Chapter 235: Chapter 200: Liquid Life
The map of the Royal Hunting Ground showed seven or eight marked Tier 4 S-rank beasts.
After eliminating those with skills clearly unsuited for Su Ze—such as ranged attackers or psychic types—only three or four viable options remained.
Moreover, the skills he could absorb were mostly run-of-the-mill Close Combat Attack Skills, with nothing particularly special about them.
Except for the Liquid Turbellaria!
It possessed a very special skill called "Liquid Life," which, as its na implied, allowed it to liquefy its body.
Su Ze had seen Yarlin use a similar skill during the Six-Nation Top Academies Exchange Tournant. However, Yarlin’s version was more defensive, diocre in other aspects, and lacked any other significant applications.
The Liquid Turbellaria’s "Liquid Life" skill, however, was more advanced. In its liquid state, the beast’s attacks were inescapable, and it couldn’t be killed even if cut into several pieces.
More importantly, the Liquid Turbellaria could still use any of its other skills while in its liquid state.
As for any additional effects, Su Ze would have to acquire the skill and discover them for himself.
Every Tier 4 S-rank skill was exceptionally rare, making it difficult to find any reference data.
Even so, these abilities alone were powerful enough for Su Ze and offered great synergistic potential with his other skills.
Compared to the other options, the "Liquid Life" skill was far more appealing to Su Ze.
Having decided on his target, Su Ze folded the map, slipped it into his pocket, and said to the round-faced soldier, "I’m ready."
The round-faced soldier nodded. As he led Su Ze toward the Hunting Ground’s main gate, he said, "The entire Hunting Ground is under surveillance. We will be watching your every move. Do not attempt to violate the rules, or you will imdiately have your hunting privileges revoked."
When they reached the Super Alloy gate, the round-faced soldier took out a walkie-talkie with a red button and handed it to Su Ze.
"If your life is in danger or you decide to give up, press this button. We will send soone to extract you, but this hunt will be considered a failure."
"That won’t happen." Despite his words, Su Ze still took the device.
"The clock is ticking. Your hunt begins now." The Super Alloy gate swung open as the round-faced soldier spoke, his expression blank.
Su Ze stepped inside, and a mont later, a loud CLANG echoed behind him as the gate shut.
He surveyed the scene. If he ignored the surrounding Super Alloy walls, the environnt was indistinguishable from the wilderness.
Green trees, red flowers, wild grass.
The air was crisp, and a gentle breeze caressed his face.
The moon cast down a silvery sheen, bathing the entire Hunting Ground in a silent glow.
Su Ze took a small black bottle from his storage item, shook out one of the Night-Use Black Pills, and swallowed it.
A burning heat instantly spread through his body as he began to absorb and store Moonlight Energy.
This Moonlight Energy was said to enhance an evolver’s combat effectiveness at night.
He then drew an oddly-shaped longsword—the "Moonblade." In the moonlight, the crescent pattern on its blade shimred with a faint glow.
With his preparations complete, Su Ze followed the map’s directions toward the Liquid Turbellaria’s territory.
The territories of the Tier 4 S-rank beasts within the Hunting Ground were spaced far apart. Su Ze’s route wouldn’t take him through another S-rank’s territory, but he would inevitably have to cross the lands of several Tier 4 A-rank beasts.
Su Ze could only keep a low profile and proceed cautiously. It would be a hassle if another Tier 4 A-rank beast attacked him. He couldn’t retaliate with full force, as killing it would use up his one hunting opportunity.
Fortunately, these Tier 4 beasts were highly intelligent, with intellects on par with humans. They understood their situation—that they were imprisoned prey—so even if one discovered Su Ze, it was unlikely to initiate an attack.
When a Hunter enters the mountains, smart prey hides. Only a fool would run straight toward the Hunter.
On his way to the Liquid Turbellaria’s territory, Su Ze was attacked only once. It was a lion-like beast that launched a probing assault.
After clashing head-on with Su Ze for a few exchanges, the beast realized it had bitten off more than it could chew. It turned and fled without the slightest hesitation to continue the fight.
Su Ze watched the beast’s retreating figure disappear over the horizon. He didn’t give chase. ’Live and let live,’ he thought. ’Best for both of us.’
’It’s a relief dealing with these intelligent Tier 4 beasts,’ Su Ze mused. ’They know when to back down. Not like those low-tier beasts ruled by bloodlust, mindlessly throwing themselves at you in suicidal charges, regardless of the odds.’
Su Ze noticed that unknown electronic devices were buried at the edge of each beast’s territory. The beasts themselves also seed to have so kind of implant, making them unable or unwilling to approach their territorial borders.
In other words, if a beast was chasing you, you could lose it simply by escaping its territory.
This also prevented the Tier 4 beasts from fighting amongst themselves or cooperating. With their intelligence, it was entirely possible they would otherwise team up to fight any Hunter who entered.
...
Moving cautiously, Su Ze traveled at a slower pace. It took him nearly forty minutes to reach the Liquid Turbellaria’s territory.
He then began to search the area for any sign of the Liquid Turbellaria.
anwhile, in the Royal Hunting Ground’s monitoring room, the round-faced soldier who had escorted Su Ze in was staring at a screen alongside a young woman.
"Miss Lin, what brings you here so late?" the round-faced soldier asked respectfully, his attitude a stark contrast to how he had treated Su Ze.
The young woman, Miss Lin, was beautiful but carried an unapproachable, cold deanor that suggested she was not easy to get along with. She gave a slight nod.
"Only a handful of people qualify to enter the Hunting Ground each year. Every one of them is a rare talent, so of course I’m taking this seriously."
"But this kid, Su Ze, is from one of the six countries. His strength is likely far inferior to the top prodigies of our Lin Hua Country. It’s hard to say if he’ll even succeed."
The Royal Hunting Ground only grants a few hunting permits per year, and not every person who receives one succeeds.
After all, they’re up against high-tier Tier 4 beasts. Even with their power restricted, they’re far stronger than a typical Tier 3 S-rank beast.
It was common for even the most talented individuals who earned a permit to fail their hunts here.
This was especially true for those who earned their spot by winning the individual championship at the Six-Nation Top Academies Exchange Tournant. Most of them failed.
"Let’s wait and see," Miss Lin said simply, her eyes fixed on the monitor.
The round-faced soldier nodded, his gaze also turning to the monitor.
But when they saw what Su Ze was doing, they both froze.
"Is this kid looking for the beast? Wait, this is... the Liquid Turbellaria’s territory!" the round-faced soldier exclaid. "Looks like we’ve got another arrogant one. No point in watching. I’ll get a rescue team on standby."
Miss Lin said nothing, but her brow furrowed.
For a Butterfly Stage evolver, the success rate against even a Tier 4 A-rank beast wasn’t high, let alone a far stronger Tier 4 S-rank.
And Su Ze had chosen the most troubleso of them all: the Liquid Turbellaria!
Many of Lin Hua Country’s own prodigies had challenged the Liquid Turbellaria in the past. Without exception, all had failed.
Miss Lin didn’t believe Su Ze from Dongli would be any different.
This attempt would likely cost him his hard-won opportunity to hunt.
On the monitor, Su Ze had reached the center of the Liquid Turbellaria’s territory. He had circled the area once but found no trace of the beast.
He pushed his senses of sll and hearing to their limits. Simultaneously, he activated his "Eye of Truth," sending his Perception Tentacles deep into the soil beneath his feet.
Within his range of perception, the slightest stir from the Liquid Turbellaria would give away its location.
With all his sensory abilities active, Su Ze began to stroll through the Liquid Turbellaria’s territory.
The Liquid Turbellaria preferred watery environnts, so its territory was dotted with ponds of all sizes.
After a while, as Su Ze approached a small pond, he sent his Perception Tentacles into the water. He stopped in his tracks.
’Sothing’s wrong with this water!’
’It’s still water... I can’t find the Liquid Turbellaria, but the density is off. It’s denser in so spots and less dense in others.’
His Perception Tentacles wove between the water molecules, sensing a distinct difference.
Su Ze now had a pretty good idea. The Liquid Turbellaria was most likely hiding in this very pond.
So, using his Perception Tentacles as conductors, he sent a powerful electric current through the entire pond.
Instantly, a column of water erupted into the sky. Su Ze imdiately backed away, careful not to let a single drop touch him.
The water that splashed onto the ground didn’t soak into the soil. Instead, it rapidly coalesced, forming a colossal turbellarian worm. Its body was a translucent black, its glossy skin slick with mucus. It looked like a giant slug.
This was the Tier 4 S-rank beast, the Liquid Turbellaria!
However, the green light of evolution radiating from its body flickered like a candle about to be snuffed out, likely a result of its power being sealed.
The Liquid Turbellaria tilted its head back and let out a furious roar that sounded like a cat in heat. Its elephant-sized body liquefied, surging toward Su Ze like a tidal wave.
Su Ze shot forward and, raising a hand, unleashed a "Needle Strike."
His fingertip plunged into the Liquid Turbellaria’s body. It felt like sticking his finger into a glob of gelatin; it was soft and offered no purchase.
With a sudden BANG, the explosive effect of the Needle Strike detonated, blasting a chunk of the Liquid Turbellaria’s body into a spray of water. However, this clearly caused the beast no actual harm.
Su Ze hadn’t expected to defeat the Liquid Turbellaria with that move, anyway. The main purpose of his "Needle Strike" was to apply his Plague Poison.
The Plague Poison was miraculously effective against enemies with a higher evolution level than his own. The sooner he applied it, the better.
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