NOVEL ONLINE FREE CHAPTER 261
Chapter 261: The Calm Before the Storm
The Blood Flesh Mother Tree departed with the Beast King's shed hair, its movements swift and decisive. It couldn't wait to transform this precious gift into tangible power.
Of course, it couldn't let the Giant Clan and the Insect Clan know about its newfound treasure. The Mother Tree already had a plan to conceal this development from their prying eyes.
Meanwhile, Esek had merged with the purplish-black liquid within the massive jar. The opaque fluid obscured his transformation, leaving its nature a mystery to all but the Corpse God.
No one knew what the jar had originally contained, or what Esek's fusion with it would unleash.
A series of events had been set in motion, their consequences shrouded in uncertainty.
In the distant Archean City, oblivious to the machinations unfolding in the depths of the Hundred Thousand Mountains, Hao Huang and The Queen of Blade grew increasingly frustrated.
Despite their efforts, they had found no trace of Esek. They knew he was on a mission in the Hundred Thousand Mountains, and their task was to thwart his and the Undead Clan's plans.
But without a target, their mission was at a standstill.
Meanwhile, Lu Ming enjoyed a period of relative peace.
No one disturbed his secluded cultivation.
Day 351 of the Black Mist Calendar
After twelve days of relentless training, Lu Ming finally achieved his goal.
The Diamond Shield had ascended to the Divine level.
The special effect of the Body Protection Technique was obtained—[Sharp Resistance.]
At the same time, the frequency of flashes in the protective technique column on the attribute panel was increasing.
This gave Lu Ming a sense of enlightenment.
"One more."
"I just need to cultivate one more Body Protection Technique, and the special effects integration will be completed!"
This time, Lu Ming chose a Physique Realm Body Protection Technique called the [Yin Yang Mirror.]
Day 353 of the Black Mist Calendar
Deep within the abandoned laboratory of the Corpse God, an unsettling disturbance echoed through the chamber.
Thud.
Thud.
Thud.
Clear, crisp knocks sounded continuously from within the massive jar, growing louder and more insistent with each passing moment.
Then, with a deafening crash, the jar exploded from the inside. Glass-like fragments, sharp and jagged, scattered across the floor, mingling with the purplish-black liquid that had once contained the experiment.
A guttural roar, unlike any human sound, reverberated through the laboratory.
"I... I..."
"I didn't disappoint the Corpse God!!"
The creature that spoke was a monstrous abomination.
Nearly five meters tall, with a shoulder width of three meters, it stood upright like a grotesque ape.
However, its lower body was grotesquely disproportionate, with thighs exceeding two meters in diameter, making its upper body appear almost comically small.
The relatively diminutive torso was covered in signs of decay, purple-black hair clinging to the rotting flesh and blood, creating a nauseating spectacle.
Its two enormous arms were long and powerful, reaching from its shoulders to the ground, their eight sharp claws embedded deep in the soil like daggers.
And perched upon its shoulder was Esek's severed head.
After its initial roar, the creature with Esek's head slowly opened its eyes, their gaze blank and vacant, like a mindless automaton.
But soon, the emptiness faded, replaced by a glimmer of intelligence that rapidly filled its eyes.
Exhale, it rasped, its breath a gust of fetid air.
The monster reached up and gently tapped its head.
"Who... who am I..."
"I... I am Esek."
As the words left its lips, Esek's consciousness returned with startling speed.
"Yes, I am Esek," it declared, its voice now filled with purpose. "By the command of the Lord Corpse God, I came to the Hundred Thousand Mountains..."
Esek turned to look at the shattered jar behind it, a faint smile curving its lips. Its massive, clawed hands gently brushed its grotesque form.
"And now, I have completed the fusion with the Son of the Beast King!"
"Now, I'll give the Giants and the Insectoids a huge surprise!" Esek declared, his voice echoing with a newfound power and malice. He remembered his mission, his purpose in this world.
With a confident stride, the reborn Esek left the laboratory, a trail of purplish-black smoke trailing behind him.
To anyone in the Black Mist Zone, the war between the Insect Clan, Giant Clan, and the Undead Clan was a momentous event. The conflict between these three major clans had sent shockwaves throughout the entire region.
Even the gods themselves were not immune to its impact.
As the strongest expert and protector of the Undead Clan, the Corpse God had to intervene, albeit indirectly, to avoid triggering a full-blown divine war. He could, however, employ subtle means to influence the battle's outcome.
The gift bestowed upon the Mother Tree was one such maneuver. While Zero's primary goal wasn't solely focused on the three-way war, it would undoubtedly have a significant impact on the balance of power.
And Esek was the key instrument through which Zero would exert his influence.
Zero, a scholar at heart, had always been fascinated by the pursuit of knowledge. His research projects, even those hidden deep within the Hundred Thousand Mountains, were often driven by curiosity and a desire to understand the mysteries of the world.
The project in this hidden laboratory was centered around the legendary Beast King.
Before his ascension to godhood, Zero had acquired a strand of the Beast King's fur. As a scientist, he couldn't resist the allure of such a unique specimen.
Cloning was the perfect way to explore the Beast King's power.
The creature within the massive jar was none other than the Beast King's clone.
Unfortunately, this research project had been abandoned long ago.
The cloned Beast King, also known as the Son of the Beast King, was disappointingly weak. It had only reached the Origin Realm, falling far short of the Ancient Realm.
After achieving godhood, Zero had abandoned this underwhelming project.
However, when news of the Blood Flesh Mother Tree reached him, the pieces began to fall into place.
Knowing the Mother Tree's nature, Zero recognized the immense value the Beast King's fur held for it. So, he offered it as a gift.
But there was still the matter of the cloned Beast King, languishing in the laboratory.
Zero, ever resourceful, saw an opportunity to utilize this discarded experiment.
He fused the clone with a zombie possessing special abilities, creating a unique hybrid monster with the traits of both an undead and the Beast King. This fusion monster would be his tool to influence the ongoing war between the three clans.
The newly reborn Esek, now a grotesque fusion, crawled out of the laboratory.
With a clear purpose in mind, it swiftly left the core region of the Hundred Thousand Mountains, venturing into the inner circle. A trail of purplish-black mist followed in its wake, clinging to the air like a lingering shadow.
Upon reaching its designated location, Esek paused, took a deep breath, and roared.
The sound waves reverberated through the forest, startling countless creatures. The rustling of leaves and the flapping of wings filled the air as animals fled in terror.
Soon, the first Origin Realm exotic beast appeared, drawn by the commotion.
Origin Realm creatures possessed intelligence comparable to sentient beings. This one, resembling a vibrant tiger, stood a short distance from Esek, tilting its head in curiosity.
"What... are you?" it asked, its voice a low growl.
Even from the perspective of an exotic beast, Esek's appearance was repulsive.
Its odor was even more repulsive, a stench of decay and rot that hung heavy in the air.
Yet, the colorful tiger sensed something else emanating from Esek—a primal pressure, a command only exotic beasts could perceive. It was this unseen force that had compelled the tiger to answer Esek's call.
Esek paid the tiger no mind.
The colorful tiger remained silent, prostrating itself on the ground in a gesture of submission. It didn't understand why it felt compelled to obey, but instinct overruled reason.
Perhaps it was a form of bloodline suppression, a remnant of the Beast King's lineage imprinted upon Esek's very being.
Where there was one, there were soon more.
Twelve other Origin Realm exotic beasts emerged from the surrounding forest, their forms a menagerie of claws, fangs, and scales.
Esek finally smiled, a cruel, triumphant grin that stretched his grotesque features.
"For now, that's enough," he declared, his voice a guttural rasp.
A cloud of purplish-black mist erupted from his decaying upper body, enveloping the thirteen beasts in its insidious embrace.
The mist seeped into their pores, their roars and howls growing increasingly desperate as they struggled against the inevitable transformation.
Esek watched with glee as the Origin Realm beasts succumbed to the Dream Plague, their forms twisting and contorting as they became zombie beasts.
His laughter echoed through the forest, a chilling sound that sent shivers down the spines of any creature within earshot.
"Beast King, command the beasts!" he cackled. "Zombies, infect the living!"
"Both complement each other, mutually reinforce, and evolve together!"
"Lord Corpse God, did you see that? Your research has borne fruit!!"
End of Chapter 261