Evolution Begins with Elemental Domination

HUMMM! RUMBLE!

A dull, steady rumbling emanated from deep within the rock—the roar of heavy drills boring into the earth.

”More spoils.”

Su Chen’s eyes lit up.

Pillars of Light Storage Stone and drifting, glowing fireflies bathed the river valley in a pallid glow.

Fragile, high-intensity searchlights were clearly unsuitable for this nocturnal environment. They would quickly attract insects, leading to their own destruction.

”The Lorentz Conglomerate.”

Yan Ruoruo peered through her binoculars at a flag planted in the valley. It bore the insignia of two silver snakes intertwined to form an infinity symbol, ’∞’, signifying an endless cycle.

Back on Earth, it was an illustrious, mega-sized financial conglomerate.

Its headquarters happened to be located right in Oran City.

After the entire city was transported, this monopolistic conglomerate’s influence was indeed far greater than that of the local government.

The conglomerate held investment shares in a nuclear power plant, two AI computing centers, and many local businesses. It seemed only natural that the Lorentz Conglomerate would continue to hold a dominant position.

And according to the Priest’s confession, the reason they could snatch a piece of the pie from the military was that their upper echelons were all in league with Demons.

”The Teleportation Gate is obscured by buildings.”

Relying on his extraordinary long-range vision, Su Chen took in an unobstructed view of the buildings in the valley.

Moving this many personnel and so much heavy mining equipment would require transport via a Teleportation Gate.

It was difficult to identify the type of crystal they were mining.

’For them to go to all this trouble—fencing off the area, bringing in heavy machinery—it must be for some kind of Spirit Attribute mineral, given the location.’

At that moment, a clamor of voices suddenly erupted from Qingxi Stream. Beams from powerful flashlights swept across the northern part of the valley.

At first, Su Chen thought it was just the Ghost Assault Team or an investigation squad that had found the area. After all, the Messenger Intelligence House had reported the two anomalies in the hills to the operations and defense department the moment they were detected.

”There’s more.”

A brilliant Lighting Skill flared to life, like a full moon rising over the river, illuminating a wide patch of water as bright as day.

As the water churned, several translucent, dark figures could be seen dragging two unconscious soldiers down into the depths.

The culprits were immediately obvious.

Water ghouls.

The Ghostly Water Charms had lured two men to their deaths.

Not only that, but the water grew murkier under the brilliant light, and a host of ghostly figures surged from the depths like an unstoppable tide.

The personnel from Oran City, new to this place, likely hadn’t investigated Qingxi Stream as thoroughly as the Messenger Intelligence House.

But this single feast had attracted three separate parties of guests.

Besides Su Chen and the Water Charms, the operations and defense department had indeed arrived.

RAT-A-TAT!

Gunfire suddenly erupted.

Red-hot tracer rounds rained down, sweeping across the valley. Their dazzling arcs tore through the night. As they lit up the darkness, they also allowed the gunners to correct their trajectories.

Evidently, the Ghostly Water Charms’ surprise attack had created the perfect opportunity. A mysterious Ghost Assault Team appeared, displaying their prowess. Moving in formation, they materialized inside and outside the valley and began strafing all living targets to seize the high ground.

”Time to make a move.”

Su Chen didn’t hesitate. He’d already taken out one of the outer sentries; it was only a matter of time before they were discovered.

With the situation so chaotic, it was the perfect time to muddy the waters even further.

’Maybe they learned their lesson from the last time their Teleportation Gate was destroyed, or maybe they’re just absurdly wealthy. They’ve posted sentries on the cliffs on both sides, and the all-important Teleportation Gate is completely hidden.’

But there was one thing worth noting.

Targets for farming contribution points weren’t limited to enemy Rune structures. There were also... people.

Su Chen fixed his gaze on a watchtower on a distant hill. In a single, flashing leap, he crossed seven hundred meters, clearing a multitude of tree branches and other obstacles, before appearing like the grim reaper himself before three figures.

His arrival, needless to say, gave them a huge shock.

In an instant—

BOOM!

The figure before him, clad in a thick protective suit, met his end as four Vector Force Fields from four different directions converged on his limbs.

One force yanked him violently upward while another slammed him down into the earth. The other two tore him apart horizontally in opposite directions.

KRAK!

With a sickening crack of breaking bones, his Armor shattered like paper. His very body was pulled apart.

”Simon...”

He had killed their man less than a second after landing. The instant kill threw the other two into a panic.

A Storm Priest’s eyes went wide. Survival instincts kicking in, he suppressed his fear, thrust out his hand, and with a shout, the Energy Circuits on his arm flared as he unleashed the power of a Lv. 6 Wind Strike.

This Rune could instantly create a terrifying pocket of atmospheric pressure, producing a powerful knockback and an absolute stun. It was a decent crowd-control Technique.

However, the whistling gale crashed into a Water Mirror Screen that materialized from thin air. In the instant it was refracted and accelerated, it was also infused with the power of a Flame Burst, redirecting it with even greater ferocity toward the other panicked sentry.

The fire fed on the wind.

BANG!

The lightning shield the man had just erected shattered completely, scattering arcs of electricity everywhere. The force of the impact sent him flying dozens of meters, like a puppet with its strings cut.

His attack having failed, the Storm Priest knew he’d picked a fight he couldn’t win. He activated a Wind Rune, and, shrouded in a gale, fled frantically down the mountainside.

He had just landed, not even having a moment to catch his breath, when a figure appeared behind him like a shadow.

”Too slow.”

With a single Strong Thought Burst, the man’s torso was blasted in two.