CHAPTER 319: DESPERATION TURNS TO SURVIVAL

After the monster’s creepy words ended, Leon didn’t even try to respond. It was futile, and he also needed to wait for his mana to recover and cross one thousand, so he could possibly escape. Before that threshold, attempting to open the dimensional portal wasn’t worth the risk.

But he was not given that chance.

SWOOOOSH!

In the next moment, the monster appeared directly in front of him—so fast it seemed to materialize from nothing.

With its large hand, it gripped Leon’s throat and lifted him up effortlessly, his feet dangling above the ground.

GHKK—!

A crushing heat radiated from the monster’s palm, the texture like molten stone—rough, unyielding.

Leon’s windpipe spasmed, each breath scraping his throat like rusted wire.

Leon struggled to breathe, his windpipe compressed under the crushing pressure. His hands clawed desperately at the monster’s arm, trying to pry it loose.

Ssssss... prick... prick...

But it wasn’t just suffocation. He also felt weakness spreading through his body like poison.

His veins pulsed with searing discomfort, as if tiny thorns were threading their way through his blood.

The prickling sensation in his neck told him everything—the monster was absorbing his blood directly through its palm.

A cold, numbing sensation slithered from his neck down to his fingertips.

If this goes on like this, it will all be over. I’ll die here.

Struggling, barely able to form words with his constricted throat, Leon forced out broken syllables before he would pass out from blood loss.

"I... have... more... of those... potions... you... just... drank..."

His voice was barely a rasp, each word costing him precious oxygen.

The monster only hummed in response, releasing ecstatic noises as it continued absorbing his blood. The sound was disturbing—pleasure mixed with hunger, satisfaction mixed with craving.

Mmmmm... ahhhhh... yesssss...

The sound was obscene—wet, indulgent, and echoing in the silence like a predator purring over fresh prey.

Leon’s skin crawled, his instincts recoiling in disgust and dread.

But it didn’t stop the draining process. Instead, it asked a question of its own, its voice curious and calculating.

"Why are you telling me this, strange human? You are going to die either way. What benefit does it give you? None. What if it’s some weird trap of yours—the kind you used to defeat my weaker form? I have already learned my lesson not to underestimate you, especially when your racial order is so high."

The laughter came again, darker this time.

"Hahaha! You can’t fool me."

One thing Leon was grateful for was that the rate at which his blood was being absorbed was not fast. Somewhat slow, actually, which meant it would take some time for this monster to fully drain him.

I’m lucky in this regard. It’s buying me time.

He considered himself fortunate in this horrible situation.

Struggling with broken words, he continued speaking. He’d also realized something crucial—the monster was not killing him outright, which meant this draining process would be prolonged. In the end, he would be dead and the monster would evolve, which was horrible... but he would have time to restore his mana easily.

But that wasn’t the only thing he needed. He also needed an opportunity—a single chance to act.

Leon made an excuse which was not entirely a lie, his words broken and barely intelligible while being choked.

"If... you... promise... me... you... won’t... harm... anyone... else... I... can... give... more... of... those... potions..."

The monster paused this time, actually considering the offer as this really sounded desperate, like a plea to him.

Its ancient consciousness weighed the options carefully. Having its race evolve after absorbing this higher being would truly be legendary—a transformation that would elevate it to unprecedented power.

However, those strange liquids contained enormous amounts of pure energy. If it acquired many more bottles, its plans to absorb this planet’s core would become feasible much sooner than anticipated.

I have been stuck on this miserable planet for nine hundred years. Unable to escape. Not even having enough energy to attempt absorbing the planet’s core.

The mana here was really scarce compared to its home world. It couldn’t even use its full strength—most of its power was devoted to healing injuries that were still not fully recovered. At this rate, it would need one hundred more years trapped on this rock.

But I found a gem in this pithole. However, the opportunity for those unbelievable potions can’t be missed.

It wasn’t certain if racial evolution would restore its soul injuries completely, but having more mana would definitely speed up the healing process dramatically.

I will return to my home planet and deal with those who made me suffer so much. They will pay for betraying me.

The needle-like appendages that had entered the strange human’s neck from its hand retracted. It removed its grip from his throat and let him stand on his feet in front of it.

But then it warned him, its voice carrying a genuine threat that made the air feel heavy.

"Don’t try anything funny, strange human. Or I will raze this entire planet to the ground."

Leon’s hand trembled as his feet touched solid ground, hearing this terrifying warning.

I don’t give a fuck about this planet at all.

The only person he truly cared about was Seraphine. But if this monster razed the planet, she would be caught in the crossfire and killed.

And Loriel... I don’t want her to die either.

After escaping—if he could escape—he would have to rescue them both quickly before this monster made good on its threat.

He answered while catching his ragged breath, his voice hoarse from being choked.

"I... won’t."

The monster replied with satisfaction.

Good. Now give me those potions. All of them.

Leon replied in a low voice, almost mumbling.

"It... will take... a little time... I need... to find them... within my storage... There are... so many items... in there..."

The monster’s green flaming eyes became noticeably brighter, suspicion flaring.

Hmmmm.

It did sound reasonable—a large inventory would require searching. But the monster was no fool. It gripped Leon by the throat once again, lifting him slightly off the ground.

"Strange human, don’t try to be funny. How come you took out two of those potions one after another earlier? How will you explain that? Don’t try to buy time. It won’t change anything. You are simply weak."

These words made Leon clench his teeth, but he had no word in return.