98: Chapter 98 Ability: Mimicry Differentiation

In just a breath or two, a massive Molten Poison Serpent, identical to the one before, appeared once again.

After the first Molten Poison Serpent successfully separated, the main body of black colloid at the rear did not stop changing.

It continued to squirm, its surface bulging with several protrusions of varying sizes, as if boiling.

Immediately after, these protruding parts detached from the main body one after another, like droplets of black water being flung out, turning into independent gelatinous clumps upon hitting the ground.

These separated gelatinous clumps quickly deformed and took shape.

In just a few breaths, they transformed into five fire-attribute exotic beasts of different forms, each radiating a scorching aura.

There was a giant scorpion covered in a lava carapace, a Two-Headed Flame Wolf, and even a Fire-Winged Demon Bat...

Including the initial Molten Poison Serpent, there were a total of six fierce-looking flame exotic beasts.

Behind them, the Mimic Beast changed back into its head-sized jelly-like original form.

Seeing this scene, the corners of Gu Changming's usually expressionless face finally curled up uncontrollably.

Tsk.

Quite impressive.

After a brief pause, those six exotic beasts lunged out as if receiving a silent command!

Each selected a charging Fire Lizard and met it head-on with ferocity.

In an instant, the sounds of beast roars, biting, splashing flames, and claws piercing through armor mixed together.

Although the individual strength of these 'replicated' exotic beasts was slightly inferior to the original form the Mimic Beast transformed into itself, their power remained formidable.

Furthermore, there seemed to be an unspoken tacit understanding between them.

The battle presented a one-sided crushing situation.

In less than two minutes.

The throat of the last Fire Lizard was bitten through by the flame wolf; after a few struggles, it crashed to the ground and ceased to move.

Silence returned to the scorching plain.

At the same time, the Mimic Beast's status panel, which Gu Changming had never closed, also underwent a change at this moment.

The original word 'Unknown' had disappeared, replaced by new text:

[Ability: Mimicry Fractal: Can differentiate into biological forms that have been devoured, digested, and had their information recorded.]

[The differentiated entities are not independent individuals or puppets controlled by spiritual links; their essence remains a part of the main body's matter and energy, subject to absolute control by the main body, sharing perception and a cognitive core.]

Seeing this description, the inquiry in Gu Changming's eyes finally turned into understanding.

No wonder; during the battle just now, he hadn't discovered anything different about those six exotic beasts through his perception.

It turned out that although they had differentiated out, they were still the Mimic Beast's 'main body.'

He looked up; the six fire-type exotic beasts were standing quietly beside their respective dead Fire Lizards.

Gu Changming raised his hand and gave a casual wave.

The Mimic Beast received the command, and the six exotic beasts began to bite and devour the Fire Lizard corpses beneath their feet.

Soon, the six Fire Lizard corpses were completely devoured.

Immediately after, the forms of these six flame exotic beasts began to change, reverting to the black jelly-like colloid; as if possessing a shared life, they squirmed and gathered around the Mimic Beast, merging back into it.

With just one evolution bringing him such a great surprise, Gu Changming naturally wouldn't let it lack for 'food.'

Perhaps if it evolved once more, the surprise would be even greater?

...

The scene shifted.

In an area with massive rock protrusions, Gu Changming was standing on a towering crimson crag.

At this moment, the jelly-like body of the Mimic Beast standing beside him was constantly differentiating, with clumps of black matter detaching from the main body and rapidly taking shape upon landing.

On the open ground before them, a dense mass of exotic beasts already stood, filling almost every gap.

They were of various forms and sizes; at a rough glance, there were nearly a hundred of them.

And as Gu Changming gave orders and the Mimic Beast continued to differentiate, the number kept growing...

Gu Changming held the 'whistle of contract' in his hand, constantly transmitting Mental Power through it.

The Mimic Beast's differentiation into these exotic beasts was not without cost.

The bulk of the consumption was Mental Power; the stronger and larger the exotic beast, the more Mental Power was required, while those slightly weaker and smaller consumed less.

Normally, with the Mimic Beast's original Mental Power, maintaining the existence of dozens of exotic beasts would definitely be no small burden for it.

But with the whistle of contract, Gu Changming could share his own Mental Power with it, funneling it over.

Supported by Gu Changming's continuous supply of Mental Power, such consumption wouldn't reach its limit so quickly.

Gu Changming looked at the pack of exotic beasts before him; from above, they looked like a forest...

"This scale..." The corners of Gu Changming's mouth couldn't help but hook up, "Even if I ran into a real beast tide, I could use them to force it back."

Gu Changming remembered that in the subsequent Assessments, there was one involving a beast tide attacking a city; that terrifying number had almost destroyed the outpost he was at back then...

But now, if he encountered it later, he wouldn't have to be afraid.

As a Mentalist, his individual strength was definitely top-tier, but if he were besieged, it would be much more taxing.

But now, with the Mimic Beast's supplementation, he truly had no shortcomings.

Just as he was thinking...

Gu Changming suddenly felt a vibration coming from under his feet.

It was very slight but continuous, like muffled thunder from far away, spreading along the ground.

Gu Changming frowned and immediately stopped the transmission of Mental Power.

Then, he spread his mental perception outward with full force.

A few seconds later, his expression blanked in surprise.

At the end of the distant plain, on the crimson horizon, a shadow was spreading.

The shadow drew closer, and its outline gradually became clear—a massive, dense swarm of hundreds of monsters was surging in this direction.

"Eh?" Gu Changming was stunned.

...

In a highland area in the center of the Crimson Flame Plain.

Here, there were crude walls built from piled-up dark red boulders. Inside the camp, animal skin tents were scattered haphazardly, and a bonfire that never went out burned in the central clearing.

At this moment, inside the largest tent in the center of the tribe.

A red-skinned, burly orc messenger scout rushed in, its breathing hurried.

It was just about to speak when its gaze unexpectedly swept over the figure standing quietly behind and to the side of the leader—an Old Priest clad in aged bone-ornamented sacrificial robes.

The other party usually didn't show their face easily.

Without time to think much, it suppressed its surprise and quickly knelt on one knee toward the leader standing by the bone chair.

"Chief, the Windflame Tribe... refused. Their Shaman said they don't plan to join forces with us and told us not to involve them..."

Upon hearing this, Karuge snorted, a puff of thick air carrying sparks blowing from his nose as he said dissatisfiedly:

"Are they so willing to just wait for death?"

The Old Priest standing in the shadows then slowly raised a withered hand and waved it gently at the kneeling messenger scout, signaling for it to leave first.

The messenger scout immediately lowered its head, not daring to take another look, and quickly got up and exited the tent.

After the messenger scout left, the tent became completely silent.

Neither of them spoke immediately; the air became thick and oppressive, making it hard to breathe.