Chapter 7 – Resonance of Stone and Blood
The ground beneath Lu Yuan's feet trembled violently. His avatar still held back the colossal fist of the stone gorilla. Cracks spread outward in every direction, like an endless spiderweb tearing through the earth.
The shriek of metal grinding against stone pierced the ears of everyone nearby, keeping them too frightened to approach.
Lu Yuan panted heavily. From his true body, hidden among the ruins, he felt the mental strain pounding at his skull, threatening to split it apart. "This is insane… I'm holding back a Tier-5 monster alone. Anyone watching would think I'm some kind of hero. But in truth? I'm just a lazy bastard with terrible luck."
[Avatar status: tissue damage 23%. Lifespan consumed: 11 years.]
Manas's voice rang out flat and calm, but the words made Lu Yuan's face tighten. "Damn it, that was only the first strike? At this rate I'll be a wrinkled old man by tomorrow morning."
The avatar shoved the monster's fist aside, then leapt back. Its body staggered, fresh blood dripping from the corner of its mouth.
The stone gorilla bellowed, its roar rattling every chest in the camp. Yet strangely, the sound began to shift—not pure rage, but a rhythm, a pattern of tones.
A few onlookers gawked. "I-It… it sounds like it's trying to talk?"
Lu Yuan frowned. "Oh? So it's not just me hearing that."
[Analysis: vocal pattern 34% similar to primitive language structures. Indication of basic communication ability.]
"So it's true. You're not just a mindless beast," Lu Yuan murmured, eyes locked on the monster.
Before he could react further, an arrow wreathed in fire shot from the crowd and struck the gorilla's chest.
BLAAR!
A small explosion erupted. It didn't wound the monster, but it staggered slightly, then roared again—louder, angrier, eyes burning red.
"Attack! This is our chance!" a scarred brute shouted, charging forward with a massive axe. A handful of reckless men followed, screaming.
Lu Yuan slapped his forehead. "For heaven's sake… there's always some idiot who makes things worse."
His avatar moved instinctively, intercepting the scarred man before he could reach the monster. The axe clanged loudly against its metallic arms.
"W-What?! Why are you stopping me?!" the man roared, enraged.
"If you still have a brain, look carefully! This monster is different—it's trying to speak. Attack it now, and we all die!" Lu Yuan's flat voice came through the avatar.
The man froze, uncertainty flickering in his eyes, but the hatred on his face didn't fade. He retreated a few steps, growling under his breath.
Meanwhile, the stone gorilla's gaze lingered on Lu Yuan's avatar. Its eyes narrowed, and within them flickered something beyond fury—something that almost resembled recognition.
Then, with a thunderous beat, it slammed both fists against its chest. The sound echoed like a war drum. From the cracks in its stony hide, a dim green glow seeped out.
[Warning: signs of advanced evolution detected. Potential ascension to Tier 6.]
Lu Yuan's eyes widened. "You've got to be kidding me… it's evolving? Right here, in front of me?"
The monster's aura thickened, pressing down like a mountain. Survivors collapsed to their knees, some even fainting under the pressure.
Lu Yuan gritted his teeth. "If it ascends to Tier 6, even my avatar won't last a second. I need a plan—fast."
He scanned the glowing body, weighing his options.
"Option one: strike before the evolution completes. Risk—failure and death. Option two: retreat and hide. Risk—the camp is destroyed, all intelligence lost. Option three… gamble on communication."
[Suggestion: Option three has a 17% probability of success. Options one and two: 8% and 12%, respectively.]
Lu Yuan exhaled sharply. "Heh… seventeen percent is the best I get? Damn this cursed world."
Despite its battered frame, the avatar stepped forward. With a steady voice, Lu Yuan spoke through it:
"I know you can understand me. You're no mere beast. If you want to destroy this camp, then do it after you speak to me. I will listen."
Silence fell. Only the pounding of terrified hearts filled the air.
The stone gorilla froze mid-motion. The green glow still pulsed faintly across its body, but its fists lowered. Its eyes bored into the avatar's, unblinking.
Then, in a guttural, broken rumble, words emerged.
"... Hu… man…"
Gasps erupted all around. Some people fled screaming, others collapsed to their knees in shock.
Lu Yuan went rigid, his heart hammering. "Shit… I actually just heard a monster speak."
[Confirmation: low-level communication successful. Probability of new race formation: high.]
A thin smile crept across Lu Yuan's lips. "Then… let's talk, my friend."
But before he could continue, the ground behind the gorilla split open with a deafening crack. From the fissure rose a massive black claw, dripping with shadowy energy. Another monster—its aura far more terrifying—was clawing its way into the world.
The barter camp, already ruined, plunged once more into chaos and despair.
Lu Yuan could only click his tongue bitterly. "Of course… the trouble never ends."