Evolution Begins with Elemental Domination

Just then, the Wind Fluff surrounding her dissipated. Before she could lose her balance and fall, Su Chen leaped forward and caught her. As his arm wrapped around her waist, he took the opportunity to cast a Healing Skill on her.

The gentle Life Energy quickly soothed the burning muscle pain caused by Frenzy, and the cuts on her fingertips from rapidly drawing the bowstring healed as if they were never there.

Yan Ruoruo froze for a moment, a rare flicker of emotion crossing her eyes, but she quickly returned to her usual cool demeanor.

Once her feet were on the ground, the pressure on her waist loosened. She took a step forward and said quietly, ”...Thanks.”

”I should be the one thanking you.”

Su Chen hadn’t expected her to risk jumping down to join the battle right away. ’My situation wasn’t exactly life-threatening. Even surrounded, I was still holding my own. Worst case, I could have just teleported away.’

’I was just thinking about how to wear down the cave dweller leader and take him out, but then Yan Ruoruo showed up. In a way, she saved me some trouble.’

BUZZ!!

As a summoning circle opened on the ground, Xiaoye reappeared. It used a Shadow Leap attack, instantly flashing next to a distant fleeing figure. A Soul-Splitting Claw pinned the creature down before Xiaoye bit through its neck.

Two Soul-devouring Dog Phantom Clones split off from it once more, and they began to mercilessly tear into the heavily wounded cave dwellers on the ground.

”Are you guys okay?”

At that moment, the sounds of several people came from the tunnel above.

Yan Ruoruo’s jump had thrown the group’s formation into disarray. Worried for the safety of the two below, everyone had no choice but to leap down the vertical corridor after her.

Thankfully, it didn’t turn into a situation where the rescuers needed rescuing.

”Holy cow!!”

Cao Yutang’s face was filled with awe and respect. His most pessimistic assumptions hadn’t come to pass; instead, the outcome of the battle was nearly perfect.

Seven or eight cave dweller corpses were scattered across the area. Under a collapsed pile of rocks, a few more figures struggled, while the two Soul-devouring Dog clones, claws flying, rapidly dug through the rubble to tear apart the remaining enemies.

Even the elite leader, who had been considered the most dangerous threat only yesterday, was now a headless corpse.

However...

The battle was not over yet.

From the tunnel on the right, the cave dwellers who had previously fled turned back. Not only that, but a rustling, scraping sound echoed from the surrounding cave walls as hunched figures poured out like a tide.

Su Chen cast a Lighting Skill forward, revealing an elite leader covered head-to-toe in thick Bone Armor with thorns sprouting from its shoulders. It charged ahead, with nearly twenty more cave dwellers swarming in behind it.

”I’ll handle crowd control.”

Yan Ziqian acted without hesitation. Under the combined power of his Growth Skill and Entanglement Skill Runes, the ground in front of him trembled violently as countless living roots, as thick as pythons, burst from the earth.

Interestingly, the ’Power of Nature’ Rune could also affect these plant roots.

Spurred by a wild, frenzied Power, the ensnaring roots grew even thicker and longer. Several cave dwellers were caught by their ankles, waists, and even necks. Just as they managed to break free, three slender vines would suddenly shoot out from under their feet, wrapping around them with deadly persistence.

Seizing the opportunity, Yan Ruoruo entered Frenzy again, rapidly drawing her bowstring and loosing Wind Split Arrows at every restrained figure.

The elite leader roared; the roots couldn’t slow it down in the slightest. With an explosive super-jump, its body shot toward the group like a cannonball, landing right in front of them.

They were in close quarters now, with death just a hair’s breadth away.

There was no time for anyone to think. Pang Peng, transformed into the Thorn Vine Armor Giant, even roared as he tried to move forward and intercept it.

Su Chen’s eyes narrowed. A heavy Telekinesis Field slammed down, locking onto the enemy. Under this double restraint, though not completely immobilized, the creature began to move as if mired in a swamp, its actions becoming sluggish.

In that instant!

He didn’t close in to use his shotgun. Instead, he simply raised his right hand. At the focal point of his gaze, the power of three Runes at their absolute peak began to gather frantically.

A Dark Red True Flame materialized within the blazing white radiance. Then, enveloped by his spiritual Strong Will, it transformed into a torrent of Destruction and, from near point-blank range, blasted into the creature’s forehead.

After the critical hit landed...

BOOM!

There wasn’t even a scream.

The head, protected by its thick Bone Armor, instantly burst like a watermelon. The red and white matter was vaporized by the intense heat before it could even splatter, leaving only a ring of scorched black air to drift outward.