Steel-headed Earth Rat

As an Extraordinary Creature that had evolved less than three days ago, mastered only one skill, and was merely Level 2, Spark could not help feeling nervous as it faced its fierce-looking opponent.

"Go, Spark. You can do it."

The Beast Tamer's encouragement rang by its ear, as gentle yet powerful as ever. Warmth filled Spark's heart, and it silently cheered itself on.

Come on!

You can do it!

Although Chen Yuan did not know his opponent's exact level or combat strength, Spark was among the first batch of creatures to evolve and had the system's support. Its rate of progress was bound to be among the best.

The advantage was on his side in this battle.

The setting sun was red as blood, its dim golden afterglow outlining shadow after shadow. Chen Weiyi watched the two pet beasts facing off and silently tightened his grip on his hoe.

Nothing could not be solved with one swing of a hoe.

"Spark, Flame Surge."

A breeze brushed past him, stirring Chen Yuan's clothes. He gave a soft command.

Since he did not know the opponent's capabilities, Chen Yuan decided to test it first.

Well, Spark only knew one skill for now anyway.

"Chirp!"

Upon hearing its Beast Tamer's command, Spark puffed out its cheeks without hesitation. A searing power surged within its belly.

The flames on its feathers burned even brighter, echoing the falling sunset glow like a fiery cloud stretching across the sky.

Boom!

In an instant, scorching flames gushed from its mouth, forming a slender pillar of fire that swept forward with a heat wave toward its opponent!

Standing behind it, Chen Yuan could clearly feel the residual heat. His expression immediately turned excited.

Compared to Flame Surge at 1.3 proficiency, Flame Surge at 2.3 proficiency was clearly far more powerful.

If Spark's level and proficiency became even higher, what kind of power would these flames display?

"Ka!"

Seeing the pillar of fire howl over and cross several meters in the blink of an eye, now practically upon it, the mole-like Extraordinary Creature visibly froze. Only then did it raise both arms high and cross them, attempting to block the attack with the sharp parts that gleamed with a metallic sheen.

Bang!

The surging flames struck the opponent head-on. Firelight flared at once as rolling sparks continuously scorched its iron-like arms. Excitement shone in Spark's eyes.

Soon, the flames subsided.

"Ka..."

With a pained groan, Chen Yuan looked up at his opponent and saw that its arms glowed red, bearing obvious burn marks. Its body was trembling faintly as well.

Good. That Flame Surge did excellent damage!

Chen Yuan silently praised Spark's strength, but he kept his eyes fixed on the Extraordinary Creature across from him, not daring to relax his vigilance in the slightest.

Even though the strike had worked, he still did not know the opponent's full capabilities. He absolutely could not let his guard down.

"Ka..."

Yet under Chen Yuan's wary gaze, the Extraordinary Creature lowered its head to look at its reddened arms, then hurriedly shook its head.

Stop fighting, stop fighting!

Defeated a Tier 1 Extraordinary Creature. Obtained 0.1 Origin Points.

Hearing the voice in his mind, Chen Yuan paused slightly. He then signaled Spark to stop attacking and said, "Ask it what it means."

Was it going to keep fighting or not?

He could not accurately understand what Extraordinary Creatures meant, but it was also an Extraordinary Creature like Spark, so they should be able to communicate at a basic level.

And Chen Yuan was mentally connected to Spark. Rounding things off a little, he and the Extraordinary Creature across from him were mentally connected too.

Chen Weiyi chuckled beside him and stroked his beard. "That's what happens when the fist lands on your body—you learn what pain is."

"Chirp?"

"Ka~~"

"Awo!"

"Chirp chirp chirp!"

"Ka ka ka!"

"Chirp chirp chirp!"

After a round of friendly communication, Chen Yuan finally figured out the origin of this Extraordinary Creature.

It had originally lived in this wasteland. After being battered by a week of heavy rain, it had transformed into its current form this morning.

Once its body grew larger, it could no longer hide in its burrow. It had no choice but to come above ground and dig a new hole.

That dark, gaping hole was the new burrow it had dug for itself.

"So it was you lot!"

At the same time, Chen Weiyi learned of its origins from Chen Yuan. His brows immediately furrowed as he shouted angrily.

He had long known that a group of earth rats lived beneath this wasteland, always sneaking into the fields under cover of night to gnaw on the vegetables.

However, earth rats slept during the day and came out at night. They were small, and their burrows gave them cover, making them difficult to catch.

Chen Weiyi had even hired professionals specifically to catch the earth rats. The results had been remarkable, and the earth rats had vanished.

But he never imagined that remnants of the earth rat population were still hidden in this wasteland, secretly moving about right under his nose!

Chen Yuan paid no attention to that. Staring at the turned-up soil, he asked, "You can till the land too?"

"Ka?"

The Extraordinary Creature evolved from an earth rat tilted its head. Then it lowered its body, and the drill-like parts extending from its head and arms exerted force together as it burrowed into the wasteland.

Next, under Chen Yuan and Chen Weiyi's watchful eyes, the earth rat underground turned over plot after plot of soil, exposing fresh earth to the surface.

A moment later, the earth rat drilled back out, shook the dirt from its body, and grinned at Chen Yuan.

Tilling land? I'm a professional!

Chen Yuan nodded instinctively and said to Chen Weiyi beside him, "Grandpa, haven't you always wanted to reclaim this wasteland?"

"What do you think of this helper?"

Chen Weiyi fell silent for a moment. His stunned expression looked as if his worldview had taken a violent blow. Only after a long while did he ask, "Can this really work?"

"Did you forget how Spark helped pull weeds?" Chen Yuan asked again.

Chen Weiyi stared at the giant earth rat ahead of him and fell into thought once more.

When it came to tilling land alone, neither his efficiency nor quality could compare to that of this Extraordinary Creature.

Silence was the best answer.

Chen Yuan slowly walked forward and stopped only when he was three meters from the giant earth rat. A smile appeared on his face. "Since you've always lived here, we have no reason to drive you away."

Then, he deliberately pondered for a moment before asking with a smile, "How about this? Since you can help till the land, you can stay here."

"Ka?"

Confusion and incomprehension flashed through the giant earth rat's eyes.

Chen Yuan's smile widened. "You can help my grandpa till the land. You won't need to do anything else."

"We'll give you enough food every day."

"This is an opportunity with food and lodging included."

"Ka!"

The giant earth rat seemed to understand something. Its eyes instantly widened, and its face filled with longing.

Vegetables!

It seemed to see piles upon piles of fresh vegetables!

"Chirp?"

Hearing this familiar-sounding pitch, Spark looked at the smiling Chen Yuan with a puzzled expression.

"Ahem."

Feeling guilty, Chen Yuan instinctively turned his head away.

"Ka!"

The giant earth rat nodded heavily, and the sound it made rescued the guilty Chen Yuan.

"To show our sincerity, let's shake hands." Chen Yuan hurried over to the giant earth rat, avoiding Spark's gaze.

"Ka~"

The giant earth rat did not understand why, but for the sake of a better future, it obediently held out its paw.

Collected Steel-headed Earth Rat for the first time. Origin Points +1

Race: Steel-headed Earth Rat

Attribute: Steel

Level: 1 (Tier 1)

Favorability: 19

Skill: Steel Blade (Basic 0.2/3)+

Quality: Ordinary

Conditions to advance to Elite quality: Insufficient Origin Points (1.1/5)