章 34: Chapter 34: Mutated Animal

As the night wind howled relentlessly, toppling even the nearby trees, an eerie gust of wind, seemingly born from the beating of colossal wings, intensified.

The air crackled with an otherworldly energy, sending chills down the spines of all who witnessed it.

Just as the final roar of the formidable, now fallen, defensive creature echoed through the air, the level 5 vampiric bats hovering above emitted a low growl directed towards Jin's basement.

Their eyes, burning crimson like molten coals, emanated a palpable aura of murderous intent. Their sinewy bodies trembled momentarily before erupting into a frenzy.

BAM!

With sudden and unexpected force, the vampiric bats descended upon the ground, their landing sending shockwaves that reverberated through the vicinity, even managing to rupture the sturdy iron gate that had withstood hordes of Blood Slaves used by Wei Jingyi to her advantage.

Instead of soaring through the sky, they eerily walked in the direction of Jin's basement, each step calculated and purposeful.

The tightly packed Blood Slaves sensed the presence of these level 5 vampiric bats and recoiled, their own red glowing eyes dimming in the face of the creatures' menacing display.

...

[You have successfully slain a Tier 0 - Level 8 Vampardvarsk!]

"Level 8? Vampardvarsk?" Jin, his breath now steadied, widened his slitted pupils as he cautiously took a step back, scrutinizing the massive creature before him.

His relaxed posture instantly tensed, but upon realizing that the creature remained motionless, he let out a sigh of relief.

"No wonder its defense was impenetrable!" Jin exclaimed, gasping for air. His expression bore a mix of wariness and conflicting emotions.

This was the first time he had encountered such a formidable level 8 creature, and its resilience had caught him off guard.

Not to mention, it appeared to be a mutated specimen. His eyes hardened, and his mind raced with calculated thoughts.

The appearance of this mutated Aarvaked introduced an entirely new dimension to the invasion, opening up a world of possibilities in Jin's strategic planning.

Never had Jin anticipated that these bats would possess such desperate strength, compelling them not only to seek the blood of humans but also that of other living creatures.

This revelation heightened the possibility of encountering more mutated animals in the future.

"If a seemingly ordinary Aarvaked can undergo mutation and attain such incredible strength, I dare not fathom the power a mutated lion or tiger could possess,"

Jin contemplated, his eyes gleaming with a flickering light as his gaze settled upon the fearsome creature with its strong, elongated jaws and razor-sharp teeth.

Lost in his thoughts, Jin was abruptly jolted back to reality by a tremendous tremor that sent shockwaves through his dazed mind.

He instinctively turned his head towards the shattering iron security shutter, his senses on high alert as he attempted to discern the identity of the approaching species.

"Another mutated animal?" Jin pondered, his furrowed brow revealing his concern. The once-packed Blood Slaves, now silent, did not utter a sound after the tremor, which deepened his sense of unease.

He cast a downward glance, realizing that the gap between them had closed tightly.

In a swift motion, Jin took a few steps back, distancing himself further from the shattered iron security shutter.

His heart pounded loudly in his chest as his imagination ran wild. With narrowed, tiger-like eyes, he exuded a dangerous aura, emanating an unmistakable intent to kill.

"Rrr," Jin growled, without even realizing it, his body leaning forward in a defensive posture. In that moment, he resembled a tiger poised for action, ready to defend itself against any potential threat.

Previously, Jin would have easily guessed that any tremor, cry, or roar came from the relatively harmless level 5 vampiric bats.

However, this time, uncertainty loomed. The approaching footsteps, echoing loudly within the confines of the basement, grew steadily closer with each passing second.

Jin's grip tightened around his M4 as he aimed it at the iron security shutter, his body bracing for an imminent confrontation.

THUD!

The resounding footfalls reverberated throughout the entire basement, intensifying with every step. Jin remained on high alert, his body tense, ready to respond.

As the approaching entity drew nearer, his fingers tightened around the trigger, prepared to face whatever formidable force lay beyond the iron security shutter.

Suddenly, the reverberating footsteps ceased, engulfing the surroundings in an eerie silence. Jin, his slit pupils straining to see beyond the shattered remnants of the iron security gate, couldn't help but become even more vigilant.

One second... Two seconds... And after an agonizing five seconds, stillness prevailed. Yet, Jin didn't let his guard down or relax his tense posture.

Though his instincts assured him that there was no immediate threat to his life, his arms remained poised, ready to squeeze the trigger of his M4.

BANG!

A barrage of more than five consecutive strikes bombarded the remnants of the iron security gate, shaking it violently and even causing the decapitated head of the Level 8 Vampardvarsk to shift slightly.

Jin's fingers hovered over the trigger, his reflexes primed for action. However, as the violent tremors subsided, the seemingly fragile iron security gate stood resolute. Only then did Jin let out a sigh of relief.

"Hah! Those were just Level 5 vampiric bats. They really managed to startle me!" Jin chuckled, his composure returning.

Even when another round of relentless attacks rattled the gate, shaking his body slightly, Jin remained completely relaxed.

It seemed that, for the time being, there would be no more mutated creatures lurking in the shadows. His gaze finally shifted to the Vampardvarks.

"Let's see, let's see! Where's the level 8 magic crystal?" he eagerly approached the security door once again, carefully circling around the decapitated head of the Vampardvark.

However, to his dismay, his search yielded nothing, prompting him to smack his lips in frustration.

"It couldn't be on the outside, could it?" he pondered aloud.

While he wasn't afraid to take on the Level 5 vampiric bats, the real issue lay in the presence of the more than a hundred Blood Slaves outside the gate.

Despite his formidable skills, Jin was not an inexhaustible machine. The relentless battles he had fought on the second floor against over 150 Blood Slaves had left him drained.

Now, facing another horde of over a hundred bloodthirsty slaves, he couldn't help but express his frustration.

"I'll be completely wiped out by the time this is over!" Jin grunted, voicing his complaint. If he were alone or fighting in the middle of a desolate desert, he wouldn't have any grievances.

However, this was the heart of the city, and who knew if there were other groups of survivors nearby? They would undoubtedly swoop in and snatch away all his hard-earned gains.

"Should I use the same tactics as before, or try something different?" His eyes darted between the severed head and the lower section of the bloodstained iron security gate, adorned with the remnants of countless Blood Slave organs.

As he contemplated his options, a sudden realization struck him, causing him to turn around and gaze at the gaping maw of the Vampardvarsk.

"There might be a chance..." Jin muttered, a mischievous glint in his eyes. He proceeded to retrieve his shotgun and made sure the Vampardvarsk's head was truly lifeless.

With a cautious yet determined approach, he lifted the massive jaws wide open, exposing the revolting stench of saliva and the nauseating odor of decaying flesh.

Since the creature was already dead, Jin had no trouble prying its mouth open and using the shotgun as a sturdy pillar, wedging it into the ceiling for support.

The sight of row upon row of razor-sharp teeth, resembling those of a shark, sent shivers down anyone's spine. However, Jin's eyes gleamed with excitement as he surveyed the pitch-black cavity within.

Boldly, he thrust his hands inside, undeterred by the menacing dental formations. Soon enough, his fingertips made contact with something, and a delighted grin spread across his face.

"It's here," Jin smiled, his hands trembling slightly with excitement as he felt the rough, unpolished surface of the cold gems. Pulling out the cold gems, he instantly crushed it.

The crystal disintegrated into fine dust, releasing a radiant white light that absorbed into his body.

[You have destroyed a Tier 0 magic crystal!]

[Your high Luck has begun to take effect!]

[You have absorbed +0.80 Agility!]

[Two skill scrolls have dropped!]

"Two skill scrolls, what a pleasant surprise," Jin exclaimed inwardly. This stroke of luck surpassed anything he had experienced before.

Obtaining these skill scrolls had the potential to wipe away the frustrations caused by his previous encounters with the troublesome tenants.

In addition, getting +0.80 attributes now deepened his understanding of the drop. A Level 5 Vampiric Bat would grant him 0.50 attribute points, while a Level 1 Blood Slave would contribute 0.10 points.

If he couldn't grasp such simple calculations, he would never have been accepted as a security guard, which also required a certain level of intelligence.

As the two golden parchments materialized before him, he immediately opened both scrolls simultaneously.

Jin's eyes sparkled with delight as he beheld the transparent description of the newly acquired skill. However, his joy multiplied as another shimmering game screen materialized before his gleaming gaze.

[Congratulations, you have learned a passive skill!]

[New passive skill acquired: Aavarkadh's Defense (Passive)!]

"Oohoohoooh!" Jin burst into happy laughter, unable to contain his excitement. The joy within him grew even stronger as yet another transparent game screen emerged, captivating his starry eyes.

[Congratulations, you have learned a passive skill!]

[New passive skill acquired: Ballistic Calculations (Passive)!]