The bald man's transformation drew stunned expressions from his pursuers, as their intelligence reports contained no information about it. After the transformation, the man's appearance had changed so drastically he could no longer be called 'bald'. He now had a golden mane, pointed ears, a beast's nose, sunken eye sockets with a sharp gaze, and a mouth full of sharp fangs. His powerfully intimidating muscles, height of over two meters, and sharp bestial claws completed the look.
*Beast-man!* The word automatically surfaced in your mind; you felt as if you were witnessing a new human fused with lion genes. Unlike his human form, his transformation into a Lion-man made him anything but ordinary. Nobility, majesty, and strength were now his defining traits.
When the Lion-man's transformation was complete, the pursuers' faces turned pale. The one in the lead hurriedly tried to explain that the Lion-man was not their target. However, the Lion-man dismissed their explanation with disdain and launched a ferocious attack on the group of Genetic Warriors. His attacks were as swift and fierce as a lion's. Every punch and kick carried the force of thunder, and his terrifying speed was faster than the naked eye could follow. Despite their superior numbers, the warriors were overwhelmed and utterly powerless to fight back.
Ten minutes later, only a single Genetic Warrior remained standing. The others had all fallen, their blood staining the scorched-yellow soil red. It was as if he was proving his power through this brutal massacre.
"Holy shit! Incredible!"
It was the first time Chen Pingchuan had witnessed such a large-scale scene description, and he thought to himself that the scene must have been absolutely shocking. Based on the description, several images appeared in his mind.
Simba, Beast-man, Leomon...
Soon, a vivid composite image of the character was imprinted in his mind.
This bald guy isn't here for me, is he?
Realizing he was still under the influence of the God of Misfortune, Chen Pingchuan instinctively ducked his head and continued the simulation.
The leader of the Genetic Warriors angrily berated the bald man. His eyes filled with hatred as he shouted, "This isn't your Southern Union's territory! After killing so many of my subordinates, don't you owe us an explanation?" The Lion-man merely looked disdainful. "You think I left you alive because I'm afraid of your New Sequence Group? The answer is no." With that, he subjected the final Genetic Warrior to an inhuman slaughter. The bloody scene was so gruesome that even you, a self-proclaimed Preparatory God, could not bear to watch. The man was literally torn to pieces.
After dealing with the last Genetic Warrior, the Lion-man walked decisively toward you.
You felt no fear. Instead, you spoke boldly, "Kill me, and you can proclaim yourself the God Eater. But I hope you'll grant me a little final dignity." You did not fear death, but you did not want your corpse to be desecrated. It was a matter of honor.
The Lion-man did not attack you. He reverted to his human form.
Seeing the terrible scars on the bald man's body, you realized he hadn't won as easily as you imagined. Even so, you had no intention of fighting him, and it was clear that he felt the same.
The big, bald man introduced himself. He said his name was Furious Lion, a Lieutenant from the Southern Union's Blood Beast Ban organization, and he was here to earnestly invite you to join them.
You weren't in a hurry to answer, posing your own questions instead. Your questions were simple: why were they inviting you, did they know who you were, was this invitation a random chance or had they come specifically for you, what could they offer you, and what would they require of you in return?
Your barrage of questions left the bald man stumped. He couldn't understand why you had so many.
Looking past his appearance, you discovered his weaknesses. First, after transforming into a Lion-man, his personality would change, becoming more bloodthirsty and murderous. Second, his mind would gradually become more beast-like, to the point that he needed a long time to process even a few simple questions.
This organization, Blood Beast Ban... if I'm not mistaken, that Violent Lolita from the City of No Night mentioned them last time.
Chen Pingchuan flipped through his notebook and found the relevant record in the first few pages.
She said this group caused the red rain, so what is their purpose?
Chen Pingchuan didn't believe in unconditional love, so it followed that there was no such thing as unconditional hatred. Everything happened for a reason. So why would this group want to destroy the world, or create an apocalypse? He knew he couldn't figure it out just by thinking, but fortunately, his simulator was there to help.
The bald, burly man answered your questions one by one.
He said that yes, they knew who you were, and he had come specifically for you. Your meeting, however, was pure luck. The reason they wanted you to join the Blood Beast Ban was simple: they had detected combat footage of Black Demon One and discovered that the monster could fight based on your commands, which meant it was an intelligent beast. Their organization, the Blood Beast Ban, specialized in researching the genetic sequences of non-human organisms, then modifying and integrating them into the human body. Obviously, Black Demon One was an excellent experimental subject.
Furthermore, the man was exceptionally generous. He said you needn't worry about the terms; you could name your price. Whatever they had, they would give you. Whatever they didn't have, they would seize for you. The only thing you needed to do was help their researchers study your pet, adding that they only needed Black Demon One alive.
After speaking, the bald man prepared to take you with him.
However, he was about to get his first taste of dealing with a scoundrel who takes what they want and then bails on their promises. You refused his request, declaring that if he had a problem with it, he could just kill you. Infuriated by your shamelessness, he began smashing everything around him in a rage, the wind from his fists howling as rubble flew everywhere.
After venting his frustration, the bald brute calmed himself. He told you that he would be back, and if you refused him again next time, then... He didn't utter a direct threat, but you knew you were on his radar. He was retreating this time, likely due to his current condition, but you suspected it wouldn't be so easy to send him away the next time you met.
With the big man's departure, you had not only escaped your pursuers but also narrowly avoided a disaster at the hands of the Blood Beast Ban.
How come it feels like things are starting to look up? Fate truly is fickle, and so is luck. Extreme misfortune must be followed by a rebound—a period of stability. The Goddess of Luck is crushing that worthless jinx. Awesome!
Chen Pingchuan was certain of his hypothesis.
You glanced at the numerous passengers pressed against the train carriage windows, then resolutely turned and headed in the opposite direction from the City of No Night.
Half an hour later, you changed course, once again setting your sights on the cement factory.
You found the familiar cottage containing the hidden room from your notes. It could serve to either imprison someone or act as a hideout—it was perfect. It was just a shame that in the vast basement, you were all alone.