NOVEL NEXT Chapter 742: First Kill of Mutant Beast_2
The soldiers felt a hair-raising aura at the entrance of the cave, and they didn't dare to be careless. They hurriedly reported it to Wang Tao and Bai Hao.
Staring at the cave entrance in front of him, Wang Tao sniffed and then looked at Taxue on his shoulder.
"The smell of a mutant beast?"
"Meow~"
Taxue's fur bristled slightly, telling Wang Tao that there was a Level 2 Mutant Beast inside!
Currently, it was still only Level 1, and had no chance of winning against this Level 2 Mutant Beast, so it was somewhat nervous.
After receiving Taxue's confirmation, Wang Tao gently patted Taxue, telling it not to worry, and then said to the others:
"There should be a Level 2 Mutant Beast inside. I'll go in and take a look. You stay guard at the entrance."
"Yes!"
The military had strong execution skills and wouldn't question Wang Tao's orders; they did as they were told.
However, Jiang Shixue didn't have such strong execution skills. She looked at Wang Tao with eager eyes, wanting to go in with him. Aside from Taxue, she hadn't seen any other mutant beasts.
But Wang Tao asked one question that deflated her.
"Can you see in the dark?"
"No..."
Jiang Shixue pouted as she looked at the pitch-black cave entrance.
"Then stay outside for now."
Wang Tao smiled and ruffled Jiang Shixue's hair, then walked inside with Taxue.
As soon as they entered the cave, the aura of the mutant beast intensified, serving almost like a compass guiding Wang Tao's direction.
His [Super Senses] talent had enhanced his various sensory abilities, including his sense of smell, making it more acute than a dog's. So, the faint smell to others was quite strong to Wang Tao.
"What on earth is this, with such a strong smell..."
Wang Tao frowned as he followed the scent inside.
To him, the pitch-black cave was as bright as day. He clearly saw some dried bones beneath his feet, both animal and human, which looked quite fresh, likely left recently.
"Meow~"
Taxue indicated that the monster was in the depths of the cave; it could vaguely sense it.
Wang Tao stroked its fur to soothe it and continued walking inside.
Suddenly, there came a rustling sound from deeper within the cave, akin to something scraping continuously against the walls, an irritating noise.
Taxue's fur stood on end, and its big eyes were fixed on the cave.
Wang Tao showed a sudden look of realization.
"So it's a centipede—no, it seems like a mutated millipede?"
Wang Tao could clearly see a creature full of legs appearing at a bend in the cave. It had more legs than a centipede, looking much like a millipede but much larger, about as thick as a large water tank. It also had a mouth split into several parts, looking quite eerie.
Yet, having encountered many hideous and terrifying things, this mutated millipede was merely child's play to Wang Tao.
[HP: 100000/100000]
[Mana: 10000/10000]
[Level: Level 2 - Lord]
[Abilities: Toughness, Self-healing, Power, Bleeding Virus]
Its attributes were clearly quite strong, similar to the previous gorilla zombie, at the pinnacle of Level 2.
But being at the pinnacle was only Level 2; to Level 3 Wang Tao, it posed no threat.
Before attacking, Wang Tao habitually extended his spiritual power to see if he could communicate with it. If he could communicate with it like Taxue and take it under his wing, he wouldn't mind its ugly appearance.
However, the unfortunate mutant millipede had no response whatsoever.
"Looks like it's brainless..."
Wang Tao shook his head and fired two scorching beams immediately.
Moments later, there was a loud crash, and the mutant millipede dropped to the ground with its HP depleted, spilling out several crystal cores and a shining orb of loot.
Taxue skillfully went to collect the crystal cores, while Wang Tao checked the loot orb.
Inside, aside from the four identical crystal cores and equipment, there was something that somewhat surprised Wang Tao.
[Obtained: Level 2 Crystal Core· Copper Skin Iron Bone *1]
[...]
[Obtained: Level 2 Evolution Potion *1]
[Obtained: Thousand-legged Blade *999]
This was Wang Tao's first time killing a mutant beast; he had never expected that the items dropped by mutant beasts were quite different from those dropped by zombies.
[Level 2 Evolution Potion: When consumed by a Level 1 Mutant Beast, there is a 50% chance to ascend to Level 2, with a 20% chance to grasp an ability]
"Evolution Potion..."
Wang Tao previously obtained a [Purification Potion], which differs by just one word from the [Evolution Potion], but their effects are completely different.
This [Evolution Potion] is specifically for mutant beasts, with a fifty percent chance of allowing a mutated beast to ascend and a twenty percent chance of allowing it to grasp an ability.
Seeing this effect, Wang Tao could only say that it's very powerful. If humans could also use it, it would save a lot of crystal cores.
However, considering that mutant beasts cannot fuse crystal cores, and can't ascend through ascension crystal cores, they can only use other methods, so using a potion for enhancement seems reasonable...
"Meow~"
Taxue, sitting on Wang Tao's shoulder, curiously stared at the potion in Wang Tao's hand. Although it couldn't tell what it was, it vaguely felt that this thing seemed beneficial to itself?
"This is good stuff, specially made for mutant beasts like you."
Wang Tao opened the lid and a slightly pungent smell entered his nostrils, but Taxue seemed to enjoy the smell, meowing contently. Wang Tao then poured the potion into Taxue's mouth. There wasn't much of it, just a few drops.
After Taxue finished, it suddenly jumped into Wang Tao's arms.
"Meow~"
It indicated it just needed to sleep, and upon waking, it could ascend to Level 2.
"Huh? Did the 50% probability work just like that? Not bad, not bad!"
Wang Tao was surprised, not expecting such good luck to succeed with a fifty percent chance on the first try.
Holding Taxue, Wang Tao looked at the equipment dropped by the mutant centipede monster. He was witnessing for the first time a situation where 999 weapons dropped at once.
He once thought he had seen wrong... But he didn't, it was indeed 999 scimitars. However, the equipment's attributes were quite average.
[Thousand-legged Blade]
[Level 2 (Excellent)]
[Durability +200, Attack power +20]
Apart from 200 durability and 20 attack power, the Thousand-legged Blade had no other effects. Compared to Wang Tao's previous equipment, it wasn't that impressive.
But considering there were 999 of them, Wang Tao didn't demand too much.
This equipment was somewhat similar to standard issue equipment from the past life, abundant in quantity, average in attributes. Standard issue equipment involved learning blueprints first before mass production using materials. Now, the equipment was given directly, skipping the production process...
Wang Tao couldn't use this equipment, but Bai Hao and Wei Zhenguo would probably like it.
"How's it going?"
Upon seeing Wang Tao carrying Taxue out, people outside thought Taxue was injured and became quite worried.
"That Level 2 mutated beast inside has been killed by me. Taxue is fine, it's just ascending to Level 2."
Wang Tao explained simply.
"Oh, I see..."
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief and then congratulated Wang Tao.
Wang Tao briefly searched the mountain to confirm there were no more mutant beasts before heading back. He gave most of the Thousand-legged Blades to Wei Zhenguo and Bai Hao.
Wei Zhenguo and the others tested it a little and were ecstatic. The attributes that seemed average to Wang Tao were divine weapons to them.
Wang Tao returned to his vehicle, and three hours later, Taxue woke up.
Its appearance didn't seem to have changed much, but its attributes drastically improved compared to before.
Moreover, to Wang Tao's surprise, Taxue not only ascended to Level 2 but also gained another ability [Toughness].
[HP: 30000/30000]
[Mana: 20000/20000]
[Level: Level 2 - Lord]
[Internal Impurity: 5%]
[Ability: Spirit Black Mist, Toughness]
"Hmm? The 'Level 2 Ascension' and 'grasp ability' of the Evolution Potion can coexist?"
"Meow~"
Taxue jumped onto Wang Tao's shoulder, rubbing its little head against his face.
"Got to pay more attention to the road ahead for any mutant beasts..."
Wang Tao mused while stroking his chin.
...
The night passed without incident, and the convoy had a safe night.
The next morning, as dawn broke, the convoy continued on their journey. According to plan, they should reach Zijin Base within five to seven days. The shorter the time, the better, so they needed to hurry.
Wang Tao glanced at the circle he had drawn on the map.
"Picking up Little Jun and Zhang Hong today shouldn't be a problem..."