Apophis

According to the data, Apophis's monster evolution was about to complete. Bai Xuan calculated carefully. If he activated the Flowing Mind state and absorbed the surrounding energy, the evolution would be fully completed in about two days. Apophis decided to complete the transformation first before seeking the ancient treasure. At the same time, it was eager to test how much its power had grown.

Apophis pondered, wondering, “Do other monsters have any special techniques?” It thought it best to remain cautious. Its most powerful attack was still the "Constricting Force," mainly relying on its physical strength to crush opponents. Although effective, the methods were rather limited. Given that it was a snake, developing a lethal venom would be a significant threat to its enemies.

Bai Xuan focused and fixed his attention on upgrading the venom ability. Soon, the blue screen displayed the information:

【Consume 1 skill potential point to upgrade racial skill "Venom" to Lv3】

Instantly, a warm current surged through Apophis's mouth. Unable to resist, it opened its mouth, and a jet of black venom shot from its fangs.

“Ssshh—”

The black venom splashed onto the stone wall two to three meters away, emitting thick black smoke. The once-rough rock was quickly corroded, leaving a large gaping hole.

“What a terrifying venom!” Apophis marveled. It knew that natural snake venom was a protein and that logically, as long as there were no cuts in the digestive system, it could even be ingested safely. But this level 3 venom, enhanced by a potential point, had undergone a complete transformation.

“Perhaps... I’m no longer just a snake,” Apophis thought with mixed feelings. Although it understood that this was a part of the system’s enhancements, the thought of becoming something entirely different left it a little uneasy.

But there was no turning back now.

In the following days, Apophis continued its training near the cave. Only at night did it activate the Flowing Mind state to accelerate the evolution. By the morning of the third day, after absorbing the first rays of sunlight, Apophis finally completed its monster evolution.

The text on the blue screen scrolled:

【Monster evolution progress: 100/100】【Host lifeform changing, evolution initiated...】

Suddenly, a wave of excruciating pain hit. Its scales began to shed, muscles twisted, and bones snapped before expanding. The pain was far more intense than its previous molting—at least a hundred times worse. The agony overwhelmed Apophis, and it lost consciousness.

It didn’t know how much time had passed before it slowly regained awareness. The pain had vanished, replaced by an overwhelming sense of relief. Apophis looked down to see thick, sticky shed skin beneath it.

The once pitch-black scales had become finer, smoother, and now emitted a faint gemstone-like glow in the darkness, resembling a crystal sculpture. It moved slightly and—bang!—its massive body collided with the cave wall, causing dust to fall.

But Apophis didn’t care. Its body, which was previously the thickness of a human arm, was now as thick as a human thigh. Its length had also increased significantly. Apophis quickly checked the blue screen.

【Status: Wild Awakening (1/1000)】【Body Length: 15 meters (Upgradeable)】

“So, after evolving, I’ve entered the Wild Awakening stage,” Apophis mused. Its body had elongated by six meters after the transformation, explaining why it felt so powerful now. It seemed that, as a monster, having a larger body was indeed an advantage.

The biggest reward, however, was the three new potential points.

Apophis's first thought was to upgrade the venom again. After all, the level 3 venom had already taken on characteristics similar to sulfuric acid, and upgrading it further might allow it to overpower even great monsters.

Sigh, “Just as I thought.”

After checking the screen, Apophis sighed.

【Racial Skill: Venom Lv3 (Cannot upgrade)】The text had turned gray.

It seemed that the system wasn’t all-powerful, and level 3 venom was the limit for minor monsters.

Since upgrading the venom was no longer possible, Apophis allocated all three potential points to strength. This time, its body only felt warm, without the intense pain. After about an hour, the enhancement was complete.

【Basic Strength Lv3 (Upgradeable)】

However, the once-spacious cave now felt cramped due to Apophis's expanded size. It had no choice but to slither out of the cave. It seemed it would have to find a larger hideout next time.

After familiarizing itself with its new body, Apophis looked up. The sun was already nearing its zenith. Without further delay, it began to move, its massive body gliding through the forest with lightning speed, like a black bolt of energy.

“As expected, a monster’s greatest advantage is its body,” Apophis noted, relishing the sensation of its newfound power. It swiftly headed toward the entrance of the secret realm.

From a distance, it could see a figure pacing back and forth near the entrance.

The figure wore a worn-out black leather armor, stained with patches of dried blood. A few rivets on the shoulder had fallen off. The armor’s owner was a red wolf, with scruffy black fur and large ears tied back. It had clearly just been through a fierce battle, as the fresh blood on its fur was still wet.

The red wolf, lost in thought, suddenly sensed something approaching. Startled, it jumped up, and its eyes met Apophis's enormous figure. Instinctively, it leaped backward, landing five or six meters away, shouting, “Serpent monster, we have no quarrel, right? I’m just passing through, don’t want any trouble.”

Apophis stared silently at the red wolf, not responding immediately. The wolf was visibly trembling, its body tense with fear.

“Why are you here?” Apophis finally spoke, its voice low and commanding.

The red wolf swallowed nervously and answered cautiously, “I’m searching for a medicinal herb to heal my companion. I accidentally wandered here and didn’t expect to encounter you.”

Apophis squinted, trying to discern if the red wolf was telling the truth. It could detect a faint herbal scent emanating from the wolf, suggesting it was indeed searching for plants.

“This place is not meant for outsiders. Leave, now,” Apophis warned.

The red wolf sighed in relief and quickly nodded. “Thank you, Serpent Lord. I’ll leave right away.” With that, it turned and bolted into the forest, disappearing from sight.

Apophis watched the red wolf’s retreating figure, deep in thought. This world was filled with dangers and unknowns. It needed to keep growing stronger to survive.

After confirming its direction, Apophis slithered forward, ready to face new challenges and adventures.