Wen Yu carefully savored the powerful strength that being a Soul Master brought him and turned to glance at the Soul Beast floating on his shoulder.
This profession is great in many ways, but this Soul Beast is too conspicuous. Once seen, it cannot be forgotten. From now on, I won't be able to hide my identity.
The little Soul Beast was small and round, even smaller than a ping-pong ball. Its body shivered non-stop. Seeing its master observing it, it affectionately rubbed against Wen Yu's cheek—a cool, icy touch that felt rather comfortable.
Wen Yu quirked a corner of his mouth. This little creature was going to be his lifetime companion. Through their touch just now, the little Soul Beast had clearly transmitted feelings of happiness and curiosity. It made Wen Yu realize that this little thing wasn't a lifeless object but an unknown life form with its own thoughts.
The exit from the treasure land had opened the moment he opened the treasure chest. Seeing the silver vortex, about a person's height, Wen Yu squinted, remembering Cyclops, the beast that had forced him here.
Honestly, Wen Yu was very grateful to Cyclops. If it weren't for this beast, he would have surely become a Warrior and missed out on such a perfect profession.
What should I give you in return? Hmm, I'll just send you to hell as quickly as possible, Wen Yu thought.
Looking at the silver vortex before him, he knew a beast might be lurking in the bushes outside, waiting for him. However, Wen Yu was well aware that a mere mutant dog could no longer stop him.
His future lay far ahead, encompassing the entire world.
So, what heights could he reach in this world, and what role could he play?
I'm really looking forward to it.
...
At this point, only twenty minutes had passed since Wen Yu entered the treasure land.
「Outside.」
In the convenience store within Wen Yu's residential complex, where the treasure land had opened, Cyclops stared at the silver vortex before it, puzzled.
Its high intelligence told it that just moments ago, its almost-captured meal—its old neighbor—had been sucked into this silver vortex and disappeared.
Reality lay bare before Cyclops's eye: this strange vortex was the culprit that had stolen its prey.
With its only remaining eye, Cyclops stared intently at the silver vortex, slowly pacing. This posture was a precursor to an attack.
However, Cyclops gradually despaired. No matter how it moved, the "enemy" before it revealed no weaknesses.
Cyclops even suspected that this entity might be more powerful than itself.
Deciding not to wait any longer, Cyclops swiftly lunged at the silver vortex. With a sharp ZAP! Cyclops let out a pained howl and quickly retreated.
No wounds appeared on its body. The instant Cyclops made contact with the entrance to the treasure land, the treasure land had spontaneously released a silver flash that fiercely pierced into Cyclops's body.
This was the treasure land's punishment for non-human creatures that touched it—a Soul Attack. The effect was intense pain, but it caused no physical injury.
Cyclops didn't dare to move recklessly anymore. The attack just now had made it experience a long-forgotten pain. After all, since a human had blinded one of its eyes, Cyclops hadn't felt such intense agony for a very long time.
Of course, Cyclops had no idea that the thing before it was called a treasure land.
And a treasure land was certainly not something a mutant creature could attack.
Just as Cyclops was considering whether to give up on the human inside and leave, the vortex before it suddenly changed.
The constantly rotating silver vortex gradually slowed to a halt. The soft, silver-white light also began to dim, and the vortex, originally the size of a fist, continuously shrank.
Then, when it had shrunk to the size of a little finger, the vortex suddenly burst open, emitting a dazzling silver light.
Cyclops's only remaining eye was almost blinded by this silver light. Startled, it whipped its head away, violently shaking its massive dog-like head to alleviate the aftereffects of the flash.
"TSK, TSK. Now I finally have time to take a good look at you," Wen Yu said. "It's been a while. You've gotten even uglier, you beast."
Hearing the voice, Cyclops sharply leaped backward. Then, squinting its eye, the irritation now much reduced, it looked toward the spot where the silver vortex had been.
The bizarre vortex had vanished, replaced by a very familiar human—its prey from before.
However, the human before it made Cyclops somewhat confused. His figure and appearance hadn't changed much: a tall, thin body, clothes torn by Cyclops. What was strange was that the hands and feet it had ripped off had grown back. Moreover, a small, round ball now floated on his shoulder.
Cyclops glanced at Wen Yu's newly grown limbs, then at the severed parts it hadn't finished eating on the ground. Its brain, not yet highly evolved, couldn't comprehend the situation at all.
Wen Yu also looked at the discarded limbs on the ground and let out a heavy breath.
He wasn't afraid of severed limbs, naturally. But when those severed limbs were his own, and he wasn't actually missing any parts thanks to his regeneration, it always evoked a peculiar sensation.
Cyclops decided to ignore these complexities. The limbs growing back was even better; it meant more flesh and blood for it to consume, allowing it to evolve faster.
Moreover, the human before it wore a faint smile, his eyes filled with mockery as he looked at Cyclops. That gaze was just like the one Cyclops itself had previously used on humans—playful and derisive.
Consequently, Cyclops was enraged by the human's gaze.
It had seen such gazes many times. It wasn't until it had armed itself with savagery and ferocity that such gazes gradually diminished, replaced by fear and—revulsion.
Therefore, nothing could mock or ridicule it anymore. Nothing could hurt it anymore. The human before it had to be killed. It would tear him to pieces and eat him bit by bit, just like the previous humans it had devoured.
Wen Yu watched the beast arch its body before him, preparing to strike. He took a slight step back, carefully observing Cyclops's movements.
The moment he exited the treasure land, Wen Yu had been ready for battle. His earlier mockery had been intended to provoke Cyclops's anger.
Wen Yu knew that a creature that had evolved into a Level 1 mutant beast at the very beginning of the apocalypse possessed enormous potential. It was definitely among the top tier of mutant creatures. Furthermore, the combat capabilities of a wild beast were far superior to those of a human.
A fetid gust of wind washed over Wen Yu. Cyclops had launched its attack. Its huge, foul mouth lunged viciously at Wen Yu's neck. If that bite connected, Wen Yu's fate would be no better than that of its previous victims.
Wen Yu's heart tightened. So fast! Earlier, Cyclops had probably been toying with its prey, not fully unleashing its strength.
But now, the enraged Cyclops's sudden lunge made Wen Yu realize that this beast before him had devoured numerous zombies and humans. It was no longer a newly evolved creature with a body Attribute of only 2. Based on his experience, Wen Yu judged that Cyclops's body Attributes had reached at least 5.