Chapter 14 — Changes in the World
"Fall back!"
Shinji quickly pulled Hidan back, creating some distance, then without a word, slapped him twice to wake him up!
In just that brief moment of distraction, the two of them had unknowingly moved several meters forward.
Hidan, dazed from the slaps, didn't even have time to get mad before the scene before him made him freeze in shock!
That strange fragrance—whatever its magic was—had actually attracted all the nearby livestock.
Then they both saw the eerie black hair surge out from the well again, swiftly and precisely wrapping itself around the chickens, ducks, pigs, and dogs that had been drawn in.
Without the scent stimulating them, the animals panicked and struggled.
But it was too late. Their efforts were useless—they soon went completely still.
After a while, the strange black hair slowly retreated back into the well.
And Shinji wasn't sure if it was his imagination, but it seemed the hair had become shinier and more resilient than before.
As for the unfortunate livestock, they looked as if all their moisture had been sucked out, reduced to shriveled, desiccated corpses—their death terrifying to behold.
This scene shocked both Shinji and Hidan to their core.
"By the gods above… this thing actually eats?" Hidan almost shouted.
Shinji's expression turned serious as well, realizing that the thing he'd unearthed while treasure hunting might be a real menace.
Moreover…
"Do you smell that? That weird fragrance is back."
Hidan froze for a moment, then touched the side of his face that had just been slapped, incredulous. "This scent… it's used to lure prey? What the hell is this thing?"
Thinking back to how close he had been to falling into its trap, Hidan's face darkened.
If that thing had gotten a hold of him, there was no telling whether he could've escaped.
And in the worst-case scenario… he might have been 'eaten' for a long time!
Just imagining it was terrifying.
"While this thing can only move within this area, we should get out of here," Hidan suggested.
If it were a person—or even a god—Hidan wouldn't be afraid.
But facing this… thing, he had no desire to fight it to the death.
There was absolutely no need!
Shinji agreed with Hidan, but…
In the night, faint figures suddenly appeared nearby.
They were all villagers, clearly drawn in by the well's strange scent, and they had lost all sense of reason!
If Shinji and Hidan just left, no one in the village would survive.
Shinji didn't consider himself a good man, and he rarely interfered in others' affairs.
But leaving the chaos he caused behind—letting a bunch of ordinary people die—was something he couldn't allow.
That would be playing a scoundrel!
Besides, leaving now would feel unsatisfying.
Sure, he had dug up a 'monster' instead of treasure, but who could guarantee this 'monster' wasn't a 'treasure' in disguise?
And besides, hunting monsters (or tailed beasts) for loot (or jinchūriki) has been done since ancient times.
If he didn't at least try, Shinji would regret it.
So he calmly asked, "Scared?"
Hidan straightened his neck and shot back, "Huh? Me? Scared? Who's scared of who! Who do you think you're talking to?"
"All right, then you go first. I'll deal with the villagers around us."
"What do you mean, 'all right'?"
Hidan panicked for a moment, then noticing Shinji's odd look, quickly backpedaled: "I mean… these villagers can serve as bait, drawing the monster's attention while we act."
Shinji shook his head. "No. Didn't you notice? After feeding, that thing obviously changed.
"Before, it was already tough enough with its strength and numbers. If it eats all of them, are you sure we can still handle it?"
Hidan had to admit he had a point, though he wouldn't say it. He grunted. "Then why don't you go first? I'll deal with the villagers."
"I can take them all out quickly and efficiently so they don't get in the way. Can you?"
"What's the problem? Worst case, I just kill them all—sacrifice them to the Dark God!"
Shinji gave him a look like he was staring at an idiot. "By the time you're done, it'll be too late. Honestly, you're just scared, aren't you?"
"Idiot! Hidan has never known the meaning of fear! Watch carefully and see how I tear that thing to pieces!"
Fuming, Hidan pulled two kunai from his pocket and marched toward the dry well, muttering curses.
Meanwhile, Shinji focused on the real work.
He casually grabbed a kunai, cut his wrist, and forcefully flung it forward.
A stream of blood floated in front of him, quickly gathering into a sphere.
Pop! Pop!
Shinji shaped his right hand like a gun and fired several compressed blood bullets at the ground, adjusting their power.
Then the corner of his mouth curved into a small smile.
"Compared to being eaten, a mild concussion isn't much, right?"
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Activated by Shinji's spell, a series of blood bullets shot out from the sphere.
Some missed, but most struck the villagers squarely.
Nearly every struck villager rolled their eyes and collapsed unconscious.
Even if the well's fragrance was magical, it couldn't make them stand up again immediately.
This wasn't just a lure—it was complete control.
Clearly, the thing in the well wasn't that powerful.
Shinji, almost as if playing a shooting game, quickly 'sniped' all the zombies, preventing them from leaving the 'safe zone'.
Efficient and fast.
Meanwhile, the clever Hidan was doing…?
By some miracle, he actually use his brain!
He had dragged a large stone over and placed it on the well while the thing inside hadn't come out yet.
There was no way—ever, in this lifetime!
Hidan thought, I just sealed this thing below, problem solved.
"Done!"
He patted the dust from his hands, proud of himself, looking like a genius.
But why did his feet feel itchy?
Looking down, the strange black hair had already slipped through the gaps and grabbed his ankles!