Chapter 115 – The Future of Mutant Beasts

Volume 3: Rising Winds and Clouds

Fortunately, Mutant Creatures advanced quickly, and the process was not particularly dangerous.

In less than three minutes, One-Eye completed his Promotion.

The enormous reserves of energy he had absorbed beforehand rapidly transformed into nourishment for his body. Part of it fueled his growth in size, while the rest shaped his Level 5 Ability.

Bestial Awakening (A-Rank, Passive Ability): Awakens the wildest beast nature hidden in the deepest reaches of the Host's body, greatly enhancing the Host's close-quarters combat capabilities. The Host's melee attack power-equivalent to their Strength at the instant an attack is launched-is increased by 100 percent. The Host's attacks also gain a certain degree of defense-ignoring effect.

Wen Yu read the description carefully, then frowned as he considered how the Ability fit with all of One-Eye's existing Skills.

Life-And-Death Combat worked in tandem with the Flesh Tome. Those two S-Rank Skills had already determined One-Eye's fighting style: Berserk, relentless, and always charging forward.

Tyrannical Flame gave One-Eye additional means of attack.

Ferocious Strike would be his most frequently used single-target offensive Skill.

Viewed that way, the new Bestial Awakening Ability suited One-Eye's system fairly well. Its rank was good, and so was its practical value.

Wen Yu had already begun to think seriously about Skill combinations.

Two Skills that complemented each other were unquestionably stronger than two Skills of the same rank that had no connection at all.

He silently considered the matter.

"A Lone Wolf who doesn't fight as part of a team should, in theory, possess offense, defense, healing, and even curse removal and similar abilities. Only then could he handle every situation alone…"

At that thought, Wen Yu shook his head helplessly.

Being a Lone Wolf was not so easy after all.

Wen Yu, of course, was an exception.

The Soul Master Class guaranteed him a diverse array of Skills. Even if Wen Yu lacked a particular Skill himself, he could contract a Soul Pet that possessed the Ability he needed.

At that moment, a faint tremor beside him interrupted his thoughts.

…

"How do you feel, buddy?"

One-Eye had awakened and was trying to adapt to his vastly enlarged body. Wen Yu could not resist teasing him.

"Woof, woof… Awoo… Cough, cough…"

Strange sounds continued emerging from One-Eye's mouth, growing more varied until a halting voice finally came out.

"Feel… fantastic… Boss!"

The voice was low, with an indescribably strange pitch and timbre. Anyone who heard such a voice without warning would have broken out in goosebumps.

Wen Yu did not. All that remained in him was astonishment and shock.

"You can talk now?"

One-Eye lay on the ground, apparently still adjusting to the sudden change. At Wen Yu's question, his enormous dog head nodded.

Then a mental wave passed from One-Eye's mind.

"By altering the structure of our vocal cords. A Level 5 Mutant Beast has extremely fine control over its own body. We can imitate human voices, but it's troublesome. Doesn't feel useful…"

Wen Yu had no idea how to react.

Had One-Eye just given him a lesson?

Then another thought occurred to him.

As Mutant Beasts rose in level, their intelligence continued to increase. Now, high-level Mutant Beasts could even control their vocal cords.

It was difficult to imagine whether, one day, Mutant Beasts might learn to control their bones and muscle tissue and transform into human form. If that happened, what difference would remain between Mutant Beasts and humans?

Even if they found human aesthetics alien and disdained taking human form, their vastly increased intelligence might allow them to create social groups suited to their own species-or even establish a kingdom somewhere unknown.

They could research technology, develop their own culture, and create their own social systems and structures. They might also resent the fact that humans had ruled Earth for so long and attempt to challenge humanity's supremacy.

If that happened, could they truly still be called beasts? And how should their relationship with humanity be handled?

The complicated questions flashed through Wen Yu's mind, only to be expelled just as quickly.

Such matters could wait until the Earth Creatures had driven the Demon Realm away completely. Perhaps, when that time came, humanity would have to compete with the Mutant Beasts for the position of Earth's Overlord all over again.

And the process would unquestionably be extraordinarily difficult.

For now…

Wen Yu looked at One-Eye, who had risen to his feet. His nearly twenty-meter-tall body towered before Wen Yu like a mountain. His gray-black fur had become smoother and tougher. Although his Physical Attribute had not increased, the change in size brought about by his Promotion had undoubtedly raised his combat power considerably.

"For now, Mutant Beasts are not our enemies… right?"

The soft murmur left Wen Yu's lips, unheard by any living creature.

Xing was eating ravenously. One-Eye's Promotion had clearly spurred him on.

The Little Soul Beast bounced around on Wen Yu's shoulder, offering a running commentary on One-Eye's new appearance.

One-Eye was even more excited. His enormous body shook back and forth, making the ground thunder beneath his feet.

"Hah…"

Wen Yu breathed out gently and put the questions aside.

What became of the Mutant Beasts was a problem for the future. As long as Wen Yu grew strong enough-so strong that he had no reason to fear any living creature-what other people or other species did would not matter.

No matter what you become, you will still have to obey me.

That was the road Wen Yu intended to walk: the road to absolute strength.

He rolled his neck, stopped One-Eye from being quite so "lively," and ordered him to gather Bipedal Lizard flesh and Magic Crystals.

The flesh would be fed to Xing. The Magic Crystals would be stockpiled.

Wen Yu briefly checked the Level 4 Magic Crystals inside his Spatial Ring.

He had nearly a hundred Beast Attribute Magic Crystals left. He had traded with Kuangliu for all of them.

Over the past seven days, the Military had naturally airlifted supplies to the forces outside the Outpost.

After taking stock of his resources, Wen Yu looked at Xing, whose eating speed continued to rise. The expectation in his eyes grew stronger by the moment.

Xing was a Divine Beast Species and currently the strongest force under Wen Yu's command. Wen Yu could no longer wait to see how powerful Xing would become after advancing to Level 5.