Mutation

The vortex force field activated. Han Shu charged straight ahead, his Star Essence spear wreathed in spiraling ripples, and slammed it into one of Ghost Car's arms.

The spiraling ripples immediately pulled, tore, and pulverized the flesh of Ghost Car's arm, finally spraying it out in a cloud of pulpy dust. Like an enormous drill, the ripples bored into the monster's arm in an instant.

Even the hard bones within could not stop the drill's advance. Once minced flesh mixed with bone fragments began spraying out, it took Han Shu no more than two seconds to drill clean through Ghost Car's arm!

The Ascenders behind him cheered involuntarily. This was the first time since the battle began that they had inflicted substantial damage on Ghost Car, rather than merely stripping off a layer of skin!

Before the cheers faded, a sudden oppressive presence enveloped the area. Tianyang saw the wrist of an Ascender ahead light up, while crimson light rose in his eyes. As he ran, that crimson glow left broken red trails through the air.

He was a squad captain, carrying a sword narrow at the tip and broad at the base. Brimming with fierce Battle Intent, he accelerated.

The silver light on his wrist came from an ability of the War God Class called [Silver Mighty Arm], which increased an Ascender's strength and the power of their abilities.

The red light in his eyes, meanwhile, marked the activation of [Battle Intent], an ability of the rank 4 Asura. It ignited an Ascender's fighting spirit, slightly increased the damage of each successive attack, and greatly reduced pain, allowing the Ascender to concentrate more fully on combat.

Rank 4 was the dividing line for every class. The Nightwalkers had an explicit rule: only those at rank 4 could serve as captains.

This ensured the safety of every squad member, while also acknowledging a captain's combat strength!

By now, the captain had overtaken Han Shu. His longsword flared with brilliant light as it swept across Ghost Car's second arm.

The arm was cleanly severed in two. With two arms cut off in succession, Ghost Car lost its balance and toppled heavily toward the side with the severed limbs!

The other Ascenders held nothing back. Silver radiance blossomed on every wrist as swords and sabers hacked at Ghost Car's remaining arms...

Tianyang did not rush hotheadedly into the attack. Honestly, they hardly needed another low-level fighter like him right now.

Tianyang slowed down and focused on Ghost Car. The monster in his field of vision gradually began to turn translucent.

This meant [Weakness Sense] had activated, but even after Tianyang stared until his eyes ached, he could only see the muscles and blood vessels writhing beneath the monster's skin. He could not see the organs inside Ghost Car as he had last time, so naturally, he had no way of knowing where its will cage was!

How could this be?

The boy rubbed his eyes and looked again, but still only a single layer of skin turned translucent. He could not sense anything deeper inside the monster.

Was the difference in rank too great, or was something interfering?

Tianyang looked over. Ghost Car still had its deflection force field spread around its body. Perhaps that thing could interfere with abilities as well as attacks?

Suddenly, the harsh sound of metal scraping against the ground rang out.

Han Shu, who had just drilled through another of Ghost Car's arms, noticed signs of movement in the monster's tail. His expression changed at once, and he roared, "Everyone, get down!"

At the same time, he reached out, pressed down on the head of Cang Du, who was closest to him, and dove toward the ground!

Tianyang dared not hesitate and threw himself down like the others ahead. His chest had barely touched the ground when he heard a vicious rush of wind overhead. The boy raised his head and saw the metal structure beneath the Train. Ghost Car had swung its tail violently, sweeping it over everyone's heads.

The carriages fitted around Ghost Car's tail struck two nearby buildings, sending rubble flying.

One Ascender failed to drop in time and was whipped off their feet by Ghost Car. They slammed into the wall of a building opposite, their flesh mangled like a mosquito swatted dead against a wall.

Han Shu sighed at the gruesome sight. Once Ghost Car withdrew its long tail, he attacked again.

With the monster pinned down by ranged fire, Han Shu and the others soon destroyed seven or eight of its arms. Ghost Car could no longer support itself. It completely lost its balance and fell toward the side with the severed limbs.

The Ascenders seized the chance to unleash fierce attacks on its body. Unfortunately, the monster was too enormous. Even wounds that looked horrifying to humans might have been no more significant to it than a small accidental knife cut.

Still, with so many arms lost, Ghost Car could hardly get back up. Seeing its condition, Han Shu considered taking the opportunity to retreat. In this state, Ghost Car should no longer be able to pursue them.

Unexpectedly, red light suddenly flared before his eyes. Han Shu looked over and saw that the yellow halos emitted by the fleshy growths on Ghost Car's body had turned scarlet at some point!

"This is bad! Move!"

The red light stung Han Shu's eyes. He shouted for everyone to fall back. The next moment, the fleshy growths on Ghost Car split open, and crystals blazing with red light rose from within.

The temperature around Ghost Car suddenly soared, and a wall of fire erupted out of thin air. Two Ascenders were caught squarely in the flames. They screamed and rolled on the ground, but by the time the fire was extinguished, extensive burns covered their bodies.

One died outright, while the other barely clung to life.

When they looked at Ghost Car again, it had curled into a ball, its body rising and swelling rhythmically.

Not knowing what it was about to do, Han Shu ordered the wounded carried away while telling everyone else to retreat.

In truth, attacking was impossible now. The temperature around Ghost Car's body was extremely high. In such heat, only high-ranking Ascenders could take action. Those below rank 4 could not even get close.

Once everyone had put several hundred meters between themselves and the monster, its remaining arms actually began burning on their own, giving off waves of foul stench.

After the arms, now like burning sticks, rapidly charred and burned through, insectlike legs began extending from both sides of Ghost Car's body.

The two foremost legs in particular were shaped like scythes. Their shells, made of some unknown material, had been heated red-hot by the high-temperature force field surrounding it.

From a distance, they looked like two red-hot scythes!

Ghost Car pushed itself up on these newly grown legs, but they were visibly more slender than its arms and could not support its entire body. Its rear half remained sprawled on the ground, unable to move.

Just as everyone was wondering what purpose this served, Ghost Car opened its mouthparts, exposing all three layers of sharp teeth to the air. After a violent convulsion, it actually spewed a torrent of black water from its mouth!

Fortunately, they were far enough away that none of them were hit. After Ghost Car spat out the black, murky torrent, its body began to shrink. Its tail in particular contracted, and the Train carriages fitted around it slowly slid off.

Finally, Ghost Car's tail slipped free of the heavy carriages. With its bulk reduced by at least a size, the monster could at last support its body on those slender legs!

Someone cried out, "Wanderers! They're Wanderers!"

That person pointed at a pool of black sludge ahead, a substance carried out with the black water Ghost Car had vomited. Now, a Wanderer was actually climbing out of it.

The will cage in its chest was emitting a gray light.

More and more gray lights appeared.

One Wanderer after another crawled out of the black sludge. Like an army guarding its monarch, they formed a barrier between the Ascenders and Ghost Car!

At the sight, Tianyang finally understood where all the Wanderers from earlier had gone...