Chapter 625 - Level up!

Han Wu checked his data.

[Name: Han Wu]

[Level: 1]

[HP: 100%]

[Energy: 100%]

[Gold: 0]

[Unlocked Strength: 1%]

[Power Slot: 1 (Unequipped)]

[Ability Slot: 0]

[Equipment Slot: 0]

Han Wu froze when he saw the clean interface. All his strength had been sealed away! How was he supposed to fight now?

He was left with one empty Power Slot, which he could use to select one of his powers. He reviewed the list of available powers: Sacrifice, Famine, Life Infusion, Merge, 256 Martial Castes, True Demon King Transformation, Reincarnation, Replicate, Energy Conversion, Undying, and Avatar Creation.

After a brief assessment, he chose the option best suited to the situation: True Demon King Transformation. His companions also faced the same restriction. Aside from the Origin of Mutation, the others took time to weigh their choices.

Han Wu said, “We need to hunt the beasts that spawn from nests to level up and gain more abilities, equipment, or Power Slots. I’ve opened a communication channel and the map, and I’ve also marked all known nest locations.

“The fogged areas indicate enemy territory. We should avoid those for now. We will move individually. Each of us will take two locusts and level up as quickly as possible.”

Xu Hai nodded and headed toward the nest near the upper lane with two locusts. Commerce also took two locusts and moved toward the lower lane. Jia Gui knew he was weak, so he followed Commerce with two locusts of his own. He even claimed that he was worried about Commerce and wanted to provide support.

Han Wu couldn’t care less. Only he and the Origin of Mutation remained with the four locusts.

The Origin of Mutation had already made preparations. “I’ve adjusted the settings. Every ten minutes, ten locusts will be summoned and automatically fly to us. Everyone will get two locusts per wave.”

Han Wu nodded. “I don’t need any. Take all four locusts with you instead.”

He then ran to a nearby nest in the middle lane to farm for experience points and level up.

The Origin of Mutation opened its mouth as if to speak, but Han Wu had already disappeared. It shrugged and used Controlled Mutation on the four locusts. Soon, the locusts reached Level 4, with significant improvements to their parameters. In exchange, their remaining lifespan was reduced to three more days, which was sufficient for this match. With the upgraded locusts in tow, the Origin of Mutation ran toward a nest in the middle lane.

Five minutes later, the first beast wave emerged. The type of beast varied depending on the location.

Han Wu reached the Level 1 Demon Soldier Ants’ nest. Each ant had a hardened exterior, two sharp mandibles, and great strength. There were five of them in the nest.

Han Wu pounced and activated True Demon King Transformation. The restriction’s suppression limited his transformed height to five meters, and he lost his energy every second. He could maintain this form for only ten seconds.

Han Wu used that brief window to strike decisively. With a flurry of punches, he killed them all. They had just been transported there before their deaths. Their end was pitiful, but Han Wu considered it meaningful. After all, they gave Han Wu half the experience points he needed to level up, 50 gold, and even a material called Demon Soldier Ant Carapace.

Once they died, a timer appeared above the nest, indicating that the next wave would spawn in five minutes. Han Wu had no intention of waiting. He collected the material, and a crafting recipe surfaced in his mind. This was one of the challenge ground’s rules.

He also learned that forging equipment required multiple materials. Even the weakest item, the Demon Sealing Blade, which could unlock 1% of his strength, required three materials. Gold could substitute for missing materials. The Demon Sealing Blade needed 150 gold to replace the remaining two components. Once forged, he could equip it in his Equipment Slot and activate its effect.

After receiving the experience points, Han Wu knew what he had to do. “I have to hunt down more.”

Han Wu sprinted toward the next nest. This time, he encountered a liger. Only one occupied the nest. It appeared that it had survived in the nest for a longer period as it had reached Level 2. Defeating it with just 1% of his strength proved difficult. With True Demon King Transformation active, he could use 2% of his strength.

Han Wu defeated the liger in six seconds, and it dissolved into experience points, filling the bar completely. He reached Level 2, and three choices appeared before him.

[1: Unlock 1% strength]

[2: Unlock 1 Ability Slot]

[3: Unlock 1 Equipment Slot]

After a brief hesitation, Han Wu chose to unlock an Ability Slot. He suspected that it allowed him to equip one of his Skills, and the system quickly proved him right. A list of his many Skills opened before him. Without hesitation, he selected the strongest among them: Black Dragonification.

He already had the True Demon King Transformation and hoped to fuse the two to unlock the Black Dragon King Transformation, his trump card.

As expected, a notification appeared once he chose it.

[Detected high compatibility between the True Demon King Transformation and Black Dragonification. You may spend 8 Points to unlock your new ability: Black Dragon King Transformation.]

Han Wu was stumped. Unlocking it required 8 Points, yet he was only Level 2! The demand felt so unreasonable that he would have preferred the system rob him outright.

Waiting until Level 10 just to obtain the Black Dragon King Transformation was not an option, and he could not leave the choice unmade. With no alternatives, he was forced to shelve the plan for now.