Chapter 94: Combat Power Assessment, Level-3 Flame Tusk Boar

After advancing to level 3 as an evolver, Zhang Ran’s attributes had already surpassed those of the level 3 Black Scale Giant across the board. It was no exaggeration to say that within the realm of level 3 life, whether evolvers, mutant beasts, hybrids, or shambling corpses and other mutated creatures, almost none could hope to exceed Zhang Ran.

In fact, because of the Tree of Evolution, once he became a level 3 evolver, Zhang Ran’s attributes were only slightly lower than those of a level 4 evolver. And once he activated the newly acquired ability Boiling Blood, his four core attributes would rise to 13.2, 9.8, 10.0, and 8.8 respectively, surpassing ordinary level 4 evolvers in every aspect.

Especially in strength, Zhang Ran could even rival a level 5 evolver. Even level 5 evolvers in the combat domain had strength only around 13 points, and might not necessarily exceed Zhang Ran when he unleashed Boiling Blood.

Thus, in overall combat power, even among level 4 evolvers, Zhang Ran would rank near the top. If he were to fight the Black Scale Giant again, even if three of them surrounded him at once, they would not be able to threaten him. The only result would be their deaths.

Although he was very satisfied with his progress, the moment Zhang Ran recalled the sight of Link’s earlier strike, the sense of achievement that had just risen in his heart was swiftly extinguished once more.

Compared with ordinary level 3 evolvers, Zhang Ran’s combat strength was already outstanding, but against a powerhouse of Link’s hunter class, Zhang Ran would absolutely be killed in a single blow, with no chance of resistance at all, let alone the even more terrifying beings that existed in the wasteland world.

Although Zhang Ran possessed extraordinary evolutionary abilities and the Tree of Evolution, with limitless potential and infinite possibilities, before those strong beings he was still nothing more than an ant, liable to be erased with a mere thought.

Having lived two lives, Zhang Ran naturally understood the gap between talent and strength. Thus, he quickly snuffed out the pride in his heart, constantly urging himself to remain cautious and never slacken, to press forward unwaveringly on the road of evolution. In the wilderness, only the strong were worthy of true dignity.

After thinking this through, Zhang Ran once again picked up the heavy Shattering Army greatsword in his hand, weighed it twice, and then twitched at the corner of his mouth, frowning slightly.

"At this point, this Shattering Army is already a bit too light. It seems that after advancing to level 3, my attributes have improved significantly, and this first-generation Shattering Army no longer matches my body perfectly."

"Moreover, my enemies will soon include level 4 and even stronger mutated creatures. The sharpness of this first-generation Shattering Army, forged from level 2 alloy, is also somewhat insufficient. It looks like the matter of forging a second-generation Shattering Army with level 3 alloy must be brought onto the schedule as early as possible."

Though he thought this, Zhang Ran also knew that with the Black Hawk coins he currently possessed, he could not yet make that happen.

Compared with level 2 alloy, the price of level 3 alloy was a full ten times higher, reaching about 5,000 Black Hawk coins per kilogram. In Zhang Ran’s plan, the second-generation Shattering Army would weigh around 200 kilograms. Just the material cost alone would come to one million Black Hawk coins.

After hunting, Zhang Ran currently had only around five hundred thousand Black Hawk coins. Even paying for the materials left him short by about half. In addition, forging a weapon from level 3 alloy required a more skilled artisan, and the labor cost would also be no small sum.

Not only that, level 3 alloy could already bear three attributes of psionic enchantment. Zhang Ran intended to enchant it with the three attributes of Sharpness, Armor Break, and Heavy Strike.

Compared with single-attribute enchantment, triple-attribute enchantment had to be carried out by a higher-level evolver and also required special materials. That was yet another enormous expense.

After a rough estimate, creating this second-generation Shattering Army would cost Zhang Ran at least two million Black Hawk coins, far beyond his current means.

For a level 3 mutant creature, the average purchase price was around 3,500 Black Hawk coins. In other words, even if Zhang Ran killed three hundred level 3 mutant creatures and successfully advanced to level 4 evolver, he still probably would not be able to save enough funds.

However, once the second-generation Shattering Army was successfully forged, it would absolutely raise Zhang Ran’s combat power by a huge margin, enough to serve him all the way into the level 6 or even level 7 evolver stage. It was unquestionably worth it.

"Chip, use the remaining computing power to re-derive the four great sword techniques based on my physique!"

Although there was still some distance before the second-generation Shattering Army could be forged, there was no financial restriction on updating the four great sword techniques. So Zhang Ran silently issued the command to the chip in his mind.

"Ding! Command received. Beginning derivation..."

Along with the chip’s prompt, it concentrated its remaining computing power and began once more to optimize the four great sword techniques, while Zhang Ran left his apartment and headed to a nearby restaurant for a meal.

...

The next day, dawn.

After half a day of adjustment, together with the chip’s simulated combat space, Zhang Ran had completely adapted to his body after advancement. The unfamiliarity and stiffness that had accompanied his breakthrough were gone.

Another point worth mentioning was that after Zhang Ran advanced to level 3 evolver, the chip’s simulation space had expanded to 3,000 square meters, the strongest enemy it could simulate had reached level 4 evolver, and the available time had extended to six hours, further increasing its usefulness to Zhang Ran.

After about two hours of travel, Zhang Ran had arrived roughly 100 kilometers away from Black Hawk Corporation. In this area there were fairly large numbers of level 3 mutant creatures, as well as a certain number of level 4 mutant creatures.

Although he now possessed strength comparable to a level 4 evolver, Zhang Ran did not recklessly press deeper into the wilderness. Hunting in this region was ideal for his growth, and the danger would not be too great.

With a thought, Zhang Ran activated the chip’s search function and began scanning the wilderness.

The chip’s search relied on Zhang Ran’s senses. After advancing to level 3 evolver, his eyesight had reached several kilometers, but because the wilderness was dimly lit and heavily obstructed by vast clouds of radiation, Zhang Ran’s visual range was only about one kilometer.

Even so, at that distance, everything Zhang Ran saw could be collected by the chip and analyzed and judged, allowing it to uncover enemy traces from the slightest clue.

"Ding! A level 3 Flame Tusk Wild Boar has appeared to the host’s right. Suitable for hunting. It has already been marked for you!"

Compared with level 2 mutant creatures, level 3 mutant creatures were far fewer in number. The birth of each level 3 mutant creature required one level 2 mutant creature to devour more than ten creatures of the same tier. It was a full forty minutes before the chip’s prompt finally rang in Zhang Ran’s ear.

"A level 3 Flame Tusk Wild Boar? Not bad. Then let’s use it as today’s appetizer."

With a thought, Zhang Ran nodded in satisfaction, then looked in the direction indicated by the chip.