Chapter 32: Rampant Evolution, Mutant Scythe-Owl

Click-clack, click-clack!

The crossbow bolts whistled through the air, and the number of Sickle-Owl larvae had dwindled to double digits. The floor was coated in a thick layer of concentrated acid. The sight of hundreds of larvae spraying acid in unison remained etched in Lu Ming’s mind. The volume of acid, enough to fill the entire corridor, had surged forth like water from a breached dam, slamming against the walls with a thunderous roar. Had he not used his broad-bladed heavy sword to anchor himself to the ceiling and leverage the natural elevation of the corridor, he would surely have been submerged in the corrosive liquid.

He was quite confident in the durability of his Elite-level Xenomorph physique; he would likely have emerged from an acid bath unscathed. However, he was loath to ruin his hard-won clothing or waste precious drinking water on a shower afterward. Besides, who would willingly want to be engulfed in thick, yellow slime? What if he accidentally swallowed a mouthful? Wouldn't that leave a lifelong, traumatic shadow?

His standard-issue leather boots made a sizzling sound as he stepped across the floor. Black mist, mingled with a pungent, charred stench, swirled upward. Lu Ming glanced at his slightly melted footwear and strolled into the third-floor assembly workshop. Following his rapid-fire barrage, only a dozen or so larvae remained on the third floor. They hung upside down from the ceiling, guarding the cocoons, glaring at him with menacing eyes.

This was the first time Lu Ming had stared at the haughty larvae from such close range. He had to admit, they were truly hideous—an absolute eyesore. Whether they sensed the aura of a powerhouse radiating from him or saw the corpses of their kin beneath his feet, these dozen larvae showed no intention of attacking. That was fine by him; at least they knew not to offer futile resistance.

*Ptooey!*

Just as Lu Ming was about to acknowledge their self-awareness, one of the larvae pursed its lips and opened its mouth. A jet of acid streaked past Lu Ming’s head, slamming into the ground not far behind him.

Straightening his head, Lu Ming looked back at the splatter marks of the acid and sighed with regret, "Can't even compliment you without you acting up."

As he spoke, his precision hand-crossbow clicked, and a bolt tore through the air, piercing the larva's flesh with a squelch. In Lu Ming’s mind, this bolt should have shattered the creature's core. Yet, before his eyes, the bolt pierced through an arm instead.

A human arm...

It had sprouted from the side of the larva, precisely intercepting the projectile before it could reach the core!

"..."

[If the larva has not consumed enough energy, it will grow parts of its prey's limbs outside its body to augment its combat prowess.]

The detailed information about the Sickle-Owl larvae surfaced in his mind. He was certain he had internalized that line, but he had never imagined that the growth of these limbs could be controlled with such instantaneous, fluid precision!

*Squelch, squelch, squelch!*

Suddenly, those dozen larvae simultaneously sprouted multiple pairs of legs and arms. Some even grew human heads, their expressions twisted in agony and their skin a dark, bruised red! It was nauseating!

He had remained calm while facing the hideous, slime-covered larvae, but the sight of his own kind's limbs and heads forced him to visualize the scenes of his kin being devoured. There was nausea, there was disgust, but above all, there was rage.

Inferior strength meant defeat; if they were eaten, so be it. But to use the corpses of their brethren as if displaying trophies was the ultimate mockery to him, a member of the same species!

*Skreeeeee!*

Piercing shrieks erupted from countless maws. Having compensated for their racial defects with the newly sprouted limbs, the larvae used the ceiling for leverage and lunged at Lu Ming!

The distance closed in an instant. Mouthparts snapped forward, ready to tear Lu Ming’s body apart, when a narrow silver flash, accompanied by the metallic hum of a blade slicing through the air, swept horizontally across the room!

With a soft *shing*, a dozen larvae were sliced in half at the waist!

*Whoosh!*

The massive force, combined with a destructive gust of wind, sent the severed larvae bodies flying. They struck the wall behind like cannonballs. The resulting carnage left them mangled beyond recognition, like watermelons dropped from a great height. They did not regenerate, for as their flesh bloomed, their cores were shattered as well. They hadn't been defeated by a strike to their weakness; they had perished under the weight of absolute power, becoming the first ants crushed by a "giant."

Lifting his gaze and steadying his blade, Lu Ming looked up at the five cocoons on the ceiling, which contained the Tier 3 supply crates. They were pitch-black, connected by a strange, dark tissue; the interior of the shells pulsed rhythmically, like living hearts beating with vigor.

Through the Eye of Truth, the evolution progress bar had reached 50%. It had only taken three and a half hours to go from 15% to 50%. At this rate, it would take only ten hours for a cocoon to evolve into a mature form—less than a single day. Their incubation speed was terrifyingly fast!

With that thought, Lu Ming swung his arm, and his heavy broad-bladed sword transformed into a flying blade, piercing one of the cocoons.

"Skreee-wah!" A shrill, mournful cry echoed from within the shell.

The rhythmic pulsing faded rapidly until it stopped, leaving the cocoon shriveled and still.

"One."

Shifting his center of gravity and compressing his muscles, Lu Ming launched himself toward the ceiling, drew his heavy blade, and slashed horizontally!

Two shells ruptured with a *shh-la* sound, and the fatty matter inside spilled out, covering the floor. With the nutrients leaked, the developing creatures could not survive.

"Three."

Lu Ming landed and flung his heavy blade again, piercing the fourth cocoon.

"Four."

He vaulted upward, drew his weapon, and attacked the final one!

"Fi—"

*Clang!*

The number remained unspoken. Just as the blade was about to strike the shell, a silver edge with a metallic luster and a cold, frigid gleam flicked out from the cocoon, effortlessly parrying Lu Ming’s strike, which had been delivered with eighty percent of his strength!

?!

What was going on?

Startled, Lu Ming hurriedly withdrew his blade and retreated until he reached the edge of the corridor. It was the only escape route with a zigzagging staircase; regardless of what sudden situation arose, planning an exit was always the most correct choice, whether he had the ability to handle the variables or not!

He activated the Eye of Truth again. The information about the cocoon had completely changed. The evolution progress bar had vanished, replaced by a brand-new Xenomorph panel!

[Mutated Sickle-Owl] (E-Rank Elite+)

Category: Insect-type Xenomorph

Description: Originally an E-Rank Elite Xenomorph, it went berserk and evolved after absorbing the energy of the other four Sickle-Owl cocoons, mutating into an E-Rank Elite+.

Possesses terrifying defensive capabilities; its body is covered in refined-steel-grade armor that cannot be damaged by weapons below its rank.

Though its legs appear thin, their muscular activity is among the highest of all E-Rank Elite Xenomorphs, granting it astonishing jumping power and excellent mobility.

Possesses tough, feathered wings, capable of low-to-mid-altitude flight, though its stamina is limited, often used for auxiliary attacks or hunting.

A natural hunter with extreme aggression and combat talent. It adheres to the highest honor of a hunter: either kill the target or be killed by the target.

Once it locks onto a target, it forces a "Death Match." Unless the target dies by its hand, it will pursue them to the ends of the earth. If the target is intercepted and killed by another Xenomorph, it will shift its "Death Match" target to the creature that killed the original target, even if the two are worlds apart in strength and rank.