A dull longsword and a heartbroken villager

It's estimated that anyone in the monster's hands who isn't completely dead is either a fresh lunchbox or a reserve ration.

"What kind of monster is this? Is it a demon?" Luo Shiqi followed behind Bree and stopped in shock when he saw the huge monster.

The monster, already deformed from the start, grew to the size of a small truck after devouring several people.

This is his posture with his body hunched over; if he straightened his back, he would probably look even stronger.

Yet this enormous monster was sent flying by a tiny shard of sword blade.

That casual strike, though not very powerful, would have killed a normal monster long ago.

Yet the monster remained lively and energetic.

Bray never imagined that being deformed was bad enough, but this guy could also evolve by eating his own kind. The monster's current appearance was even more disgusting than what the Mind Eye could see.

He ate a lot more and his body got much stronger.

He felt that this scene was very similar to the plot of a fantasy novel he had read before... The concept of constantly evolving monsters sounded very exciting.

However, when you actually face such a monster, you'll realize just how ridiculous this design is.

Bray can guarantee that if the monster escapes this time, the next one will be a moving mountain.

As for why Bray said "evolving by eating one's own kind," it's because he already knew that the guy in front of him was a human.

Although it may not look like it now, it is still human in essence.

The Mind's Eye can see through any illusion and see the essence. Even though this guy's appearance has been distorted by the Silver Seed, Bray can still recognize his original appearance.

Even so, Bray won't hesitate to chop.

"Wait a minute..." the monster called out in a very unpleasant voice, stopping Bray from drawing his sword.

After consuming many of its own kind, this monster's intelligence became essentially the same as that of a normal human.

At the same time, they also know how to overcome fear.

For some reason, at this moment the monster felt an unprecedented fear from the one-eyed man in front of him.

This fear even overcame the black hole-like appetite.

“You attacked me, man, die,” the deformed monster said in broken, broken Common.

The words were simple, but Bray understood them perfectly.

If he were to attack this deformed monster, it would kill the still-breathing scavenger without hesitation.

"Let me go, and I'll let him go," the monster continued.

Bray raised an eyelid. This guy was much smarter than he looked. He had thought this deformed monster would be like a wild beast, only knowing how to be reckless.

This is what they call a hostage, I must say. I have to say, Bray rarely encounters this kind of situation.

"Put down your sword." For some reason, the monster suddenly added, probably noticing Bray's hesitation.

However, such a rapid rate of intelligence growth is far too fast. If it continues to eat people, it might turn into some kind of monstrous creature.

The deformed monster's countless mouths all simultaneously revealed cunning smiles, as if their evil scheme had succeeded.

According to normal procedure, Bray should obediently put down his sword and raise his hands at this point.

Many plays are performed this way, and Bray has seen quite a few of these kinds of plays.

So Bray really wanted to complain.

"Are you an idiot?" The words had barely left his mouth when, with a subtle twist of Bray's wrist, the blade flashed.

"Clang—" The deformed monster's hand, which had been gripping the scavenger, snapped off in response.

"Aaaaaaahhhhhh!!!" The shrill screams echoed across the ruins, like the howls of a wild beast mixed with the cries of a baby.

Granulation tissue kept growing from the wound, but it just wouldn't heal.

The thick arm on the ground convulsed violently, and the scavenger it had been holding collapsed to the side.

Just as the monster tried to grab the scavenger with its other hand, Bray swung his sword again, sweeping him away from the scavenger.

"Kid, save him," Bray said casually, as if what he had just done was nothing out of the ordinary.

Therefore, if you can seize the initiative, why give it up voluntarily?

Besides, Bray doesn't work in a profession where he has to prioritize other people's safety, so he doesn't have many concerns.

It's as if the monster won't eat the person in its hand or attack you if you put down your sword.

It's better to trust yourself than to trust someone who threatens others.

“In terms of physical strength, it’s about on par with a young dragon,” Bray said to the monster in the distance, his broadsword tapping the ground at an angle.

"Don't kill me, I'm hungry, I'm hungry!" the monster cried out in the fervor of a baby, begging Bray to spare him.

Bray approached step by step, without speaking to the deformed monster.

There wasn't going to be any intense fighting anyway. If the battle were too brutal, Bray would have to consider going back to the drawing board.

The disparity in strength between the two is too great; if even Bray has to fight them hard, then they will surely be able to destroy the entire safe zone.

Unfortunately, this monster doesn't have that ability, and even if it continues to grow, it will never be able to acquire it.

Bray had seen similar creatures before, but those were things that transcended the category of "monster".

When I gained the Mind's Eye, the "human god" I came into contact with was also constantly evolving, but it was on a much higher level than the monster in front of me. That thing had the opportunity to forcibly obtain the "concept" and become a demigod.

But... I accidentally started reminiscing about the past. Could this be a sign that I'm becoming an old man?

Bray's dead fish eyes were starting to glaze over due to his own wild thoughts.

The deformed monster caught this detail and instantly launched an attack, arriving in front of Bray in the blink of an eye from afar.

Instantaneous movement...

Countless mouths split open, as if trying to devour the distracted man completely.

But the sword, as black as an abyss, swept upwards from the lower right.

It was neither fast nor imposing; anyone could easily track the blade's trajectory.

But this sword strike exuded Bray's extreme dissatisfaction—

Why can these kinds of people master the ability to teleport? When did teleportation become so commonplace?

With a simple sword strike, the monster was cleaved from its ribs to its shoulder, clean and efficient, without even drawing blood.

A clean cut in two, nothing more. This monster, indeed split in two, still retained a certain amount of vitality.

Why do we say "as expected"? Because this monster looks like the kind that's particularly hard to kill.

Even after being cut in two, the monster let out a mournful cry, and its countless mouths continued to open and close, as if it were craving food.

The monster's pitiful cries made Bray frown, so he casually cleaved the invisible "core" with his sword.

Bray couldn't quite explain what that "core" was, but once the monster was cut off, it could no longer struggle.

To put it simply, it's probably the "life gate" (or "vital point"), but you need a keen eye to see it.

Bray was able to deal with monsters that didn't rely on concepts but on vitality to achieve immortality in this way.

Surprisingly convenient.

"It's...it's over just like that?" Luo Shiqi felt like the kind of guy who could only shout "666" from the side of the road.

Before Luo Shiqi could even be shocked, Bray had already dealt with the deformed monster.

Is this monster too weak? That can't be right. Its abnormal physique and the instantaneous teleportation ability it unleashed at the end prove that this deformed monster is not weak at all.

When those scavengers were hunted down by this monster, Luo Shiqi was still far away, but he could still vaguely see the horrific scene.

In any case, this monster is by no means weak.

Indeed, the adventurer in front of me who had been covering his left eye was far too powerful.

This sword strike was even more shocking than the one that saved him back then.

"Take care of this person." Bray left these words for Luo Shiqi, then stared blankly in a direction where there was nothing.

Luo Shiqi didn't know why Bray was looking at someone who seemed to have no direction with such seriousness.

It's normal that this kid doesn't know; probably only Bray can sense the gaze from the Silver Seer.

This deformed monster is completely unimportant; it was merely a monster created on a whim by some Silver Being.

If that silver species wanted, it could transform any number of lower-level species.

Moreover, it can be transformed into different patterns.

After Bray killed the monster, a malevolent gaze fell upon him.

The silver-colored creature was not visible in sight, but if Bray were to use his inner eye, he could probably spot it somewhere in the distance.

Bray's actions angered the silver-haired being, even though he didn't know what he had done to offend the demigod.

However, it seems that a grudge has been formed.

Just as Jonathan said, the number of silver-level creatures near the Imperial Capital Safe Zone is gradually increasing.

There are already quite a few silver-tier items in Kapras, the only shortage is in the Royal Capital Safe Zone.

As for why there were so few? On one hand, it was due to the bet between Eric and Jonathan, and on the other hand, it was because of Bray's desperate efforts back then.

However, it seems that many Silver species from other places have migrated here. Just like people often move, Silver species also try to move.

Although Umm Kandar mentioned the capital city, this place still poses a risk to Silver Saints.

There is no need to take the risk of being active in that area.

However, more than two years have passed, and many Silver Saints have forgotten about Umkandal's words.

Silver species are very long-lived, but unfortunately they are also quite forgetful.

Perhaps they do remember what Umkandar said, but they choose not to listen.

"It seems this place is far too peaceful... It gives me the illusion that the world hasn't collapsed yet," Bray muttered to himself, a hint of helplessness in his voice.

It's too peaceful... only around the capital.

Even in other safe zones further away from the capital, people are probably in dire straits.

Even if you can't witness it with your own eyes, you can still imagine the terrible scene.

Thinking of this, Bray raised his broadsword, the tip pointing forward.

No one responded to Bray's gesture; neither Luo Shiqi nor the surviving scavenger could understand its meaning.

However, Bray naturally knew what he was doing, and the Silver Seed probably knew what he was doing as well.

It's a very simple thing—Brey is warning.

However, the silver-colored creature's malice intensified afterward, indicating that the warning had been completely ineffective.

"Time to go home, kid." Bray twirled his sword for the first time in a long while before sheathing it.

Why bother with sword flourishes? It's like trying to figure out combo counts even when you could easily beat the game—there's no reason why.

"Understood." Luo Shiqi nodded and used his small body to carry the immobile scavenger.

He didn't just stand by and do nothing because he was only a thirteen-year-old child.

Bray stared at the defiant Luo Shiqi without saying a word.

He didn't intend to help or praise him; he simply put his hands in his pockets silently.

He looks like a complete jerk who bosses kids around.

With his fierce eyes, tattered clothes, and tattoos, people would believe he was a bastard.

Well, Bray was already used to being misunderstood.

His boots left consistent footprints in the sand as he led the way.

"Lord Bray, are we just going to leave this monster like this?" After taking a few steps, Luo Shiqi looked at the monster's corpse behind him with some unease.

He had also witnessed the scene where the deformed monster was split open and then pulled out.

If we just leave it like this, won't the monster just revive on the spot?

In this era, Luo Shiqi would believe that monsters could resurrect on the spot, or even become more terrifying after resurrection.

“He’s completely dead, just let him rot on his own,” Bray said casually.