Chapter 45: Chapter 45: Aberrant Species

A new day, sunshine bright.

After freshening up, Rogel came to the computer, eagerly typing the title "Leave Request."

"Guys, as usual, taking a day off at the beginning of the month, see you tomorrow."

After quickly typing a few lines, Rogel sent it out.

Before he could shut down the computer, he saw several friendly readers already sending their blessings and concerns.

"You sure have a timely ’period’ buddy (smile)."

"Author, where are you? I’m coming to play with you."

"See this monthly ticket? Tear, gone! I’m off to tip the neighbor now."

Rogel could feel the strong resentment coming through the screen.

Can’t afford to provoke, fleeing now.

Rogel quickly closed the backend, made a call to his dad and mom, then lay comfortably on the bed, picked up his phone.

Time for gaming!

My heart belongs to the sea!

Entering the game again, the Gelin was still drifting on the sea.

Lina was guarding the ship, and Rogel’s game character was asleep.

Focusing on the Clone, the Dark Sea Hunter had completed its second Metamorphosis.

[Dark Sea Hunter Metamorphosis Complete.]

Brutally tearing open the flesh membrane, the Dark Sea Hunter moved its body a bit, shedding the slime off itself.

Under True Perspective, its size had grown larger, body length now approaching eighty centimeters.

The soft shell on its body had completely turned into a dark blue armor, and its six tentacles had grown longer and stronger.

It seemed that when the Dark Sea Hunter underwent Metamorphosis in one aspect, other aspects didn’t remain unchanged and got minor enhancements.

Besides, the most important ability Metamorphosis also had results.

[Your Clone Dark Sea Hunter has acquired a new skill through Metamorphosis—Ice Spike.]

[Ice Spike lv1: Dark Sea Hunter can concentrate ice spikes for attached attack or ranged attack (consumes stamina and Spirit).]

[Through Metamorphosis and Combat Experience accumulation, Dark Concealment Skill Level increased to lv3.]

Ice Spike?

New skill is quite good, especially the ranged attack, directly enriching the Dark Sea Hunter’s attacking style.

This will greatly aid in the upcoming strategy against wing shrimps.

But...

Could the skill obtained by Dark Sea Hunter through Metamorphosis be related to the prey devoured?

Seeing the ice spike, Rogel thought of the barnacle buffet consumed near the Black Brick and the Cold-toothed Monster Fish.

These monsters are what he devoured the most recently.

Perhaps because of this, that the Dark Sea Hunter got this Ice Spike skill after Metamorphosis?

Rogel pondered thoughtfully.

While the assumption was likely, without a clear hint from the game, more Metamorphoses are needed to conclude.

Anyway, after this Metamorphosis, Dark Sea Hunter’s strength undoubtedly took a step forward.

[Dark Sea Hunter]

[Type: Monster]

[Quality: Elite]

[Level: 7]

[Tier: Extraordinary]

[Skills: Dark Concealment lv3, Ice Spike lv1.]

[Talent: Metamorphosis (Absorb enough nutrition to change form through Metamorphosis, enhancing own strength.)]

[Explanation: Extraordinary Creatures appearing in dark waters, few in number, after multiple Metamorphoses have become a terrifying hunter, accustomed to hiding in shadows, striking when opportunity arises, delivering deadly attacks.]

Rogel was a bit surprised looking at the Dark Sea Hunter’s information.

Eh? How come the Dark Concealment Skill is already at level three, when did it upgrade to level two?

Rogel recalled, realizing that during the prior fight with three wing shrimps, it seemed to have appeared, but his attention was all on escaping, didn’t pay much notice.

This skill is really exclusive for sly folks, even I, the sly master, didn’t notice...

Rogel muttered sarcastically.

Then he focused ahead at the stone palisade.

Just prepared to go over when Rogel discovered a fatal problem.

After the recent Metamorphosis, the Dark Sea Hunter’s size enlarged again, and its shell hardened even more.

This meant Rogel could no longer squeeze through the stone palisade gaps...

"..."

Rogel’s face stiffened.

Shouldn’t... be?

Clinging to slim hope, Rogel stubbornly tried.

... Damn it, really can’t pass.

From his gaming experience, direct access to the boss room is indeed a blissful thing.

Now because of becoming stronger, this blissful thing is no more.

So Rogel didn’t know whether to be happy or sad...

Seems can only enter from the opposite entrance.

Rogel glanced at the distant darkness.

Taking a deep breath, he depressingly retraced his steps.

Then came to the Gray Rock Node for the third time.

Rogel stared at the five holes ahead with dead fish eyes.

He casually chose a hole.

This time it’s "3".

...

[Your Clone Dark Sea Hunter killed the Mutated Shrimp, gained Combat Experience.]

[...]

After killing several monsters, Rogel rolled up the last remaining one.

[Mutated Shrimp]

[Type: Monster]

[Quality: Ordinary]

[Level: 3]

[Explanation: A wing shrimp mutated in its larval stage by unknown power contamination, but this power did not bring it strength.]

The Mutated Shrimp in front... well, how to say?

Calling it deformed is even a compliment.

Because its appearance was just too bizarre.

Hard shell turned soft shell, broken shell, limbs growing the wrong way, missing arms and legs, even its eyes one high and one low.

Its strength doesn’t match the level 3 rank at all, and its intelligence seemed a bit desperate too.

Even under Rogel’s control, it still was fiercely aggressive, but its gaze looked peculiar no matter how you saw it, seemed exceedingly wise.

As if saying—Have you heard my story?

Without hesitation, Rogel killed it, looking at the monster corpses in front, feeling somewhat troubled.

These guys... can they be eaten?

To be honest, Rogel felt these Mutated Shrimps seemed to have every inch of their flesh carrying a strong taste of radioactive mutation.

Plus the description information provided, Rogel dared not even try.

These Mutated Shrimps are blatantly problematic.

Can’t eat them!

Thinking it over, Rogel decided to abandon the corpses of these Mutated Shrimps.

Eating a few less won’t kill him, but eating a few more might cause trouble.

Moreover, these Mutated Shrimps weren’t large, wouldn’t provide much energy even if eaten.

Rogel resolutely walked away, without looking back.

Before long, he found himself again in a spacious Gray Rock cavern.

Looking at the monster in the center, Rogel suddenly felt goosebumps.

The reason being obviously the monster’s eerie appearance.

[Wing Shrimp Mutation Species]

[Type: Monster]

[Quality: Boss]

[Level: 7]

[Explanation: A wing shrimp which balanced internal pollution after being contaminated, gaining powerful strength, but at the cost of bloodline impurity.]

Nearly half of this wing shrimp’s body was occupied by blood-red muscle membrane, with blood continually swirling beneath, like countless small snakes beneath the blood membrane constantly surging.

And at the head of the wing shrimp, the shrimp’s eyes were hollow, and below its head, a scarlet triangular snakehead was resting with closed eyes.

This darn game even gave a magnified close-up, pixel style delivering a horror feel.

Is this balance?

Clearly parasitized by the invader kicking out the homeowner!

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by lotustale.com