43: Let's gamble with our lives at stake

“Ugh…”

Damn it, it stinks so much, and I can't see what's happening on the shore.

However, it was precisely this strong stench that masked Kajiya Itten's scent, preventing the monster from tracking him.

It didn't jump down after him, did it?

Kajiya Itten carefully swam in the sewage, following the direction of the flow, while listening intently for any movement on the shore.

Tap, tap…

Footsteps?

It seems he hasn't discovered his position, is he hesitating up there whether to jump down?

Haha, a monster is just a monster, is its intelligence really only at the level of a Cockroach Monster?

Just like this, he put all his effort into creating distance by following the sewage flow.

Kajiya Itten swam a long distance in one go.

Only then did he cautiously surface, wanting to catch his breath.

Unexpectedly, just as he poked his head out of the water, wiped the sewage from his goggles, and regained his vision, he saw it.

The Cockroach Monster on the shore was staring at him with its disgusting fly-like eyes.

It was only a few meters away from him.

This is impossible!

His plan failed!

This guy could determine his position from the very beginning; he was just secretly following him, waiting for him to surface.

Those antennae!

Kajiya Itten noticed that the pair of antennae on the Cockroach Monster's head were twitching at a speed imperceptible to the naked eye, sensing its surroundings.

At a glance, the form of the antennae was invisible.

He could only see a pair of constantly twitching phantoms above its head.

There's nothing he can do!

Kajiya Itten looked at the Cockroach Monster, so close at hand. At this distance, with this monster's speed, he only needed to wave his claw to easily crush his head.

He was going to die!

Seeing the monster about to raise its claw, Kajiya Itten's mind raced.

“Wait a minute!”

Kajiya Itten suddenly straightened up, crossed his arms, and looked directly at the Cockroach Monster.

“If you kill me just like that, won’t you find it too boring?!”

Kajiya Itten was certain that this monster's intelligence level was not low.

He had clearly been able to determine his position all along, yet he hadn't actively attacked him while he was in the sewage.

It seemed it really wanted to see him struggling while hiding in the sewage.

Perhaps, it found it quite amusing.

What could be more satisfying than the guy who had been arrogant all along suddenly speaking such submissive words!

As expected, upon hearing Kajiya Itten's words, the Cockroach Monster actually stopped, seemingly wanting to hear what he had to say.

This bastard of a wicked Cockroach Monster!

“What… do… you… want… to… say?”

It spoke!

This monster spoke!

Without a doubt, what he just heard was human language!

He hadn't expected its intelligence level to be this high.

Kajiya Itten calmed his inner horror and crawled out of the sewage onto the shore.

However, it was precisely this monster's intelligence level that saved him.

If it were a monster with a lower intelligence level, his neck would probably have been twisted by now, and his corpse would have sunk into the filthy sewage.

That certainly wasn't a pleasant way to die.

“It stinks…”

Kajiya Itten shook off the sewage from his body and looked at the monster.

So… what did he want to say?

He had just blurted that out in a moment of desperation; he didn't even know what he wanted to say!

Damn it, every second he lived now was a bonus.

Kajiya Itten's mind raced, wanting to continue his bluff based on what he had just said.

“How about we play a game? The stake is my life!”

“Monster Lord, you probably haven't tried gambling with humans, have you?”

“After all, your power is already strong enough.”

“Don’t you want to try crushing a tiny human with the power of your wisdom and taking their life?!”

“This will also prove that besides your strength, your wisdom is also far above that of humans!”

Kajiya Itten was already sweating profusely.

My mouth, my entire life is riding on you, don't let me down!

With his arms crossed, he spoke while pulling open the protection around his neck.

“Of course, you can also just kill me directly like this.”

“After all, I could be killed by your immense power at any moment, so forgoing the chance to crush me with your wisdom is also a kind of prudent wisdom.”

Swish!

As Kajiya Itten's words fell, the air in front of him was suddenly cut.

The incredibly fast claw blade was imperceptible to the naked eye, instantly resting against Kajiya Itten's exposed neck.

At this moment, with just a slight exertion of force from the monster's finger, that sharp claw would easily cut through Kajiya Itten's artery, taking his life.

Kajiya Itten couldn't help but swallow.

His legs felt a little weak.

However, the monster made no further movement, stopping in that position, unmoving.

Kajiya Itten instantly understood: this guy had fallen for his trick!

“How… do… you… want… to… gamble?”

Kajiya Itten, relieved, heard the Cockroach Monster's voice sound again.

So… how do we gamble?!

How the hell should I know how to gamble? I was just thinking about living for one more second, just making things up!

That stinky woman, did she send reinforcements or not?!

Kajiya Itten held up three fingers, pointing them at the monster.

“Since Monster Lord you wish to determine the victor through the power of wisdom…”

“Then…”

“You count down three minutes, give me three minutes to hide, and then you come find me.”

“How about it?”

First, stabilize this monster, use three minutes to escape as far as possible!

“One minute.”

The monster held out a finger, giving Kajiya Itten no chance to question or negotiate.

Kajiya Itten was about to open his mouth to try and stall further, but unexpectedly, the monster had already started counting down.

“59, 58…”

Damn it, this stinky Cockroach Monster!

Kajiya Itten had no doubt that the moment the countdown ended, this stinky Cockroach Monster would definitely smash his head with a claw.

He was simply treating this as a game, a form of entertainment.

What it wanted to see was him struggling bit by bit, dying in panic and fear.

Whew…

Kajiya Itten quickly turned and started running.

As he ran, he constantly paid attention to avoiding the moss on the ground.

Earlier, Chen Xuan had been trapped by the moss on the ground, unable to move.

“50, 39…”

Bastard, did that countdown just skip ten seconds?!

This stinky Cockroach Monster!

Is it intentional? Does it want to see me panicking?

Kajiya Itten dared not look back and waste time, running desperately.

At the same time, he took off all weapons and weights that could be removed from his body.

“32, 31…”

A corner appeared ahead.

Kajiya Itten quickly rushed into the corner and finally found a manhole cover and a wall ladder leading to the ground.

“19, 18…”

Another ten seconds skipped, you bastard Cockroach Monster!

Kajiya Itten gripped the wall and climbed up without hesitation.

By the time he reached the top, the Cockroach Monster had already begun the final ten-second countdown.

“Top, top…”

“Why is it so tight?”

Kajiya Itten pushed with his hand, but the manhole cover wouldn't budge.

He could only climb two more steps, bracing the manhole cover with his broad shoulders.

Then, using his legs, waist, and full body strength, he controlled his shoulders to repeatedly ram the sewer cover.

“Clang, clang, clang!”

With each impact, the sewer cover became looser and looser.

Until the last impact, the heavy sewer cover was finally pushed open.

“5, 4…”

The bastard Cockroach Monster was still counting down.

I don't care how you count, I'm running first!

Kajiya Itten quickly climbed out of the sewer.