It took nearly a full minute before the massive waves inside the Giant Maw Worm's stomach finally began receding downward, revealing Lucian in his full form.
He was still hanging against the pulsating stomach wall.
His right hand tightly clutched onto the handle of the dagger embedded into the creature's tissue itself—with all his strength, while trying to grip the pulsating flesh with his other hand.
His nails tore into it hard enough to leave visible holes.
"Cough… Cough… akh!"
His violent, repeated coughing rang inside the enclosed space.
His hand felt like it was about to slip, making him grit his teeth as he tightened his hold further, even though the wound in his arm was getting worse by the second.
Still—
He refused to let go.
"Kha… agkhk…!"
Another gagging sound escaped him as he felt that the disgusting stomach fluid had entered through his mouth while he had been submerged earlier.
The taste alone was enough to make his stomach churn wildly.
