MTLNOVEL Chapter 770: Exterminating the Disaster Class (Part 2)
Wang Tao retreated while using the Heat Energy Beam to attack it. When the Disaster Zombie finally enveloped Wang Tao in its Cataclysmic Awakening again, its HP was also completely depleted.
[-2333]
[0/100000]
"Roar—"
The Disaster Zombie's final roar wasn't even completely uttered before it began to fall.
[-100]
[-100]
[...]
At the same time, a notification appeared above Wang Tao's head indicating a deduction of 100 HP per second.
Even upon death, the Disaster-level creature's Cataclysmic Awakening wouldn't immediately vanish. Instead, its effect would weaken by tenfold, gradually diminishing until it completely disappeared.
If it had been deducting 1000 HP per second, Wang Tao wouldn't have been able to withstand it, but at 100 HP, there was no problem. Wang Tao landed next to this fallen Disaster Zombie.
"Hmm?"
At this moment, Wang Tao realized he was right next to its corpse, still losing 100 HP per second.
"Could it be that this life's Cataclysmic Awakening causes the same damage anywhere in its range..."
Wang Tao rubbed his chin.
In other words, even if he had flown up close to face this Disaster Zombie, he would still have lost 1000 HP per second.
With that kind of damage, it wasn't so terrifying, and he could potentially engage the Disaster Zombie in close combat.
However, given Wang Tao's limited HP, it was better not to take the risk. A long-range, slow attrition strategy like he just used could be quite effective. Though tedious and exhausting, it was safe.
Wang Tao instructed Taxue to collect the spoils from the other zombies. Before those Zombie Lords controlled by Wang Tao were killed by the Disaster Zombie, Wang Tao had struck the final blow, so the light clusters of loot were his doing.
Wang Tao then turned his gaze to the spoils dropped by the Disaster-level zombie.
[Acquired: Fourth-Order Crystal Core: Awakening Transformation x1]
This Fourth-Order Disaster-level Zombie only dropped one Crystal Core, similar to Ordinary Zombies. However, the specific effect of this Crystal Core was quite surprising to Wang Tao.
[Fourth-Order Crystal Core: Awakening Transformation]
[Quality: Epic (100%)]
[Purity: 35% (Side Effect: Certain probability of Cataclysmic Awakening)]
[Transformation: Randomly replaces an Awakening Ability]
It was the first time in two lifetimes Wang Tao had seen such an "Awakening Transformation" Crystal Core, capable of directly changing an Awakening Ability.
No one knew what kind of Awakening Ability he would get upon reaching Level 4. If it were strong, that would be fine, but if it turned out to be a weak ability, there would be no way to change it. But now, with this "Awakening Transformation" Crystal Core, there was a chance to replace the Awakening Ability.
However, this Crystal Core had a rather extreme side effect—a certain probability of triggering Cataclysmic Awakening!
Cataclysmic Awakening was powerful but indiscriminately hostile, with no way to turn it off. If a human were to acquire such an ability, human society would never tolerate them, since anyone near them would die, nor would zombies or monsters. They would become an enemy of the entire world!
So this side effect was quite extreme, and it's best not to try it lightly.
But fortunately, Wang Tao could use Synthetic Crystal Core to eliminate this side effect, so this Crystal Core wasn't entirely a drawback; it just required time to gather Crystal Cores.
After storing away this Crystal Core, Wang Tao looked toward the loot light clusters.
[Acquired: Fourth-Order Crystal Core: Awakening Transformation x1]
[Acquired: Temporary Disaster Awakening Potion x1]
[Acquired: Awakening Seed x1]
[Acquired: Advanced Awakening Secret Key x1]
"Oh?"
Apart from the Crystal Core, the other spoils also somewhat surprised Wang Tao.
[Temporary Disaster Awakening Potion: Randomly acquire a Cataclysmic Awakening, duration 10 minutes, cooldown 1 hour]
This potion actually enabled someone to acquire a Cataclysmic Awakening!
Although temporary, that was precisely why this potion was impressive. Nobody would want to become a universal enemy, but if they could temporarily harness the power of Cataclysmic Awakening, everyone would likely appreciate it.
In some ways, this potion could be considered a divine drug! Especially useful in situations surrounded by numerous enemies where one needs to fight to the death...
Then there was this "Awakening Seed," which, in the previous life also came from hunting Disaster-level creatures, but this life's Awakening Seed was somewhat different.
[Awakening Seed: Plant it on the corpse of a Disaster-level creature to quickly bear an Awakening Fruit]
In the previous life, the Awakening Seed could be planted on the corpses of Fourth-Order Lord Level or higher and took at least three days for the Awakening Fruit to grow, producing many fruits, up to several hundred.
But now, this Awakening Seed had to be planted on a Disaster-level creature's corpse, and it was said to quickly bear fruit, but only one piece...
Without hesitation, Wang Tao tossed the Awakening Seed onto the corpse of the Disaster-level zombie.
As soon as the seed landed on the body, it immediately began to take root and sprout, and it was as if a fast-forward button was pressed, turning from a bud to a sapling, then to a tree, and growing into a large tree...
In just a matter of ten seconds, the Disaster-level zombie's corpse had completely vanished, replaced by a somewhat withered large tree. Hanging from it was a solitary golden Awakening Fruit.
Wang Tao reached out and plucked the Awakening Fruit, watching as the Awakening Tree quickly withered, turning into a handful of yellow soil in the blink of an eye.
[Awakening Fruit: When consumed, has a 50% probability of awakening a new ability for those at Level 3 to Level 6]
"..."
Seeing the effects of the Awakening Fruit, Wang Tao was slightly shocked. This attribute was much stronger than the Awakening Fruit from the previous life; this was truly an Awakening Fruit!
In the previous life, the Awakening Fruit allowed a person to ascend to Level 4, but without awakening. Such Level 4 power was weak, equivalent to the Elite Level.
However, this Awakening Fruit could allow a person to directly acquire an awakening! That would make them an Awakener, equivalent to a Lord. The gap between Elite and Lord is significant.
Additionally, the probability of awakening an ability using the "Awakening Fruit" was 50%, which is quite high, and on top of that, it had no side effects... the Awakening Fruit's effects were indeed strong!
Though, in this life, the difficulty for humans to ascend to Level 4 and awaken is slightly lower than the last life—upon ascending to Level 3, one gains a Hidden Attribute, and after using the Awakening Secret Key, if awakening fails, the probability of successful awakening increases each time, eventually reaching 100% without needing such Awakening Fruits.
But the Awakening Fruit wasn't just for helping Level 3 ascensions to Level 4; people from Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Level could also use it. Based on past experience, reaching the Seventh Level requires having four awakenings, meaning with this Awakening Fruit, one of the requirements for reaching Seventh Level could be quickly met!
"Not bad, not bad!"
Wang Tao was very pleased as he stored the Awakening Fruit. Although he couldn't use it himself, it would be extremely valuable to others. He could have someone else try its effects later...
The Disaster-level zombie didn't drop any equipment; the last spoil was a physical [Advanced Awakening Secret Key]. It was similar to the last life's one, raising the 50% success rate of awakening to 70%. It was also quite a useful item.
"Let's go."
Once Wang Tao confirmed there was no oversight, he mounted the Golden Eagle and left, heading towards the airplane.
On the way, Wang Tao reviewed the battle.
Though he was virtually unscathed, he expended significant physical strength. Without the Golden Eagle as a mount, catching up to the airplane himself would be a daunting task.
Of course, if it weren't for the Golden Eagle, he wouldn't have fought the Disaster-level zombie in the same manner. Although using ranged attacks from behind was exhilarating, it did require considerable expenditure...
"I need to find a way to obtain an HP regeneration ability or weapon; otherwise, battling these continuously attacking Disaster-level creatures would be quite challenging..."
Wang Tao muttered to himself, rubbing his chin.