NOVEL SIMPLE Chapter 51: Multiple Methods
"Boom!"
As the last of his Karma Points were consumed, Chu Xiu opened his eyes. With a flicker, his figure vanished from its spot!
He flawlessly adapted to the perfected Ghostly Shadow Steps without any hindrance. This was the power of Karma Points!
The system panel appeared before his eyes.
[Ghostly Shadow Steps]
[Proficiency: Perfection (1/200)]
[Activation Cost: 0.15—2.25 (Increases with charge time)]
[Charge Time: 0.15s—0.65s]
[Power: 1150J—17250J]
[Duration: 0.15—0.8s]
[Cooldown: 0.15s]
The Ghostly Shadow Steps, after reaching Perfection, had its energy consumption reduced while its effects were further enhanced!
At maximum charge, it could unleash 17250J of energy within 0.8 seconds!
What did this mean?
Though his appearance hadn't changed much after consecutive upgrades, Chu Xiu's weight had increased significantly, reaching 120kg. Coupled with the 50kg heavy armor, his total weight reached 170kg – the weight of a super heavyweight!
And the perfected Ghostly Shadow Steps could propel him, a heavyweight, ten meters into the air!
If he used minimal energy for movement, the instantaneous speed could be achieved in just 0.15 seconds!
This caused Chu Xiu's agility to skyrocket once again!
Almost at the same instant the point allocation was complete, the Elite Ghoul opposite him finished its transformation. With a roar that shook the entire parking lot, a brand new creature emerged from its shed skin!
The Elite Ghoul had undergone an earth-shattering change. Its body had grown larger, now close to five meters tall! The layers of bony armor on its body had thickened, making it look like a giant clad in bone armor. The flail on its right arm shattered, transforming into a retractable chain hammer. The claws on its left arm connected to bone chains, becoming grappling hooks that could shoot out!
This was a monster that had maxed out both its attack and defense!
[Type-008 Ghoul Mutated (Elite)]
[Rank] D-rank Level 1
[Attributes] Physique 57.9, Spirit ?, Energy Level ?
[Skills] ???, ???, ???
[Traits] ???, ???, ???
[Talents] Tough Skin (Skin Defense +9.5, Heat Insulation, Acid Resistance, and Impact Absorption greatly enhanced), Energy Reserve (Energy Level +55.0, can consume energy to rapidly heal injuries and recover stamina), ???
A physique as high as 57.9, along with a large number of unknown skills, traits, and talents!
Moreover, its original talents had also been upgraded! Now, its skin defense alone had a +9.5 bonus! Adding its original attributes, it was estimated that its defense could be on par with Chu Xiu's Heavy Bone Armor!
However, this level of power evolution was still within Chu Xiu's calculations!
Almost at the moment this monster completed its advancement, the five Yin Ghosts lying in ambush around it let out sharp whistles simultaneously. Chu Xiu pointed a finger, and in the next instant, six massive gray wind blades heavily slashed onto the large Ghoul!
Chu Xiu had already estimated the timing, so these six Yin Wind Blades were all at their strongest with full energy charge!
Furthermore, as the Elite Ghoul couldn't move the instant it finished evolving, these six Small Success realm Yin Wind Blades, each with a power of 9.0, all struck the most vulnerable areas of its defenses!
In an instant, the high-speed rotating wind blades tore through the Elite Ghoul's skin. A large amount of viscous, ink-like blood oozed out, leaving six wounds, each thirty to forty centimeters long, on the Ghoul's body!
However, although these six wounds looked terrifying, they were merely flesh wounds and hadn't injured its core!
"Roar!!!"
The evolved Heavy Armored Ghoul roared furiously, turning to pounce on the Yin Ghosts that had attacked it. At the same time, it flung out both its grappling hook and chain hammer!
With its super high physique, this large Ghoul possessed agility that didn't match its size at all. The Yin Ghost it targeted had no time to dodge!
At the critical moment, Chu Xiu waved his Soul Banner, and the bodies of the five Yin Ghosts rapidly turned transparent.
Trait [Soul Form]!
"Boom!"
The chain hammer passed through the Yin Ghost's transparent body and smashed heavily onto the concrete wall behind it, creating a large crater!
Although it had entered Soul Form, Chu Xiu could sense that the Yin Ghost that was hit had weakened significantly!
But this was also within his expectations. Even this Yin Ghost that was dangling before its eyes was a bait he had prepared in advance!
The moment the large Ghoul aimed at the Yin Ghost and swung its chain hammer, Chu Xiu, who had been hiding behind a load-bearing pillar and had already charged up his power, stomped his right foot back! The perfected Ghostly Shadow Steps at maximum power erupted, and his entire being shot out like an arrow loosed from its bowstring!
The immense energy of 17250J was completely converted into kinetic energy within a short 0.8 seconds. Coupled with Chu Xiu's own muscular strength, his speed was elevated to an extremely high value in an instant!
He leaped across a distance of over twenty meters. Using the momentum of his sprint, he twisted his waist, straightened his hips, and channeled the power from his thighs to his arms, gathering his entire body's strength into a forceful thrust!
While the Elite Ghoul was still aiming at the Yin Ghost bait, Chu Xiu's Bone Spear had already pierced its lower back!
Trait [Armor Penetration]!
"Shhhk!"
With a muffled sound, under the immense impact force, even skin as tough as steel couldn't resist. More than half of the Bone Spear penetrated the Ghoul's body!
"Roar!!!"
The Ghoul let out another deafening roar. But compared to its previous anger, this roar clearly carried pain!
Trait [Soul Pierce]!
The strongest effect attached to the +10 Perfected Bone Spear directly struck the giant beast on a soul level!
This was Chu Xiu's confidence in challenging this monster!
A sharp whistling sound rang in his ears as the enraged monster turned and struck at him! Chu Xiu ducked, simultaneously pulling out his Bone Spear and retreating. He activated the Ghostly Shadow Steps once more, his body nimbly dodging the attack like a phantom.
Blood continued to flow from the wound caused by the Bone Spear, and a strange blue-black color spread along the wound.
Trait [Bleeding]! Item [Type-005 Ghoul Venom]!
Of course, compared to the massive body of the D-rank Ghoul, this amount of bleeding and toxins was negligible. However, it was clear that the monster was already exhausted after the prolonged battle. Any attack at this point could be the final straw that broke its back!
Chu Xiu knew this in his heart. He used the Ghostly Shadow Steps to swiftly move around the D-rank Ghoul, continuously attacking with the Bone Spear in his hand and the retractable tail stinger on his back!
Under their relentless assault, the Elite Ghoul quickly gained several more wounds, and the toxins began to accumulate within its body!
At the same time, the five Yin Ghosts, in their Soul Form, activated their [Life Drain] skill, continuously absorbing the D-rank Ghoul's life force!
Chu Xiu could sense that under his multiple methods, although it wasn't outwardly apparent, the Ghoul's movement speed and strength had been greatly affected!
Its actual physique now was far from 57.9, probably only a little over 40!
At this level, Chu Xiu's perfected Ghostly Shadow Steps were enough to barely cope!
He was like a calm and experienced hunter, constantly adjusting his position. Each attack was a hit and run, never taking risks or being greedy for more. He was merely accumulating insignificant advantages with each attack, waiting for time to wear down his powerful enemy.
However, just as Chu Xiu felt that the monster was about to collapse, a strange red glow suddenly flashed in its eyes!
The next moment, the energy sac on its back began to contract violently, as if trying to squeeze out the last bit of energy within!
Through its wrinkled surface, one could vaguely see the blood vessels underneath swelling, injecting a green liquid into the D-rank Ghoul's body!
As the green liquid was injected, its muscles visibly bulged. The exoskeletal armor on its body even began to crack, unable to contain its rapidly growing muscles!
A message flashed before Chu Xiu's eyes.
[Skill: Overdrive (An advanced skill of Power Burst, it can greatly increase strength, reaction speed, and life regeneration, while reducing pain perception and lasting for a longer duration. However, it will induce a state of weakness after the effect ends)]