Swish!
As if detecting Bai Jie's ill intentions, the cat and dog let out a howling cry and charged straight at Bai Jie on their own.
Bai Jie remained still. A cold gleam flashed through its eight eyes, and a pressure as tangible as physical substance spread forth.
This was precisely the new skill awakened after evolution — High-Tier Intimidation.
The cat and dog abruptly dug their front paws into the ground, screeching to a halt. Though the ferocity in their eyes remained undiminished, they dared not move recklessly. Their originally arched backs also flattened.
"It really works!"
"Come to think of it, my Vitality is over 30 points higher than theirs. I wonder what happens if I release the intimidation to the extreme?"
With this thought, Bai Jie focused its mind and gathered its energy. The oppressive force around it grew increasingly dense and powerful, released without reservation.
The cat and dog immediately let out a whimpering whine, prostrated themselves on the ground, and trembled uncontrollably.
"Not bad. Next, let's test the Thunder Mastery talent."
Crackle!
Fine explosive sounds reverberated through the space. Rustling blue-violet electric arcs coalesced out of thin air before Bai Jie, swirling like thousands of centipedes writhing and clawing.
Driven by its will, the blue-violet arcs instantly split into two long tongues and shot toward the cat and dog.
Crack!
With two explosive reports, the cat and dog's bodies stiffened, then collapsed limply to the ground. Their fur turned charred black, emitting the acrid stench of burning.
Bai Jie immediately drew near and activated the Bite skill.
An intangible, wondrous energy suffused with a pink-purple glow surged up along its fangs. Bai Jie felt itself growing even more powerful. A sensation of fullness swept through both soul and flesh.
After the extraction was complete, Vitality rose by 2 points, reaching 40.
Only now did Bai Jie turn its attention to recalling what "Radiation Mutant" in the two pets' information meant.
"From the literal meaning, perhaps they were irradiated by the eerie violet light from the meteorite, resulting in mutation."
"But the meteorite appeared over a month ago — why are these mutant animals only appearing now?"
"If animals had started attacking people over a month ago, Xingchuan University would probably have seen many more casualties, wouldn't it? Could this radiation have an incubation period of over a month?"
"Though the emergence of these mutant animals is no good thing for humans, I can benefit from it. Truly, I don't know whether to rejoice or lament."
Bai Jie pondered for a while, reached no conclusion, and decided not to dwell on it. It continued making its way toward Xingchuan University.
When it passed the overpass at the school gate, it again heard screams capable of jolting the soundest sleeper awake.
Right on the overpass at the school entrance, a pack of stray cats and dogs was attacking a human figure.
Bai Jie looked toward the school gate and indeed found a corpse already gnawed beyond recognition. Judging by the uniform, it was unmistakably the security guard on night duty.
Bai Jie descended from a lamp post onto the overpass.
Skill — High-Tier Intimidation, activate!
An invisible forcefield instantly enveloped the pack of stray cats and dogs from over a dozen meters away. They immediately ceased their mauling, lowered their heads, and began trembling.
But one among them was an exception — it strained to lift its head and cast a hostile glare toward Bai Jie.
Bai Jie focused its gaze.
[Target]: Alaskan Malamute (Radiation Mutant)
[Vitality]: 12.4
[Body Length]: 95cm
[Status]: Out of Control
(A faint spiritual essence reaction detected on target)
Such high Vitality? And who knew how a breed like this had ended up roaming the streets — it might have slipped out on its own.
This was the creature with the highest Vitality it had seen aside from Zheng Yueling's transformed state.
Yet, it still could not resist the suppression of High-Tier Intimidation. Moreover, Bai Jie's current intimidation hadn't even been fully unleashed.
"Come on then, perfect for warming up," Bai Jie muttered inwardly.
And withdrew its suppression from the Alaskan Malamute.
"Woof!"
The Alaskan let out an engine-like rumble, then barked madly. Its sharp fangs were bared. A mouthful of fresh blood gave it a hideously ferocious appearance. Carrying terrifying vicious intent, it suddenly leaped into the air.
A massive black shadow loomed above Bai Jie, blotting out the streetlight and Bai Jie's vision.
Bang!
The nearly meter-long canine body slammed onto the ground where Bai Jie had just been standing — but the Alaskan felt nothing underneath it.
It looked around and discovered Bai Jie was now right behind it.
The Alaskan's expression grew even more ferocious. Two razor-sharp claws came howling toward Bai Jie. The sound of tearing through the air erupted suddenly, as though steel blades were sweeping past.
Yet, once again, it failed to touch Bai Jie.
Bai Jie reappeared behind it as though out of thin air.
The whistling of ruptured air continued unbroken. Bai Jie had already dodged seven or eight of the Alaskan's attacks. This gave Bai Jie a clearer understanding of its own reaction speed and agility.
"Woof! Woof woof! Woof woof woof!" Perhaps feeling it was being toyed with, the Alaskan barked without end.
"So noisy. What the hell are you yapping about?" Bai Jie found it rather loud.
After all, spiders all preferred quiet environments and were easily startled.
"If you can't handle it, just say so!"
All of a sudden, steel-like claws came cleaving through the air once more, reaching right before Bai Jie's eyes in an instant. There was no way it could dodge now.
"Tch. Alright, I'm done playing with you."
A flicker of excitement passed through the Alaskan Malamute's eyes, as though it could already see the spider being torn to pieces the next moment.
The truth was, Bai Jie hadn't planned on dodging at all.
Clang! A crisp sound rang out, like metal striking metal.
The ferocity on the Alaskan's face abruptly froze.
Its claws had been easily blocked by the spider's foreleg. No matter how hard it pushed, it couldn't advance a single fraction further.
"The times have changed. You have claws; I have blades too." Bai Jie chuckled inwardly.
Shrrrk!
With the sound of tearing silk, a string of dark red blood beads splattered onto the ground. Falling alongside them were the Alaskan's shattered claws.
Foot Blade Slash.
With just the blade of one foreleg, Bai Jie had slashed through its opponent's weapon and throat in one stroke.
The Alaskan Malamute collapsed with a thunderous crash, blood gushing uncontrollably from its neck.
As if suddenly remembering something, Bai Jie stepped past the group of trembling mutant cats and dogs and approached the grievously wounded human figure.
"It's him, that overpass madman."
In truth, Bai Jie wasn't all that surprised. It was summer, and this madman often chose to sleep directly on the overpass.
Who would have thought that tonight he'd be besieged by mutated stray cats and dogs — truly an undeserved calamity.
Despite his bizarre behavior, manic demeanor, and wretched appearance, and though he had frequently frightened female students returning to campus late at night, the school administration had never been able to drive him away.
Add to that the fact he'd never actually done anything harmful to anyone, and over the years, the students of Xingchuan University had simply grown accustomed to his presence.
They let him remain at the campus overpass, rain or shine, year after year, as unshakable as ever.
The second campus legend of Xingchuan University was based on him — or perhaps it might even be his true story.
The legend went that he had originally been a student of Xingchuan University, expelled for peeping into the women's restroom. Coupled with the impact of online public opinion, he had ultimately become the inhuman, ghostly figure he was now.
No one knew why he lingered on the overpass. Maybe he harbored resentment toward the school, or maybe he was dissatisfied with those who had condemned him.
Perhaps the fact that people didn't forcibly drive him away contained a measure of pity.
Seeing that the madman was more breath-out than breath-in, Bai Jie suddenly had an idea.
"You're not going to make it anyway. Might as well become my test subject. If fate favors you, you might even get a new life."
Skill — Mutagenic Venom.
Liquid suffused with a glimmering glow secreted along its foreleg blade. Bai Jie dripped it into the madman's wounds.