Our Family Has Fallen

At this moment, that guy finally reacted and wanted to break free, but how could it be that simple?

Like someone trapped in a swamp, the harder they struggle, the faster they sink. Within seconds, the head was dragged into the flesh, along with half of the body.

At this point, the back armor and spikes had lost effectiveness; the formless flesh was making it a part of itself.

The consequences of greed are bound to be borne by it alone.

Lance had no intention of intervening, because it was rare to understand the ecological environment of the Beast Lair and observe the interactions between the formless flesh and the Devourers.

Then he found an interesting aspect: the Devourer injects secretions into the prey, accelerating the dissolution of muscle tissue, even bones, continuing its effect even if released.

The most direct manifestation was that the place bitten by the Devourer just now dissolved into yellow turbid liquid, and these things flowed to the ground and then began to re-congeal into crystals.

The Devourer that was initially injured took advantage of the distraction of the formless flesh and started devouring the scattered crystals, visibly healing quickly and even starting to transform.

The flesh devoured earlier contained such powerful strength that it completed the catalysis, like a bug storing enough nutrients preparing to shed its shell.

The surface skin began to fold with the Devourer’s squirming, marking the start of layering.

Until the swelling body tore through dead skin, splitting a seam from the back, and quickly separated under the influence of clawed feet and mouthparts.

Perhaps the earlier process consumed too much nutrition, as the Devourer, though having completed its evolution, shrank and appeared a circle smaller than the previous giant Devourer.

Moreover, its back armor didn’t have that thickness and didn’t feel like armor.

The spikes were shorter, barely protruding.

Thus, it appeared there was still large room for improvement compared to its companions.

For Lance, finally witnessing the entire evolution process firsthand.

What surprised him even more was the next scene.

The thing, upon evolving, recklessly rushed forward to devour flesh, rapidly inflating like a balloon, and its seemingly fragile back armor hardened upon air contact.

Although Lance was prepared, the speed was beyond expectation.

Such devouring naturally threatened the flesh, transforming directly as a pig head emerged, biting fiercely.

This time, the defense shattered with no surprise, sharp teeth tearing through the Devourer’s back armor, ripping large chunks of flesh away.

Similarly, the bones swung and heavily smashed against it, the back armor’s fractures becoming more visible, even penetrating to show fluid seeping out.

This situation reminded Lance of a previous encounter, where a newly evolved creature rushed in, only to be killed by a Pigman.

Evolution just completed and turned into this, abstract for sure; it seems evolution changes mostly the body, not strengthening the brain, still purely relying on innate predatory instincts.

Lance hid on the side, watching both sides mutually devouring, in some sense, these two matched quite well.

Ultimately, the Devourer lost; the formless flesh’s massive physique had excessively abundant life force; eaten a few bites didn’t matter, but once caught in the flesh, the result was inevitable.

The last giant Devourer might be an old hand or sensed fear instinctively since out of four, it was the only survivor.

Instinctive fear refrained it from charging like its companions; instead, turning to flee.

This act seemed to enrage the formless flesh; its monstrous parts displayed heightened agitation, countless mouths emitted unsettling screams.

Like starving people willing to be beaten for food, but now with the food escaping, who could endure?

It’s a pity its expansion speed is too slow, not on the same level as the giant Devourer, only to watch it slip away.

This was when Lance made his move, after all, he needed to collect more materials.

The sound of the horn echoed; the creature barely struggled before Lance controlled it, forcing hibernation although commanding was impossible.

Collection complete, and upon inspection, the self-healing ability of this fellow was truly strong, earlier heavily wounded, but reaching here it almost recovered, seems to have devoured quite a lot of flesh earlier.

But what Lance didn’t expect was how quickly it broke free of control and swiftly fled.

Though allowed by Lance, its resistance had increased substantially; recalling its rapid evolution, these extraordinary creatures are truly absurd.

Yet pondering further, haven’t his own breakthroughs been somewhat like this?

Indeed the wonder of Extraordinary Power!

Otherwise, how did humans grow in this world facing such powerful extraordinary creatures and become dominant?

Witchers specialized in monster hunting were created like tools, their legacy ancient, surpassing even the Church.

However, one cannot overlook the cruel and bloody rituals under their pitiful success rate, things even Geralt was unwilling to mention again.

And at this moment, a commotion suddenly arose from the direction the giant Devourer disappeared, stirring Lance’s curiosity.