The eccentric doctor never makes a misdiagnosis!

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"I've only ever seen this kind of scene in literature that describes natural disasters in a lost era..."

Looking at the dilapidated port of Morion, Rosalie bit her lip, feeling a little nervous.

"Hey, Miss Reporter, that's because your 'experience' isn't broad enough."

As he spoke, Bartley grinned a burly smile.

The city, brimming with an aura of danger, filled him with genuine excitement. He couldn't wait to engage in a bloody, close-quarters battle with those abhorrent creatures of the abyss.

"If you've ever seen the cities that have become battlefields between Loretown and Attilion, you'll know... the destruction caused by humans is no different from natural disasters. In fact, it's even more devastating."

"Alright, let's prepare to disembark. In Morion, we can only operate at night. We must cherish every moment of the night."

Rosalie is a member of the Moon's Familia, and therefore cannot be exposed to the sunlight at dawn and midday. While she won't be directly incinerated like the original vampires, she will still suffer extremely severe burns.

However, this was not a burden for the team; in fact, it was a good thing... because they also needed to travel at night.

The reason is simple: the evil creatures of the Abyss cannot move during ordinary nighttime.

They can only appear on nights with a full moon. At other times of night, these evil creatures from the depths of the ocean will be cut and ripped apart by the broken and sharp glow of the crescent moon.

Therefore, they are much more active during the daytime... The cold, waning moon, in its own unique way, brings its cruel protection to Gormouth.

"The port is severely damaged; the concrete breakwater has been completely shattered into pieces, as if it had been torn apart by something."

The inchworm moved forward along the ladder lowered by the Leviathan and was secretly surprised when it saw the devastated port.

Although we often see reports of the tragic situation in fallen cities in print publications, only by witnessing it firsthand can one truly feel the weight of the tragedy.

"The damage was caused by the combined effects of the evil creatures from the Abyss and the storm. Those scaled creatures are extremely destructive; in addition to biting people, they also tear apart and devour man-made structures."

Utus explained, his gaze then drifting to the bone-white tower standing on one side of the city.

When the city was still intact, the Sleeping Sand Bell Tower was like an inconspicuous embellishment. But now that Morion is nothing but ruins, its continued presence... makes it stand out starkly.

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Happy New Year! (I need your votes!)

Chapter 112 Human-Lip Strange Insect

"Be careful. Although the evil creatures of the Abyss cannot directly appear under the waning moon, they can still hide in the shadows."

Bartley took a deep breath, trying to discern the mixed and chaotic scents in the air.

Ashes and dust, filthy blood and slime, and the repulsive stench of evil.

“I sensed a commotion of ‘crowding’.”

Upon hearing his description, Rosalie became somewhat interested and asked a follow-up question with a hint of curiosity.

"Um... Mr. Bartley, what does this mean?"

"It's very simple. It means that this city is now like a giant garbage dump full of rotten organic matter, and every corner where it can hide is crammed with scurrying evil creatures like a cockroach nest."

Bartley chuckled softly, then offered his explanation.

"Oh, your description is so 'accurate'... I almost threw up the dinner I just ate."

Imagining that scene, the inchworm couldn't help but squint and felt a little nauseous for no reason.

As the group chatted amongst themselves, trying to ease the oppressive atmosphere of the fallen city, Utus, who had been searching for something in the ruins, walked over carrying a sea monster with a broken spine.

"Look what I found, a living evil creature from the Abyss. Oh, but it resisted quite fiercely, so I had to use rather rough methods to control it."

At this moment, the body of this monstrous creature from the abyss still twitched occasionally, appearing particularly ferocious. But that seemed to be merely a reflexive behavior due to the still-living muscles; it had already died completely when its spine was twisted.

"Is this the evil creature from the Abyss...?"

Looking at its twisted tentacles covered in scales, Rosalie swallowed hard.

Although she had gained a basic understanding of these monsters from the accounts of many survivors of the fallen city, the feeling of dread still spread uncontrollably from the depths of her heart when she actually faced the terrifying evil that was destroying the city.

"In fact, 'monsters of the Abyss' is a rather imprecise general term. The inhabitants of Golmouth are used to giving this name to all monsters born from the spells of the Abyss, and therefore tend to overlook the differences between them to some extent."

As a genuine oceanography professor who truly loves his profession, Utus appears very enthusiastic when explaining things within his field of expertise.

“What I have in my hand now is the most common of the evil creatures, the ‘Ring-Scaled Silkworm.’ Although it looks like it has tentacles similar to a squid’s, those are actually mutated appendages, like soft-bodied parapodia. Judging from its shape, it is closer to a higher invertebrate…”

As he said this, his tone subtly took on a hint of solemnity.

"But it has a spine that symbolizes higher animals. Moreover, its spine is completely inherited from the human form."

Listening to Utus's explanation, the inchworm simply pushed up its silver-rimmed square mirror, showing no surprise.

"Humans can be transformed into evil offspring through rituals; this is basic esoteric knowledge. Therefore, it's not surprising that they inherit some aspects of their former selves."

Compared to the ring-scaled silkworm in Utus's hands, he was more concerned about another point that the professor of oceanography had mentioned earlier.

"Professor Utus, you said it's just the most common Abyss Evil Creature... does that mean they have even higher forms? Could you list a few?"

"of course can."

Clearly, most scholars in the White Cup are keen to answer questions for others, and Utus is no exception.

The group was currently moving through the city's ruins under the waning moonlight, the silence almost unsettling. There were things to talk about that helped ease the tension and prevent the oppressive atmosphere from spreading uncontrollably.

After all, not everyone is as rigorously trained as Bartley in the Funeral Court and can endure long periods of deathly silence.

"A human can transform into three 'ring-scaled silkworms,' each possessing one-third of the original human's vertebral skeleton. Those transformed from a complete human are called 'human-lip worms.'"

As he spoke, Utus looked around, seemingly trying to find a living specimen to use for his explanation. However, the evil creatures of the Abyss were currently hiding in the shadows of the ruins, and the streets were deserted.

"Human lip worm..."

Upon hearing this obviously somewhat wicked nickname, Rosalie's expression became increasingly subtle.

The inchworm, based on its own understanding, began to speculate on the reason why this kind of evil creature received this title.

Is it because its mouthparts resemble human lips?

"correct."

Utus nodded slightly, confirming the inchworm's statement.

"The human-lip worm inherited the original host's complete spine before the transformation, its ribs were transformed into limbs, and its head also had very obvious human characteristics. Its facial skin was completely rotten and peeled off, but its lips were able to maintain biological activity."

"That's why it got its name."

"The Levia had previously been commissioned to rescue a ship in distress. But when we found and approached the ship, we saw that its deck was completely empty... and the portholes were teeming with wriggling worms."

"The situation was very dangerous. We shot down the fishing boat in self-defense and failed to capture any live specimens."

As the talkative professor from the Department of Oceanography recounted his experiences and anecdotes from his seafaring career, Rosalie felt her level of shock increasing at a visible rate.

This made her somewhat regret bringing up the topic...

The Moon Familiar discreetly observed the Inchworm and Bartley beside it. The former looked serious, like a diligent student listening to a professor's lecture. The latter, however, licked its lips, seemingly only interested in the feel of chopping down the evil creature.

As the head of the Funeral Court, Bartley is often on the front lines facing evil offspring and fanatics, but most of his prey are humans who have fallen into madness, so he is not particularly clear about the specific information about the evil creatures of the Abyss.

"What I just mentioned was the standard type nine Abyssal Evil Creature. Although they can be as destructive as natural disasters when they form a cluster, they are not strong individually and can be easily destroyed by standard firearms."

Subsequently, Utus began to popularize advanced knowledge about the evil creatures of the Abyss.

"And those colossal evil creatures hidden beneath the icy oceans of the Abyss are difficult to destroy with conventional force. They even possess characteristics of mythical creatures and can be called holy offspring. The most famous one is named after a behemoth from the Dust Order Era."

“That is, ‘Yurmgund,’ the serpent that roams the world. Oh, some also call it ‘Anandashesa,’ the infinite python.”

"Legend has it that it once devoured an ancient apostle of the Sunforge Order during the Lost Age. Even today, it still appears in certain forbidden sea areas, swallowing and tearing apart the fleets sailing there."

Upon hearing the secret he mentioned, the inchworm's eyes narrowed slightly, unable to conceal its intense interest.

"Even though the apostle has reached almost the highest point of the mysterious staircase, he still cannot escape the fate of being devoured?"

He was an academic among the Moth disciples, skilled in research. Rather than spending a lot of time weaving scams, he preferred to devote his energy to collecting esoteric rituals and mystical knowledge.

Seeing that the inchworm was interested in this, Utus went on to explain his deductions from ancient documents.

"...Perhaps, being devoured was his choice."

"The 'Sun Forger' they worshipped forged and killed the ancient supreme being, the 'Primordial Sun,' with their intertwined love and took its place. At that time, the Sun Forger Order was at its peak. But at the same time, a calamity that could lead to destruction was brewing invisibly."

"Reaching the highest point means stagnation and decline. To reverse this, a complete overhaul of everything is needed."

Upon hearing this, the inchworm narrowed its eyes slightly and fell into deep thought. 8

"So, the decline of the Sunforge Order is also part of 'reconstruction'? They are actually following some kind of cyclical principle?" Wu

"exactly."

What he said was also Utus's view.

"To forge an even sharper blade, one must shatter and discard the original sword. Remelting and reshaping, constantly striving for improvement—this is the philosophy of the Sun Forging. The Sun Forging disciples of this era are the closest to the Apostles..." Liu

“It must be that mentally unstable ‘Sun Rider’ Somur; he possesses a purity that his disciples cannot attain.”

Utus seemed about to say something, but upon glancing at the overcast sky, his previously relaxed expression suddenly turned serious.

"The crescent moon's glow is obscured by the mist. We need to find a building to shelter in. Continuing to be exposed on the streets risks being surrounded by the evil creatures of the Abyss."

"Okay, I'll clear the way. The building up ahead is still in good condition; we should be able to take shelter there for now."

Bartley was clearly unable to suppress his urge to slay the evil creatures, but for the safety of the entire team, he had been consciously suppressing it.

A skilled hunter must constantly examine his identity and stance. If he becomes hopelessly immersed in the urge to hunt, he might unwittingly become prey himself, bringing about his own demise.

"Mm." (Group)

The others had no objections and followed closely behind Bartley, quickly entering the ruins of the abandoned buildings along the street.

The half-collapsed building was dark and gloomy, and the sounds of living creatures moving could be heard from beneath the rubble. Rosalie, who was in the middle of the group, looked uneasy and moved with extreme caution, trying not to make any noise, like a gray rabbit on guard against a predator.

Suddenly, an extremely pungent smell of putrid blood entered her nostrils.

“Mr. Bartley, there’s an unusual smell of blood three meters away from your eight o’clock position.”

After pinpointing the exact location of the blood aura, she promptly alerted Bartley, who was at the very front of the group.

"Oh?"

Bartley was somewhat surprised by Rosalie's accurate location report, but thanks to the funeral director's excellent combat skills, he didn't say much. He simply drew the butcher's knife from his waist and swung it in the direction indicated.

Although it was only their first meeting, he was willing to unconditionally trust his teammates, fight for them, and risk his life to overcome all obstacles.

The grayish-black concrete fragments shattered beneath its blade, and Bartley certainly felt the impact. His own blade had pierced through the hard armor, causing some kind of slurry-like substance to gush out.

He could feel the creature trapped under the saw writhing knife struggling, like some kind of crawling larva.

"Let me see your true colors..."

As he spoke, Bartley lifted up the contents of the meat saw and examined them closely by the light of the candle.

Although it maintains the form of a certain marine species, a pale skeleton can be glimpsed through its wounds. And... its mouthparts, covered with jagged, sharp teeth, are covered with a layer of human lips.

“Swelling…∪ZhuaNQUN:亦≈〈隣临"启∏陆疚∑℃壹肆弎'∷6Tus Professor, is this the human lip worm?”

He turned to Utus behind him and asked a question.

"Yes. Oh, to be honest, it's been a long time since I've seen a live human-lipped worm up close... It's true that only an environment with a high concentration of evil offspring can breed this kind of 'advanced species'."

"This guy's scales and hide are extremely tough, capable of withstanding ordinary firearms. At least a standard Hunter's weapon would be needed to penetrate his flesh. I never expected Mr. Bartley to kill him with a single blow from a melee weapon."

“A direct confrontation would be more troublesome; it looks like a very agile type. Thanks to Miss Rosalie’s reminder… I was able to succeed so easily.”

Bartley didn't think it was his achievement, since he hadn't noticed the location of the evil creature from the Abyss Sea immediately.

While Miss Rosalie may not offer much help in direct combat, as a member of the Moon Familia, she possesses an extraordinary sensitivity to the scent of blood, providing the team with a high degree of safety.

Thinking of this, his gaze toward Rosalie also became somewhat ardent.

It may be a bit rude to say this, but no hunter dislikes a good hunting dog... and coincidentally, this reporter is very skilled at sniffing.

Sensing Bartley's watchful gaze, Rosalie slightly narrowed her crimson eyes, a strange sense of familiarity rising within her.

It seems that Sister Haida saw herself in the same way when the cleanup order was carried out in the Norrington sewers... Is this some kind of tacit habit among the Hunters?

The four continued deeper into the building, occasionally encountering a few solitary ring-scaled silkworms. However, they couldn't withstand even a single round from Bartley before being hacked to pieces, leaving behind a trail of rotting blood and mangled limbs, a sight that pained Utus greatly.

These are all valuable research materials. If it weren't for the fact that this exploration mission couldn't carry too much equipment or waste too much time, he really wanted to collect samples one by one and make specimens...

About thirty minutes later, the fog that had covered the sky gradually dissipated, and the cold, pale light of the waning moon reappeared. The group was then able to return to the main street and move quickly.

Bartley casually took out the head of the human-lipped worm and exposed it to the moonlight. Almost the instant it touched the bright moonlight, countless tiny cracks spread and expanded across its shell.

A few breaths later, its remains turned into a handful of torn ashes, which scattered in the wind.