Dark Power / Dark Evolution ...

The spiritual energy rebounded, but the backlash from a mere Four-Star Pokémon was nothing to a trainer of Jasmine's caliber. She quickly took out her Pokémon Card and recalled Cyber End Dragon to avoid further damage.

Previously, You Zhi had suggested using ordinary Cyber Dragon to attract attention and avoid the backlash from Ten-Star spiritual power, but the current method is clearly better, as it can both create a huge threat and reduce the backlash from spiritual power.

The Worm Zero, which had unleashed the shockwave, was much weaker. You Zhi took the opportunity to escape from the Zerg's 100-meter attack range, and after reuniting with the others, he fled out of another attack range.

"Did you find anything?"

"Yes, I have discovered their fatal weakness."

Chapter 157 The Dark Power

After learning about the Worm Zero, You Zhi immediately returned to the Allied Forces and convened a meeting.

"We previously had a big misconception about Worms, thinking that Worms were just a group of emotionless biological machines that only acted according to the commands of the mother, without thinking or having self-awareness."

In reality, these Worms are no different from ordinary animals. They may not have as many complex emotions, but they possess basic feelings of fear, anger, and joy. They simply prioritize obeying the mother's commands. As long as they do not disobey the mother's commands, they know how to enjoy themselves and relax. In very rare cases, individuals may even have thoughts of rebelling against the mother's commands and reproducing.

"But we haven't found any individuals like this before," Gottoms questioned.

You Zhi said, "Firstly, their numbers are very small. Secondly, once the mother discovers a rebellious individual, she will send obedient subordinates to eliminate it. Thirdly, we are hostile to the Worms, and we will kill each other whenever we meet. It is easy to overlook the abnormality of the other party. I asked some Allied Forces soldiers, and they also encountered Worms who were afraid and gave up resistance on the battlefield. However, no one was merciful. They all eliminated the other party directly and did not take it to heart afterward. They thought it was just a trivial matter and at most used it as a topic of conversation when chatting with their comrades."

Thunder Oni said, "Let's accept your statement for now, but even if we know that, what difference will it make?"

"Where there is oppression, there is resistance. There must be discontent among the lower-level Worms with the Mother, but they are too scattered and there is no leader to bring them together, which makes them easy to suppress by the Mother. So, we might as well be the leader and ignite all their emotions. Even if we can't make the Cocoon burst, we can still greatly restrain their power."

"Can it succeed? As you just said, the Worms are like animals, and animals' emotions are basically driven by instinct. They have very weak willpower, and I'm afraid there aren't many individuals with a rebellious spirit or feelings of discontent."

"The proportion is small, but when multiplied by a huge base, it accumulates into a considerable number. I believe the best way to deal with the Cocoon is not physical destruction, but mental manipulation. The opponent may appear to be a unified whole, impenetrable, but it is actually full of gaps."

The attendees exchanged glances, each lost in their own thoughts.

Woodscale Dragon agreed, "The method itself is feasible, or at least it sounds reasonable."

The Mist Valley Shaman spread his hands and said, "The key is that we have no expertise in Mind Control, while the Fabled is quite skilled in this area."

Everyone nodded in agreement. The other side had almost taken control of their leader; their mastery of the mental realm was indeed not to be underestimated.

"Don't mention those traitors! We can no longer cooperate with them, nor can we trust them."

Thunder Oni's expression was extremely ugly. He had trusted these menacing-looking guys so much that he had vouched for them, only to have them make a fool of themselves on the battlefield. If he didn't produce some results, he would have to hand over his position as leader of the Allied Forces.

Seeing the eldest brother's objection, the prayer master had no choice but to say, "Instead of spending time building a Mind Control device from scratch, it would be better to focus on creating a long-range war weapon; the latter might take even less time."

Everyone fell silent, realizing the problem they were facing.

You Zhi's proposed method is quite good; targeting the enemy's weaknesses might have a fatal effect. However, it's difficult for them to achieve this with their technology. The war weapons that the Ally of Justice is good at making are mostly crude and bulky. The few sophisticated gadgets they occasionally make are actually Worms- specific attack machines made by collecting Worms data.

"May I ask a question?"

The speaker was a birdman holding a staff, and he was a veteran of the Dragunity.

Indeed, the Dragunity has agreed to participate in the war, not as a symbolic gesture as before, but as an entire clan joining the battle. However, the timing is somewhat delicate. With only one enemy remaining, there is no longer a need for a large number of soldiers, which puts the Dragunity in a rather awkward position.

Either stay out of it, maintaining a cool and aloof stance like Ice Barrier, with victory and honor having nothing to do with the Dragunity, or go all out, fighting bravely like the Jurrac Tribe, regardless of casualties.

Joining the Ally of Justice now feels like trying to steal credit, which is undoubtedly a disgrace to the Dragunity, who possess a strong martial spirit.

Of course, quitting would be even more embarrassing.

The Dragunity, caught in a dilemma, was eager to make a name for themselves and prove their worth.

"Please speak, Elder."

"Actually, our goal is not to Mind Control the Worms, but to incite their discontent and anger, thereby causing them to rebel against the Mother's will and fall into infighting. Therefore, we don't need to create a Mind Control device; a mind control device that can trigger the other party's negative emotions will suffice to achieve our goal."

Mind Control is a sophisticated and meticulous technique, but triggering negative emotions is simple and brutal.

"This does lower the technical requirements considerably, but whether it will succeed is still unknown," the Prayer Master thought for a moment and offered a moderate suggestion. "Anyway, we don't need to worry about enemy attacks right now. We can divide the research team into two groups and conduct research on two different machines simultaneously. The development progress will probably be about 20% slower than if we specialize in one research project, but overall it will still be beneficial. Whichever one succeeds first, we can use it."

This suggestion takes both into account, without gambling on which will succeed, making it the safest option. Since everyone had no other better method, they nodded in agreement.

"There's no need for that; I have a faster and more effective method."

The elder of the Dragunity turned to look at Jasmine and said, "When I saw the steel dragon-shaped familiar summoned by this lady before, I discovered that the familiar possessed the potential to master dark power. As long as it is combined with our clan's technology, it can be developed."

Jasmine was taken aback and asked, "Huh? You mean the Cyber End Dragon I summoned? It can continue to evolve?"

"Whether it constitutes evolution, I cannot guarantee, but it can indeed master the Dark Power, and with its powerful foundation, the Dark Power it acquires will be terrifying. At that time, it won't even need to deliberately control it; simply approaching the Cocoon will trigger its negative emotions."

After a pause, the elder of the Dragunity added, "Admittedly, the Dark Power will inevitably affect the nature of familiars. It's unlikely that they will develop rebellious thoughts after their strength increases. Whether or not to risk developing it is up to you. You should consider it carefully before giving an answer."

"No need to think about it, I agree."

Spirits are not familiars, and trainers are not summoners.

The physical modification of a familiar is permanent, but the modification of an elf is only temporary. Even if the Cyber End Dragon goes berserk and out of control after obtaining Dark Power, it can at worst regress to its previous form.

Just as the Divergent Lizard Yihao can be driven mad by evil influences, after the Pokémon Card is retrieved, the Demon Lizard Yihao, is unaffected.

Therefore, Jasmine didn't have many concerns and readily agreed.

Chapter 158 Dark Evolution

Allied Forces Tech Modification Room.

The Dragunity are using various sophisticated instruments to modify a three-headed metal dragon, making its appearance increasingly ferocious and evil.

At first glance, it looks like Digimon Armor Evolution.

However, the creature undergoing modification is not the Cyber End Dragon that was scheduled at the meeting, but the Chimeratech Fortress Dragon.

Before summoning the spirit, Jasmine thought carefully. If the Cyber End Dragon really went out of control and went berserk, she might not be able to recall it to the Pokémon Card in time. With the destructive power of the Cyber End Dragon, just one Eternal Evolution Burst could severely damage the Allied Forces base, and the researchers would inevitably suffer heavy casualties.

It's important to know that Cyber End Dragon is a Ten-Star Pokémon, while Jasmine's Spirit Power level is only 8-star. She can command Cyber End Dragon because of their deep bond. Once it goes berserk, she can't forcibly stop it as a trainer. To be on the safe side, it's better to switch to an 8-star Chimeratech Fortress Dragon.

Chimera Dragon belongs to the same Cyber Dragon series, but it is a different evolutionary branch. Regardless of its initial form, its evolutionary chain from low to high is Chimeratech Overdragon, Chimeratech Fortress Dragon, and Chimeratech Megafleet Dragon.

Jasmine's chimera dragon did not evolve to its final form.

You Zhi was not with him, because he was in another technology modification room next door, watching through the glass Divergent Lizard Yihao underwent the same modification.

The Cyber Dragon possesses the potential to master Dark Power, while the Divergent Lizard Yihao inherently possesses an evil heart; there's no reason why the former can do it but the latter cannot.

Moreover, judging from the elite soldiers of the Dragunity, they are more adept at modifying flesh and blood creatures than mechanical ones. For example, the long-handled Halberd Dragon sword on their heads and the Ritual Staff Dragon Knight, as well as the streamlined Spear Dragon and Fork Dragon covered in armor, are all combinations of flesh and metal, rather than simple robots.

Therefore, at the end of the meeting, You Zhi took the initiative to suggest that Divergent Lizard Yihao undergo transformation. After careful observation, the elders of the Dragunity also believed that Divergent Lizard Yihao had the potential to master Dark Power and agreed to this request. They were eager to make tangible contributions to get out of their awkward situation.

The Divergent Lizard Yihao already had a foundation in physical modification, so this was at most a second-stage enhancement, which made it very easy for him to accept. The Dragunity was indeed skilled in this area, so it only took less than a day to successfully achieve the modification and evolution.

[Giant Lizard - Demon Lizard Yihao (8-star) Water]

[Lineage: Fighting-type, Evil]

[Level: 33]

[Talent: Ferocity]

[Attack Power: 2950 (2692)]

[Defense: 2800 (2555)]

[Reptile-Type, description: It has suffered a mental breakdown, its body driven to madness by the pursuit of greater power; its former self is nowhere to be found...]

The modified Giant Divergent Lizard Yihao is much stronger, and its body is surrounded by a dark aura. Its type has also changed from Fighting-type /Steel to Fighting-type /Dark. Perhaps influenced by this Dark Power, its talent level has also increased from Strong Rank to Ferocious Rank, shedding its status as the Pokémon with the lowest talent under You Zhi's command.

As soon as it regained its ability to move, it swung its claws and tore apart the metal arm in front of it. Then, with a low growl, it launched an attack on the nearby researchers.

Fortunately, the Dragunity had anticipated this, and several dragon knights responsible for the escort rushed forward to stop them. However, they did not know that elves could regenerate after being destroyed, so they dared not go all out. In addition, they were wary of the dark aura and afraid of being Mental Contamination, so they could not suppress it for a time and showed signs of retreating.

"Alright, you all step back, let me do it."

You Zhi entered the room, waved for the Dragunity to leave, then clenched his fist and said to his trusted subordinate, "If you have any memory left and don't want to get beaten up again, you'd better stop now."

Upon hearing this, the Giant Divergent Lizard Yihao paused slightly, then spread its arms, raised its head, and roared. The thunderous roar echoed in the room, and before it had completely subsided, it pounced on You Zhi.

"It seems I held back too much before, and failed to leave a deep enough impression on you. Otherwise, even if you had a mental breakdown, you would still know to follow your instincts."

Seeing that his command had failed, You Zhi realized that as a Seven-Star Trainer, he couldn't force the other party to obey. So he simply gave up on taking back the Pokémon Card and decided to use his fists to help the other party recall the past.

The Giant Divergent Lizard Yihao swung its claw, the force of which cracked the air with a loud bang, and a noticeable crack appeared on the wall that was grazed by the residual force.

"Your movements were too exaggerated, full of openings. It seems you haven't mastered any of the techniques I taught you before."

You Zhi delivered a swift and powerful chop to Giant Divergent Lizard Yihao's medial condyle of the humerus, dissipating the force. He then closed in and delivered an Inch Force Fist to the opponent's abdomen, seemingly a small movement, but actually causing serious damage to his internal organs.

With a single blow, the Giant Divergent Lizard Yihao arched its body backward, stretched its neck forward, and even vomited bile.

"What are you spitting out? This is just an appetizer. A sumptuous feast awaits you. Swallow it obediently!"

You Zhi showed no mercy, launching a fierce and relentless offensive that left the Giant Divergent Lizard Yihao utterly powerless to retaliate. Every time Giant Divergent Lizard Yihao attempted to counterattack, his strength was disrupted midway, rendering him helpless and utterly frustrated.

"You've forgotten the techniques I taught you, and all you do is rely on brute force. In terms of sheer threat, you're not even as good as your pre-evolution form. Aren't you ashamed? Wake up!"

You Zhi gave the Giant Divergent Lizard Yihao a good beating, but the dark aura emanating from the other party did not pollute him at all, and he was completely unaffected.

Although its mind was on the verge of collapse, it could still feel pain. As it was being beaten, the Giant Divergent Lizard Yihao recalled its previous training and its body instinctively used defensive techniques. Gradually, it managed to break free from its berserk state.

"Waaah..."

Perhaps the mental training from the past had taken effect; although the Giant Divergent Lizard Yihao had not fully regained its rationality, it no longer attacked You Zhi and showed a submissive posture. The pain that had not yet dissipated in its body reminded it to listen to the person in front of it.

That's more like it.

You Zhi recalled the no-longer-resisting Giant Divergent Lizard Yihao into his Pokémon form, then allowed it to regress into Demon Lizard Yihao. He decided to restart the special training to help it maintain its rationality after evolution. In any case, if it disobeyed, he would beat it until it obeyed, which had proven to be the simplest and most effective method.

Suddenly, an explosion rang out, mud bricks flew everywhere, and the walls of the two technologically modified rooms were blown open, from which a metal dragon covered in sharp blades emerged.

[Armored Black Dragon - Cyberdark Dragon (8-star) Dark]

[Lineage: Steel, Evil]

[Level: 32]

[Attack Power: 1000 (900)]

[Defense: 1000 (900)]

[Machine-Type, effect: omitted]

Chapter 159 Evolution Failed?

You Zhi immediately recognized that Jasmine's spirit had gone out of control due to the influence of Dark Power. With the Giant Divergent Lizard Yihao as a precedent, it wasn't anything surprising.

Judging from the description of the effects of his Cheat Appraisal, the Armored Black Dragon can increase its attack and defense stats by capturing Dragon-Type Pokémon, and it will also increase the number of monsters in its graveyard by 100. Without these two effects, its own ability is not strong, with a mere 900 attack and defense stats, which is not even enough to defeat some Four-Star Pokémon.

You Zhi didn't hold back, delivering a flying kick that struck the opponent's chin, sending him crashing into the ceiling. With a loud bang, the Armored Black Dragon's head smashed through the ceiling, while its body, still attached to the deck, swayed back and forth, looking like a roast goose.

When Jasmine caught up and saw this scene, she marveled at You Zhi's superhuman abilities while summoning a spirit to put down the ridiculously humiliated Armored Black Dragon.

Unlike You Zhi, who couldn't command the Giant Divergent Lizard Yihao, Jasmine's spiritual power level just covered that of the Armored Black Dragon. Even if the dragon went berserk, she could force it to obey. Previously, it was because she was caught off guard when the Electronic Chimera Dragon suddenly evolved during the modification process, and she couldn't react in time, which caused the Armored Black Dragon to crash into the wall.

After the two of them retrieved the out-of-control spirits into their Pokémon Card, Gottoms came over and said, "It seems the modification was successful. I also sensed that Dark Power. Even I had to be on high alert to resist being corrupted. It should be enough to deal with the Cocoon —if the opponent has internal problems as you said."

The elders of the Dragunity also rushed over and said, "Although we had already seen that the elf had the potential to master Dark Power, it was even stronger than I imagined. It was as if it was born for this. Several soldiers of our tribe were corrupted by the Dark Power and went mad on the spot. Fortunately, the corruption was not deep and they were purified and saved in time."

Jasmine quickly said, "I'm sorry for the trouble."

Thunder Oni waved his hand and said, "This kind of trouble is exactly what we want. What are your plans next, and when do you intend to take action?"

Gottoms said, "Set a time, and we'll cooperate."

You Zhi thought for a moment and said, "I need at least three days to train the Pokémon and help it remember its past."

Those who had witnessed his previous behavior twitched their lips. This way of recalling the past was truly unique. When other people's familiars went berserk and out of control, they inevitably caused a great deal of destruction and vented their anger. But when his familiars went berserk and out of control, they would get beaten up. It was really too miserable.

Eria the Water Charmer said, "I'll help too. Our familiars are of the same race, so perhaps we can awaken each other's sanity through a mental link."

"Alright, then I'll trouble you."

Although You Zhi felt that regaining his rationality through his own willpower would be a better way to strengthen his will, time was of the essence, and the longer it dragged on, the more variables would arise, so he did not refuse to help.

Jasmine said, "I have no problem either. Three days is enough time to get the Armored Black Dragon to obey my orders."

Thunder Oni Dao: "Alright, then let's set the operation date for three days from now, and temporarily name it Nest Break. I'll gather my subordinates to refine the specific details of the plan. You two just focus on training your familiars."

Everyone reached a consensus and had no objections.