"You were too late, Connors," Mr. Klein whispered.
Professor Connors, who had just left Mr. Klein's house, had actually felt an urge to prey on Mr. Klein while standing next to him. However, he didn't think much of it, assuming it was just a side effect of being the Lizard.
"Can I not go back to normal?" Professor Connors tightly clenched the formula notebook in his hand; his right arm had disappeared again.
He was truly destitute now, unable to return home for fear that Norman had people waiting to intercept him there. Even though he knew Norman was missing, he dared not relax his guard; caution was paramount. When hungry, he rummaged through trash heaps; when thirsty, he drank from park fountains; when tired, he dealt with a night in a street garbage pile.
Because of the commotion he caused as the Lizard, he felt extremely guilty and dared not show himself in public. He had thought long and hard before finally deciding to seek out Mr. Klein. He couldn't let his friend Mr. Klein follow his tragic path.
"Hey! Buddy, don't you know this is my spot?" a tall homeless man kicked Connors, who was lying in a cardboard box.
Professor Connors immediately reacted, clutching his abdomen in pain. "Sorry... I... I'll leave right away..."
He stood up trembling, wanting to leave, but the homeless man blocked his way.
"What do you want?" Professor Connors asked.
"Where are you from?" the homeless man asked.
Professor Connors glared at the homeless man, didn't answer, and tried to walk around him.
But the homeless man had no intention of letting Connors go. He grabbed Connors' empty sleeve. "Buddy, I take back what I said before. I think we can cooperate."
"Cooperate?" Professor Connors didn't know what trick this homeless man was pulling.
The homeless man explained, "Looking like a cripple, you can go beg on the street. The money you get will be much more than mine." The homeless man was quite tall, so no one would believe he was truly homeless; they would assume he was a fraud. Connors was different. First, his disability could evoke sympathy, and combined with his frail figure, he would surely collect a good amount of money.
"I refuse, sorry." Professor Connors would not allow himself to do such a thing.
The homeless man continued, "Don't rush. If you beg, I can protect you. Look at your scrawny body; you'll definitely get robbed. But I'm different. I'll cover you."
"I refuse." Professor Connors still refused. He couldn't possibly beg.
"Buddy, you better not be like this. My temper isn't very good," the homeless man grabbed Connors' collar, pulling him close.
Professor Connors' breathing became shallow, but he immediately checked his anger, speaking calmly. "My temper isn't very good either. I hope you don't provoke me."
"Haha! What? Your temper isn't very good either?!" The homeless man punched Connors hard in the face.
Professor Connors fell to the ground in pain, touching his mouth with his left hand. Blood was already flowing there.
"I'll give you one more chance," the homeless man said, grabbing Connors' hair.
Professor Connors felt the transformation starting in his body. His chest began to heave rapidly, and his heart rate sped up.
"You can give me one more chance, but I think... you can't have it." After Professor Connors finished speaking, his entire body began to swell.
"No..." The homeless man backed away in terror but hit the wall.
The shadow on the wall began to change. The human figure morphed, and a tail grew out from behind it.
"Pathetic insect." The Lizard licked the corner of his mouth, single-handedly grabbed the homeless man's neck, and lifted him up.
"You... you're a monster!" The homeless man tried to pull off the Lizard's hand with his own hands, but how could his strength possibly match the Lizard's?
"Man in black, don't forget the sensitivity of my nose." The Lizard stopped talking and choked the homeless man to death.
The Lizard was surprised that he had reverted to this form so quickly. This was the result of his plan. He had tampered with the lizard serum; while it allowed him to turn back into Connors, he would transform back into the Lizard the moment Connors became angry.
"Let me find your family and friends now!" the Lizard laughed cruelly. He clearly remembered Silas's scent.
Clang!
A shuriken struck the Lizard's back, drawing a spark.
"Who?!" The Lizard hadn't expected someone to appear behind him—a man in black.
"You're not him!" The Lizard didn't smell any familiar scent on this man in black.
The newcomer was Little Black. There was no way Silas would leave the Lizard unattended; he had Shadowkhan ninjas constantly watching him.
Seeing Little Black remain silent, the Lizard felt unsure. If this man in black was anything like Silas, he wouldn't be able to win a fight. So, without a second thought, the Lizard turned and ran, leaping onto the wall and beginning to climb away.
How could Little Black let the Lizard escape? He chased after the Lizard, continuously throwing shuriken from behind to distract him.
Soon, the two, one chasing and one fleeing, arrived on a rooftop.
"You are really annoying!" The Lizard decided to stop running. This man in black was like a persistent adhesive that he couldn't shake off.
Seeing the Lizard stop running, Little Black prepared to assume an attacking posture, but Big Black suddenly emerged from the Shadow Realm. Big Black waved his hand at Little Black, indicating that he would take care of the Lizard. Then, he leaped up and kicked the Lizard. The Lizard responded by whipping his tail. Bang! Big Black dissolved into a black mist and disappeared.
"So, it was just a false display of power!" the Lizard yelled, embarrassed and furious that he had been tricked.
Little Black was highly annoyed. Big Black was too foolish. However, Little Black didn't want his Master to intervene.
Little Black formed hand seals. In an instant, his hands moved rapidly, leaving only a blur: Boar, Dog, Rooster, Monkey, Sheep.
Kuchiyose no Jutsu! (Summoning Technique!)
Little Black slammed his hands onto the ground. Suddenly! A huge black figure appeared behind Little Black—it was the massive Shadow Eater.
"What the heck is that thing!" The Lizard took a step back in disbelief.
The Shadow Eater licked its lips, opened its colossal maw, and threatened to swallow the Lizard whole. The Lizard quickly leaped away. The Shadow Eater missed, slamming hard into the ground. The immense force caused the building to collapse instantly.
Little Black quickly retreated into the Shadow Realm; this was a fight beyond his current level.
The Shadow Eater shook its body and continued to charge, snapping its jaws at the momentarily distracted Lizard.
"Oh no!"
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