Chapter 30 Death Angel <TOC> Chapter 32 Three Types of Light Seeds
Translator: SumTLMan
The incorporation of the Mushroom Forest was the crowning jewel.
Zhou Yi’s focus shifted back to the Jade Emerald City.
It had now become the physical entity of the Wasteland Development Company, eliminating concerns over monster attacks endangering the company. Consequently, its maintenance and energy replenishment became paramount.
His long-term goal was to purchase and monopolize all the properties in the Jade Emerald City, thereby fully developing this architectural marvel.
The total price of this building amounted to 80,000 Light Seeds.
Accumulating such a sum was nearly impossible in a short time.
Zhou Yi decided to take his time.
His immediate need was to collect semi-finished raw materials from the seabed, including concrete, steel, plastic, bricks, cement, and asphalt, all high-quality construction materials that the Jade Emerald City had verified could directly repair its structure and restore its own strength.
If sufficient materials were lacking, it would have to gather and extract them from the surrounding natural environment, not only resulting in immense energy consumption but also significantly delaying the repair process.
With the precise positioning of Red Falcon, the Warrior Crabs conducted partial demolition of the nearby old residential complex. They carried blocks of concrete, bricks, prefabricated panels, and rebar, transporting them one by one to the side of the Jade Emerald City.
A massive pile of construction materials formed a small mountain.
However, the Jade Emerald City’s daytime energy replenishment couldn’t keep up with the energy consumption required for repairs, affecting the progress.
Nevertheless, the company’s towering building continued to undergo visible changes day by day.
The Jade Emerald City transformed from a dilapidated, hole-ridden abandoned building into one with a smooth and symmetrical exterior. The larger gaps were substantially repaired, evolving it from a project abandoned mid-construction into a charming, albeit aged, structure.
Zhou Yi adhered to the traditional human schedule, working by day and resting by night. The company’s new-generation humans, however, still maintained the opposite routine, working at night and sleeping during the day.
After another hectic two weeks, Red Falcon reported an unusual situation.
The number of Bone Fish in the nearby Dead Sea’s shallow regions was dwindling.
This was rather abnormal.
Although Zhou Yi engaged in fishing, he always went to areas far from the company premises. He would hunt in a particular sea zone only once before moving to another location, rarely venturing into the nearby shallow waters. Yet, the Bone Fish were vanishing en masse without a trace.
Bone Fish possess low intelligence and only flee their habitats when faced with significant threats.
After extensive and ongoing searches conducted by Red Falcon, a clue was finally uncovered.
The culprit was a Long-Necked Crocodile, lurking in the northern part of the Dead Sea outside the company’s premises. After Zhou Yi and his team departed, it would stealthily emerge and enter these waters to prey on Bone Fish in large numbers.
Zhou Yi was furious.
He couldn’t believe his territory had been breached right beneath his very nose!
The fish here were intended for future cultivation, part of his father’s ecological fishpond: “Who are you to come here and plunder our resources?”
He needed to take decisive action to eliminate the wrongdoer.
Red Falcon alerted: “The Long-Necked Crocodile is a C-class monster, a cunning creature. It doesn’t specialize in brute strength like the Light Absorber species, but its skills are highly adaptable. Its [Elastic Stretch] allows it to make numerous alterations across various terrains, and its [Alertness] enables it to detect dangers through energy traces.”
“I’ve captured a segment of its footage.”
On the remote controller’s screen, the Long-Necked Crocodile slithered like a serpent through the underwater ruins. Its body could flex and morph fluidly, squeezing through narrow crevices as effortlessly as water.
Its darkened keratin layer blended seamlessly with the surroundings, and its eyes displayed a murky gray hue.
This underwater predator suddenly halted, plunging its head into a concealed underground crevice. Its soft-bodied form swiftly burrowed downward, kicking up a cloud of dust.
Shortly thereafter, the Long-Necked Crocodile dragged the skull of a large Bone Fish from the ground, gnawing apart the head in a single bite before beginning to absorb the Light Seeds emanating from the dispersed bones.
In the past, Zhou Yi had encountered this type of monster.
The Long-Necked Crocodile can significantly stretch and contract its body, making it a clever predator. It always cautiously observes its surroundings, specifically targeting weaker prey.
If higher-class monsters emerge, it won’t hesitate to abandon its captured prey, opting instead for a safe retreat.
When Zhou Yi’s army of Warrior Crabs was first assembled, they attempted to hunt a Long-Necked Crocodile. However, the creature led them to an area densely populated with higher-class monsters, causing them significant hardship.
But something was odd.
Under normal circumstances, its current structural strength should have been sufficient to keep the Long-Necked Crocodile at a safe distance, deterring it from taking reckless actions.
Why was this Long-Necked Crocodile still venturing into dangerous territories?
“Red Falcon, activate [Bird’s-Eye View].”
“[Bird’s-Eye View] will likely trigger its [Alertness], potentially spooking it.” The rotary drone warned: “As the Warrior Crabs approach, it will detect them, making it difficult to penetrate its surveillance perimeter.”
Zhou Yi said: “Then zoom in the lens. Will that make us noticeable?”
“Recording through the lens alone won’t make us noticeable. It’s merely an enlargement and clarity enhancement of the camera’s field of view.”
Zhou Yi patiently observed the Long-Necked Crocodile.
After hunting Bone Fish, it didn’t hastily depart; instead, it concealed itself within the ruins.
Over half an hour later, the Long-Necked Crocodile slowly emerged from the ground. After confirming there were no ambushes or being tracked, it changed direction and resumed hunting Bone Fish.
Zhou Yi instructed: “Zoom in on its dorsal region.”
The camera on the screen immediately zoomed in further, focusing on the Long-Necked Crocodile’s dorsal ridge.
“Stop.”
Zhou Yi stared intently at the electronic screen.
The Long-Necked Crocodile had a charred wound beneath its neck along its dorsal ridge. The wound was gaping, revealing dark brown flesh inside, with the bones seemingly missing, causing the area to appear sunken.
It had been injured by something and was recuperating nearby, hence targeting its reserved nearshore natural fishing grounds.
The Long-Necked Crocodile’s mobility was now significantly impaired.
There was an opportunity.
Zhou Yi decided to seize it.
……
Two hours later.
On the screen.
The Long-Necked Crocodile stealthily approached the nearshore fishing area once more.
This agile creature, over three meters in length, treaded slowly along the far edges of the area. It circled back and forth, repeatedly probing to ensure there were no threatening forces nearby.
Only then did the Long-Necked Crocodile transform into a soft-bodied monster, slowly burrowing its way up from the seabed.
It accelerated towards a Bone Fish, charging at it.
In the next moment, two Warrior Crabs sprang from the ground. They clamped onto the Long-Necked Crocodile’s wound with their pincers. The agonized, frenzied crocodile bit off their pincers with two gnawing bites, but the brief time it took was already sufficient.
More Warrior Crabs, armed with guns and forming a formation, rushed forward, preventing it from breaking free in a second attempt.
Next, the Black Warriors encircled it.
The Weapon Master wielded long spears crafted from polished rebar, thrusting them into the Long-Necked Crocodile. Hammerhead Soldiers surged forward, using their immense strength to pin its head, while Dual Blade Hands continuously inflicted wounds on the creature with their sharp blades.
Faced with the trained assault of numerous Warrior Crabs, the Long-Necked Crocodile struggled desperately for several minutes before succumbing from severe blood loss.
Only then did Zhou Yi relax.
To neutralize the enemy, he had no choice but to deploy ordinary Warrior Crabs in the most perilous initial ambush.
Because only a small number of ordinary Warrior Crabs wouldn’t be perceived as a threat by the Long-Necked Crocodile, to it, wild Warrior Crabs were merely slightly tougher prey than Bone Fish.
Most importantly, with Red Falcon’s enhanced vision and precise positioning, the Long-Necked Crocodile could no longer manipulate their movements.
Zhou Yi felt a slight sense of calm in his heart.
Finally, he had eliminated this fish thief.
This was also his first successful kill of a C-class creature.
At this moment, light points began to emanate slowly from the Long-Necked Crocodile’s corpse, gradually coalescing into a small luminous cluster.
However, this Light Seed was unlike any he had previously harvested; it was green in color.
Zhou Yi held it in his hand, his gaze slightly shifting.
……
[Light Seed ★☆☆]
Damage: 1-3
Cooldown: 2.3
Range: 7
“Elastic Stretch”: Consumes 10 energy points; allows short-term extension or contraction of local body structures.
……
It was unlike any Light Seed he had previously harvested.
It exhibited distinct combat characteristics, incorporating the Long-Necked Crocodile’s skills.
Zhou Yi clenched his fist with all five fingers.
The Light Seed melded into his body.
Chapter 30 Death Angel <TOC> Chapter 32 Three Types of Light Seeds