Chapter 17: Mutated Dretch

No wonder Xu Hongzhuang was so surprised.

The precision of that shot was simply incredible. The Earth Dragon was covered in dragon scales, and its eyes were one of its few weaknesses—a small target, yet it was struck perfectly with a single arrow.

Fast as lightning, swift as a gale.

As a modern person, Xu Hongzhuang knew that people's fascination with weapons had waned over time. To others, her obsession with swordsmanship made her seem like an oddity.

More importantly, Xu Hongzhuang was exceptionally talented. No one her age could match her skill level. Because of this, she often felt like she had no one who truly understood her. But now, in this strange environment, a stranger hidden in the shadows had managed to blind the seemingly invincible Earth Dragon with a single arrow. This made Xu Hongzhuang's heart tremble.

At this moment, she even found herself looking forward to seeing who this person was.

Roar!!...

A furious roar snapped Xu Hongzhuang back to reality. She didn't have time to dwell on her thoughts and quickly ducked away, knowing that the trouble was far from over.

The Earth Dragon shook its massive body, letting out an enraged roar. With its eye destroyed, the excruciating pain drove it into a frenzy. It was now in a state of indiscriminate rage.

Pros and Cons.

The advantage was that the Earth Dragon had lost its ability to discern and think, turning into a vengeful beast. The downside was that this rage heightened its aggression, reducing its pain while temporarily boosting its strength.

Berserk State.

This was a common trait among high-level beasts. After sustaining serious injuries, they would erupt with tremendous destructive and lethal power. Its side effect includes 12 hours of severe weakness following their rage however.

A dark grin spread across the Dark Elf's face, the blood in her eyes thickening. The Earth Dragon's howls of agony brought her immense pleasure.

Whoosh!

The Dark Elf drew her bow, releasing another arrow that pierced the Earth Dragon's chest. Blood splattered as the arrow struck the very spot where Xu Hongzhuang had cut earlier.

The arrow sank deep, causing the Earth Dragon, which had been preparing to charge, to stagger and nearly collapse. But instead of conceding, the injury only fueled its fury.

Roar!!

This roar was different from the last. It was filled with a potent killing intent, and the sound waves shattered the windows of the nursing home.

Chen Feng's eyes narrowed as he murmured, "Still got some strength left?"

Although the Dark Elf had dealt a significant blow, it wasn't enough to kill the Earth Dragon. After all, she was just an archer. Against a heavily armored creature like the Earth Dragon, her attacks were less effective.

But Chen Feng wasn't relying on her alone. The Dark Elf was there to harass from a distance, while at close range, it was time for the Dretch to take over.

A cold light flashed in Chen Feng's eyes as he formed seals with his hands, pressing them against the damp ground. Instantly, a decaying smell filled the room, mingling with a faint stench.

The Dretch squeezed out from the dimensional rift, but it looked different from before. It still had its grotesque, mud-and-carrion form, but now there were two tentacles protruding from its chest, emitting the foul stench.

Devour.

The Dretch could absorb the abilities of the creatures it devoured.

"Hmm? You've inherited the tentacle monster's abilities?"

Chen Feng's eyes widened in surprise. During its recovery, the Dretch had somehow absorbed the tentacle monster's traits. Although its appearance had become even more grotesque, the tentacles gave it a ranged attack capability and the ability to ensnare enemies. Once an enemy was bound, a crushing embrace from the Dretch would leave them with little chance of survival.

Chen Feng wasn't one to be squeamish.

If something could benefit him, he would eagerly embrace it.

In fact, summoners often had a bit of a madman's streak. Summoning was their primary skill, but their physical frailty was a fatal weakness.

Some dark summoners, in their pursuit of power, conducted bizarre experiments, using their own bodies as mediums for summoning. They fused their summoned beasts with their own flesh, not only eradicating the beast's consciousness but also inheriting its power and abilities.

Five Poisons Body, Demon Fusion, Rotten Flesh Arm.

One experiment after another, in those times, summoners were considered no less than lunatics.

Chen Feng didn't care what form the Dretch took—whether it was ugly or revolting—as long as it was powerful, that was all that mattered.

As time passed, the monsters would only grow stronger, and more unexpected events would occur. Chen Feng needed servants who could keep up with him, not some foolish minion that never evolved.

"Entangle it and corrode its wounds with your sludge!"

Chen Feng growled. Unlike the Dark Elf, the Dretch was his most loyal dog. It lumbered over to the window, leapt out, and crashed to the ground below.

Its decaying body made the Dretch immune to fall damage, though within ten meters.

Xu Hongzhuang leaned against a wall, the Earth Dragon's second roar had rattled her, leaving blood trickling from the corner of her mouth. She had lost the strength to run.

This filled her with despair.

The Earth Dragon's eye had been shot out—this should have been the perfect chance to escape. But her body wouldn't obey her commands. She needed time to recover, but...

Would the Earth Dragon give her that time?

The answer was obviously no.

A bitter taste filled Xu Hongzhuang's mouth.

This was a desperate situation, but then her nose twitched—she smelled something putrid. The stench was unlike anything she had ever encountered: sewage, rot, decaying vegetables... nothing could compare.

What is that smell?

With a loud thud, the Dretch's body hit the ground. It was an indescribably hideous creature, with an exaggerated body and mismatched skin. It looked like a patchwork of corpses. Inside its grotesque form were human limbs, insect wings, monster fangs, and two dark "vines."

As a professional and a Heaven's Chosen with the Hero Template, Xu Hongzhuang had quickly adapted to this world. She had seen her fair share of monsters, but the appearance of the Dretch challenged everything she thought she knew.

Just looking at it brought a sense of despair.

Blended with various corpses, the Dretch had become even more terrifying. It dragged its massive body toward the Earth Dragon, ready for a brutal melee...

Begin!