Chapter 274: High Risk

However.This unease quickly transformed into excitement.

Su Zhan had been stuck at the peak of Medium-risk Tenth Stage for a full year now.

During that long, lonely journey through the Mist World, it wasn't that he hadn't encountered solitary High-risk creatures in the later stages.

But they were either far beyond his strength—High-risk mid-stage or even higher.

Or there simply wasn't the right opportunity.

A heaven-sent chance like the initial one, where he could play the fisherman and snatch the spoils from two mutually wounded High-risk creatures, never appeared again.

Now.

Su Zhan needed to absorb the Life Essence of a Mist Creature to advance.

And this beast, influenced by the rules, did not perceive him as a threat.

This was the perfect opportunity for a sneak attack.

"I'm doing it!"

Su Zhan's eyes turned fierce and ruthless.

With his strength at the peak of Medium-risk Tenth Stage.

Coupled with the predictive power of the Time Abyss Pupil and the explosive force after complete Aberration.

By catching it off guard with a full-power sneak attack.

There was a very high probability he could instantly severely injure or even instantly kill this High-risk First Stage monster!

The plan formed instantly in his mind.

Su Zhan suppressed all his killing intent, making his own Mist energy fluctuations appear even more docile.

He maintained a harmless posture.

Slowly, he moved closer to that High-risk Mist-Striding Hound.

It was sniffing around, searching for prey.

The Mist-Striding Hound immediately detected his approach, turning its head warily, its crimson pupils locking onto Su Zhan, a low, warning growl rumbling in its throat.

It didn't attack immediately, because the unique aura on Su Zhan made it somewhat confused.

Su Zhan stopped about fifteen meters away from it.

This was a distance that wouldn't provoke an immediate pounce, yet was within his optimal explosive attack range.

He lowered his head slightly, displaying a posture of submission.

The Mist-Striding Hound stared at him for a few seconds, seemingly confirming that this 'kin' indeed posed no threat.

Then, it shook its head impatiently, no longer paying attention to Su Zhan, and turned its focus back to searching for other prey.

Its large nostrils expelled two grayish-white plumes of air as it began walking towards a patch of shrubbery, exposing its relatively vulnerable side and rear to Su Zhan.

Su Zhan's golden vertical pupils lit up.

Future Vision activated.

The power suppressed within his body erupted with a roar.

Complete Aberration.

Black scales covered his entire body, sharp claws extended, his tail raised.

Su Zhan's figure left a faint afterimage in its original spot, his speed reaching the extreme.

His target was the junction between the Mist-Striding Hound's neck and spine.

That was the fatal weakness for the vast majority of canine creatures.

"Roar?"

The Mist-Striding Hound only realized the danger at the very last moment when Su Zhan's overwhelming killing intent was upon it.

After all, it was a High-risk level creature, with extremely formidable combat instincts.

At the critical moment, it forcibly twisted its body while instantly thickening the mist armor around it.

But it was still too late.

Su Zhan's sharp claws, concentrated with all the Mist Energy in his body, pierced into the hastily condensed mist armor of the Mist-Striding Hound.

"Thud—!"

Su Zhan's right claw sank almost to the hilt into the side of the Mist-Striding Hound's neck.

The violent force instantly shattered its cervical spine and internal structures.

"Awooo—!!!"

The Mist-Striding Hound let out a piercing, miserable howl, its massive body stiffening violently.

It went limp as if its bones had been pulled out, only its limbs twitching unconsciously.

A one-hit kill!

A perfect sneak attack!

After succeeding, Su Zhan didn't hesitate for a moment, his left claw followed immediately, viciously stabbing into its head.

Simultaneously, his tail wrapped around its throat like an iron band.

The crimson light in the High-risk Mist-Striding Hound's eyes rapidly dimmed.

Su Zhan gasped heavily, that instantaneous burst of power had been extremely draining.

He immediately activated his ability and began absorbing frantically.

A surging torrent of energy flooded into his limbs and bones.

It scoured his meridians, nourishing his physical body.

Finally, it slammed fiercely against that Realm Barrier that had trapped him for a full year.

"Crack…"

It was as if something had shattered.

Like a slumbering dragon awakening.

Mist Energy erupted from within Su Zhan's body.

An aura several times more formidable than before.

A fierce wind centered on him swept out in all directions, flattening grass and bending trees!

High-risk First Stage!

Su Zhan had finally broken through this chasm, officially stepping into the ranks of high-tier powerhouses.

And with the breakthrough in his realm, his Aberrant form also underwent a significant change.

His scales became darker and more profound.

His claws grew sharper.

His golden vertical pupils turned even colder.

The most eye-catching change appeared on his back…

"Rip!"

A pair of broad, fleshy wings.

Tore through the clothing and scales on his back, unfurling.

These wings had an obsidian-like hue.

The wing membranes were tough, the bone structure robust, the edges adorned with some bone spikes. Their shape resembled the wings of a dragon from Western legends, brimming with a sense of power.

With a thought from Su Zhan, these newly born wings flapped nimbly once, stirring up a strong airflow.

With another thought, the wings rapidly retracted, perfectly vanishing back into his back, even the scales returning to their original state.

Controlled release and retraction!

"Flight capability!"

Su Zhan felt the sense of bloodline-connected control he had with the wings.

Even with his current temperament, he couldn't help but let out an excited low roar.

In the Awakened system, unless the Life Soul itself is related to flight.

Otherwise, the vast majority of Awakened individuals can only begin to tread air upon reaching the Abyss Realm, and achieve true, free flight at the Ocean Realm.

It's the same for Aberrants. Special-risk level allows treading air, Calamity-level allows free flight. This is also under the premise that the Aberration direction isn't oriented towards flight.

Of course, the probability of Aberration orienting towards flight is similar to that of Awakened individuals, both being quite rare.

And his current Aberrant strength at High-risk First Stage corresponds to the Awakened Tide Realm.

Obtaining complete flight capability at the Tide Realm was absolutely a massive advantage that would make countless Awakened green with envy.

What did this mean?

It meant if he couldn't win a fight, he could just fly away!

It meant the vast majority of enemies at the same level, or even at the Abyss Realm, could only stare helplessly from the ground.

It meant his mobility, survivability, and tactical options had undergone a qualitative leap.

Pursuit, escape, reconnaissance, surprise attacks… all would become overwhelmingly advantageous.

"Hahahahahaha…"

Su Zhan couldn't help but burst into loud laughter, "Heaven is truly helping me!"

He would never have to worry about a plane crash again.

At higher realms, flight capability would gradually become more common.

But that didn't mean having flight capability early would become useless later.

Those who possess flight capability early would still have a natural advantage in aerial agility, speed, and endurance in the later stages.

Su Zhan adapted to the wings on his back.

His gaze burned as he looked into the distance, his heart filled with unprecedented confidence.

Strength breakthrough, trump card increased.

Although the road ahead was still perilous, the chips in his hand were growing more and more numerous!

"It's time to leave this place and see the wider world."

Su Zhan smiled slightly, the fleshy wings on his back snapping open with a *whoosh*.

He bent his legs slightly, then exerted force violently, while his massive wings gave a powerful flap.

"Boom!"

The ground was stamped with a small crater.

His figure shot into the sky like an arrow released from its bow, rapidly shrinking into a small black dot before disappearing into the horizon.