C13 Three Choices

When did he ever start dreaming of having wings?

Was it a desire born from his battle with the Double-headed Grey Eagle?

Indeed, the sight of the eagle, with its ten-meter wingspan, creating gusts of wind as it dove from the sky, had left a profound impression on him. In that fight, his primary focus had been to neutralize the creature's ability to fly.

Perhaps deep down, he truly yearned for it.

But just then, the system's voice, devoid of any emotion, announced:

"Skill extraction complete. Host, please select one from the three skills presented."

The greater the expectation, the greater the letdown.

Lin Yuan faced three formidable skills, yet he was forced to choose only one. The decision pained him as if he were cutting away at his own flesh.

His consciousness lingered on the "Transmutation" skill, a temporary option. Despite several moments of hesitation, he ultimately rejected the skill with its overwhelming unpredictability.

The Mutation skill was potent, offering Lin Yuan the tantalizing possibility of transforming into a dragon, which sent his pulse racing. But he was acutely aware of how slim that chance was.

The system's mention of "even more likely" set off alarm bells for him. A bad mutation could result in useless appendages or indescribable abnormalities that might weaken him. In the perilous wilds of the forest, such weaknesses could mean not surviving another day.

So, with reason triumphing over greed, Lin Yuan discarded the Mutation skill. He turned his attention away from the light symbolizing "Mutation" to carefully consider "Venom Enhancement" and "Venom Breath," weighing their benefits and drawbacks.

Lin Yuan's venom had seemed ineffective when he bit the Double-headed Grey Eagle, a fellow level three demonic beast. As a python, his venom needed to be stronger.

Choosing the "Venom Breath" skill would limit him to targeting weaker creatures, given its short thirty-centimeter range, which seemed insufficient for his current size. Ultimately, Lin Yuan opted for "Venom Enhancement."

He focused his mind on the light that signified "Venom Enhancement."

Suddenly, an unusual sensation coursed through Lin Yuan's massive frame. He distinctly felt a change near his heart, on the side of his face, running diagonally towards his back.

Lin Yuan felt a peculiar sensation as a pair of new venom sacs sprouted from his body. An unbearable itch in his mouth led to an uncontrollable sneeze, causing him to open his mouth wide.

Instantly, a new set of snake fangs emerged. His original fangs, now resembling two small, pristine, and robust daggers, concealed poison glands that weren't particularly potent.

The new venom fangs were significantly smaller, yet they operated independently of the first set. Lin Yuan could extend either pair or both simultaneously at will.

This additional set of teeth subtly enhanced Lin Yuan's biting power, though the enhancement was modest given the smaller size of the secondary fangs.

When he extended the snake fangs, droplets of clear, odorless venom fell onto the rock before him. The venom swiftly corroded the solid limestone, emitting green smoke and leaving behind a pattern of pitted holes.

A gleam of delight shone in Lin Yuan's eyes as he sensed the potency of the venom, confident it could impact demonic beasts of his tier. Should the Double-headed Grey Eagle be on the receiving end of his bite, it would suffer the venom's effects over time. Although it might not perish immediately, it would certainly be crippled in combat capability.

"Congratulations to the host for acquiring the Venom Enhancement skill."

Following the retraction of his venomous fangs, Lin Yuan received a prompt from the system. He contained his thrill and strategically allocated all his attribute points to speed.

Initially inclined to invest in defense, the presence of his potent venom shifted his focus to enhancing the swiftness and precision of his attacks.

With his attribute points now at zero, Lin Yuan's stats underwent a significant transformation:

Host: Lin Yuan

Status: Big Black Snake (Evolvable)

Level: 3/10

Innate Abilities: 1. Identify enemy locations by scent. 2. Create a detailed map within a 500-meter radius based on scent.

Speed: 3.9 attribute points.

Defense: 3 attribute points.

Attack: 3 attribute points.

Available Points: 0 attribute points.

Martial Arts: Golden Body Technique

Skills: Strangulation

Skills: Venom Enhancement

With a speed of 3.9 attribute points, Lin Yuan felt a marked increase in his agility. The sluggishness and inconvenience that had accompanied his body's transformation vanished without a trace.

Having enhanced himself, Lin Yuan turned his attention back to the system and meticulously reviewed the requirements of the mission he had just received.

"Mission: Nest Fight!"

As you grow stronger, you are now capable of killing the formidable predators at the top of the food chain on your own. Your presence will inevitably draw the attention of these powerful creatures.

The land you inhabit is not yours. Your presence will trigger alertness. Weaker animals will guard against you, while the stronger ones will seek to eliminate you. Therefore, you desperately need a territory to assert your existence and to provide a relatively safe haven for yourself.

Mission Stage 1: Establishing a Unique Territory

Mission Requirement: As a top predator, you must claim a territory of no less than 500 square kilometers as your dwelling and hunting grounds. You are required to eliminate all Level 3 Demonic Beasts within this area. Proclaiming ownership of this territory is your most pressing task.

"Five hundred square kilometers!"

Lin Yuan was taken aback by the sheer size of the area. He emerged slowly from the shadowy cave that had been his refuge, taking the "first step" towards conquering his domain.

He lifted his body and flicked his tongue, feeling a sense of grandeur wash over him. He hadn't expected to harbor such ambitions—the thought of this vast expanse of land belonging to him and being under his control.

Yet, Lin Yuan's attention was drawn to something else. He had begun to detect a distinct aura enveloping his surroundings. Without needing to sniff closely, Lin Yuan knew it was the scent of a black tiger.

This creature was the sovereign of the territory. Its marks were scattered throughout the land, serving as warnings to any predator that dared to trespass and as declarations of its claim over the prey within.

The range of these marks coincided with the limit of Lin Yuan's olfactory detection. This suggested that the black tiger could perceive the same distance. Consequently, this black tiger was, at the very least, a Level 3 Demonic Beast.

In that moment, Lin Yuan was overwhelmed by a surge of intense displeasure, akin to the feeling of being bullied. It wasn't just a mental discomfort; he was experiencing a profound physical unease as well. He was determined to obliterate every trace of the black tiger's scent and presence from this territory.

As this resolve took hold, almost without thinking, he aimed at a corner of the cave mouth and released a fine mist of venom. With his own distinct aura, he effectively masked the lingering presence left by the black tiger.