Chen Chao didn't panic. If the Golden Dog were at its peak, he would have been more cautious, but it had already been heavily wounded. Its physical responses and strength would be somewhat delayed, and its massive injury at the abdomen was its weakness. As long as he targeted that area, he could easily drive it off.
Of course, he would still sustain some injuries—after all, the Golden Dog's physical strength was equivalent to five times that of a human!
Before this, Chen Chao had avoided any risk of injury, since even a small wound could lead to infection. The possibility of becoming a mutated corpse from a single scratch was not something he could afford.
But now, with the Multi-Evolution Energy in his hand, he no longer feared infection. Even if he did get infected, he could use the energy to evolve before becoming a decaying corpse. Once he became an evolved human, his body would produce new antibodies, rendering him immune to all viruses. Unless his brain was severely infected, he wouldn't become a decaying corpse. Any other injuries would be inconsequential.
Now, he wasn't afraid to take some damage. He could even face off with special mutated corpses if needed.
The Golden Dog's bloodshot eyes were fixed on the Dangerous Species' corpse at Chen Chao's feet. A savage, bloodthirsty growl rumbled from its throat as it launched itself at Chen Chao.
Chen Chao gripped the iron rod tightly, remaining still, waiting for the dog to make its move. As the Golden Dog leapt, he saw an opening beneath its abdomen and swung his rod.
Just before the rod struck, the Golden Dog twisted in mid-air, shifting its body slightly, and raised a paw aimed directly at Chen Chao's shoulder. If Chen Chao's strike landed, he would be struck by the dog's claws!
Using injury to return injury!
Chen Chao was momentarily surprised; he hadn't expected the Golden Dog to become smarter after its previous battle with the Dangerous Species. It didn't just recklessly jump with full force—it now conserved strength for a follow-up maneuver, using the change in position to deflect his strike.
But...
Play tricks with me?
At the moment the paw was about to strike his shoulder, Chen Chao suddenly pivoted to the side, dodging the paw while simultaneously swinging the iron rod to strike at the Golden Dog's wounded abdomen, where blood had already been drawn.
The move flowed effortlessly, as though he had predicted it from the start.
Bang!
The rod slammed into the wound!
The Golden Dog let out a painful howl and staggered back a few steps, fresh blood spurting from its injury as the rod struck. The searing pain almost caused it to collapse.
Though Chen Chao had avoided the brunt of the strike, the Golden Dog's claws still grazed his shoulder. His clothes were torn, and deep gashes were left on his skin.
If that claw had fully landed, it might have torn off his entire arm!
The injury was expected, and Chen Chao didn't dwell on it. He tightened his grip on the rod and advanced, step by step, toward the Golden Dog.
The Golden Dog seemed to be intimidated by Chen Chao's unrelenting pressure. It had failed to gain the upper hand earlier and was still feeling the pain from the powerful blow. It instinctively took a few steps back, growling in a low, guttural tone, warning Chen Chao to stay away.
Chen Chao ignored it, continuing his advance.
The Golden Dog, now visibly enraged, bared its teeth and crouched as if to pounce again. Chen Chao immediately raised the rod, ready to strike.
However, the moment the dog saw the rod, its body trembled, and it lowered its head, growling lowly before turning and running away.
The second retreat.
Chen Chao was a bit speechless. He hadn't expected the Golden Dog to be so cowardly—one hit and it was scared off.
Watching the Golden Dog flee, Chen Chao considered chasing it, but it was already out of his reach. He turned back to finish burning the Dangerous Species' corpse to prevent it from being consumed by mutated creatures. The massive viral load inside the corpse could act as a powerful catalyst for mutation, accelerating their evolution!
But just as the body was almost completely burned, something unexpected happened.
From the Dangerous Species' chest, a dark object suddenly fell out.
It was square and black—could it be... a small box?
Chen Chao squinted, unsure if his eyes were deceiving him. Upon closer inspection, he confirmed it was indeed a small, black, metallic box—about the size of an infant's fist—with strange and disordered dark golden lines etched into its surface.
What was this?
Chen Chao picked it up, finding it strangely cold to the touch, as though it had just been pulled out of an ice chest.
Suspicious but intrigued, he stuffed the box into his pocket, deciding he'd investigate it later. For now, it was more important to get back to the safety of his apartment.
He navigated carefully around several decayed corpses, reaching the building where he had secured refuge. He took the elevator to the 18th floor, his thoughts turning over the recent events.
Once inside his room, Chen Chao wasted no time. He stripped off his torn clothes and armor, then pulled out a throwing knife. He carefully began to scrape away the protective crystal on the Multi-Evolution Energy, slowly exposing the life energy within.
Soon, the protective layer was breached. Chen Chao raised the crystal to his lips and tilted it back, allowing the thick life energy to flow down his throat.
As soon as it hit his stomach, a burning heat surged through him, quickly spreading to the rest of his body. It felt like being engulfed in flames—impossibly hot, as if his very body was being incinerated.
The pain was unbearable, unlike anything he had experienced during his first evolution, where the transformation had been much less intense. Now, he could feel his body being forcibly altered, as if it were being remade from the inside out.
Heat! Pain! Itch!
Chen Chao felt like he was losing his mind, but his ironclad will kept him from collapsing. He could feel something crawling inside him, like countless tiny bugs moving under his skin—an unrelenting, maddening itch.
Minutes passed like hours.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the heat began to subside, and Chen Chao could sense his body returning to normal. He opened his eyes, and immediately, everything around him looked sharper, clearer—almost as though the world had been painted anew.
His vision was like that of a predator, everything standing out in perfect detail. Even from his apartment window, he could clearly make out the shapes of decayed corpses on the road, the fine details of their putrid flesh visible from a distance. His eyesight had evolved, granting him at least five times the normal human vision.
This enhanced vision was a threshold—one that allowed him to see and react with precision. He could now catch every subtle movement, every action in dynamic motion. In combat, this gave him an edge over opponents like the Golden Dog.
Along with his vision, his hearing and smell had also evolved, allowing him to perceive even the faintest sounds and scents with exceptional clarity. From the sound of distant winds to the smell of nearby decay, everything was heightened.
Yet, what truly intrigued Chen Chao were the two additional special abilities granted by the Multi-Evolution Energy—abilities that he would soon uncover in detail.