Valance Leech (Monster)

Valance Leech (Monster)
Kanji	帳蛭
Romaji	Tobari hiru
Other Names	Curtain Leech
Species Info
Class	Leech
Habitat	Ezrest
Diet	Blood
Size	Gigantic
Manga
Debut	Chapter 62

The Valance Leech Monster is a colossal version of a normal valance leech produced via forbidden magic.

Description

Like a normal-sized valance leech, the monster version is made up of many sticky tentacles, in a lattice or net-like shape, which it uses to feed on blood. However, the monster version is colossal in size, dwarfing even the tallest of buildings—with an appetite to match.

A valance leech tentacle mouth.

Each tentacle of the leech seems to possess a large mouth with multiple rows of sharp teeth. It uses its tentacles to attack animals and humans alike, feeding on their blood. A toxin in its saliva prevents the resulting wounds from scabbing over leading them to continuously bleed. This toxin also has a numbing effect. Compared to a normal valance leech, its victims are more likely to require blood transfusions to survive.

Like other kinds of leeches, this monster version seems to be vulnerable to both salt and fire.

History

While Engendale was imprisoned in Ezrest Castle, he drew forbidden magic on his cellmate's body and told him to reach his hand out of the window so they could escape. When the cellmate did so, a common valance leech hanging from the castle wall began attacking him. As the forbidden spell activated, it unexpectedly fused the leech and human together. The resulting monster—born of conjuring ink and blood—then exploded in size, breaking apart the prison walls, and allowing Engendale to escape.

Plot

The lattice-shaped monster initially sets its sights on a group of Wyrmherders and their dragons resting along a nearby beach. After attacking that group, the monster then descends upon the City of Ezrest, where the Silver Eve Procession is taking place. Coco narrowly escapes its attack after flying into the air to get a better look, but is able to deduce it is some form of leech, and thus vulnerable to fire and salt. Qifrey begins using his water magic to douse the creature with salty seawater, and Olruggio arrives on scene to lend his help with fire magic.

Tartah, a victim of the leech.

Back down on the ground, the Knights Moralis attempt to defend the fleeing crowds from the monster's attacks and clear routes to escape. However, Tartah is wounded before he can make it to safety. He is quickly transferred to the Western Spire where they are equipped to administer blood transfusions to the mounting number of victims.

Elsewhere in the city, King Deanreldy also quickly determines the monster must be a leech based on the way its victims medically present: with wounds that cannot be stanched, yet no apparent pain.

TBC...

Trivia

• While the valance leech's Japanese name, 帳蛭 (tobari hiru), literally translates as "curtain" (tobari) and "leech" (hiru), the component character 帳 carries the additional meaning of "notebook," as in 手帳 (techou).
• The official K-MANGA online English translation called this creature a curtain leech.