Chapter 116 – Armor-Shattering Storm

Volume 3: Rising Winds and Clouds

"Wen Yu, how much longer will it take?"

Kuangliu's voice came through the communicator yet again.

Unfortunately, Wen Yu did not have the answer.

"No idea!"

After those three blunt words, Wen Yu ended the call and turned to look at Xing, who was still eating flesh and Magic Crystals.

It was now beyond doubt: the energy consumed when a Divine Beast Species advanced was terrifyingly vast.

For three days after One-Eye's Promotion, Xing had done nothing but eat. One-Eye and Wen Yu supplied the flesh, while the Military had airlifted another two hundred Beast Attribute Magic Crystals to Wen Yu.

Yet only now was Xing beginning to show signs of advancing.

"This is ridiculous. If you don't advance soon, there won't be any flesh left for you in this Treasure Land…"

Over the past three days, the Military-no, it should now be called the Human Alliance-had brought the situation in the Outpost Treasure Land completely under control. Only a few Level 1 and Level 2 Cannon Fodder Bipedal Lizards remained around the Outpost.

That was the result of deliberations among the militaries of every country. They intended to use these low-level Bipedal Lizards to farm Points, an idea inspired by Faceless.

With that arrangement in place, the Military was ready to pursue its second strategic objective: seizing the Demon Qi Shield Generator inside Demon City.

Wen Yu had delayed the operation, however, using Xing's need to advance as his excuse.

In the distance, One-Eye came trotting over with a Level 3 Bipedal Lizard in his jaws.

Even One-Eye had been forced to travel an unknown distance before finding it.

That alone showed the battle had already been decided.

…

Several more hours passed in the blink of an eye.

Xing's eating slowed more and more. At the same time, his enormous body began swaying, and even his consciousness seemed hazy.

"Hey! What's wrong? Are you feeling sick somewhere?"

Xing answered with a weak mental wave.

"Don't know… sleepy…"

The moment he finished, Xing toppled to the ground and began snoring loudly.

"Hah."

Wen Yu let out a heavy breath and carefully examined Xing's body.

The scales covering Xing slowly lost their luster. When Wen Yu touched him, his body felt like a giant furnace radiating astonishing heat. Even the scales that had once been hard as steel were growing softer.

Wen Yu tugged gently, and a scale came away in his hand. It was dull and lifeless, and its root was no longer connected to skin or flesh, as though it had fallen off naturally.

Before Wen Yu could do anything else, Xing's scales began clattering to the ground.

The sight tightened Wen Yu's chest. The Little Soul Beast on his shoulder began shrieking in panic.

"Waaah! Xing is dying… Boss, save him… Waaah! Xing is gone…"

Wen Yu ignored the Little Soul Beast's wails. He walked over to Xing and slowly observed his condition.

After the scales fell away, Xing's body grew hotter and hotter. From up close, Wen Yu could hear the violent pounding of Xing's heart and the faint cracking of his changing bones. New, even harder scales were already slowly pushing through his skin.

Only then did Wen Yu relax slightly. Xing's scales were being replaced just as they would be when a snake underwent Shed Skin. By the time his Promotion was complete, his body would once again be covered in scales as hard as armor.

Wen Yu soothed the Little Soul Beast. It took no small effort to explain that Xing was not "dead"; this was called Promotion. The Little Soul Beast immediately flew over to Xing, rammed itself against his body, then pressed itself firmly to his chest and listened intently to his heartbeat.

After a long while, the Little Soul Beast finally seemed to understand. It flew back to Wen Yu's shoulder.

"Master, when will we be able to advance?"

Wen Yu answered calmly.

"Soon. Once Xing finishes his Promotion, we'll advance."

Wen Yu had more than enough Points and Magic Crystals. All he needed to do was return to the Outpost, obtain some Dark Attribute Magic Crystals from the Military, raise the Little Soul Beast's Physical Attribute to Peak Level 4, and touch the Exchange Pillar. Then Wen Yu could begin his Class Change Mission immediately.

The Level 5 One-Eye sat quietly beside Wen Yu, silently standing guard over Xing. Soft whines occasionally escaped his throat. One-Eye was clearly worried about Xing's condition as well.

A Divine Beast Species required far more energy to advance than an ordinary Mutant Beast. Its Promotion took much longer, and even the physical transformations it underwent during the process were far more extensive.

Wen Yu silently took out several low-level Magic Crystals and fed them to One-Eye and the Little Soul Beast. Then he brought out some food and water for himself.

Behind him, Xing's aura grew stronger and more terrifying by the moment.

…

"Wow, the weather is so warm today."

Wen Yu had been dozing against Xing's body. When he heard the mental wave behind him, he leaped to his feet and turned to see Xing looking around. The haze of sleep still lingered in his eyes.

"How do you feel?"

Wen Yu smiled as he walked over.

"That was a wonderful nap."

Xing spoke with feeling as he stretched mightily.

His wingspan was nearly fifty meters. His body was roughly thirty meters long, and even his height approached twenty meters.

Standing so close to that enormous body made Wen Yu feel as though he were facing a small mountain. Xing's glossy black scales gleamed with a cold, forbidding light. Even his teeth, claws, and other "weapons" had grown longer and sharper.

Still…

Wen Yu slapped Xing's body heavily. The recoil made his palm go numb.

"I didn't ask how you slept. I asked how it feels to be Level 5…"

"Oh? Oh, right."

Xing moved around slightly, then nodded to Wen Yu. His enormous head rubbed against Wen Yu with such force that Wen Yu nearly staggered.

That told Wen Yu all he needed to know. Xing felt fine. He turned his attention to Xing's fifth Skill.

Armor-Shattering Storm (S-Rank, Active Ability): Shatters the scales covering the Host's body, sending them whirling rapidly around the Host to tear apart every living creature within range. The scales' attack power is determined by the Host's Physical Attribute. New scales grow rapidly after the old scales are launched, preventing any reduction in the Host's defensive power.

Wen Yu studied the new Skill carefully. After a long while, he spoke directly to Xing.

"Go farther away and test your new Skill."

At Wen Yu's command, Xing spread his wings, flew a thousand meters into the distance, and activated the Ability.

In an instant, countless black scales swept through the hundred-meter radius surrounding Xing like a storm of blades.