Chapter 90: The Second Evolution Point Condenses, Challenging the Black-Scaled Giant

For those who have undergone evolution, their physical capabilities are several times greater than those of ordinary humans. Correspondingly, their digestive systems are also greatly enhanced compared to normal people. In less than five minutes, the high-energy food Zhang Ran had consumed was fully digested, transformed into energy and nutrients, replenishing the salt and stamina he lost during his intense sprint.

After resting for about ten more minutes, Zhang Ran’s stamina had recovered to nearly eighty percent. He then continued onward, heading away from the direction of the Black-Scaled Giant, beginning his hunt for mutated creatures.

Encounters with high-level mutated creatures crossing boundaries are rare events. Generally, within the entire Black Hawk Corporation’s territory, such incidents may not even occur once in several days. Naturally, Zhang Ran was not so unlucky as to meet two such creatures in succession.

An hour and a half passed swiftly. With overwhelming strength and the assistance of his chip, Zhang Ran smoothly killed three level-2 mutated beasts, accumulating enough evolutionary energy. The embryonic form of his second evolution point began to transform.

Soon, Zhang Ran successfully condensed his second evolution point. Once it took shape, his strength increased by roughly twenty percent.

Now, Zhang Ran’s strength had reached 6.3, constitution 6.2, agility 6.0, and spirit 5.8. Though not quite at the level of a tier-3 evolver, he was far stronger than ordinary tier-2 evolvers.

Compared to the Black-Scaled Giant, Zhang Ran still lagged behind in strength and constitution, but with the boost from his condensed evolution points, this gap was not insurmountable.

After another twenty minutes of rest, ensuring his stamina was fully restored, Zhang Ran set out again at an even pace toward the area where the Black-Scaled Giant had previously appeared.

Soon, the figure of the Black-Scaled Giant appeared before Zhang Ran once more. This time, a corpse of a mutated beast, torn in half and bleeding profusely, lay at its feet.

Upon closer inspection, it was the corpse of a level-2 mutated beast—a Red-Eyed Unicorn Antelope. Though level-2 beasts were not weak, it had been effortlessly ripped apart by the Black-Scaled Giant, its death absolute.

In the giant’s hand, it held a still-bleeding leg of the antelope, chewing continuously. Blood dripped from its mouth, staining its body and the ground below.

For humans, the flesh and blood of most mutated beasts are inedible. Even evolvers, whose bodies are far stronger than ordinary people, generally avoid consuming the meat of mutated beasts for fear of poisoning or genetic contamination.

Yet for mutated creatures, no such taboo exists. In the wilderness, devouring other mutated beings is a universal means of further evolution.

Gazing at the distant Black-Scaled Giant, Zhang Ran’s mind stirred. The rune for “Spatial Box” flashed in his mindscape, and the heavy sword Breaker appeared in his hand. At his waist, he had already secured two magazines, each loaded with three rounds of “Heavy Core” psionic bullets and three rounds of “High-Energy Incendiary” psionic bullets.

Compared to armor-piercing rounds, “Heavy Core” psionic bullets offered significantly greater penetration, speed, and power—even against the Black-Scaled Giant, whose constitution reached 7.6, they could inflict considerable damage.

“High-Energy Incendiary” psionic bullets worked much like incendiary rounds, capable of igniting ability flames with extremely high temperatures that were difficult to extinguish, delivering ongoing harm to mutated creatures.

Sword in hand, Zhang Ran strode toward the Black-Scaled Giant, his form a blur as he charged.

At that moment, the giant noticed Zhang Ran, a murderous gleam in its eyes. It tossed aside the half-eaten antelope leg, picked up a stone the size of a washbasin from the ground, and hurled it at Zhang Ran with tremendous force.

This time, the Black-Scaled Giant did not use its “Explosive Stone Throw” ability, but instead activated another—“Stone Throw”—imbuing the rock with immense speed, hardness, and impact.

Facing the stone, which glimmered with a cyan light, Zhang Ran leapt lightly to the side, evading its strike.

Bang!

The stone landed beside Zhang Ran, colliding with another on the ground. A thunderous crash sounded as it shattered the other stone instantly, leaving a deep crater in the earth.

Had this attack struck head-on, even a level-2 mutated creature would have been pulverized. However, the Black-Scaled Giant’s “Stone Throw” had a notable flaw, much like abilities in the spell domain—it was clumsy and struggled to hit small, agile targets.

Having evaded the giant’s attack, Zhang Ran was now at its side. He leapt, aiming for its neck, and swung Breaker, targeting the giant’s throat.

Simultaneously, Zhang Ran activated his “Blood Pillage” ability. The blood-drop rune in his mindscape lit up, and five blood spikes shot forth, aimed at the giant’s face.

Seeing Zhang Ran’s sword coming, the Black-Scaled Giant roared in fury, activated its “Reinforced Scales” ability, and a black gleam flashed across the scales on its arm as it raised it to meet Zhang Ran’s sword.

Clang!

Midair, Breaker collided with the giant’s arm, producing a sound like metal striking metal, sparks flying.

With this blow, Zhang Ran was sent flying by the giant’s arm, crashing heavily to the ground. His feet plunged nearly ten centimeters into the earth, his blood stirring, arms tingling and numb, and his palms aching slightly.

As for the Black-Scaled Giant, though struck by Zhang Ran’s sword, the blow merely scratched its scales, leaving a white mark but not drawing blood.

Despite the boost from two evolution points, Zhang Ran was still at a disadvantage in direct confrontation, given the more than 1.5-point gap in strength between him and the giant.

Moreover, Breaker was forged from level-2 alloy, its sharpness comparable to the flesh of level-3 mutated beasts. Although Breaker was enchanted with “Sharpness,” the giant had also activated “Reinforced Scales,” so Zhang Ran’s attack failed to penetrate its defense.

However, Zhang Ran’s true intent was not in the sword attack. He hadn’t even employed any of his four sword techniques. In fact, the sword strike was merely a distraction for the giant. As he hung in midair, five razor-sharp blood spikes darted toward the giant’s face.