Chapter 31: Sabertooth Wolf
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Name: Alex Campbell
Power Level: 7.1
Progenitor Transformation: 10/100%
Lifeforce: 1,148/2,000
Cultivation Level: Foundation Stage - Early Level
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[King, I detect a lair of Sabertooth wolves, one kilometer toward the southeast. This should be the best place to fill everything in one go.]
Alex turned and then started sprinting in that direction. It didn't take him long to reach the area. He was now looking down from a hill. Below him was an entrance to a cavern.
[Please be careful, King. Even though the monsters in this area are weaker than those in a Category One dungeon, the area is small.
In the worst case, they can ambush you repeatedly, making you run out of life force,] Vesa warned.
Alex began observing the structure of the area and then asked, "Vesa, as long as they are freshly dead, no matter the condition of the body, you can absorb its life force, right?"
[Yes, King.]
Alex's lips curled upward into a cold smile. A map appeared in front of his eyes, showing the terrain of the surrounding area and the location of the saber-toothed wolves.
'Good, they are gathering in one spot. After this, I can return,' he thought.
He then started calculating the trajectory, angle, and after-effect of the impact.
Alex's muscles tensed as the Qi and Mana within his body strengthened his legs even further. He jumped up, leaving a spiderweb crack in the ground.
Alex then started pointing his body toward the targeted location marked by the interface.
The hammerhead then angled downward, and Alex started changing its weight. Gravity began to do its work, amplifying his momentum.
Boom!
Alex fell like a meteor, crushing the small hill beneath him. Dust, dirt, and rocks were flung everywhere. The creatures inside didn't even have time to flee before they were crushed under the weight of the ground.
As the dust settled, Alex stood atop the crumbled hill.
His right hand was wounded, with skin cracked and flesh torn, but it didn't take long for it to start regenerating. Alex didn't directly absorb the life force since he could still sense a presence.
The ground vibrated with a rumble, and debris flew through the air. From within the rubble, a muscular wolf with black fur coated in red blood, sporting red eyes emerged.
Two long, sharp fangs protruded from its upper jaw, and smoke emanated from its body as its wounds began to heal.
The wolf's jaws gaped open, and with a swift leap, it lunged toward Alex, knowing he was responsible for its pack's demise.
Alex's movements were slowed due to his ongoing recovery.
"A mutation? I've never seen a saber-toothed wolf with abilities before," he thought.
Alex quickly calculated his next move. He released the hammer in his hand, spun his body, then grabbed it with his left and threw the hammer into the air.
The wolf's jaws closed in on him. There was a sickening squelch as its teeth sank into his left hand. However, Alex merely smiled.
With a resounding BAM, the hammer swiftly descended, striking the creature directly on its back. The wolf howled in pain as its body was crushed under the weight of the hammer.
Utilizing his now-recovered right hand, Alex took out a prototype storage box he had made earlier.
This particular one was deemed a failure due to its excessive energy consumption and peculiar limitation: despite its size, it could only contain one item.
Alex hadn't had the time to look into the details of the cause of this problem, but he knew this one had no limitation on putting living creatures inside.
He just needed to put the wolf, the surrounding ground, and the air inside.
Alex wanted to look at the wolf mutation since its ability seemed to allow it to heal.
Who knows, this could provide more solutions to heal Emily.
He pointed the cube toward the wolf. As it was wounded, the wolf could not fight back.
Its body and the ground around it turned into light as Alex transferred everything inside into the cube.
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Name: Sabertooth Wolf (Mutated)
Power Level: 3.2
Lifeforce: 75/180
Ability:
Predator's Surge
Burn Mana to instantly recover wounds and double your power level. After the state, wounds will return, and the power level is reduced by half for 24 hours.
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[King, I think we can utilize the slave contract formation in the storage box.
If we modify it correctly, we can use it to capture a weakened monster, then automatically enslave it. I am sure this will be very helpful for you and the Queen.]
"It's not the time, Vesa." Alex had also thought of this possibility, but now there are more important things he needs to do.
His eyes glinted red, and from the cracks and crevices of the ground, many green particles started floating into the air.
It was like fireflies in the middle of the night, but with a green hue. The life force began to move through the air, twisting and weaving into Alex's body.
Lifeforce: 1,848/2,000
[We should have gained more Lifeforce if it weren't for your reckless fighting, King.]
"No need to repeat it, Vesa. I wouldn't do this if it weren't for the situation. I won't make this a habit," Alex answered as he ran back toward the facility.
Hearing his answer, Vesa felt relieved.
That way of fighting without caring for his own well-being was dangerous and not effective.
Even disregarding the pain, every healing took a lot of life force, and it wouldn't improve Alex's fighting style at all.
What if Alex met an enemy that could disrupt Lifeforce regeneration?
He would be quickly defeated. And Vesa knew they had many enemies like this; otherwise, the vampire race would already dominate the universe.
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In the facility, Alex had now returned to Emily's side. "What now, Vesa?"
[I will do the rest. One more thing, King, this took part of my energy.
Now I won't be able to open a portal to another world before the Queen kills an immortal or you take down a Category Five dungeon boss.]