NCCnovel Chapter 6 Metamorphosis
Chapter 6 Metamorphosis
When Zhao Chen woke up again, he immediately felt a splitting headache and didn't know how long he had been unconscious.
The excruciating pain in his left wing constantly reminded him that the fracture hadn't fully healed, but the raging energy within him had finally subsided. It was no longer as rampaging as it had been after devouring the giant eagle. Zhao Chen carefully moved his body. Aside from his left wing, which was still somewhat weak, the rest of his body was mostly unharmed. Supporting himself with his relatively intact right wing, Zhao Chen gritted his teeth and barely managed to stand up.
Looking down, Zhao Chen saw that only a small portion of the five-zhang-long giant eagle's corpse remained. Before losing consciousness, Zhao Chen had only devoured about two-thirds of it, leaving the rest of the flesh intact.
"Perfect, let's have another meal."
Zhao Chen opened his mouth and inhaled, instantly swallowing the remaining flesh and blood. A warm current surged again, but this time it was far less domineering and uncontrollable than before. He could clearly feel that his body had completely adapted to this level of power.
An hour later, Zhao Chen devoured the giant eagle completely, leaving not even a single bone fragment behind.
Lying back down on the platform, Zhao Chen quietly experienced the earth-shattering changes taking place within his body. This evolution was far more powerful than any before.
The energy from devouring the giant eagle began to frantically transform Zhao Chen's body. His bones were gradually becoming as hard as a rock, and the muscle fibers were expanding and reorganizing under his skin.
As the old feathers shed, brand new black feathers also emerged from the skin. But the most obvious change was in the claws. At first, there was only an unbearable itch, but soon the fingernails began to grow wildly, becoming curved and sharp, much like hooks cast from cold iron.
But these changes were nothing to Zhao Chen; the real qualitative change occurred in his soul.
Countless fragmented memories flooded Zhao Chen's mind like a tidal wave—the giant eagle's instincts, survival experience, and innate hunting talent. Although these memories were somewhat chaotic, several stood out remarkably clearly: how to ride the wind, how to use air currents to glide effortlessly, and how to swoop down from the heavens to annihilate prey… These ingrained flying talents were merging into his soul, becoming a part of his body.
When Zhao Chen opened his eyes again, his understanding of "flight" had become completely different from before.
Previously, he simply relied on brute force to flap his wings and fly, but now he can instinctively control the wind, adjust his wings, and manage his speed. Every movement is fluid and graceful, exuding the composure and precision of a master of the skies.
The giant eagle's hunting instincts had now officially transformed into its power.
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After resting on the platform for three more days, Zhao Chen finally managed to completely digest this power.
Three days later, the wound on his left wing had basically healed. Although he was still unable to unleash his full power, normal flight was no longer a problem. His size had also grown again. Although his wingspan was still not as large as that of the giant eagle, it was close to ten feet, making him an undisputed large predator in this mountain range.
At this moment, Zhao Chen's entire body was covered in black feathers, which gleamed with a cold metallic light as if it had been forged through countless hammer blows under the light. His claws were like iron hooks, and a light scratch could leave deep marks on the rocks. His beak was also extremely hard, with a dark golden luster flowing around its edges.
What surprised him most was the range of his soul perception—which expanded directly to 150 zhang.
Within a range of 150 feet, no rustling of wind, the concealment of living beings, or even the slightest hint of murderous intent could escape his perception.
Zhao Chen stood at the edge of the platform, looking down at the abyss of clouds below. With his sharp, eagle-like eyes, he could clearly see the lush valley below. There were clear rivers, towering ancient trees, and herds of creatures; the vibrant life force was palpable, like a paradise on earth.
This was a color he had never seen since he arrived on this dead star.
"Let's go down and take a look."
Zhao Chen spread his wings and leaped into the air.
The wind howled as the black figure swooped down like an arrow. With the giant eagle's diving technique at its side, this maneuver was fluid, stable, and swift. Zhao Chen instinctively adjusted the angle of his wings, maintaining the perfect diving posture, his speed steadily increasing.
Once he broke through the layers of clouds and mist, the entire valley began to come into view.
What greets the eye is a sea of lush greenery.
This was the first time Zhao Chen had seen a color other than black and gray since arriving on this planet. Strange trees grew abundantly in the valley, towering ferns reached for the sky, and dense shrubs intertwined into a network. A clear stream meandered from the depths of the valley, shimmering under the eternal gray light of the sky.
Zhao Chen landed on a rock at the edge of the valley, his soul perception gently spreading out. Instantly, countless life forms flooded into Zhao Chen's mind: a argali sheep drinking water by the riverbank, a giant lizard lazily basking in the sun on the rock, small animals darting and leaping through the forest, and eagles circling in mid-air...
"This is his true hunting ground."
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Over the long years that followed, Zhao Chen embarked on a frenzied path of devouring and evolution, centered around this secluded valley.
By devouring the ibex, he gained incredible speed and extreme alertness;
By devouring the giant lizard, he gained immense strength and an unyielding defense;
He devoured various small beasts in the forest, allowing his strength to accumulate steadily, slowly but solidly.
Even the eagles in the sky became his prey. In their first encounter, Zhao Chen was in a sorry state, his head covered in welts from being pecked. But in the second encounter, he was able to turn the tables and kill Zhao Chen by relying on his superior flying skills and overwhelming strength.
After devouring the falcon, his flying talent improved even further.
Time stands still on the Death Star; its passage seems meaningless. Zhao Chen's mind is consumed by endless hunting and evolution.
After he devoured all the creatures in the valley one by one, Zhao Chen had transformed to a terrifying level:
Its body length was over ten feet, and its wingspan exceeded thirty feet;
The feathers are jet black, with a metallic sheen of blue.
Its claws are like steel hooks, capable of easily tearing apart the scales of the monitor lizard;
The bird's beak shimmered with dark gold, appearing incredibly hard;
Its soul perception even covered an area of three hundred feet in radius.
Within a radius of three hundred feet, Zhao Chen was the absolute ruler.
Standing atop the highest boulder in the valley, Zhao Chen surveyed the territory he had utterly conquered. The argali sheep had fled, the monitor lizards lay in wait, and even the eagles and falcons trembled with fear; no creature dared to set foot in his territory again.
But there was not a trace of satisfaction in Zhao Chen's eyes.
He stared into the depths of the valley, where higher peaks stood, covered with denser forests, and where even more powerful creatures lurked.
That is the ladder to greater heights for him.
With a flick of his black feathers, Zhao Chen's figure soared into the air, resolutely heading towards the unknown depths, a place that was both dangerous and full of infinite opportunities.