Chapter 39: Chapter 39: Skill Mutation
"Maintain it, at least for two days of martial law in the entire city. We must ensure that not a single Burrowing Rat can escape."
"Burrowing Rats have incredible reproductive capabilities. If even a few escape and are given time to breed and thrive, they could very possibly trigger another Beast Tide."
"Especially with the virus infecting these Burrowing Rats, the likelihood of another Beast Tide is significantly heightened."
"Our urgent priority now is to find ways to close the Secret Realm Rift."
"Although the email indicated that the rift will automatically repair itself within a day, closing it earlier will significantly reduce the risk."
The presence of the Secret Realm Rift allows a continuous stream of Burrowing Rats to pour out from the Secret Realm.
Although the Pet Beast Union swiftly kills the Burrowing Rats rushing out from the rift, handling so many rats simultaneously might cause them to overlook some.
Especially since Burrowing Rats, a type of rodent Exotic Beast, are adept at feigning death and excellent at burrowing when faced with danger.
If the escaped Burrowing Rats form another Beast Tide, the previous vigilance would become a laughingstock.
Beast Tides are feared because, during the tide, Exotic Beasts frantically devour every living creature, leaving barren tracks in their wake.
During this process, their Level increases rapidly, without any bottlenecks.
It is extremely challenging for ordinary Exotic Beasts to break through from Tier One to Tier Two, but during a Beast Tide, Tier One to Tier Two becomes much easier.
This phenomenon is very peculiar; according to expert and professor studies, Exotic Beasts might secrete a special signal hormone during a Beast Tide.
Stimulated by the signal hormone, the cells of Exotic Beasts generate a craving, compelling them to devour anything beneficial to themselves, achieving a leap in life.
Wang Jinyin previously sent people into the Secret Realm to investigate, discovering that the Secret Realm was overrun with Burrowing Rats. They had ravaged the entire realm, leaving nothing.
Even their offspring had become their food.
This indicates that the Burrowing Rats’ reproduction has exceeded the Secret Realm’s capacity.
Even without the Space Rift, these Burrowing Rats would engage in mutual slaughter to restore the realm’s balance.
During this process, Burrowing Rats attack relentlessly, even after death, their blood and flesh become nourishment for their companions.
This increases the chance of fostering High Tier Exotic Beasts.
The appearance of the Space Rift diverted the attention of the fighting Burrowing Rats, shifting their target to the outside world.
"These Burrowing Rats are infected with an unknown virus, making them more bloodthirsty and insane."
"They have completely lost their minds, now only possessing primitive desires to attack and reproduce."
"They will devour large quantities of food and undergo a life leap."
"I fear the appearance of High Tier Exotic Beasts."
"Thus, we must kill these Burrowing Rats at all costs to prevent significant impact on Jiaying City."
"Warn those newly-joined Pet Beast Masters at the Pet Beast Union to be cautious, because once Burrowing Rats evolve to Tier Two Bloodstorm Rats, they become exceptionally hard to kill."
"If not severely injured in one strike, Bloodstorm Rats will quickly recover."
"If these creatures devour enough blood and flesh, they might break through to Tier Three."
Wang Jinyin repeatedly exhorted.
In this Beast Tide, there will surely be many Burrowing Rats advancing to Tier Two, possibly even breaking through to Tier Three.
Jiaying City doesn’t produce minerals heavily, so the probability of Burrowing Rats evolving into Bloodstorm Rats is higher.
"How is the evacuation situation in Shen Mountain Middle School and other major middle schools in Jiaying City?"
Wang Jinyin asked his secretary.
"All major middle schools have opened shelters, with teachers patrolling to prevent Burrowing Rat invasions."
"We’ve developed a patrol car emitting subsonic waves targeted specifically at Burrowing Rats, based on their traits."
"Patrols have started with two-person teams across the streets."
"When Burrowing Rats hear the subsonic waves, it’s like countless nails are hammered into their heads."
"They become extremely agitated, drilling out from hidden places to attack patrol cars. Rest assured, Sir."
Wang Jinyin rubbed his throbbing brow: "I feel like we’re overlooking something."
"I have a persistent bad feeling. It’s odd, we’ve done everything we should."
Wang Jinyin felt nervous and uneasy, a rare feeling for him.
"Additionally, speed up identifying the person with the Future Prediction Talent—he is extremely important to us and the entire Flame Country."
"We must find and protect him, as Future Prediction is an S-tier talent."
Wang Jinyin stated firmly.
Typically, members of the Flame Country Alliance are tested for awakening the Pet Beast Space at age 16, during senior year, and their awakened talents are identified.
According to scientific research, awakening becomes very difficult beyond 16 years of age.
Nonetheless, some might awaken their Pet Beast Space and talents after 16.
The person who awakened the Future Prediction Talent likely experienced spontaneous talent awakening, becoming a Pet Beast Master, and thus wasn’t recorded by the Flame Country Alliance.
On the other side, the Blood Steel Rat was struck by the Thousand-Change Silkworm, now lying bald with blood holes on its back.
It had sprayed its steel spikes in one go, and not a single spike hit the Thousand-Change Silkworm, infuriating the Blood Steel Rat.
Their spikes are disposable.
Now, it must replenish enough metallic substance to regrow spikes on its back.
But Ye Bai won’t give the Blood Steel Rat this opportunity.
Now resembling a toothless tiger, the Blood Steel Rat poses no threat to the Thousand-Change Silkworm.
"Thousand-Change Silkworm, deliver the final blow to the Blood Steel Rat, use Roll, and crash into it!!"
Thousand-Change Silkworm, like a heavyweight battle tank, compressed over the Blood Steel Rat’s body.
The Blood Steel Rat spat a mouthful of blood, feeling its organs being crushed.
It lay exhausted on the ground, its exhalation more labored than inhalation.
"The final hit."
Thousand-Change Silkworm slammed its large posterior onto the Blood Steel Rat, completely knocking it out.
Star blue energy surged directly into the body of the Thousand-Change Silkworm, breaking through the bottleneck, leveling up to lv7 (Tier One Level Seven).
At this point, a vine surfaced from the ground, searching the wounded Blood Steel Rat’s head, picking a silver-white Crystal Core.
The vine wrapped around the Crystal Core and handed it to Ye Bai.
Ye Bai casually tossed it to the eagerly-awaiting Thousand-Change Silkworm.
After devouring the Crystal Core, the Thousand-Change Silkworm’s skill bar suddenly included a Steel Skill (1/100) in Beginner stage.
Next, Ye Bai was astonished to see the Steel Skill’s proficiency rapidly increase.
The Steel Skill’s proficiency level quickly became Skilled, while the Hardening Skill disappeared, replaced by the Steel Skill.
"So after devouring a Crystal Core, the skills realized by the Thousand-Change Silkworm automatically meld similar Low Tier skills?"
"Isn’t that a bit extreme."
Ye Bai blinked with an incredulous expression.