Outside the Ancient Grotto, the earth cracked open, lava flowed from the footprints, and the scorched red earth churned with heat.
The mastermind behind all of this has reverted from the form of a lava behemoth to its harmless initial form.
July glanced back at the distant lava land, quite surprised by her evolved power.
The Power of Magma, which the penguin's body couldn't withstand for long, becomes as comfortable as soaking in a hot spring after its evolution.
Previously, you had to look up to see a bunch of people directly, but now you have to look down to see them.
However, one thing made July vaguely uneasy: she seemed to have grown too big. How would she fish on the boat in the future?!
If only I could not only possess the power of evolution, but also retain my original form...
Thinking this, July instinctively triggered her new talent, Volcano Body.
"This is..."
Everyone was a little bewildered as they watched July transform from a five-meter-tall lava behemoth back into a little penguin and walk to Luo Yu's side.
"That's not right," said the guardian Mirror Moon Giant Crocodile.
Controlling one's body shape at will—isn't that an ability only available to those at the Abyss Level or higher?
Moreover... even the Abyss Species can only control their size at will, but this Fire Rock Bird clearly controls its evolved form as well!
Everyone was bewildered; what kind of ability was this?
Of all those present, only Lin Li breathed a sigh of relief.
In the sweltering heat of July, she probably doesn't know how to prepare lunch or meals every day. Even a whole roasted lamb wouldn't be enough to fill her up!
"This is its racial talent after evolution..." Luo Yu said, "It can revert to its original form, but its power will also decrease, to about 50% of its evolved form."
Luo Yu assessed it; even at 50%, it was still incredibly powerful.
July right now probably has three forms.
1. Normal shape.
It's the evolved form, that five-meter-tall lava behemoth.
The racial rank is what the Eye of Data gives as Mid-Rank Monarch Species. However, since it is a dragon, its physical attributes are among the top tier of mid-level monarchs.
2. Dormant Volcano morphology.
It has the appearance of a regular Earth Penguin, or you could call it Gem Penguin, since the two look quite similar.
This state, which is the current state in July, has a power ceiling of about 50% of its normal form.
Even a middle-ranking monarch with 50% of the power can defeat most lower-ranking monarchs.
Therefore, in this state, it can be roughly considered that July possesses the physical qualities and energy intensity of Lower Monarch Species, and with top-tier talent, she can still easily defeat ordinary lower-ranking monarchs.
3. Volcano Eruption patterns.
This form originates from the Volcano Body talent and requires July to remain in a dormant state to accumulate enough power before it can be entered, unlike the normal state.
It can briefly unleash power that is a level higher than its normal form.
In other words, it is normally Mid-Rank Monarch Species, but when it enters its eruption form, it possesses the power of Upper-Tier Monarch Species!
It is currently unknown how long it will take to accumulate power in the dormant state before the conditions for a "Volcano eruption" can be met.
Maybe... it will take quite a while? Perhaps I'm getting a little too excited. If the second half of the Abyss Trial is relatively short, then July might be enough for one big burst of progress...
Only with one opponent can one enjoy the full power of July's attack.
Luo Yu plans to study the mechanics of this Volcano Body in detail later...
Is it necessary to accumulate energy or time during the dormancy phase? If it's the former, can it be solved by feeding resources? If it's the latter... then researching time-related systems becomes even more important.
"It can even regress... What an amazing racial talent." After Luo Yu finished speaking, several researchers couldn't help but exclaim.
Of course, with An Yao present, Luo Yu didn't mention that July's talent could accumulate power for a burst. After all, a group from Canglan Ocean University would be arriving soon, and although she didn't think An Yao would blurt it out, what if she accidentally let it slip...?
The Volcano Eruption is the key trump card, and it cannot be revealed to outsiders, especially not to Teacher Li's son, who is also one of the trial participants and a competitor.
"Luo Yu, should we do it again?" At this moment, archaeologist An Yao stepped forward and asked.
She felt that in July's current state, she might be able to create a new connection with the ancient overlord in her dreams...
"Let's wait a couple of days."
Luo Yu felt it would be better to let July get used to her evolved form first. Many mutated beasts that evolved too much couldn't control their power well, like the Water Devil Beast...
Of course, the Rock Devil Beast isn't included; its innate ability is Absolute Control, so there's no need to worry about its energy going out of control in the future. "Um, I'll head back to the research institute first. As for this place... Director, I'll leave it to you."
Luo Yu is now eager to go back and study July's evolved power, and of course, July is also eager to go back and study the Water Devil Beast's power.
"Hmm..." Yu Lei nodded and took a deep breath.
He looked at everyone and said solemnly, "Regarding Luo Yu's pet evolution, we may need everyone to sign a confidentiality agreement. It's best not to reveal it before the Abyss Trial..."
"I'll sign it." The scholar An Yao, adopting a girlish demeanor, pursed her lips. "I'm the only outsider here. Who am I talking to? Does she not understand?"
While the others were signing confidentiality agreements, Luo Yu hurriedly returned to the research institute and arrived at the underground ice cave reinforced by the Mirror Moon Giant Crocodile. It was large and hard enough that even though July had evolved, it should not be able to destroy the solid ice here.
"You all come out."
Luo Yu summoned both the Water Devil Beast and July.
Unfortunately, the familiars cannot enjoy any benefits from the Bloodline Master. Otherwise, it would have been great if July's evolution could have fed back some power to the Water Devil Beast.
Feedback from the pet to its master, feedback from the master to the pet... Left foot steps on right foot, spiraling upwards.
Another thing that Luo Yu found regrettable was that after evolving, July's Commander Heterogeneity automatically transformed into Monarch Heterogeneity, without creating a second Familiar slot. Otherwise, pairing it with a Healing Water Devil Beast Familiar would have made it even more invincible, capable of tanking, attacking, and healing. It seems that only Abyss Species Familiars can have two Familiars.
"Gurgle, gurgle!!" July was incredibly excited to see the Water Devil Beast.
"Don't get excited yet," Luo Yu said. "Listen to my plan, experiment with one ability at a time."
July suppressed her excitement and nodded.
The next moment, Luo Yu looked at the Water Devil Beast: "You should be able to control your size, right?"
After all, he possesses Absolute Control...
"Roar!!!" The Water Devil Beast's body compressed and shrank without any pressure, and soon it turned back into the shape of Ink Fish.
To be precise, it's a miniature Water Devil Beast form. Water Devil Beast and Ink Fish are actually quite similar, except for some differences in their innate attributes, with only huge differences in size and eye color.
"Mmm!"
Seeing that the Water Devil Beast could also transform back, July's eyes lit up. That way, she could carry the Water Devil Beast on her head again!
"Good..."
Luo Yu nodded. This Absolute Control talent was exactly what he wanted, even better than he had expected. Not only did it allow the Water Devil Beast to Absolute Control over all its power, but it also eliminated the need for training its racial abilities. It could directly achieve 100% effectiveness.
This will save me so much exercise time; it looks like I can finally let it accompany me fishing in July.
"Next experiment: Cloning."
"Can you split your body into several parts?"
After Luo Yu finished speaking, the Water Devil Beast, like a splitting slime, went from one ball to two balls, from two balls to four balls...
Each blob of ink quickly condensed into a new Water Devil Beast, which slightly surprised Luo Yu.
However, after sensing it, Luo Yu discovered that this ability significantly weakened his physical body.
The Water Devil Beast has now split into seven Cloning, making a total of eight mini Water Devil Beast in front of us, including the original.
Luo Yu's impression was that none of the eight mini Water Devil Beast were very powerful, each possessing only one-eighth of their original strength...
It seems that this Cloning is a skill that divides the power of the original body equally.
"Shouldn't the power be evenly distributed? Try controlling it." Still relying on the talent for Absolute Control...
Under Luo Yu's guidance, the Water Devil Beast seemed to ponder, then reassembled itself, and then... only separated one-tenth of its power. Immediately afterward, a Water Devil Beast Cloning with one-tenth of its original power appeared beside it.
"It really works," Luo Yu thought to himself. "This makes the skill much more convenient."
That's so convenient.
In the future, we can simply have the Water Devil Beast create ten Cloning with 1% of its power, and then have those Cloning transform into various cleaning tools, so the ship will be cleaned up...
"Next experiment, the Eye of Petrification."
Luo Yu walked ahead, and the group arrived at the habitat of the Poison Water Devil Beast. The Poison Water Devil Beast, fast asleep in its ice prison, heard the noise and initially thought Yu Wan had come to bring it food, only to discover...
"Roar!!"
Upon seeing that it was the stinky penguin that had beaten it up several times, its eyes turned red, and it cursed and swore, wanting Luo Yu and the others to get lost.
"Let's try it."
stare...
Beside Luo Yu's feet, the Rock Water Devil Beast and July followed Luo Yu on the left and right, respectively. Their ruby-like eyes were fixed on the Poison Water Devil Beast. Although both were clearly at level 10 or so, their strength seemed to be vastly different!
Under the gaze of the Eye of Petrification, the Poison Devil Beast's eyes immediately froze. Its massive body, as if frozen, rapidly formed layers of gray rock, turning it into a Petrification statue, as if the entire octopus had been "frozen"... Clang clang clang...
Although this state only lasted for a dozen seconds before the Poison Devil Beast broke free with its immense power, shattering the stone layer that sealed it, Luo Yu still gasped in shock...
This ability is incredible.
Both being lower-ranking monarchs, they were able to Petrification and seal each other for over ten seconds!
It truly delivers 100% effectiveness!
If this were Upper-Tier Common Species, it would probably remain Petrification indefinitely without external intervention to break the seal!
Actually, even a few seconds is more than enough.
In those few seconds, a lot can be decided.
For example, if the Rock Devil Beast next to you can Petrification your opponent for a moment when you are fighting in July, that moment is enough for July to throw a bunch of lava at your opponent!
"Gurgle, gurgle!" July also really liked this ability. In the future, when she caught a big fish, she would first use the Petrification and throw it over to see if the fish would dare to escape the hook!