Chapter 293 - Enhance, Enhance!
[Option 1: Crystal Marrow – Converts the entire skeleton into a crystal skeleton. Selecting this upgrades the Crystal Lich Skull’s quality but resets its enhancement, requiring ten times more Demonic Origin for future upgrades. It grows stronger with each stage.]
[Option 2: Exoskeleton – Grows a layer of bone from the skull to increase defense. Strength increases with each stage.]
[Option 3: Osteomancy – Grants control over bones for offensive attacks. Strength increases with each stage.]
Han Wu glanced over the options but immediately focused on the first. Crystal Marrow would transform every bone in his body into crystal bones! He welcomed the challenge of spending ten times more Demonic Origin for future upgrades. Crystal bones boasted immense toughness and high resistance to both physical and magical damage. Turning his entire skeleton into crystal would multiply his combat strength several times over.
Without hesitation, Han Wu selected the first option. The Crystal Lich Skull transformed into the Crystal Marrow. Its enhancement reset to Stage 1: 0%, but its quality rose to Red. He accepted the changes with satisfaction. Alongside his Dragon Claws, Scales, and Wings, he now possessed the Crystal Marrow at Red quality.
Han Wu then spent 1.3 million Demonic Origin to enhance body parts nearing Stage 3. Both his Tigerman Legs and Epistian Brain advanced to Stage 3, unlocking a chance to choose special traits.
The Tigerman Legs were special as they granted him two chances to select special traits, one for each leg. Because the process was straightforward, he had four options to choose from.
[Option 1: Tiger Walk – Move like a fierce tiger, doubling speed. If both legs share this trait, movement speed surges by 500%. Strength grows with each stage.]
[Option 2: Tiger Step – Deliver explosive kicks with the Tigerman Leg, dealing 300% damage. If both legs have this trait, damage rises to 1,000%. Strength grows with each stage.]
[Option 3: Tiger Fear – Unleash a tiger’s dominating spirit to stun enemies. When chosen for both legs, the stun effect increases by 400%. Strength grows with each stage.]
[Option 4: Tiger Break – Kick a ball of air with the Tigerman Leg. If both legs hold this trait, damage reaches 400%. Strength grows with each stage.]
Han Wu finally grasped how the system worked. Picking the same trait for both legs dramatically amplified its effect. He carefully reviewed each option to decide which suited him best.
To Han Wu, the Tigerman Legs were crucial for escaping enemies, so speed mattered most. Yet, since he already had wings, he did not need an additional speed boost.
Tiger Step and Tiger Break offered offensive choices. One provided explosive close-range power, while the other allowed for ranged attacks by kicking a ball of air. Each had its place depending on the situation.
Tiger Fear functioned like a domain, stunning enemies and instilling fear. It proved effective against weaker foes but held little use against opponents as strong or stronger than him.
He dismissed the first and third options outright. Between the remaining two, he focused on which attack method he needed most to diversify his combat style and catch enemies off guard.
Since the Swordwind Arms already gave him ranged wind blade attacks, Tiger Break felt redundant. In the end, he chose Tiger Step for both legs.
He then checked the Epistian Brain. Upon reaching Stage 3, three traits appeared for him to choose from.
[Option 1: Fireball – Gather Fire Energy to unleash a fireball. It can be charged to increase its power and grows stronger with each stage.]
[Option 2: Barrier – Create a barrier that negates any attack. It can be charged to expand in size and strength and becomes stronger with each stage.]
[Option 3: Detection – Sense everything around the user. It can be charged to extend its range and grows stronger with each stage.]
A strange voice echoed in his mind as he considered the options. Three... Choose the third one...
Han Wu knew it was the right choice. The other two were not weak, but they did not meet his current needs. He had no use for a ranged attack like Fireball right now. He also didn’t need the Barrier, since his scales and crystal bones already provided solid defense.
Detection was different. It had the power to save his life. Han Wu had lost to Xun, the Demon Lord with the Arrow Tail, because he couldn’t sense him fast enough. He refused to accept that he would lose again now that he had Detection.
He started testing the trait immediately. Calming his breath, he closed his eyes and focused on sensing everything around him. Within 100 meters, he could perceive every detail—the rustling of leaves, the billowing cloud of dust, the faintest movement.
Curious about its limits, he charged the trait. His detection radius expanded steadily until it reached ten kilometers. That was his current maximum, but it exceeded his expectations.
He could now pinpoint where the demons were and count how many existed within that vast area. His eyelids fluttered open, excitement surging through him. At last, he no longer had to fly around aimlessly hunting for prey. Detection had given him a decisive edge.
He had already learned that a pack of demons lurked within ten kilometers of his position. Several thousand demons above Class 4 moved under the command of a single powerful Class 7 demon. Nearby, he also detected the presence of a Demon Lord.
“Time to hunt.” He chose to target the Demon Lord first and shot forward like an arrow toward his prey. Soon, he reached the location of the Demon Lord, a massive boar with sharp tusks and a body armored in tough brown scales.
Han Wu took one look and knew that the Demon Lord specialized in tanking hits. Good. Time to put my new traits to the test.
He stopped flapping his wings and dropped from the sky, accelerating rapidly. At the same time, he activated the Hollow Spine’s Speed Equals Strength to boost his strength by 60% and the Cockroach Cells’ Vigorous Cells to add another 50% to his strength.
By the time the Demon Lord noticed Han Wu’s presence, he was already ten meters away. The massive boar had no chance to flee and braced itself to face Han Wu’s attack head-on.
At the last possible moment, Han Wu unleashed Tiger Kick. His damage skyrocketed to over 2,000%. The Demon Lord’s armor shattered instantly under the overwhelming force. The boar was pulverized, crushed into a bloody paste. The ground beneath cracked and formed a crater from the impact.
As the dust settled, Han Wu found himself standing atop a pile of flesh. The Demon Lord was dead beyond doubt. He rose, feeling sharp pain radiate from his legs. The impact had injured him as well, but his bones remained intact. His cells rapidly regenerated, fueled by the energy from his stomach.
It took five minutes for him to fully recover from the devastating blow. As he surveyed the area, he spotted five enhanceable body parts dropped by the Demon Lord. He smiled, pleased with the rich loot he had gained this time.