Meng Lei sighed inwardly.
The Magical Beast Ridge passed through the entire continent, nearly dividing Heaven’s Vault Continent into two halves, the east, and the west. Countless wild beasts and magical beasts lived within, and it was known as “The Most Dangerous Place On The Continent”!
The wild beasts in the forest frequently went berserk and attacked the villages at the forest’s fringes. The villages suffered huge losses every time, and fatalities were commonplace. The parents of this particular body’s original owner had precisely died in a beast tide!
It could be said that human lives were the most worthless thing in this world!
I wonder how many people are going to die in the beast tide this time?
Before Meng Lei knew it, he had already reached the village center. The old, weak, women, and children filed into a long line. Uncle Leo, who was in charge of guarding the shelter, called out loudly, “Don’t crowd around, go one at a time! The ones at the bottom, hold the ladder steady!”
The shelter was built dozens of meters underground. It was like a tunnel, or a basement, and was connected to the surface by a ladder. Next to it was a large rock that would be used to block off the shelter’s entrance later!
The large rock was very big. Two to three meters tall, one could tell with just a glance that it was very sturdy. Meng Lei couldn’t help heaving a sigh of relief. With such a large rock blocking the top, the shelter should be very safe, right?
No, wait. If everyone outside died in battle, would a bunch of old and weak people, women, and children be able to push off the large rock and exit from within?
Uncertainty and nervousness welled up in Meng Lei!
Howl!
Growl!
“Kill them!
“Kill all of these b*stards!”
Beast howls and the sounds of fierce battle could be heard coming from afar, conjuring fear in everyone’s hearts. Although Meng Lei wished he could take a look at and learn more about this world’s magical beasts, that was all he could do—wish!
He was just a youngster that was slightly older than a child now and belonged to the domain of people being protected. What he should be doing right now was to enter the shelter, and not run over to create more trouble!
“What are you spacing out for? Hurry and go down!”
At this point, Uncle Leo’s chastising voice rang out beside his ear. Meng Lei gave a start and hurriedly responded. Just as he got ready to enter the shelter, he suddenly noticed a ball of glowing white light dropping off Uncle Leo!
“Uncle Leo, you’ve dropped something!”
Just as Meng Lei paused in his tracks and was about to point it out, a cold and emotionless voice suddenly rang out in his ear. “Ding! Dropped item discovered. Will you pick it up?”
(⊙o⊙)
Meng Lei was stunned. He subconsciously looked in Uncle Leo’s direction. In just that short amount of time, all the old, weak, women, and children had gone into the shelter. He and Uncle Leo were the only two people left now!
“What are you looking at? Hurry and go in!”
Uncle Leo berated him furiously with a fierce expression on his face, “Don’t waste time and stop hemming and hawing. I need to go to the village entrance to fight against the beast tide!”
Very evidently, the voice from earlier hadn’t come from Uncle Leo!
Am I hearing things?
Chapter 2: Assimilation Successful, Non-Stop Powering Up
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
“Ding! The Most Powerful Pickup System at your service!
“The Most Powerful Pickup System can pick up all dropped items in the world, including but not limited to money, items, skills, vitality, spiritual power...
“By picking up money and items, the host can become rich!
“By picking up skills, vitality, and spiritual power... The host can become powerful!
“Pick up everything!
“Everything can be picked up!”
In tandem with the cold and emotionless voice’s explanation, a stats interface appeared before Meng Lei’s eyes!
Host: Meng Lei
Race: Human
Wealth: 0
Physical Body Constitution: Normal Human Being (0.5/10)
Spirit: Normal Human Being (1/10)
Skill(s): None
Meng Lei’s mind felt foggy. Was his cheating device finally here a month after he had transmigrated here?
“Ding! Dropped item discovered. Will you pick it up?”
“P-pick it up!”
Meng Lei subconsciously responded.
“Ding! Pickup successful. Host’s Physical Body Constitution +1!”
A warm current appeared out of nowhere in his body and surged into his limbs and bones. Meng Lei’s body felt pleasantly warm, and it felt very comfortable. It seemed like his strength had increased a little, too?
Damn, is this really a cheating device?
Meng Lei found this incredible!
Physical Body Constitution +1?
It can also pick up physical body constitution?
“Meng Lei! What exactly are you doing?! Why aren’t you going down?!”
Uncle Leo shouted at him in great anger, so much so that his eyes could even spit flames.
However, the amazing thing was that yet another ball of silver light dropped from him.
“Ding! Dropped item discovered. Will you pick it up?”
“Yes, pick it up!”
Meng Lei didn’t hesitate at all this time!
“Ding! Pickup successful. Host’s Spirit +1!”
An icy cooling aura flowed into his mind. Meng Lei felt like his mind had become a little clearer. His thoughts and consciousness also became active and dynamic.
It’s true! I can really pick it up!!
Meng Lei pinched himself hard. This wasn’t a dream nor a hallucination—the cheating device was real! Was he going to make it big now?
Should I go to the village entrance and try my luck there? Maybe there’ll be more dropped items there?
I’d better not. There’s a beast tide breaking out over there. It’s too dangerous!
Or how about... I just look from afar?
There shouldn’t be any problem if I’m a little more cowardly!
...
Magical Beast Village was situated in a canyon. It was surrounded by mountains on three sides, while the last remaining side was also encircled by thick, heavy, and sturdy wooden fences. They formed a thick and heavy wooden enclosing wall to defend against beast tide attacks.
This place was the village entrance for people to enter and leave the village!
Currently, a horrifying scene was taking place there. 20–30 strong and well-built men waved and brandished their weapons as they constantly attacked the wild beasts charging toward the village walls!
There were Sword-Toothed Tigers, which had a blood-red color throughout their bodies, Steel-Furred Wild Boars with teal-colored faces and long fangs, and covered in sharp spikes, as well as gigantic Two-Headed Vultures with wings on their backs.
...
Close to a hundred ferocious wild beasts let out furious roars after roars. They pounced toward and charged at the village walls fearlessly while attacking madly!
Despite some of the wild beasts getting killed, the remaining beasts continued to advance wave upon wave, as though they had been bewitched and gone berserk!
The team of guards with Captain Hudders in the lead resembled killing machines as they constantly slashed at and cut down the wild beasts charging toward the village walls!
Blood sprayed everywhere, and broken limbs flew about haphazardly!
The strong stench of blood assaulted Meng Lei’s senses, causing his guts to churn wildly, and he nearly threw up his meal from the previous night.
When had a keyboard warrior that wandered the world of the Internet like him ever seen such a bloody and grisly scene like this?
It was only after quite a long wh
ile that Meng Lei finally got a little used to it. His line of sight couldn’t help but fall onto the huge sword in Captain Hudders’ hands!
So that’s... Battle Aura?
A layer of glowing pale yellow suffused the area around the sword in Captain Hudders’ hands. As though a divine weapon so sharp that it could cut through iron like it were mud, it easily rendered the wild beast into two!
His speed at hunting and killing the wild beasts was much faster than the others. He was practically a killing machine!
“As expected of the number one expert in the village!” Envy filled Meng Lei’s eyes as he muttered, “If only I’m as strong as he is...”
“Ding! Dropped item discovered. Will you pick it up?”
“Yes, pick it up!”
Meng Lei noticed that quite a few light balls had dropped onto the battlefield, and they were exceptionally dazzling!
Wouldn’t he power up significantly if he picked up those drops?
“Ding! Dropped item discovered. Will you pick it up?”
“Yes, pick it up!”
“Ding! Pickup successful. Host’s Physical Body Constitution +3!”
“Ding! Pickup successful. Host’s Spirit +1!”
“Ding! Pickup successful. Host’s Physical Body Constitution +2!”
Warm currents manifested and flowed through his body one after another, strengthening Meng Lei’s physical body constitution and spirit at high speed.
An extremely relaxing and comfortable sensation accompanied his continuous powering up. It couldn’t feel better than this!
His power was constantly increasing!
His thoughts were increasingly clear!
Yes! That’s the way! Become stronger! I want to become stronger!
“What are you doing here?!”
Right at that moment, a furious bellow suddenly rang out beside his ear like a clap of thunder. “Is this somewhere that you should be?! Go back at once!”
Meng Lei lifted his head. Right away, he saw Captain Hudders glaring at him furiously. An invisible wave of pressure surged toward him as if a raging lion was watching him intently!
Meng Lei’s heart trembled. The pressure was intense!
“What is Leo doing? He actually let you run out here?”
With a brandish, Hudders cut a pig-species wild beast into two as he ordered, “Return to the shelter immediately!”
Meng Lei was just about to explain when a loud, melodious, and sonorous roar resounded!
A wolf-like beast, whose body was a fiery red all over and as big as an ox, walked out of the beast tide’s back.
Everywhere it passed through, the initially brutal and ferocious wild beasts docilely stepped aside and made way for it!
The wolf-like beast sauntered elegantly, two licks of flames flickering in its eyes. All of a sudden, it leaped into the air, opened its mouth, and shot out a fireball the size of a basketball!
The fireball was alarmingly hot. Meng Lei could feel a burning heat on his face despite being a far distance away!
A wolf?
A wolf that can spray fire?
Is this what a Magical Beast is?
Chapter 3: The Magical Beast, Fire Wolf, & Picking Up Magic
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
“Damn! It’s actually the Magical Beast, Fire Wolf! We’re in trouble now!”
Captain Hudders sliced the fireball hurtling toward them in two with his sword. He shouted, “All of you, handle the other wild beasts! Leave this Fire Wolf to me!”
After he spoke, he lifted his sword and rushed forward!
Magical Beasts were completely different from normal wild beasts. Not only were their physical body constitution far superior to normal wild beasts, but they could also use magic! They possessed a shockingly high level of destructiveness!
The moment a Magical Beast appeared in a beast tide usually implied a significant increase in the beast tide’s level of danger!
Clink, clink, clink!
This particular Fire Wolf was indeed extraordinary. The sword in Hudders’ hands clashed against the Fire Wolf’s sharp claws. However, apart from producing a series of sparks, it couldn’t deal any real damage to the Fire Wolf at all!
On the other hand, the Fire Wolf launched sneak attacks and shot out fireballs the size of a human head while it engaged in fierce combat with Hudders.
Hudders didn’t dare to take the attacks head-on. He wielded the large sword and struck the fireballs into pieces. However, every time he did so, the ocher yellow glow around the sword would dim and turn a notch duller.
At this rate, it wouldn’t take that many strikes before the ocher yellow glow disappeared!
“Go, Captain!”
“Kill that Fire Wolf!”
The other guards in the team didn’t realize this problem. They encouraged and cheered for their captain while they tried their best to defend against the wild beasts!
Although the Fire Wolf was a Magical Beast, it was just a first-grade one, the weakest of the lot!
However, the captain was a Second-Grade Warrior. Against a mere Fire Wolf, wasn’t this a piece of cake for him?
“Damn! This isn’t a normal Fire Wolf!”
Hudders was alarmed and furious, however!
Which part of it was a Fire Wolf? It had clearly already evolved into a Fire Wolf King, a Second-Grade Magical Beast!
Although it was impossible to tell just by looking at its outer appearance, there was too big of a difference in its actual combat ability.
A Fire Wolf couldn’t match up to a Fire Wolf King at all, be it in terms of agility, strength, or nimbleness!
Moreover, Magical Beasts were usually stronger than humans of the same grade. Hudders was just a Second-Grade Warrior. The battle aura technique that he cultivated was also just run-of-the-mill. How could he possibly be a match for the Fire Wolf King?
Cold sweat broke out on Hudders’ forehead. He could sense that the odds weren’t in his favor today!
“S-so powerful!”
Meng Lei was also watching the intense battle between Captain Hudders and the Fire Wolf. Astonishment filled his eyes!
In his eyes, both parties could be said to be Superman, whether it was the Fire Wolf King or Captain Hudders!
A leap of theirs reached five to six meters high!
A strike of the sword created a fissure in the ground!
A fireball was comparable to a bomb!
Could he even still be considered a goddamn human?
“Ding! Dropped item discovered. Will you pick it up?”
The system’s cold and emotionless voice sounded in his ear. A red light ball had dropped from the Fire Wolf King!
“It dropped from the Fire Wolf King? Magical Beasts drop items too?”
Meng Lei was stunned.
That’s a Magical Beast, you know! I wonder what it dropped?
“Yes, pick it up!”
“Ding! Assimilation successful. You have received the First-Grade Spell, Fireball Technique!”
The voice notification ringing out in his mind stupefied Meng Lei.
Fireball Technique? The drop this time is actually a spell? You can even pick up spells?
Meng Lei was delirious with joy!
Humans didn’t possess the Colossal Dragons’ physique, nor the Titans’ strength. They didn’t have the Fairies’ talent for magic, nor the other races’ unique talents!
It wasn’t an exaggeration in the least to say that the human race was one of the weakest and frailest intelligent races in Heaven’s Vault Continent. Apart from Battle Aura and magic, there was no other way for someone to become strong!
Yet the saddest thing was that as an appendage race, 90% of humans had no chance of coming into contact with Battle Aura and magic in their whole lives, not to mention cultivating them!
The Magical Beast Village wasn’t so bad!
With Hudders, a Second-Grade Warrior, around to provide advice and guidance, the villagers’ overall strength w
as the strongest among the eight villages within a radius of five kilometers. But even so, Hudders was still the only one who truly managed to cultivate Battle Aura!
Meng Lei longed to cultivate Battle Aura and magic, of course. He wanted to become an expert so that he had a better chance of living on!
However, harsh reality told him this—”You’re daydreaming!”
His physical body constitution was too weak, so he wasn’t suitable to cultivate Battle Aura!
As for magic, did he have any talent for it? Where was he supposed to go and learn magic?
He couldn’t cultivate Battle Aura!
Yet he had nowhere that he could learn magic!
Meng Lei was close to losing hope!
However, never did he expect that this crazy system could pick up even spells!
First-Grade Spell, Fireball Technique!
Meng Lei checked out the technique at once. Then, he understood all the information about Fireball Technique, such as its discharge theory, destructive power...
I’ll give it a go?
Meng Lei took a deep breath and raised his right arm... But there was no reaction!
(⊙o⊙)
Meng Lei was stupefied.
What’s going on? Is the Fireball Technique that I picked up pirated goods?
“Ding! A friendly tip: Discharging magic requires consuming Magic Power and Spiritual Power!”
Then, the system gave another reminder and said, “Both requirements are necessary!”
“Magic power? Spiritual power?”
Meng Lei was speechless. It was only then that he noticed the Magic Power field on the stats interface—it was a big fat zero. In other words, there wasn’t the slightest bit of magic power in him!
No wonder I couldn’t use the Fireball Technique!
However, Meng Lei was relieved.
At least, the Fireball Technique that I picked up isn’t pirated goods! But where am I supposed to get magic power from?
“Ding! Dropped item discovered. Will you pick it up?”
Another red light ball had dropped from the Fire Wolf King!
“Yes, pick it up!”
“Ding! Assimilation successful. Host’s Magic Power +1!”
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