Shen Xiu observed the Grinding Bug with composed leisure, his mind turning over the creature's inherent mystery and the surprises it might yet present. At the same time, he was studying how to retrieve the monstrous insect without damaging those "Light Element Crystal Orbs"!
Zhong Shenxiu was keenly aware that resorting to brute force would inevitably shatter the "Light Element Crystal Orbs," which would be an utter waste. After all, these orbs were valuable artifacts, and any effort should be made to preserve them intact.
Everyone else found Zhong Shenxiu's intense interest in this monster peculiar. Was he entirely unafraid?
Logically, any ordinary child encountering such a thing should be crying in terror, yet a smile played upon this boy's face. While everyone else struggled, a deafening shriek suddenly erupted from the monster's maw, shaking the ground so violently that the onlookers staggered, nearly falling.
Some of the more timid soldiers turned ashen-faced, trembling uncontrollably at the sound! Was this monster about to go berserk?
All eyes fixed warily on the creature, bewildered by the sudden roar, as it had been so docile moments before. Zhong Shenxiu paused, though not with the same degree of shock as the others.
He knew the creature had begun to struggle, attempting to break free of its restraint. However, the stronger it fought, the tighter the binding force from the magic array above became, and the more pain it endured!
(Naturally, pain caused it to cry out!) Through careful observation, Zhong Shenxiu noticed that as the black mist surged from the Grinding Bug, the light emanating from the "Light Element Crystal Orbs" intensified. The magic array seemed to act like a vacuum cleaner, instantly siphoning away the black vapor.
Oh? Zhong Shenxiu’s eyes brightened; he had finally conceived a solution!
“W-we should leave this place quickly…” “This… this monster is getting angry!” “…If we don’t go now, it will be too late!” The mercenaries descended into chaos, frantically urging retreat, yet daring not to move on their own. They knew the passage behind them was riddled with traps, and without the guidance of those faint lights, they would be instantly slain a few steps in!
At this moment, they had no recourse other than to rely on the "Ethereal Legion." Xia Luo and the others felt a pang of anxiety; this was their first encounter with something so terrifying, and they longed to depart if they could. However, they understood Zhong Shenxiu.
In his current state, he was clearly fascinated by the monster. Any persuasion now would be useless and likely counterproductive.
Their only course of action was to wait. The mercenaries were nearly driven mad, thinking, What time is this to be observing?
Looking at scenery would be one thing, but this is a monster that could kill us at any moment! Have these members of the "Ethereal Legion" all lost their minds?
What are they waiting for? Are they waiting for this beast to descend and devour us?
As the Grinding Bug’s cries continued, the mercenaries grew ever more tense, almost cursing aloud, but their lingering reason reminded them that such an act would only hasten their deaths! Just as everyone silently prayed for the monster not to unleash its fury, a scene that chilled them to the bone unfolded!
With a deafening CRACK, the Grinding Bug plummeted from the air, landing directly on the ground. A gust of wind mingled with dust swept toward them, forcing the onlookers to stumble back several paces before regaining their footing!
Whether stunned or simply too shocked to react to the sudden change, the monster lay motionless on the floor, scanning its surroundings. Zhong Shenxiu and Robin stood less than three meters from the creature.
The blast of wind and dust did not affect them at all, as an invisible barrier stood before them, deflecting everything outward! Zhong Shenxiu quietly scrutinized the Grinding Bug.
Without the restraint, he could distinctly sense the dark energy churning within the creature. Not bad!
Its power is decent! Zhong Shenxiu silently praised.
This Grinding Bug was the most formidable entity he had encountered yet, finally explaining why so many "Light Element Crystal Orbs" had been required. After a moment of silence, the monster suddenly threw its head back and let out a long, resonant cry.
This sound was distinctly different from the previous shriek; it seemed laced with the excitement and joy of newfound freedom! The sound lingered for a long time, as if it sought to vent all the accumulated rage pent up within its core through this single, prolonged cry!
Turning to the mercenaries, they stood frozen, like statues, their faces etched with utter despair, now awaiting the punishment of the demon! They truly wished they could smash Zhong Shenxiu and Robin to death right then.
If the two children hadn't lingered here, this monster wouldn't have fallen, and they wouldn't have to face it now. Now, it was too late; they were simply appetizers waiting to be consumed!
The Grinding Bug rotated its sinister eyes, which were the size of basketballs, and a steady stream of drool trickled from its maw, giving it the unmistakable appearance of salivating! Gazing at the huge teeth, comparable in size to their own bodies, Zhong Shenxiu and Robin remained where they were, unperturbed, showing no tension or fear at the monster's ill-tempered display!
While the Grinding Bug had earned Zhong Shenxiu’s approval regarding its strength, it did not possess the might to contend with him. Never mind Zhong Shenxiu; even Robin could effortlessly dispatch it with a mere pinky finger!
If we are talking about true monsters, Zhong Shenxiu and Robin were the undeniable article! Suddenly, the Grinding Bug violently spewed a cloud of black mist, instantly enveloping Zhong Shenxiu and Robin.
It then lunged forward with its jaws agape, seemingly intending to swallow them whole in one gulp! The onlookers gasped, and the mercenaries thought: It’s over for those two kids!
We told you to leave, but you wouldn't listen. Now you’ve not only sacrificed yourselves, but you’ve doomed us all!
Because of the black mist ejected by the monster, the crowd could not see what happened to Zhong Shenxiu and Robin. They only heard a muffled impact, followed by absolute silence!
The strength is adequate, but the mind is far too simple! Zhong Shenxiu thought to himself.
Judging by the fact that the Grinding Bug dared to attack him and Robin, the creature must possess negligible intelligence. Otherwise, it would know how utterly foolish its action was—it was essentially serving itself up for a beating!
As the black haze gradually dissipated, two small, indistinct figures could be discerned. Seeing these silhouettes, Angelia and the others visibly relaxed.
They had been deeply worried. Although they knew Zhong Shenxiu and Robin were powerful, this monster was clearly no pushover, and no one could guarantee the outcome of that single attack!
Now, seeing the two figures meant they hadn't been eaten, and it simultaneously proved that the monster was utterly incapable of harming Zhong Shenxiu and Robin! Therefore, Angelia and the others were no longer as anxious as they had been initially, knowing that Zhong Shenxiu and Robin were more than capable of handling this brute!
But it was entirely different for the soldiers. When they saw Zhong Shenxiu and Robin standing unharmed in their original spot, their eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets!
This… how is this possible? That attack was so swift; even someone with the power of a Sword God couldn't stand there so casually.
What exactly happened just now? How did they manage that?
Then, everyone's gaze shifted in unison to the Grinding Bug. Instantly, they were dumbfounded!
The monster's head was buried deep in the ground, motionless—it was impossible to tell if it was dead or alive! How could this be?
No one had imagined that the monster, which seemed invincible in their eyes, would end up in this state after a single exchange. If they hadn't witnessed it personally, they would never believe it to be true!
Did the monster miss its aim with that bite and embed its head in the earth instead? This notion was quickly dismissed, as such an action would imply the monster was utterly idiotic, making such an event impossible!
So, what caused this? Wait!
Several mercenaries shuddered simultaneously. They had realized something, and the thought struck them with overwhelming terror!
The scene before them was too familiar. They remembered clearly: the three monsters that had attacked them earlier had met the exact same fate—their heads driven into the ground!
Could it be that all of this was related to— They dared not contemplate the rest of the thought, their gazes now fixed upon Robin with profound dread! Just then, Robin suddenly extended a slender hand.
Five black chains instantly materialized from her fingertips, gripping the Grinding Bug tightly. With a slight flick of her wrist, the massive Grinding Bug was lifted over five meters into the air by the chains, then slammed down heavily!
BOOM! The entire ground subsided by over a meter!
The crowd ceased breathing. If their previous realization was mere speculation, Robin's display had just confirmed their suspicion was correct!
Heavens above, is she even human? The onlookers now realized that compared to the little monster that was Robin, the Grinding Bug was nothing more than a moving toy!
Alas, when a person achieves this level of power, words fail to describe them! Now, watching Robin torment the Grinding Bug was like watching an ant carry an elephant down the street—the sheer visual impact, the indescribable shock, had utterly annihilated the onlookers' sanity!
Poor Grinding Bug! It had only just regained its freedom, only to suffer this fresh abuse.
It was truly the unluckiest creature alive!