Apocalypse: Master of Soul Beasts

As the azure giant eagle flew further and further away, the area around the ancient tree seemed to instantly become vibrant. Several fat rats burrowed out from underground, beginning to gnaw at the roots of the surrounding grass.

A nest of fist-sized mutant ants rushed out swiftly, directly enveloping these large rats. Their bloody hunt had begun!

In the vicinity of the ancient tree, several larger animals could faintly be seen.

With a gust of wind, the ancient tree rustled. At the junction between its crown and branches, a pair of muddy yellow eyes opened.

Watching the forest come back to life once more with the disappearance of the Giant Eagle's pressure, a touch of kindness showed in the corners of the ancient tree's eyes.

A forest should be vibrant and lively, not turned into a wasteland by a single super mutant beast!

The tree's branches, like hands, began to wave, gently caressing its own abdomen.

In the belly of the ancient tree was a small space where a tiny lizard was licking the sweet liquid seeping out of it. As the lizard fed, its body slowly began to transform.

It grew bigger and longer; even its back and head began to bulge with two small lumps.

This was a transformation of its life form!

...

Wen Yu stabbed his knife into the Corpse King's neck, instantly cutting off its roar.

Seeing the Corpse King's ash-grey eyes slowly filling with despair, Wen Yu disregarded its fierce struggle, moving the steel saber slowly through the Corpse King's neck.

As the tainted blood spurted out, the Corpse King's resistance grew weaker and weaker, until the steel saber made a full circle in the Corpse King's neck!

The Corpse King's head was severed by Wen Yu!

Upon seeing the beheaded Corpse King, Wen Yu sat on the ground, panting heavily. He immediately deactivated his combat status and summoned Cyclops.

Due to the reduced physical strength from disengaging his Mortal Combat ability and Soul Beast Union, Wen Yu suddenly felt a stifling sensation in his chest.

He had internal injuries.

Cyclops's injuries were even worse. Its body was burned all over without a patch of good skin left, another eye was blinded, and the area where the Corpse King's right hand had struck was sunken in, with countless ribs broken!

The full extent of Cyclops's injuries was now apparent as it lay limp and motionless on the ground.

Although its body, enhanced by the Mortal Combat ability, was frighteningly robust, such severe injuries rendered even the strongest physical constitution helpless.

"Time to eat. Can you still move?"

Looking at Cyclops's horrifying wounds, Wen Yu felt a pang of pain and asked with concern.

Cyclops blinked its good right eye and looked at the Corpse King lying on the ground. It whined twice, then staggered to its feet and began to tear at the Corpse King's head.

There wasn't much meat on the Corpse King's head, but its brain was the essence. As Cyclops gorged, its wounds began to heal at an accelerated rate. Even its body seemed to be growing larger again.

The Corpse King's body could provide Cyclops with an unimaginable amount of evolutionary energy!

This was the biggest reward of the battle.

Just as Cyclops finished eating the Zombie King's head and was about to devour the Corpse King's body.

A piercing hawk cry echoed through the gloomy sky!

"SCREECH."

Wen Yu's expression changed drastically. The sound was so sharp it felt like needles pricking his brain.

This wasn't a skill; it was purely the effect of overwhelming physical strength. To achieve such an effect, the creature's physical strength had to be at least five times greater than Wen Yu's.

From the sound alone, Wen Yu could determine that this mutant beast was definitely on par with Simba.

Absolutely not something I can fight!

This was Wen Yu's first reaction.

Wen Yu immediately activated his Soul Realm and recalled the still-eating Cyclops.

Wen Yu immediately turned to flee. Although he regretted losing the Corpse King's body, he clearly understood that his life was more important than spoils of war.

A strong wind swept past him from behind, bringing an intense chill. The trees along its path were instantly covered in a thick layer of frost.

By the time Wen Yu, shivering from the cold, reached a safe place, the sound of the wind behind him had grown increasingly distant.

That was just the mutant creature's way of shooing away pests!

Wen Yu looked back. In the darkness of the night, he saw an azure, bird-like creature clutching the Corpse King's remains in its talons as it flew further into the distance.

Damn feathered beast!

Wen Yu cursed angrily, but considering the disparity in strength, he decisively abandoned any thought of retaliation.

After a slight hesitation, Wen Yu summoned Cyclops again.

"WOOF WOOF."

Cyclops looked aggrievedly at Wen Yu, then glanced at the spot where the Corpse King's body had been, clearly resentful about its stolen meal.

"Eat this."

Wen Yu promptly opened his space ring, took out the Corpse King's right arm, which had undergone a secondary mutation, and placed it in front of Cyclops.

Watching Cyclops struggle to tear at the Corpse King's right arm, Wen Yu comforted it, "Don't worry. Follow me, and there will always be food. Once we reach the Third-level, we'll go find trouble with that feathered beast."

Wen Yu was not one to willingly suffer a loss. Seeing the Giant Eagle's figure just now, an idea suddenly sparked in his mind.

If I can form a contract with this flying creature, then I'll be able to fly too, right?

...

"SCREECH. SCREECH."

As the hawk's cry rang out near the ancient tree.

The ants and rats, which had been fiercely battling, quickly ended their fight. Each dragged their spoils and rapidly burrowed underground.

A large cat that had been tearing into a mutant mountain goat dragged its food up a tree. After a few flashes in the dense crown, it quickly disappeared.

Just as when the Giant Eagle had been there moments before, the area fell deathly silent, as if devoid of all life.

The azure giant eagle flew lower and lower until it landed on the crown of the ancient tree.

Its giant body resting on the ancient tree made it seem as if the tree was covered with azure leaves.

As the Giant Eagle swiftly devoured the Corpse King's corpse, the black crystal on its forehead began to flicker rapidly.

The Giant Eagle's body slowly began to change. In the area between its two legs, something suddenly bulged, as if about to break through the skin!

This wasn't a skill of the Giant Eagle; it was an effect of the black crystal!

The ancient tree below noticed the rapidly flickering black crystal on the Giant Eagle's forehead, and a flash of hatred flashed through its eyes.

Its lush roots quickly absorbed nutrients from the ground, transporting them through the main trunk to its core.

Within the ancient tree, a fragrant liquid was quickly secreted, and the lizard inside grew bigger and stronger.

All this happened right under the Giant Eagle's watch, yet it noticed nothing at all!