Chapter 17: The Stinging Eel, A New Ability!

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Chapter 17: Stinging Eel, New Ability!

“This must be the refrigerated medical supplies storage,” Mo Cheng said, looking up at the worn-out door sign.

“You two stay outside and keep watch,” Mark said, pointing to Zhang Feng and another scavenger.

Since Luo Ke mentioned that there was still essence soil inside the medicine storage, it was best if Zhang Feng, who had sustained wounds, didn’t go in.

“Understood!” Zhang Feng answered, tightening the bandage wrapped around his finger. He felt deeply remorseful for his earlier mistake, silently scolding his usually reliable self for letting his guard down.

Several flares shot up, casting a dense, blood-red sun hanging in the air before them. The squirming tentacles swayed unsettlingly, causing a mental disturbance. Beneath them were thick, bizarre roots resembling the spinal ridges of a large creature, extending underground.

Though Luo Ke had warned them in advance, seeing it firsthand still made their legs tremble.

“As long as you’re not weakened, the essence soil won’t absorb the life source. Move steadily in formation,” Mark said, showing his leadership by shaking off his shock.

“How does Luo Ke know all this?” scavenger B couldn’t help but ask.

“Isn’t he a prophet? Prophets know everything,” scavenger C shrugged. “At first, I didn’t believe it, but facts keep proving me wrong. Maybe Luo Ke really is a savior sent by the heavens.”

“The heavens? Why not the Lord of Light and Shadow?” scavenger B replied.

Mo Cheng spat, “Come on! Ever since the Lord of Light and Shadow chose Charles, I’ve thought that ‘Lord of Light and Shadow’ was a load of nonsense.”

Everyone chuckled bitterly; this was a blind spot in their knowledge, probably only Luo Ke truly understood.

“Luo Ke is strong. Even if I wear a gravity suit, I’d only be an even match with him,” Mark suddenly said sincerely as they walked.

Mo Cheng and Fei Xue exchanged a glance. For the captain to admire someone was rare, especially since he was talking about wearing a gravity suit—if not wearing one, the captain would probably be crushed easily.

Soon, under the precise guidance of the robot Jianjian, the nine of them found the beta receptor blocker.

“So many medicines—did everyone in the old world have some disease?” Mo Cheng joked, staring at the refrigerated shelves like a library display.

Without the plot device 4068, their medicine retrieval went smoothly, even allowing them to take several extra boxes of precious drugs.

...

In the corridor, a humanoid black cocoon writhed on the ground, at first glance resembling a giant black maggot with a will of its own.

Faintly discernible, the essence soil covering Luo Ke struggled to break free but was repeatedly shredded into particles by the dozen terrifying bone claws.

In theory, Luo Ke could only devour dead or defenseless creatures and energy right now.

Living monsters would resist, turning Luo Ke’s body into a battleground. While devouring might succeed, there was a risk of injury to Luo Ke.

For example, now, the essence soil no longer fled but fought desperately, constantly changing shape to torment Luo Ke’s flesh.

One side crushed and collided.

The other split and devoured.

A brief stalemate of mutual exhaustion.

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The bone claws protruding from the abdomen grew more grotesque, extending from about thirty centimeters to over half a meter, resembling a mutated virus swelling. The claw tips emitted a black devouring energy, furiously tearing the essence soil apart.

The more the essence soil struggled, the more excited the devouring claws became!

Aside from the initial unbearable pain, Luo Ke gradually felt a bit bored.

The moment had come—now!

Sensing the essence soil’s rapid decline, Luo Ke’s bone blade suddenly trembled fiercely, slashing downward hard from within, ripping a large gash through the essence soil. He leapt out from inside, spinning midair and swinging the bone blade in a flurry of chops.

At this moment, the essence soil lost its former strange luster; the red dots vanished, the black fluid became lifeless, appearing dry and desiccated.

In the end, the remaining small clumps of essence soil stopped writhing and rotted into a pile of black residue.

With that, the essence soil was completely devoured.

+30

Evolution Points [100/300]

“New evolution data: Essence Soil 30–300.”

Goodness, it turned out that what he had devoured was just a juvenile essence soil. He wondered what one that granted 300 evolution points looked like.

“The essence soil in the medicine storage should grant over a hundred, right?” Luo Ke muttered but didn’t plan to go now. To be safe, he wanted to develop further before trying.

Although he often ogled beauties and looted corpses, deep down he was a cautious person!

“Sizzle... Luo Ke, Captain,” Jeff’s low, trembling voice came through the comms.

“What’s wrong?” Luo Ke and Mark asked simultaneously.

“Uh, something’s abnormal in the hall. There seems to be a huge creature moving underground,” Erika replied.

“We’ve got the medicine and are heading out. We’ll retreat immediately once we regroup!” Mark panted, probably running.

Luo Ke’s heart skipped a beat. “It should be a mutated membrane... a Bark Beast. Don’t alarm them. Keep calm and quietly retreat toward the exit.”

“Damn, a huge petrified pod just burst out from below, spraying bromine mist,” Jeff said in surprise.

“Huh? Why is it retracting?” Erika was puzzled.

“That’s the Bark Beast’s rear end!” Luo Ke shouted, then started running out too.

But the next moment, a barrage of gunfire erupted, fully awakening the deadly atmosphere of the company ruins.

“There are many subordinate species—stinging eels!” Erika’s voice fell, replaced by the furious Gatling gunfire from her weapon.

Luo Ke was incredibly fast, reaching the second floor of the hall in twenty seconds.

Just as he turned the corner, a blue-glowing bone spike shot toward him!

Cling—

The bone blade clashed with it, numbing his right arm, but the spike was cut in half and flew off.

A dozen meters away, a stinging eel quickly leapt, repositioning to shoot a second bone spike at Luo Ke.

The Bark Beast was still underground, but the stinging eels were everywhere. Jeff and Erika stood back to back near the first-floor exit corridor, firing their weapons full force to keep the path open.

Whoosh—

Another bone spike came flying.

Luo Ke focused all his attention, dashing forward. As the spike neared, he tilted his head slightly, letting the spike graze his ear.

A single strand of hair slowly drifted down.

The stinging eel, eyeing Luo Ke like a hungry wolf, instinctively stepped back, full of suspicion.

This human?

Something’s off!

Pfft—

Before it could shoot another spike, Luo Ke kicked it, sending it flying into the wall.

His terrifying bone blade instantly pierced the skin, then was withdrawn and thrust in again. The tiny reverse teeth at the blade’s tip shredded the stinging eel’s flesh inside.

Luo Ke pulled out and stabbed in again with all his might, finally bursting the core!

“Hiss—”

The eel howled, drooping its head in death.

The devouring claws sprang into action.

+18

Evolution Points [118/300]

“New evolution data: Stinging Eel 15–18.”

“Host has devoured stinging eel, awakened new ability—Devour Bone Arrow!”

Luo Ke had no time to rejoice or examine it further.

“Roar—”

Behind him came the rumble of collapsing stone, a terrifying, savage roar that shook heaven and earth.

(End of chapter)

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