Chapter 8 The Root of the Mutation_1

Jiang Chen, in order to better absorb the Mecha's power,

specially switched the model Zero Mecha to balanced form.

Although brute strength and extreme speed, in extreme conditions, might be more powerful,

the previous muscle Mutant had already proven the flaws and pathological nature of extreme attributes.

Even with the power to overwhelm Jiang Chen, without agility as support, it was nothing more than a castle in the air.

Thus, if one were to absorb attributes, it would be better to be as balanced as possible.

The extreme forms could be compensated through the Mecha.

However, even the balanced form with its two-point defense couldn't withstand the Mutant's frenzied biting and attacks.

As the Armor Value plummeted and the vine fibers snapped, numerous cracks appeared on the surface of the Mecha.

"Crack!"

After a crisp sound followed by the flicker of sparks,

the Mecha shattered into countless fragments, then transformed into wisps of white light, surging towards the Abyss Rune in the palm of the hand.

The early-stage Mutant let out an excited screech and viciously bit toward the smooth arm exposed after the Mecha shattered.

There was a loud crunch, but it bit into empty space.

Instead, a right hand had grasped its skull.

[Talent Trigger: Undying Barehand, Mecha absorbed: model Zero, type one.]

Jiang Chen narrowed his eyes slightly, looking rather comfortable.

After the Mecha shattered, he clearly felt a surge of power leave the armor and flow into his body.

This power did not change his physique or appearance, nor did it turn him into a muscle monster like those special Mutants.

It merely made his figure more symmetrical and muscular.

With this strength, he easily dodged the early-stage Mutant's pounce and grabbed its skull.

No matter how desperately the early-stage Mutant struggled, his right hand didn't budge.

Even its frantic clawing couldn't scratch his skin; it could only leave a few white marks.

"Strength, agility, defense..."

"With this kind of performance, have I already surpassed the human category with just one absorption of the model Zero Mecha?"

Jiang Chen applied a little force with his right hand.

The early-stage Mutant's skull burst like a watermelon, splattering purple fluid all over him.

He looked at the corpse that fell to the ground and the purple fluid on his hands and body and was silent for a while.

This is bad, it was too easy.

Before, when he was wearing the Mecha, even if he got smeared with these fluids, he didn't feel it through the thick clothes and helmet.

Now that he's touched this slippery liquid with his bare hands, he suddenly felt nauseated.

With a lift of his hand, he tore off the long-sleeved shirt stained with the purple liquid, revealing his well-built upper body. He wiped the liquid off his right hand, tossed the shirt aside casually.

"Repairing the Mecha will take ten hours; I'd better wait it out on the rooftop."

"Try not to get any more of this stuff on me... it's disgusting."

"And meanwhile, test and familiarize myself with the enhanced strength."

"Speaking of which, when I absorbed the Mecha's power, I didn't spare the modules either."

"I should be able to use the [Uncontrollable Mutation] ability, right?"

Jiang Chen first used [Active Repair] to put the damaged model Zero Mecha into repair countdown mode.

Then, he attempted to activate the power within him.

Uncontrollable Mutation!

An instant saw the muscles on his upper body inflate like a balloon, bulking up significantly in a mere moment.

One punch smashed out and actually dented the metal shell of a helicopter!

"Hisss..."

Jiang Chen took a sharp breath.

Now he was really no longer human.

...

This power drawn from his innate talent felt as if it had been with him from birth, he wielded it like an extension of his arm.

Jiang Chen hardly needed any practice to perfectly control this strength.

Even after activating [Uncontrollable Mutation] and altering his muscular form, Jiang Chen felt no loss of control over his strength.

He could still use delicate devices like a smartphone normally, without worrying about poking a hole through the screen.

This relief washed over him.

He did not wish for strength to come at the cost of everyday life, like accidentally twisting off a faucet when trying to wash his face...

Come to think of it, even Superman had kids with Lois.

With the power he had now, there was no chance of losing control.

Once accustomed to his strength, Jiang Chen continued to clear out the early stage Mutants at the rooftop access point.

However, early stage Mutants were not endless.

Aside from considering the spread of noise and the number of Mutants in a high-rise, there was also the problem of corpses.

Two hours later, no more Mutants appeared.

Jiang Chen moved the metal barrier to take a peek and found the passage completely blocked by corpses, covered in disgusting purple mucus.

So he temporarily gave up on further farming.

Instead, he rested on the rooftop, waiting for the Mecha to recover.

Time ticked by second by second.

About six hours later, the sun slowly set, retracting its last rays of light, but the clear moon did not rise in the sky.

Instead, faint purple light glowed in the city below the high-rise.

Jiang Chen stood on the edge of the roof, looking down.

He noticed that the greenery, which looked quite normal during the day, now appeared translucent.

Their branches and stems resembled slender tubes, flowing with purple-glowing liquid, and one could vaguely make out spherical shadows within.

At a glance, the vast city seemed like an ocean of purple.

Jiang Chen beheld this magnificent sight.

He couldn't help but recall the descriptions and introductions of the roots in the items and modules he had obtained.

As well as the fibrous form displayed after the model Zero Mecha was equipped with a module.

A thought flickered through his mind.

"Could these plants actually be the source of the virus from the meteorite outer space?"

According to the background of the trial world, a meteorite from beyond brought a mysterious biochemical virus, and even though the Empire quickly used weapons of mass destruction, they couldn't stop the spread of the virus.

But the introduction did not reveal what the virus actually was.

Initially, Jiang Chen thought it was some kind of air-transmitted zombie virus, which is why civilization crumbled within three days.

Now, it seemed that wasn't the case.

Perhaps, the plants spread throughout the city were the real carriers of the virus.

The Mutants were infected and parasitized by the plants, which led to their mutation.

To verify his idea, Jiang Chen picked up a piece of iron and sliced open a Mutant corpse.

Indeed, within the purple mucus, he saw some extremely fine pale purple fibers that would have been impossible to notice without intent observation.

Jiang Chen tossed aside the iron piece, standing on the edge of the roof, gazing at the colossal vines entwining the high-rise beneath him.

"So it seems..."

"The most formidable mutated creature in this kilometer-tall building is definitely not some special Mutant..."

"But the vine itself."

"It is the so-called [Abyss Rune], the very source of the mutation for this building, even for the entire city."

Jiang Chen licked his dry lips.

If he could destroy it, he would certainly receive a commendable evaluation in the trial.

...

The night grew deeper.

After ten hours, the model Zero Mecha finally completed its repairs.

Jiang Chen stood on the rooftop, clenched his right fist, and summoned the Mecha once again.

This time, more than just white light appeared.

Numerous tiny pale purple vines crawled out from the [Abyss Rune], covering his body, solidifying instantly as the white light faded.

The warrior clad in pale purple armor appeared right there.