Evolution Begins with Elemental Domination

Several Iron-Eating Insects opened their serrated mandibles, which glinted with golden light, and flapped their wings, lunging forward with incredible speed.

The next second.

An invisible force of Telekinesis crushed them into dust, leaving only two Gold Element Essences to fall out.

This attack was like poking a hornet’s nest.

Influenced by the pheromones massively secreted upon death, numerous Iron-Eating Insects from the surrounding area swarmed in to attack. But the moment they came within ten meters of Su Chen, the air around them froze solid.

All the Iron-Eating Insects were as if embedded in the air, completely suspended and unable to move an inch.

Soon.

The Telekinesis suddenly contracted!

BANG!

BANG!

Groups of three to five Iron-Eating Insects exploded one after another. The crisp sound of their carapaces shattering was like a string of firecrackers being lit. Amidst the CRACKLING, the mangled insect corpses and some Gold Element Essences rained down.

”Nice.”

Su Chen looked at the Rune Essence dropped by the Iron-Eating Insects, elk, and Night Tigers, and couldn’t help but want to laugh.

’He had never seen such a beautiful sight.’

’If it weren’t for the fungal parasites, they never would have all gathered together to serve themselves up on a silver platter.’

After Xiaoye intercepted and killed one elk, it also finished off another giant deer that had been pinned to the ground.

Among the loot from the various corpses, besides the noteworthy Acid Rain Skill Lv4 from the elk, was a portion of Spiritual Dust Sand. That, along with another Spiritual Material from the Night Tiger, was just enough to upgrade his summoning Rune.

”Come on.”

The loot seemed to be magnetized. As if drawn by a giant magnet, an invisible force sorted the items by category, continuously depositing them into the empty bottles in his backpack.

As for the two portions of Spiritual Dust Sand, he absorbed them both on the spot.

In that instant.

Xiaoye, who had been blended into the dark surroundings, began to radiate a powerful light.

[Shadow Summoning] Lv4→ Lv5 Advancement Successful!

The Shadow Hound has successfully evolved into its next stage: ’Soul-devouring Dog’.

Pet Skill Upgrade: Shadow Shifting → Instant Shadow Pounce

(Instant Shadow Pounce: The Soul-devouring Dog will transcend reality to launch a long-range surprise attack, capable of landing three consecutive, hard-to-track strikes on the target.)

Trait Enhancements: Damage Amplification, Netherworld Armor, Phantom Clone, Shadow Binding Skill

...

[Shadow Summoning] (Lv5): The Spellcaster summons a Soul-devouring Dog from the Netherworld. Its maximum time on the field is determined by the Rune Energy Bar.

Contract Slots: 1/1

Promotion Requirements: Shadow Summoning Runes 0/16, Spiritual Dust Sand 0/5, Spirit Marrow Crystals 0/1

”It evolved again.”

After receiving the information, Su Chen’s gaze fell upon Xiaoye’s new form.

In terms of physical transformation, its shoulder height had reached 1.3 meters and its body length was nearly 2.5 meters. It wasn’t a huge leap forward.

Its former vertical pupils had vanished, replaced by two vortexes of ethereal light floating in its eye sockets.

The dark mist that once swirled around its body had grown thicker, obscuring its fur as if it had partially undergone Shadow Elementalization. The only thing visible was its Netherworld Exoskeleton, which had become more solid. New, sharp Dark Gold Arc Blades now extended from the joints of its four legs.

Even its tail had changed. The fur at its tip had coalesced into a Shadow Spike with a metallic sheen.

’The Netherworld Armor has gotten stronger and its coverage has increased. The rest of its physical body seems to be shedding all material form.’

Su Chen mused, ’It’s hard to say if the Authority of the Shadow Warlock class played a role, but the increase in power is undeniable.’

Where one rejoices, another despairs.

”Thank you...”

The young man who had been doused in strong acid struggled to his feet. After a hasty attempt at self-healing, he first thanked the stranger before him. Then, his thoughts turning to his companion, he used the Entanglement Skill to restrain his friend while casting a Healing Skill on him.

’He’ll definitely need a Purification Skill to cure it, or some other similar Rune that eradicates physical abnormalities and pathogens.’ Su Chen couldn’t help, but he wasn’t about to kill the guy either.

So, after watching the man call for backup on his walkie-talkie, Su Chen continued on his way along the vehicle barricade.

”Xiaoye, go try out your new Skill.”

Su Chen’s superior vision allowed him to spot a zombie Forest Wolf in the darkness. He called it a zombie because a large patch of skin on its flank had rotted away. In the firelight, he could even see bundles of tough mycelia that had replaced its flesh and blood.

At its master’s command, Xiaoye immediately obeyed. After bounding forward a few steps, its powerful and agile form swiftly vanished into the void.

The next second.

The long-range leap of ’Instant Shadow Pounce’ allowed Xiaoye to instantly appear before the Forest Wolf. It lashed out with a Soul-Splitting Claw, shattering the hastily formed lightning shield. The remaining force tore a gaping wound in the wolf’s neck.

Yet, not a single drop of blood sprayed out. Instead, a shower of spores spattered forth.

The zombie wolf seemed to feel no pain. Its eyes were scarlet, its mind filled with nothing but frenzy and excitement. It whirled and pounced, its claws crackling with lightning as it slashed at Xiaoye, only to hit a flickering shadow.

Soon.

Like a phantom, Xiaoye reappeared, emerging from the wolf’s left. Another Soul-Splitting Claw descended, severing its head. As if to demonstrate the Skill’s margin for error, its form warped in reality a third time and it teleported in front of the wolf. A vicious glint of its claw flashed, and the wolf’s entire head was lopped off.

A three-hit combo, executed in one smooth motion.

The only downside was that it had sprayed the creature’s spores everywhere.

WHOOSH!!

As he used a handful of intense, surging True Flame to incinerate the corpse, Su Chen also used his Telekinesis to collect two Thunder Element Lv3 Runes and a portion of Spiritual Dust Sand.

”Excellent.”

He then fed the Spiritual Material to his Shadow Jumping Skill.

Another Rune had gloriously ascended to Lv4.