Chapter 9: Tenth-Generation Primordial

Chapter 9: Tenth-Generation Primordial

In the Monster World’s Dizhong Mountain Range, within the ruins of an Ancient Battlefield, a skeletal figure wreathed in ink-black flames aimlessly wandered. Around it lay mountains of shattered weapons and broken remains.

“To become a powerful hunter, you must first learn to hide and seek ambush opportunities.”

“Then lock onto your target, wait for the perfect moment, strike like the wind—die swiftly… ow!”

As Li Zheng barked instructions through the regional voice channel, players sprawled on the ground suddenly sprang up, twisting midair into monstrous forms. They lunged at the first-generation Primordial Monster, Bonefire.

Now level 5, Li Zheng and his companions were twice as strong as when they’d started, their bodies significantly bulkier. This was their third confrontation with Bonefire. The first two encounters had ended in crushing defeat, sparking their competitive fire.

More importantly, they’d discovered a game-breaking mechanic: the monsters here never reset. Unlike other games, where retreating healed enemies to full, here, every wound remained. Even after death, the bite marks they’d left on Bonefire hadn’t vanished. This meant they could whittle down even powerful foes over time—if the enemy couldn’t heal.

Bonefire’s left leg, already splintered from past skirmishes, bore fresh scars. This time, they focused their assault there. As their ink-black flames ignited, they clung to the Primordial, gnawing at its weakened limb despite the searing pain. Soon, the leg shattered, sending Bonefire crashing to the ground.

Seizing the moment, Starving to Eat Soil and the others joined the fray. The scaled serpent’s coils, the gargoyle’s crushing fists, and the hawk-headed demon’s razor beak battered Bonefire until its skull erupted in a burst of black crystal, extinguishing its Inky Inferno.

Ten tendrils of Obsidian Mist surged from its corpse, drifting toward Li Zheng and his party. Contact sent a crimson glow rippling across their bodies, surging with energy as they grew stronger. Their flames dissipated, replaced by the vigor of a level-up.

As Bonefire’s remains reformed into a smoky silhouette, a nearby Guidewater Orb swallowed its Life Soul, teleporting it to a containment cell. A blue tube connected to its skull began siphoning Sacrificial Power.

The players’ minds buzzed with a notification:

[Challenger Alert: Containment of first-gen Primordial Monster Bonefire successful. Primordial Hunt quest complete.]

Reward 1: All participants received 1,000 Sacrificial Power (adjusted by group size).
Reward 2: Unlock of the second Life Soul slot.

“Finally did it!”
“Hell yeah! That rush feels amazing!”
“1,000 Sacrificial Power? Way faster than farming Cursed Soldiers!”

Li Zheng turned to the Guidewater Orb. “How much Sacrificial Power does unlocking the second Life Soul slot normally cost?”

[500 points.]

“So we can implant our second Life Soul now?”

[Yes. Use the Stellar Vein Inlay function on the Function Panel.]

Opening the panel, Li Zheng browsed seven options: Map, Inventory, Character Stats, Stellar Vein Enhancement, Item Mall, Resource Offering, and Settings.

Selecting Stellar Vein, his inner vision displayed a glowing spine-like structure. At its peak floated his human form; the first slot below housed the Black-Scaled Serpent (Lv5, Venom trait).

The right panel listed:

[Challenger: Game Bricklayer]
Name: Li Zheng
Stellar Vein Tier: 2 (Next Tier: 2,000 Sacrificial Power)
Inlay Slots: 2
Implanted Life Souls:
1. Black-Scaled Serpent (Lv5, Venom)
2. Empty

A “Purchase Life Soul” button led to a shop:

1. Petrification (Gargoyle Form: First-Gen Primordial):
Grants temporary invulnerability when activated, reducing all damage (effect strength varies with physical stats).
Cost: 1,000 Sacrificial Power

2. Vengeful Howl (Hawk-Headed Demon Form: First-Gen Primordial):
Alerts to nearby threats (hostility, spiritual pressure, etc.).
Cost: 1,000 Sacrificial Power

3. Venom (Black-Scaled Serpent Form: First-Gen Primordial):
Applies poison on physical attacks. (Toxin potency scales with physical stats.)
Status: Owned

4. Inkfire (Bonefire Form: First-Gen Primordial):
Emits controllable deathflame, causing burn and necrotic damage. (Damage scales with monster level and mental power.)
Cost: 1,000 Sacrificial Power

“Guide, what does ‘First-Gen Primordial’ mean?” Li Zheng asked.

[Imperial Omen conducted ten experiments to create Primordials, each weaker than the last. First-gen Primordials hold the weakest traits, while tenth-gen possess the strongest. However, generation doesn’t always correlate with strength. Some tenth-gen monsters may have low hunting ranks, while first-gen might be extremely dangerous.]

Li Zheng pondered. His options were Gargoyle (defense), Hawk-Headed Demon (utility), or Bonefire (elemental). Bonefire’s fire clashed with his Venom trait, so he dismissed it.

Before deciding, he noticed Starving to Eat Soil had already chosen Bonefire’s form, their body ablaze with ink-black flames.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end