Chapter 1206: Chapter 184: The Trap of an Open Plot and Heading to the Third Level (5200)
“These Magical Beasts are networked.”
As soon as Ian spoke, he attracted everyone’s attention. They all understood the meaning of networking, and thus realized the significance behind it.
“Is the Labyrinth Master using these Magical Beasts to assess our strength?” Yisen Gard was most familiar with this. After the Southern Sea Great Labyrinth, he crammed his knowledge in this area and immediately guessed the correct answer: “The question is, how strong can the Labyrinth Master’s subordinates be? Generally speaking, even a super-large pre-epoch labyrinth like the Exotic Species Research Institute shouldn’t have many Third-Level Magical Beasts.”
“I think… it’s not necessarily the case.”
Anfa crouched down, using her tender, fair fingers like scallion stalks to gently touch the Magical Beasts frozen in ice. However, her soft touch took away chunks of flesh, and the Dragon Maiden’s face turned grave: “The modification of these Magical Beasts… mostly failed. They were merely created as temporary cannon fodder, even though that Second-Level sea leopard is no exception.”
“Although a Heart Light Body is needed for Third Energy Level, pure strength and a strong carapace, combined with a naturally soul capable of controlling Primal Aether, are enough to create a ‘Third-Level Exobeast’—the cost may be high, but it’s not impossible. If the Labyrinth Master truly has a plan that must be completed, we might indeed encounter the ‘King of Exotic Beasts’ at the Third Energy Level!”
After fiddling for a while with the ‘Electronic Core’ in his hand, Ian put the sphere into his Huai.
At this moment, the white-haired youth lifted his head, looked around at his friends, and said earnestly: “To be honest, I’ve encountered beings similar to these ‘modified Exobeasts’ elsewhere.”
Saying this, Ian closed his eyes, and scenes from the Avak Domain flashed in his mind… Soon, his memories were locked onto the moment when he and the Inspector Knights’ team first entered Azure City, encountering the Twin-headed Bear Monster.
The battle between Tres and the Twin-headed Azure Fiend Bear Beast was not very intense. With a bit of seriousness, the team leader of the Inspector Knights easily slew the bear beast.
“In the Avak Domain, I indeed encountered a ‘Bear Beast skilled in martial arts.'”
Opening his eyes, Ian carefully considered which words could be said and which couldn’t: “That bear beast used a human brain as wetware, created through the hybrid beast technique. The human brain provided martial skills to the bear beast, allowing the bear beast, known for being dull, to use even ‘stacked force’ and ‘hidden force’ that ordinary warriors find difficult to perform!”
“It even used the superior ‘Scale Armor Fist’ and ‘Siege Palm’, unleashing power far exceeding typical Second-Level Magical Beasts… even now…”
Originally, Ian instinctively wanted to keep modest, but noticing the surrounding frozen corpses, he sighed: “Alright, it’s still a one-hit kill. But you understand my point: it’s indeed troublesome.”
“As for the Exobeasts we’re encountering now…”
At this point, Ian didn’t need to continue speaking; everyone understood.
Sio said somewhat suddenly: “The Empire also acquired technologies similar to those in the Exotic Species Research Institute for altering Exobeasts?”
“Yes.” Ian nodded: “Clearly, however, the technology on the Empire’s side is more primitive—they should have only obtained some raw data, far from the advanced maturity found in the Exotic Species Research Institute—look at these Exobeasts. With mere metallization modification, they pose significant threat and combat ability.”
“And the technology shown in the Avak Domain by the Empire falls seven generations behind that of the Exotic Species Research Institute.”
Here, Ian was quite emotional—clearly, the Empire’s technology is inherited from the Exotic Species Research Institute, perhaps bequeathed by a Scholar from there… but alas, this is a post-apocalyptic world.
The present is inferior to the ancient; research pales in comparison to excavation and archaeology—the proper way to conduct research is far less efficient than exploring labyrinths and excavating relics.
That’s why it often happens that technology from ancient relics is more advanced than the cutting-edge technology of this epoch.
Having reached the second level and preparing to protect Ian, Sio, and others, while also recovering the ‘Origin Core Chip,’ the King of the Mountain hesitated.
Moreover, at this moment, all Fourth Energy Level masters frowned and observed those Exobeasts.
Unlike the young ones who merely view this as a labyrinth challenge, these prominent figures showed heavy expressions.
“This artificial skill-loading module… Clearly, it is the Empire’s most secretive technical experiment… It’s not surprising that the Exotic Species Research Institute has it, and in more intricate versions—but why is this technology being ‘deliberately’ exhibited so easily?”
Crown Prince Carlos furrowed his brows.
“…The semi-mechanized and rejection-free modification is precisely the technology we’ve recently developed.”
From the Fertile Soil Tribe, the Fourth Energy Level master, Mafa Wotu, was having a serious discussion with Speaker Yafada: “This evidently isn’t normal—it seems that during our exploration of relics, we didn’t discover this technology, and now it’s emerged suddenly, apparently to tempt us!”
In the Azure Sky Royal Court, Gonta Ximor, this dignified general, exposed his sharp fang with a smile: “Exotic body transformation—or rather ‘free transformation’—even animals can utilize human martial arts, and humans can wield the innate skills of Magical Beasts. The Celestials’ ultimate goal in embryonic form has unexpectedly appeared before me?”