NOVEL WEB CHAPTER 163
Yamamoto Yuichiro, once a mere 1.6 meters tall, now roared with a fury that echoed through the Black Mist Zone. His body, fueled by the power of Origin Energy, began to expand rapidly.
He grew and grew, until he towered at an imposing three meters. Fleshy tumors erupted across his skin, resembling muscle tissue but far more grotesque. His clothes ripped apart, revealing a network of black, worm-like veins writhing beneath the surface.
Sharp, knife-like nails sprouted from his fingers, but the most horrifying transformation was yet to come.
Yamamoto's head swelled, his features twisting into a mask of terror. Beside his original head, a second, decaying human head emerged, a silent and gruesome companion.
Zombies took many forms, most of them twisted and deformed. Level 4 Mortal Realm Devourers retained some semblance of humanity, but as they consumed diverse genes, their own genetic makeup descended into chaos.
Devourers like Gris Klass, who focused on specific genes, could maintain their human form. However, most Level 5 Mortal Realm zombies, even Devourers, became monstrous hybrids, neither human nor zombie.
Yamamoto was one such creature.
However, the Undead Clan's long heritage had yielded unique Origin Power Skills that allowed high-level zombies to maintain their original appearance. This meant Yamamoto's current monstrous form was his true self; the humanoid guise he'd worn before was merely a facade.
Yamamoto, restored to his true nature, gazed towards the Nanxiang gathering place. His arrival had caused chaos and fear, a sight that filled him with delight and fueled his twisted desires.
"Enjoy everything that's coming..." he muttered, eager to begin his hunt.
He advanced slowly, savoring the fear he was generating. He wanted it to fester and grow, becoming the sweetest wine.
But suddenly, a voice boomed from the sky, forcing Yamamoto to look up in astonishment.
Not long after Yamamoto's transformation, a figure emerged from the Nanxiang gathering place, streaking through the air towards him.
It was Lu Ming.
Accompanied by a series of sonic booms, Lu Ming closed the distance rapidly. He soon made out Yamamoto's horrific form and the chilling aura that radiated from him.
"It's a little stronger than the Birdman... but still limited..." Lu Ming assessed.
The monster before him likely fell between Level 2 and Level 3 of the Physique Realm, translating to an attribute range of 20,000 to 40,000. Formidable, indeed.
In his Self-Limitation state, Lu Ming's attributes were:
- Strength: 12,132.2
- Physique: 12,132.1
- Agility: 12,141.2
- Free Attribute Points: 2,508
The monster's strength lay somewhere between Lu Ming's normal and explosive states. A brief contemplation in mid-air led Lu Ming to a swift decision.
"Better to finish this off quickly."
There was no need to prolong the fight with a weaker opponent. Lu Ming's path was one of absolute dominance.
In an instant, intense heat surged from every pore of Lu Ming's body, enveloping him in a misty haze. His form expanded rapidly. By the time he landed before Yamamoto, he had transformed into a twelve-meter-tall giant with four eyes and six arms.
The Desperate State, activated!
Yamamoto: "???"
Death-Restraining Zombie Snake: "???"
The two zombies stood dumbfounded as Lu Ming loomed over them. Regardless of their strength, the sheer sight of Lu Ming in his Desperate State was enough to instill fear.
Yamamoto frowned, ready to speak, but Lu Ming's fist was already in motion.
A heavy blow landed, the force of a perfected Explosive Fist surging into Yamamoto's body.
Lu Ming had no time for pleasantries with a monster far weaker than himself.
This Explosive Fist was less forceful than usual, but its terror was magnified by the precision of its delivery. The full power of the punch was channeled directly into Yamamoto's core, detonating within him.
"Splurt, splurt."
Explosive sounds erupted from Yamamoto's body, a symphony of agony and impending death. The pain momentarily cleared his mind.
"I'm going to die..." he realized, then corrected himself, "No, I'm already dead."
The punch force continued to erupt, relentless and unstoppable until Yamamoto was finished.
Yamamoto knew his fate was sealed. Yet, instead of fear, he felt a twisted curiosity. Why was there such a monster in Nanxiang?
With his last ounce of strength, Yamamoto launched a desperate counterattack against Lu Ming.
Zombies were brutal, and Yamamoto had his own bloodlust!
The decaying human head on his shoulder abruptly opened its eyes, unleashing a black beam of light from its sockets. The beam struck Lu Ming's right arm with the speed of light.
It was like a hot knife through butter. Yamamoto's black Death Ray was the knife, and Lu Ming's honed body was the butter.
Blood splattered as Lu Ming's right arm was severed at the shoulder.
But an astonishing sight followed.
Countless flesh buds sprouted from the wound, tiny hands that caught Lu Ming's falling arm. They pulled it back, reattaching it to his shoulder...
"What a shame," Yamamoto uttered.
The erupting fist force within him had thrown off his aim; the Death Ray was meant for Lu Ming's head.
"Damn!" Lu Ming cursed.
He was fortunate the shot missed. A hit to a vital area would have been catastrophic.
His left fist slammed out, shattering both of Yamamoto's heads.
This time, Yamamoto had no chance to react. He fell to the ground, lifeless.
"I underestimated the enemy..." Lu Ming murmured, landing a few more punches on Yamamoto's lifeless body.
He replayed the brief battle in his mind, shaking his head. "Not exactly underestimating. This monster wasn't that strong, definitely weaker than me in my Desperate State."
"But that light was lethal. I couldn't block it."
The speed and sharpness of the beam were impossible to evade or defend against. Had he not acted decisively, channeling his power into Yamamoto, the outcome might have been disastrous.
A shiver of fear ran through him. "This monster taught me a lesson today," Lu Ming realized.
He had always believed in avoiding unnecessary battles. One could never be sure of an opponent's hidden trump card and the damage it could inflict.
As he reflected, something caught his eye. The elongated, eye-headed creature on Yamamoto's neck twitched twice. Smoke billowed from its body, obscuring its form until it vanished completely.
Lu Ming scratched his head, a question finally surfacing in his mind.
"What were those two monsters, exactly?"