Chapter 29: Slaying the Rock Scorpion

Leaving the Forward Base, Zhang Ran set out once more, guided by the chip towards the Rampaging Groundhog Prairie, located ten kilometers beyond the base.

Though with his upgraded equipment Zhang Ran was now capable of handling a lone Rotwolf, hunting them meant venturing into their territory, where they congregated in packs. The risk of being surrounded was high, making it a perilous endeavor. Typically, only squads led by evolved individuals or quasi-evolvers would dare to enter the Rotwolves’ domain to hunt safely.

Thus, before reaching his physical limit and advancing to quasi-evolver status, Zhang Ran chose to hunt on the prairie. While a single Rampaging Groundhog yielded little evolutionary energy, the chip’s assistance allowed Zhang Ran to locate their nests swiftly. All things considered, it was an efficient strategy.

About an hour later, Zhang Ran stopped at the edge of the prairie. He walked along an arc, avoiding areas he had previously explored, then activated the chip’s search function and began his hunt.

...

Ten hours passed.

“Name: Zhang Ran
Strength: Level 0 Evolver
Power: 1.981
Constitution: 1.951
Agility: 1.877
Mental: 1.862”

With a thought, a transparent attribute window appeared before Zhang Ran, displaying his four stats in full. Seeing his own attributes, Zhang Ran nodded with satisfaction.

That day, he had eradicated twenty-one Rampaging Groundhog nests, slaying about a hundred and fifty groundhogs and twelve elite variants. With the bounty of evolutionary energy, his stats had significantly improved.

“Excellent, I’m one step closer to becoming a quasi-evolver! If all goes well, tomorrow my strength will reach the human limit, and in about a week I’ll advance to quasi-evolver status!”

As he made his way back toward the Forward Base, Zhang Ran silently calculated his progress.

“Ding! Detected a mutated creature—Rock Scorpion—lurking thirty meters to your right. Please be alert!”

When Zhang Ran was roughly five kilometers from the base, the chip’s warning echoed in his mind, and a red circle appeared at the edge of his vision, marking the hidden location in the distant grass where the Rock Scorpion lay in ambush.

“It’s a Rock Scorpion!”

Upon hearing the alert, Zhang Ran immediately tensed, ready for battle. He gripped his Level 2 alloy combat knife tightly and stared toward the distant creature.

This mutated beast resembled the scorpions of Earth Star, but measured a full meter and twenty centimeters in length. Its exterior was a mottled gray-black, allowing it to perfectly disguise itself as a stone, making it exceptionally deceptive—especially as night drew near, when discovery became all the more difficult.

Because of this, Rock Scorpions were among the most feared mutated beasts in the wilderness. They often ambushed humans unexpectedly, and many members of the Forward Base had fallen victim to them.

Even someone as experienced as Zhang Ran, only a step away from quasi-evolver status, would find it hard to spot a hidden Rock Scorpion with the naked eye while traveling. Fortunately, the chip’s precise scanning and analysis of the environment had provided timely warning, sparing him the trouble of a sneak attack.

Zhang Ran studied the creature closely. Its body consisted of more than ten segments, tapering from front to back. The final segment bore a sharp venomous stinger, incredibly fierce—capable of piercing thin steel plates—with deadly toxins that, without specialized antidotes, would claim even a quasi-evolver in less than half a day.

At the creature’s front were a pair of massive pincers, appearing formidable, and beneath its body six sturdy scorpion legs supported its movements.

“Chip, display the Rock Scorpion’s attributes.”

As he watched, Zhang Ran issued a command to the chip.

“Enemy Name: Rock Scorpion
Type: Mutated Beast
Hunting Level: 0.7
Power: 1.9
Constitution: 2.1
Agility: 1.7
Mental: 0.8”

With a thought, an attribute window appeared in Zhang Ran’s mind. Seeing the Rock Scorpion’s stats, he nodded silently. Except for a slight deficit in constitution, his attributes were not inferior.

Just as Zhang Ran prepared for battle, the distant Rock Scorpion realized its cover had been blown. But instead of retreating, it drove its six legs hard into the earth, launching itself at Zhang Ran.

Despite its bulky appearance, the creature’s agility of 1.7 made it swift—within moments, it had closed the distance, swinging its venomous stinger wildly at Zhang Ran.

“Tricks of the weak!”

With the stinger slicing through the air, Zhang Ran merely smiled coldly and twisted to the side, easily evading the attack. In agility and combat experience, he far surpassed the Rock Scorpion, and with battle preparations made, he would not let it succeed.

The stinger missed Zhang Ran, instead striking a chunk of broken stone and burying itself deeply. Seizing the opportunity, Zhang Ran slashed hard with his Level 2 alloy combat knife, aiming at the scorpion’s tail.

Crunch!

With a ripping sound, the scorpion’s tail armor was shredded as if paper before the sharp alloy blade, severing the entire tail.

Hiss!

The tail fell to the ground, twitching feebly before lying still, while the Rock Scorpion emitted a painful screech, green blood pouring from the jagged wound.

Despite its constitution of 2.1 and armor comparable to thin steel, had Zhang Ran still wielded his old Level 1 alloy knife, severing the tail would have taken more effort. But before the Level 2 alloy blade, the scorpion’s armor was no match—showcasing the power of advanced weaponry.

With its venomous stinger destroyed, the scorpion’s primary attack was neutralized. Although its formidable pincers remained, Zhang Ran’s superior agility ensured it could not strike him.

After severing the tail, Zhang Ran moved behind the creature, methodically slicing off its six front legs, crippling its mobility. Now, even with its pincers, it could only flail helplessly forward, unable to reach Zhang Ran behind it.

“Die!”

A cold glint flashed in Zhang Ran’s eyes. He swung from the side, slicing off the scorpion’s pincers, then raised his combat knife high and brought it down upon the creature’s head.