Chapter 134 Acid

Suddenly, as they walked, a Bloody Wolf burst from hiding and rammed into Suzuka, knocking her to the side. Three more of the vicious creatures emerged, joining the fray. Being a coward, startled and terrified, Hermit reacted instinctively, turning tail and scuttling deep into the forest. His scrawny tiny legs scuttled hastily as he raised his hands above his head in panic. Witnessing this, David saw an opportunity and swiftly gave chase, declaring, "Don't worry, I'll bring Hermit back. Leave him to me!"

Arin swiftly unsheathed his sword, taking a defensive stance at the rear, while Larry confronted the two wolves in front of him, shouting, "Damn it, someone, go after David and Hermit! He will kill the goblin!"

However, the wolves denied them the luxury of a strategic decision, launching themselves aggressively at the group.

 Suzuka, momentarily stunned by the sudden assault, quickly regained her composure and brushed off the dust from her armor, saying, "Phew! How did I miss you?" Yet, the wolf refused to grant her a moment to jest and swiped its claws at her.

She swiftly dodged the attack, skilfully evading it, and countered with a bone-shattering kick aimed at the monster's head. The powerful blow sent the creature sprawling to the ground, rendered unconscious. Larry turned his gaze towards her, his eyes filled with urgency, and spoke, "Helen! Go after David. Stop him if he tries to harm Hermit. We'll handle the wolves. Don't worry about us."

Suzuka, her voice tinged with worry, disagreed, "I won't leave you two to face danger alone, not for the sake of a goblin and David! Let's finish them off together and then pursue him." 

Larry, unwavering in his decision, insisted, "We'll be fine. Don't waste time. Hermit needs your help! Every second counts! Go!"

 After a brief hesitation, Suzuka relented and sprinted off to chase after David. However, before she departed, she utilized her gravity magic power, swiftly dispatching two wolves to ease their ongoing battle.

The little old goblin scurried across the ground through the forest, wet taping of his bare feet softly echoed across. His scrawny little old legs carried him slowly in a panicked frenzy. The scene of him running reminded that of a newborn baby scuttling on two legs with all of his might. 

His mind raced with fear, his eyes wide open, and his mouth gaping as he screamed, "Whaaaa! Whaaa!" 

David, however, was faster, closing in on him. 

"Where are you running, you little freak? There's no point in running! You know! I will catch you eventually."

As the goblin hurried through the lush and overgrown foliage of the forest, he tripped over a vine and tumbled to the ground. Before he could regain his footing, he felt something wrap around his ankle, yanking him backward. 

David caught up to Hermit and witnessed his frail body being dragged along the ground while the goblin squirmed desperately, trying to break free. His tiny little fingers tried to claw the vine in a desperate attempt but it didn't let go.

It was a beast-eating plant that had ensnared him, dragging the poor goblin toward its bud to finish him off. The goblin screeched and screamed in his native language, a horrifying sound reminiscent of a tortured bird. 

David walked beside Hermit as he was pulled closer to his demise, taunting him.

 "Hey! What's the matter, you little freak? Need a hand?"

The terrified goblin pleaded in sheer terror, "David, my master, please! Help me!"

 David relished the moment, a sinister satisfaction evident on his face as he looked down upon the goblin from above.

 "Oh, I like the sound of that, a master, huh? Then that would make you my slave, right?" 

Hermit, tears streaming from his eyes, responded, "Yes, master. I will do anything. I will be your slave. Please, master, show mercy."

David took his time, savoring the moment and displaying a smug demeanor in Hermit's presence.

 "Hmmm, I don't know," David pretended to consider, "I need to test you first, to see if you're truly willing to do anything I say." 

Hermit, still being dragged, desperately clawed at the ground but failed to free himself. David stepped on Hermit's hand, a sickening crack accompanying the breaking of his fingers beneath David's boot. Goblin screamed in pain as his fingers broke.

The beast-eating plant, unable to pull the goblin with a single vine, wrapped another around Hermit's leg, doubling the force of its pull. David increased his own pressure, preventing the plant from dragging the goblin closer.

Caught between two aggressors, Hermit's body was stretched, suspended in the air as he hung, his joints and spine producing sickening popping and cracking sounds under the strain. 

Hermit screamed, his pleas were desperate, "Wookyeeeh! Please, master! Help me! I will do anything!"

 David took pleasure in witnessing the goblin's agony, extending his other boot toward Hermit's face. 

"Here. If you kiss and lick my shoe, I will consider helping you."

Hermit's face contorted with fear and horror, tears streaming down his face as he trembled. With his elongated quivering tongue, he reluctantly licked the dirt off David's shoe and gently kissed his boot while whispering soothing words, complying with the humiliating act. 

David reveled in the overwhelming pleasure of having such a pathetic creature obeying his every command. However, his sadistic enjoyment was interrupted as another vine wriggled around Hermit's neck, yanking him away from David's boot. David fell onto his backside, chuckling menacingly as he watched the goblin being pulled toward the beast-eating plant, screeching and crying for help.

"Wraaaa! Wrhaaaa! Master! You said you would help!"

 David laughed malevolently, replying, "I never said I would help you. I said I would consider it. But after some quick thought, I've decided I'd rather watch you suffer. So, have fun making out with that beast-eating plant."

 The vines tightened around Hermit's neck, choking him and preventing him from screaming or speaking, leaving him gasping for breath. He desperately clawed at the vines with his free limb, only to have it captured and ensnared, wrapped tightly by the plant's grip. The pressure from the vines was unbearable, threatening to squeeze his insides out through his gaping mouth.

A few vines launched at David, but he quickly dispatched them with his sharp sword. He stood there, watching with sick pleasure as Hermit was strangled and crushed, a sinister grin of satisfaction on his face. He observed as the goblin's complexion slowly shifted from green to dark blue, his eyes bulging from their sockets, and his tongue hanging out. The voracious plant drew the helpless goblin into its acidic pouch, closing its bud. David observed the feeble movements of the goblin within the plant's innards, his last bit of strength futilely fighting against the dissolution within the acidic prison.

Suzuka heard David's laughter and rushed to his location. Bursting through the tall grass, she found David standing near the carnivorous plant, his laughter filled with menace. She scanned her surroundings, but Hermit was nowhere to be found.

 Approaching David, she couldn't contain her frustration any longer and exclaimed, "What is wrong with you? Have you gone crazy or something? Why are you standing here, laughing like an idiot? Where has that damn goblin gone?"

David slowly turned his head toward Suzuka, still giggling, and finally responded, "Me? Me going crazy? I'm not crazy. It's you people who are crazy. How can't you understand a simple thing? He is a monster, A MONSTER! A goblin! They are killers and disgusting rapists. They kidnap little girls and turn them into breeding tools. Are you willing to risk your life to protect freaks like them?"

Suzuka cared little for his reasoning. She held her own opinion on the matter, unswayed by David's words. With a bored tone, she said, "You're just jealous that goblins have better dicks than you and more game with girls. Stop with your pointless chatter and tell me where he is."

Hearing the blunt truth from Suzuka's mouth infuriated David. He stepped forward aggressively, his voice laced with aggression, and warned, "Watch your mouth, woman! Or else..."

Unfazed by his threats, Suzuka swiftly backhanded David and spoke honestly, "Or else what?! You, out of all the people I've met, are the worst. What exactly do you think you'll do? Let me tell you what will you do. You'll run back to Larry like the obedient little boy you are and apologize. But before that, you will tell me where that damn goblin is. And let me remind you, there's no one around here to save you. I'm the only one here right now, so anything could happen to you. And trust me, my patience has run dry. So if you don't want me to feed you to that Beast... eating... plant. Wait, did you let that plant eat Hermit?"

A sudden realization hit her like a brick to the face.

 "Oh, you son of a bitch. We were so close to finishing the quest." 

Without any moment to waste she ripped apart the carnivorous plant and Hermit fell out of its acidic pouch. 

His naked body tumbled out of the carnivorous plant's acidic pouch. He lay in a puddle of acid in the mud, revealing the effects of the corrosive substance that had burned away his flesh. The acid had left its mark on his skin, which appeared discolored, blistered, and ravaged by the acidic liquid. Darkened patches of charred tissue marred his face, hinting at the excruciating pain he had endured.

His limbs bore the signs of the acid's cruel assault. The flesh had been eaten away, revealing raw, exposed muscle tissue and bone in some areas. Deep, jagged wounds crisscrossed his body left by the vines, evidence of the plant's desperate attempts to hold him captive within its acidic grip.

The acrid smell of burnt flesh filled the air, a lingering reminder of the intense agony Hermit had endured. Despite the gruesome injuries he had sustained, a flicker of resilience still burned in his eyes, a testament to his enduring spirit amidst the horrors he had faced.

David didn't wait to see her reaction and bolted as fast as he could toward where Larry and Arin were. Suzuka noticed that Hermit was still clinging to life, desperately writhing in the muddy acid puddle, extending his melted hand toward her as his melted flesh dripped off his bones.