Just Became a Vampire, I Clinged to Life by Grinding Health

Chapter 8: Breeding Mantis Shrimp! Using Me as a Gun? You're All My Experience Babies!

"Culmination of Sin?"

Deep within Veridian's eyes, a cluster of crimson flames exploded violently.

"Can it double the power?"

The man named Gribbeh behind the wall keenly detected the subtle changes in the Veridian aura, as if grasping a lifeline, his tone instantly becoming fervent and fawning.

"Yes, sir! Absolutely! The 'Butcher' U-bone is a madman, he can stew the wailing souls and flesh of sinners into a paste-like 'essence'!"

"Only a small piece can spawn a monster! His ten years of accumulation are enough to make you the king of the entire underworld!"

The man's voice was full of temptation.

However, the fervor on Veridian's face instantly cooled, turning into an impenetrable indifference.

His experience in the previous life, being treated like a dog by the client, told him that the bigger the promise, the deeper the trap.

He no longer paid attention to the noise behind the wall, but like a gecko, silently adhered to the cold, damp stone wall.

Ears pressed against the stone.

【Ding! You are focusing on listening, passive skill [Advanced Hearing] proficiency +1……】

Under the effect of extraordinary hearing, the barrier of the walls is reduced to the minimum.

He heard.

Two heartbeats.

A woman's, hurried and disordered, yet containing a faint but resilient rhythm, like a candle in the wind, stubbornly unextinguished.

Another one belongs to Grib, restless and greedy, and, with a non-human, viscous quality.

Veridian could even hear from that heartbeat a disgusting "rustling" sound of mycelia moving within the flesh and blood.

Lie.

A cold, mocking arc slowly curled Veridian's lips.

What "Spore Guardians," the guy himself is a monster.

A perpetrator, a victim.

Lock them together, and like an alchemical reaction, it could continuously generate the most efficient "evil."

A clever move, killing two birds with one stone.

This "butcher" Ugu, whom I've never met, is actually quite an efficient person.

However, now...

Veridian slowly opened his eyes, and the world before him was already different.

The two people behind the wall were no longer "prisoners" or "intelligence sources" in his eyes.

They were "resources."

Resources that produce "blood of sin" and "skill points," perfect "experience babies."

Save them out?

No.

The corner of Veridian's mouth curled into a smile that was utterly joyful yet chillingly cold.

Why save them?

This "slaughterer's" Ugu, who had gone to great lengths to create the "First Slaughter Pool," was practically tailor-made for him, the Surviving King, as the perfect "seclusion and cultivation sanctuary!"

What he wanted, was not redemption.

What he wanted was—takeover!

"Hey, mushroom face behind the wall."

Veridian stood up straight, his voice regaining the elegance and indifference of a high-ranking vampire, "Your intelligence has aroused a trace of interest in me." "

"My lord! Are you willing to save me? "Gribb's voice was full of ecstasy.

"Save you?" Veridian chuckled, his laughter laced with unmistakable contempt, "No, I’m here to give you a chance, a chance to prove you still have a little use left to you."

He walked to the center of the cell, kicked open a rotten wooden box with a foot, and pulled out a rusty iron chain.

"Listen, on the other side of the wall, there’s another ‘butcher’s’ guard dog."

Veridian's voice, like the whisper of a devil, clearly reached the two behind the wall.

"Wait, I'll open this door."

"You, and that guard dog, whoever can bring the other's head to me, will become my humble servant, guiding me to the 'Butcher's' den."

"As for the other, they will be the first meal for my servants."

"Now..."

Veridian's gaze swept over the mercenary corpse he had just drained, and a more perfect "ant farm" plan instantly took shape in his mind.

He dragged the dried corpse to the alchemist gate and then slowly raised the hunter's crossbow in his hand.

Whoosh!

The bolt accurately pierced the heart of the dried corpse, driving it firmly into the gate.

"Game, start!"

The moment the words left his lips, he violently pulled down the control lever!

"Click—KRRRRR—!!!"

With an ear-shattering roar, the thick stone wall separating the two cells slowly rose!

The ecstasy on Grib's face froze instantly.

What he saw was not the dawn of freedom, but the body of a companion nailed to the door and dying miserably! And behind the corpse, the pale nobleman standing in the shadows, holding a blood-dripping crossbow and a demonic smile on his face!

And beside Grib, the woman he had always treated as a toy, was now staring at him coldly with the gaze of someone looking at a corpse.

"Hoo!"

Grib instantly understood Veridian's intention. This was to make them fight each other!

He let out a beastly roar, and the mushrooms on half of his face suddenly exploded, spewing out a large mist of colorful spores and rushing towards the woman

He wanted to deal with the weakest one first, then think about how to deal with the demon outside the door!

However, in the face of the deadly poisonous mist, instead of dodging, the woman let out an extremely terrible scream!

"Ah——!!!"

The invisible sound waves spread instantly,and actually blew those poisonous mists backwards!

Grib was driven back by the toxic fog he inhaled, his eyes filled with disbelief.

This "feed" that he had tortured countless times still hides this power!

It is now!

The data flow in Veridian's eyes flashed wildly, and the crossbow in his hand was raised again.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Three crossbow arrows formed a triangle, tearing through the air, not aimed at any person, but precisely striking the ground beside them, splashing up three droplets of water!

This is a warning!

It is also a prompt!

Grib and the woman jolted simultaneously, instantly understanding the true rule of this "game"—performance!

It must be with the most brutal, most bloody battle, to please the demon outside the door!

"Scum! I'll tear you apart!"

Grib went utterly mad, his mycelia growing wildly on his body, like a humanoid monster, and charged at her again!

A glimmer of determination flashed in the woman's eyes as she picked up a stone from the ground and charged forward fearlessly!

For a moment, within the cramped cell, the muffled thuds of fists hitting flesh, the wailing screams, and the beast-like roars intertwined into the most primal and bloody symphony!

Veridian watched all this with an expressionless face, as data refreshed like a waterfall on the dark blue panel before him!

[Warning! High concentration of "evil" is detected!]

【Sin Type: Cruelty (Level 5), Hate (Level 5), Harm (Level 6) …】

【Warning: This place has been long tainted by 'sin', you are currently in 'sin radiation', all skill proficiency acquisition speed +20%!】

Veridian greedily breathed in the rich aroma of 'sin' in the air.

This feeling, it's too wonderful!

The battle was soon decided.

The woman, ultimately exhausted, was knocked to the ground by Grib with a punch to the chest. She flew backwards, hitting the wall and spitting out a mouthful of blood.

Grib grinned, stepping closer, ready to take her head, in exchange for a chance at survival.

Just as his hand was about to touch the woman's neck.

Whoosh—!

A sharp whistling sound suddenly rang out!

An arrow, like a venomous snake, accurately pierced the wrist of Grib's high-raised right hand!

"Ah!"

Grib let out a scream of agony, staring in disbelief at the door.

Veridian slowly stepped out of the shadows, a faint, icy smile playing on his face.

"Sorry, your performance, too dull."

"Now, let's change the script."

He looked at the woman lying on the ground, barely breathing, then at Griph, covering his wrist with wide eyes filled with fear.

"He's yours."

Veridian's words made Grib pause.

And the woman who fell to the ground, her eyes instantly burst out with an unparalleled light, she looked at Grib, and a hideous smile mixed with relief and revenge appeared on her face.

The next second, she used up all her remaining strength, lunged forward, opened her mouth, and bit Grib's throat fiercely!

Grigori didn't even have time to scream as life drained away rapidly in violent convulsions.

[Ding! Your "Insect Taming" plan has succeeded, target has been lured to complete a kill, [Mental] permanently +0.1, [Planning] skill has been unlocked!]

Veridian nodded with satisfaction.

This is the maximization of profit.

He stepped closer to the woman, covered in blood, lying on the corpse and gasping for breath.

He was about to fulfill his "promise"—to make the victor his servant.

However, just as he drew near.

The woman slowly lifted her head.

Her face was covered in grimy, mycelium-infused blood, her eyes shining terrifyingly in the darkness.

She looked at Verdian, her mouth splitting open in a strange, eerie smile that sent a chill down one's spine.

Her voice was hoarse to an extreme, yet laced with a hint of innocent curiosity as she asked softly:

"Are you here to eat the 'buffet' too?"