novelraw Chapter 40: The Black Giant Worm
Chapter 40: The Black Giant Worm
The sewer’s corridors were like a sprawling ant nest—twisting, branching, endless.
Lin Xun spent nearly an entire day exploring the maze, and finally reached the path to the next floor.
[Ahead of you lies the entrance to the lowest level of the sewer. The steps leading down are covered in pitch-black, foul-smelling slime.]
[You can faintly hear something huge writhing beneath the staircase.]
[Would you like to enter the ‘Lowest Level of the Saint Rance Sewers’?]
Was this an elite mob or a boss?
Lin Xun didn’t rush in. Instead, he returned to the Resting Page.
After resting, all the sewer’s mobs respawned.
Following the routes he’d mapped on his computer, Lin Xun farmed them all again, turning each one into pure EXP. After two full rounds of clearing mobs, his Yellow-Robed Bishop Shell finally leveled up.
[Power surges within the Shell. ‘Corrupted Yellow-Robed Bishop’ Shell has leveled up. Current Shell Level: 14][You are now stronger!]
With this level and his gear, Lin Xun felt confident that unless it was another Sea Dragon-tier boss, he could put up a fight.
After all, his epic-tier weapon provided a massive power boost to the Shell.
Returning to the sewer’s lowest floor, he clicked Enter.
[You descend the staircase and enter the ‘Lowest Level of the Saint Rance Sewers.’]
[This floor seems to be a vast, open space. The glow from your ‘Thunder Dragon Staff-Spear’ only illuminates your immediate surroundings.]
[A massive creature hidden in the darkness senses your presence. You hear a rustling, slithering sound as it begins to close in…]
This must be the floor boss. Probably has a fat loot table, too.
Lin Xun rubbed his hands together as the options popped up.
[What will you do?]
[1. Pull out a ‘Foul Dungstone’ and eat it, loudly praising its flavor. Maybe the creature will think you’re one of its own.]
[2. Raise your staff-spear and fire off a ‘Corrupt Sunlight’ in the darkness, shouting “Burn, you filthy beast!”]
[3. Toss your staff-spear, yell “Over here!” and try to use its glow as a decoy to escape.]
Lin Xun instantly dismissed options 1 and 3—he was going in headfirst.
He was too strong now to be running. Dodging fights was for the weak.
With overwhelming power on his side, what was there to fear?
[You raise your staff-spear and begin chanting…]
[The massive creature senses danger. It speeds up, rushing toward you through the darkness.]
[Only now do you see its true form: a colossal black worm, thick as several men’s arms combined, slithering across the space, its mucous-covered body filling half the room.]
[Its circular maw opens wide, revealing layers of sharp, hooked fangs. It lunges, ready to devour you whole…]
[A flash of red light…]
[You have defeated the ‘Corrupted Black Giant Worm.’ Experience gained: Greatly increased.]
[Power surges within the Shell. ‘Corrupted Yellow-Robed Bishop’ Shell has leveled up. Current Shell Level: 15]
Now this was the kind of rhythm he liked!
Lin Xun’s confidence soared.
His precious mage Shell had already died once to the Bloodblossom Boss, and again to the Sea Dragon.
After those back-to-back humiliations, he’d started doubting himself.
But now, the powerful bishop finally restored his reputation.
‘One thing though… Why didn’t the boss drop anything?’ That was weird.
[Still basking in the joy of victory, the Apostle fails to realize that due to its unique biological traits, the worm retains some motor function even after death.]
[You are swallowed whole by the ‘Corrupted Black Giant Worm.’]
[You died!]
…???
“I swear, I’m going to burn this cursed game to the ground!!”
Lin Xun just barely restrained the urge to smash his phone.
He took a deep breath, trying to lower his blood pressure.
There might not be any Apostles who died from running out of soul strength in this game—but he was sure plenty had died from sheer rage.
Thankfully, he still had his Paladin and Engineer Shells unused.
[The feeble soul respawns in the sewer tunnel…]
In a fit of righteous fury, Lin Xun abandoned all thoughts of sustainability and immediately possessed the Engineer Shell.
Down here in the sunless sewers, he didn’t need to worry about Blood Sun exposure. It was the perfect setting for the Engineer.
He didn’t believe any monster could beat this guy now.
[The feeble soul possesses the ‘Engineer of the Pyramid Corporation’ Shell.]
[You now control this unfamiliar Shell. Faint memory fragments from the Engineer’s life still linger…]
[You have not yet entered the corresponding chapter. Memory fragments unavailable.]
Lin Xun curled his lip. No big deal—the Engineer’s memories belonged to a different apocalyptic chapter and weren’t relevant now.
[You focus inward. A surge of raw power rises within the Shell. You feel invincible—unstoppable.]
The Engineer’s only downside was his gear. His nano-bio armor was still damaged and needed repairs.
Lin Xun suddenly wondered: Could the blacksmith fix high-tech equipment like this?
The thought felt absurd. The blacksmith probably couldn’t even read blueprints, let alone mend artificial muscle fiber suits.
Too bad the blacksmith had already bit the dust. Once he had spare soul strength, he’d try reshaping that Shell and find out.
He pushed the thought aside and checked his inventory.
He tried equipping the Yellow-Robed Bishop’s Thunder Dragon Staff-Spear onto the Engineer.
[You have equipped the ‘Thunder Dragon Staff-Spear’!]
[You are now stronger!]
Not surprising. This game didn’t restrict weapons by class—he’d seen thieves wielding greatswords before.
So it made sense that the Engineer could use this hybrid melee-ranged weapon too.
Feeling smug, Lin Xun unequipped all of the Bishop’s gear and outfitted the Engineer with it instead.
[You are now stronger!]
Looking at the character panel showing the Engineer’s massive Level 32, Lin Xun had just one thought.
This is delicious.
He grinned, practically feeling the rush of cheat-code levels of power.
“Up up down down left right left right B A B A?”
“Or maybe… whosyourdaddy?”
Time to show this cursed game who’s boss.
He made his way back down to the sewer’s lowest level—no enemies along the way, sadly. He’d already cleared them all.
He would’ve slapped even a passing dog just to blow off steam.
[You descend the stairs into the ‘Lowest Level of the Saint Rance Sewers.’]
[The area is vast. The glow from your ‘Thunder Dragon Staff-Spear’ lights the way ahead.]
[The Shell of the ‘Corrupted Black Giant Worm’ has vanished. A few items left behind by the slain creature still remain.]
[You step forward to collect the loot…]