The Worm-like creature twitched weakly, its long, slimy body barely responding. It was by far the least human-looking of the Shadow Beast. Its rough, segmented skin, long serpentine body, and sickly dark coloring made it look like something that had crawled straight out of a nightmare. Larry vaguely recalled its history.
During the battle with the Phantom Troupe, Worm had played a major role in attacking Uvogin. While he had technically managed to injure him, Uvogin had still overpowered him. One clean hit from Uvogin's Big Bang Impact had obliterated his body. Before dying, Worm had alerted the other Shadow Beast, calling for a full-scale attack.
That was the extent of his abilities. He was strong, but not strong enough. He had barely stood a chance against Uvogin. Against Larry? It wasn't even a contest. Larry had sensed him from the very beginning of the battle, and it didn't take much thought to figure out why he was here. If the Shadow Beast were involved, it had something to do with the Seven Deadly Sins.
The Shadow Beast Worm lay on the ground, his body battered and broken. His dark, slimy skin was covered in bruises and riddled with web-like fractures, blood oozing from the wounds left by the devastating impact.
***
Name: Worm
Strength: B-
Nen Type: Enhancement
Abilities: Capable of moving freely underground, significantly increasing his strength while fighting beneath the surface. His ability allows him to drag enemies into the soil, burying them alive with overwhelming force.
***
For a B-rank fighter, his strength wasn't bad. But now, curled up and wailing in pain, that strength was meaningless. Desperate to survive, Worm swallowed his agony and recounted everything he knew. He spoke quickly, his voice trembling, never once daring to meet Larry's gaze. The sheer power Larry had displayed was burned into his mind, an image of absolute dominance that crushed all thoughts of resistance.
The moment he felt those two suffocating auras earlier, he had understood—Larry wasn't just strong. He was unstoppable. A force beyond reason. A nightmare made real. Under Worm's hoarse confession, the pieces of the puzzle finally fell into place.
The Seven Deadly Sins had sent Greed and Gluttony to capture him alive, unable to ignore the deaths of Wrath and Envy. But why him, specifically? Why not Piyon or Satotz? Why bring him back alive?
Worm's information provided the answer. The Sins hadn't even considered that their comrades had been killed. They assumed someone weaker had picked off the group, and so they targeted what they believed was the "softest" prey first.
On top of that, at least one member of the Sins possessed the ability to control thoughts. Once they learned about Larry's unique ability to erase Nen, they had immediately set their sights on him. What caught Larry's attention, though, was the revelation that Pride—the leader of the Seven Deadly Sins—had struck a deal with the Ten Dons.
A partnership. And the subject of their collaboration?
The Shadow Beast Experiment. The Ten Dons were attempting to strengthen their subordinates through artificial means. They sought to enhance the Shadow Beast beyond their natural limits, creating something far more dangerous. At first, Pride had refused. But after Wrath and Envy died, he had changed his mind. Larry lowered his gaze, absorbing the information. 'Another butterfly effect.'
Killing Wrath and Envy had forced Pride's hand, leading to an alliance that otherwise might never have happened. If The Shadow Beast Experiment really progressed, the Phantom Troupe could end up facing a version of the Shadow Beast far stronger than what they originally encountered in Yorknew City. The image of Uvogin being dragged underground by a vastly improved Worm flashed through his mind, and for a moment, Larry felt amused by the idea.
It was an interesting thought. But realistically?
He doubted the experiment would reach that level before the Yorknew incident. At best, the Shadow Beast would see a slight power boost.
And Worm?
The supposed master of lurking and reconnaissance?
He had miscalculated. He thought he had been hidden, that he was an unnoticed observer. He had expected the battle to be one-sided and over in an instant.
In that regard, he was right. He just didn't realize who the one-sided slaughter was meant for. And his bad luck had only continued from there. The aftermath of Tyranitar and Dragonite's attacks had sent him flying out of the soil, leaving him completely exposed and helpless.
Now, with his body broken and blood pooling around him, Worm trembled as he finished his report. His widened eyes were filled with dread.
Would Larry let him live?
Or would he die here, buried alongside Greed and Gluttony?
Larry studied him for a moment, then sighed, a hint of irritation crossing his face. "What are you still doing here? Get lost."
Worm flinched.
"You're so damn ugly I feel uncomfortable just looking at you." Larry's voice, sharp with disdain, hit his ears like a heavenly decree.
For the first time in his life, Worm felt grateful for his repulsive appearance. This wasn't because Larry had a soft heart or was showing mercy. The truth was, Worm's experience points were worthless. Killing him was no different from squashing an insect—it wouldn't benefit Larry in the slightest. It wasn't even worth dirtying his Pokémon over.
Worm didn't need to be told twice. With what little strength he had left, he prepared to burrow into the ground. But just as he was about to disappear, Larry's voice rang out again. "Oh, and one more thing."
Worm froze.
"Make sure to pass a message to Pride. Tell him to bring more people next time. And they'd better be strong." Larry's tone dripped with absolute confidence, as if he were talking about nothing more than a minor inconvenience.
Worm didn't question it. He didn't even dare to. "Y-yes! I'll pass the message!!" Without wasting another second, he vanished into the ground, moving at full speed, as if something far more terrifying than death itself was chasing him.
Because in his mind, there was. As he tunneled deeper and deeper, Worm's thoughts raced wildly. 'The Seven Deadly Sins are finished. Larry is unbeatable.' For the first time, fear and awe intertwined inside him, feeding an overwhelming desire— A desire to become stronger.
Larry stared silently at the spot where Worm had vanished, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly. 'Why does it feel like I've turned into some kind of demon?' It seemed like everyone who met him ended up terrified, fleeing for their lives.
With the matter now resolved, Larry hopped onto Dragonite's back, eager to experience the thrill of soaring through the sky. Now, he had an air mount—Dragonite, and a land mount—Arcanine. All that was missing was a Pokémon for the sea, and his collection of mounts would be complete. Traveling anywhere would become effortless.