Apocalypse: Master of Soul Beasts

Chapter 225: Chapter 23: Dough? (Extra Update at 300 Votes!)_1

The earth shook and dust rose. Trees in the distance continuously collapsed, accompanied by a series of low, gradually intensifying roars.

Watching the distant trees shake and collapse, the Cyclops opened its massive maw and unleashed a violent torrent of Flames of Tyranny toward the target.

However, an orange-red stream of Flame Flow intercepted it!

The Flame Flow was considerably weaker than the Flames of Tyranny. In the ensuing clash, the Cyclops’s dark flames gained the upper hand. Once the dark flames dispersed the Flame Flow, a colossal figure leaped nimbly aside, evading the residual Flames of Tyranny and landing before the Cyclops.

It stood ten meters tall. Its ochre skin possessed a metallic sheen, and the muscles beneath rippled like waves. A brown mane flowed in the wind, its strands striking each other with crisp sounds reminiscent of clashing metal.

The Cyclops stared at the lion before it and let out a crazed roar. Perhaps recalling the injuries and humiliation Simba had inflicted, the murderous intent in its heart intensified!

Then, it lunged straight at Simba.

Simba, seeing this cur it once toyed with at will dare to attack first, roared in fury!

The two monsters, each nearly three stories tall, instantly engaged in a bloody melee!

In that instant, the earth fractured and trees toppled!

The shockwaves from the battle between the Level 4 mutant creatures were akin to a small-scale natural disaster. The plumes of dust and sand kicked up from the ground were visible even from Central City.

The black-robed man observed the battlefield, a slight smile playing on his lips, like a detached spectator carefully assessing the unfolding combat.

As an early-stage Level 4 mutant beast, Simba’s physical attributes were comparable to the Cyclops’s.

Unfortunately, Simba’s innate aptitude was decidedly inferior to the Cyclops’s!

While Simba possessed the agility characteristic of felines, it held no strength advantage over a Cyclops of comparable size. Furthermore, the Cyclops possessed the Mortal Combat and Blood and Flesh Badge abilities. In a purely physical brawl, Simba was far from its match.

The Cyclops’s frenzied, raw Physical Strength sent Simba staggering. Then, a red glow erupted from its claws!

Before Simba could regain its balance, the Cyclops’s claw slammed into its face!

A harsh scraping sound echoed.

Simba’s Steel Protective Armor failed to block the Cyclops’s Savage Strike. Amidst a spray of blood and torn flesh, a deep gash appeared on Simba’s face.

Yet, Simba did not retreat a single step!

”ROAR!” With a furious bellow, Simba lunged, sinking its teeth into the Cyclops’s neck. Simultaneously, its mane began to transform.

Like writhing snakes, each strand of Simba’s mane stiffened and rapidly burrowed into the Cyclops’s body.

Exploding Snake Hair (A-Class, Active Ability): Allows the user to manipulate their hair to move like snakes. Upon contact with an enemy, the hair burrows into their body and explodes!

THUMP. THUMP. THUMP. THUMP...

A series of muffled thuds emanated from within the Cyclops’s body. Simba’s ability was insidious; had it been a normal creature of flesh and blood, the ensuing internal explosions from the burrowing hair would likely have been instantly fatal, especially if they reached vital organs!

Unfortunately for Simba, the Cyclops’s Blood and Flesh Badge ability rendered it impervious to such attacks. In fact, the injuries only made the Cyclops stronger!

Ignoring Simba, still latched onto its neck, the Cyclops activated its Flames of Tyranny.

Now that the Cyclops was Level 4, the terrifying power of its Flames of Tyranny began to fully manifest its gruesome nature.

Devil Flames erupted from the Cyclops’s body, surging directly into Simba’s system through its biting mouth!

The all-consuming Devil Flame inflicted immense pain upon Simba. It reflexively opened its mouth, its own Flame Flow erupting to forcefully repel the Cyclops. Simba then quickly retreated. Only when the searing pain within its body had somewhat subsided did it dare to look up at the Cyclops again.

The Cyclops, however, merely waited quietly for Simba to purge the Flames of Tyranny, not seizing the opportunity to press its attack.

This wasn’t a gesture of politeness; it was pure contempt, utter mockery.

Weren’t you the one who toyed with me as you pleased?

Weren’t you the one who was so high and mighty, so unreachably arrogant?

Weren’t you the one who scorned even my submission?

Today, I will shatter every shred of your pride!

Seeing the Cyclops’s disdainful posture, an indescribable rage ignited within Simba.

Such a display of contempt from an enemy... in the past, only I was capable of such a thing, only I was worthy of it!

But now, I am the one being despised.

Simba’s body tensed, clearly preparing to re-engage the Cyclops.

Unfortunately for Simba, it was interrupted.

The black-robed man, who had been observing from a distance, suddenly teleported next to Simba and spoke slowly.

”Don’t rush. You can’t beat it on your own.”

Simba regarded the black-robed man with its large eyes, then glanced back at the Cyclops, which stood motionless, not pressing its advantage. Simba remained silent.

It was the truth!

A Level 4 mutant beast possessed enough intelligence to assess the current situation and discern the balance of power.

”But I have a solution,” the black-robed man said softly, his voice low enough that the Cyclops couldn’t overhear.

When Simba showed no reaction, the black-robed man added, ”You’re not actually thinking of taking it on in a fair fight, are you? What era do you think this is? Even with your newfound intelligence, you mutant beasts are still hopelessly foolish.”

Stung by the black-robed man’s mockery, Simba whipped its head around and unleashed a torrent of Flame Flow where he had stood.

But in the blink of an eye, the black-robed man had already reappeared on Simba’s other flank.

”Open your mouth. I need to get some of that big dog’s flesh and blood.”

Simba had just bitten the Cyclops, tearing off a sizable piece of its flesh. Surely, remnants of the Cyclops’s tissue still clung to Simba’s teeth.

Simba hesitated for a long moment. It glanced at the black-robed man beside it, then back at the distant Cyclops, which still regarded it with a taunting gaze. Finally, after some deliberation, Simba slowly opened its mouth.

Beasts are driven more by instinct than reason. However, for an intelligent beast, the precise ratio of instinct to reason was truly difficult to ascertain.

Right now, my desire to eliminate that Cyclops is overwhelming. Since I’m powerless to do it alone, accepting outside help is my only option!

”That’s more like it,” the black-robed man said. ”Only low-intelligence creatures try to win through brute strength alone. Allies? They’re meant to be used!”

With those words, the black-robed man retrieved the grayish-white fragments of the Cyclops’s flesh from Simba’s mouth. He examined them for a moment before taking out the dough-like substance he had recently acquired from the scout.

The black-robed man clicked his tongue. Such a powerful creature... And now, it will be ours!

Then, the fragments of flesh slowly began to merge with the dough!