’s view, Kiran’s survival wasn’t without reason.

These Carrion Insects liked to eat rotting flesh.

He figured they were planning to wait for the corpses to decompose before feasting on them. Kiran, on the other hand, was being kept as a food reserve. For the Carrion Insects, once he starved to death and his body began to rot, he would be another fine meal.

The thought of the monsters’ intentions made Colin feel nauseous all over again.

But thankfully, it was all over.