At the hunting tournament, participants could not bring powerful equipment beyond the scope of their own strength, nor could their guards follow them. They would also be out in the wilderness, surrounded by danger. It was the perfect opportunity for an assassination.
To guard against the possibility, Logo had made extensive preparations.
Although assassinating the first-in-line heir of a major family was a world-shaking matter, the world had never lacked fools or people blinded by greed.
History had warned those who came after countless times: not everyone had a brain, and major events were often set in motion by the stupid actions of a few complete idiots.
When he had been weak at the start, Logo had always followed the principle of keeping his head down and growing stronger whenever he could, never drawing attention to himself. He had holed up in his heavily guarded laboratory for nearly two months.
If participation in the hunting tournament had not been mandatory, he would never have come out.
Even if he did come out to have fun, he would be armed to the teeth.
Besides the Shadow Spike, Logo had prepared some other trump cards, though he did not know whether he would get a chance to use them.
"Kuroro, it's up to you. Find us some prey!" Logo turned sideways, patted the Blood Hound's big head, and unclipped the leash.
Kuroro was the Blood Hound's name, written on his collar.
"Woof~"
Kuroro barked excitedly, then twitched his nose and shot off like an arrow, moving at tremendous speed.
Logo followed close behind. Although he had changed classes to become an alchemist, he had not given up training his body. Using potions and body-tempering methods, among other means, he had raised his physique attribute considerably.
His other attributes had increased even more, especially energy and spirit.
---- [Logo Campbell] Life: 100% Race: Gendaya Bloodline: Lower Transcendent (cursed) Tier: 1 Class: Alchemist Physique: 5 Spirit: 9 Energy: 6 Mystery: 1 Charm: 2 Luck: 2 Bloodlines/talents: [Truth Analysis] Passive -- Your ability to learn and your insight into all things in the world receive a certain boost based on your spirit attribute. (This talent comes from the Eye of Insight.) [Soul Informatization] Passive -- The combined effects of traveling through spacetime and the Eye of Insight have greatly changed the form of your soul, giving it some of the characteristics of an information-based life-form. Damage from any form of mental attack is reduced by 50%, and you are immune to most mental control abilities. [Potential Activation] Passive -- A combat talent. When your life falls below 60%, you automatically gain effects such as reduced pain sensitivity and mental excitation, increasing your combat power to a certain degree. [Blazing Flame Eye Beam] Active -- Fires a concentrated beam of fire-attribute light through the Eye of Gendaya, with burning and piercing effects. Its attack power depends primarily on your energy attribute. [Life Flourishing] Passive -- Your vitality flourishes like an evergreen tree, and your life essence is more abundant. Your stamina, defense, and recovery receive a slight boost. Knowledge/skills: [Epic Combat Skills: Lv45] -- You possess the combat skills and experience of an Epic martial artist, including 126 martial artist secret techniques such as [Flash Step], [Strong Fist], [Trapped Beast Fist], [Qi: Burning], [Qi Web], [Qigong Style: Primordial Qi Return], [Extreme Path Style: Cell Liberation], [Confinement Shackles], [Primordial Qi Tyrant Body], and [Star Swallowing Technique]. [Astral Common Lv10] -- You have mastered Astral Common. [Campbell Breathing Method Lv15] -- The Campbell Family's knight breathing method. The higher its level, the more effective its training. [Fire of Birth Lv7] -- Currently possesses three properties: mechanics, potions, and bloodlines. [Alchemical Mechanics Lv7] -- You can skillfully produce one-star alchemical mechanical equipment of ordinary and fine quality, reaching the standard of an experienced junior mechanical alchemist. (Not counting the boost from the Eye of Insight.) [Alchemical Pharmaceutics Lv3] -- You can skillfully prepare one-star potions of ordinary quality and have gained a basic understanding of pharmaceutics. (Not counting the boost from the Eye of Insight.) [Alchemical Bloodline Studies Lv2] -- You have taken your first steps into the field of bloodlines and understand its simpler mysteries. ... Combat power level (unit: Dale): 62-181 Status: Good ----
His physique had increased by 3 points, his spirit by 4, and his energy by 4. His mystery and charm attributes remained unchanged, while his luck had increased by 1 point.
As for alchemy...
His mechanics had improved the most, soaring straight to level 7.
The standard level range for junior alchemists was Lv1-Lv10.
Junior alchemists above level 6 were considered veterans.
Besides mechanics, Logo had also studied several other types of knowledge in order to obtain the subsidiary talents of All Things Under Heaven. Without realizing it, he had learned the basics of pharmaceutics and bloodline studies, though their levels were not high and he was still a beginner.
However, with the boost from the Eye of Insight, Logo's alchemy levels were not the only measure of his abilities.
Although his pharmaceutics was only level 3, he could consistently prepare one-star potions of fine quality. His success rate was certainly on par with that of an experienced junior potion alchemist.
The potions Logo currently took for cultivation, including the Jade Potion, were all prepared by himself. It gave him practice and saved him some money.
If pharmaceutics, which he practiced as a sideline, could be so useful, his mechanics was even more impressive.
Although he was only Lv7, when it came to actual work, Logo's ability to make mechanical equipment was unquestionably superior to that of ninety-nine percent of junior mechanical alchemists and comparable to that of a small number of intermediate mechanical alchemists.
If he waited another two months, perhaps he could make the Shadow Spike himself and no longer need to ask other alchemists for help.
Keeping close behind Kuroro, Logo raced along. The mechanical combat boots he had made himself unleashed astonishing propulsion from their power engines, giving a further boost to his already swift pace.
The wind whistled past his ears, and fresh air and the scent of grass and trees filled his nostrils. Logo, who had spent so long working away in his laboratory without going outside, could not help feeling refreshed and at ease.
Suddenly, Kuroro stopped in his tracks ahead. He lowered his body, his eyes turned fierce, and he crept forward without making a sound.
Logo activated the Eye of Gendaya on his forehead. Its pupil automatically adjusted its focus, like an ultra-high-resolution digital camera.
The scenery before him rapidly zoomed in, and the Eye of Insight's built-in, immense computing power instantly found the prey hidden among a tangle of bushes.
It was a white-striped fox: small, incredibly fast, and extraordinarily agile, with a brutal, vicious temperament. It was best at ambushing prey, but this time, it had run into a more skilled hunter.
He took a long firearm from the pack on his back.
Logo had made several War Falcon Series sniper rifles. The one he held now was the least powerful, just within the range of weapons permitted at the hunting tournament.
With the Eye of Insight, Logo had no need for a scope.
Wind speed, humidity, ballistic corrections, environmental analysis and modeling...
The Eye of Insight handled it all.
Logo raised the gun and took aim. The next moment, he pulled the trigger.
Thanks to the muzzle suppressor, the shot made only a quiet "pfft." The long, specially made sniper bullet crossed three hundred meters in an instant and struck the white-striped fox squarely in the spine.
Its spinal nerves severely damaged, the white-striped fox was instantly paralyzed and gravely injured.
Kuroro, who had been ready for some time, rushed out of the grass, picked up the white-striped fox in his jaws, and ran over to Logo, wagging his tail in delight.
"Mm, another specimen for dissection!" Logo crouched down and examined the white-striped fox's body, curiosity in his eyes. He had never dissected this kind of creature before.
Dissecting different transcendent creatures was an important part of bloodline research. Logo had only just entered the field and had dissected a dozen or so kinds of creatures, none of them a white-striped fox.
Mm... or a Blood Hound!
At the thought, Logo looked at Kuroro, his gaze clear but carrying a detached, inquisitive look.
Such a look generally appeared only in the eyes of high-level alchemists.
But Logo had fused with the Eye of Insight, causing his soul to mutate and acquire some of the characteristics of an information-based life-form, commonly known as an intelligent life-form.
Although Soul Informatization could effectively defend against mental attacks, his personality had also been affected without him realizing it.
Emotional detachment, fading desires, complete rationality...
"Whine..."
Kuroro tucked his tail between his legs and lay trembling on the ground. He did not know why, but Logo's gaze felt like blades scraping across his body.
"Ahem... let's go. Time to keep hunting!" Logo stood up and spoke as if nothing had happened.
He took a badge identifying himself from his backpack and clipped it to the white-striped fox's fur, and the man and dog left.
Before long, a hunting hawk with a five-meter wingspan descended from the sky, seized the white-striped fox, and took flight again.