“What should we do then, Ol’ President?” Meng Lei hastily asked.
“Don’t panic, and don’t fear!” Ol’ Amos mused aloud. “Whether the Tree of Life really is a half-deity or not is merely our conjecture. What you need to do now is to do your best to collect as much information as possible about the Tree of Life so that you can make a more accurate judgment. It’s only when you know your enemy and yourself inside out that you can survive all your battles.”
“I understand now!” Meng Lei nodded.
Then, he patted the Uni-Horned Rose Python under him and asked, “Clara, what do you know about the Tree of Life?”
“Sir...”
As Clara went into an endless narration. Meng Lei also gained a better understanding of the Tree of Life.
According to the Uni-Horned Rose Python, even though the Tree of Life was a tree, it was also unlike one at the same time. It had no fixed form or a fixed location.
It could appear at any corner of the continent and could also show up in any form. It was a tree, yet also not one at the same time.
As for what it specifically looked like, no one had ever seen it before.
The only thing one could be sure of was that every 100 years, the Tree of Life’s voice would sound in the minds of every living thing on the continent to inform them that the fruits were ripe. Apart from that, none of the living things knew anything else about the Tree of Life.
After hearing all that, Ol’ Amos immediately concluded, “The Tree of Life is definitely collecting the power of religious faith. The so-called fruits are merely its method of spreading faith.
“Most typical living things aren’t capable of collecting religious faith by their own initiative. Brat, you must take absolute care in everything you do from now on. If you discover anything amiss, run immediately!”
“Understood, Ol’ President!”
Meng Lei nodded heavily. A hint of gloom couldn’t help but form in his heart.
A divine tree whose strength was unfathomably deep was lurking in the Lost Continent, and all the living things on the continent were its worshippers.
But what was he currently doing?
He was hunting the divine tree’s worshippers!
Moreover, he wasn’t the only one doing so—the other 7,847 contestants were also hunting its worshippers.
Would the divine tree be agreeable to that?
It seemed like the answer was a negative one!
“Sending us here to hunt Magical Beasts when he hasn’t even gotten a handle on things on the continent—has His Majesty become a senile old dotard?”
In the following period of time, there was always a certain tension in Meng Lei’s mind. He didn’t dare to relax even the slightest, lest he came under the divine tree’s attack.
And yet!
As time went by, under Uni-Horned Rose Python’s guidance, four Saint Domain Magical Beasts perished in Meng Lei’s hands one after another.
In spite of that, the divine tree... didn’t make any move!
It was as if it had decided to just leave things unchecked.
Gradually, Meng Lei also relaxed. Since it didn’t intend to do anything about it, then he wasn’t going to stand on ceremony anymore.
At this point, Clara flew over to a basin and said, “Sir, that basin in front is Sacas the Multi-Armed Behemoth’s territory!”
“The Multi-Armed Behemoth?”
A look of confusion came over Meng Lei’s features.
He knew about the Behemoths—the Beast People Empire’s royal family was exactly the Behemoth race. Among the Behemoths, the Golden Behemoths were even existences comparable to Golden Colossal Dragons and Thunder Titans.
Apart from that, there were also two lower-end Behemoth species—the Silver Behemoths and the Bronze Behemoths.
...But what the heck was a Multi-Armed Behemoth?
“Little boy, you should read more when you have the time!”
Ol’ Amos snorted lightly and explained, “The Multi-Armed Behemoth is a mutated species among the Behemoths. Compared to regular Behemoths, they have four additional arms. Thus, they are also known as Six-Armed Behemoths.
“Behemoths are hailed as the kings of terrestrial battles. In terms of pure physical strength, even Dragons are no match for Behemoths.
“In addition, Behemoths have astonishingly high defense. Apart from first-class spells, they are immune to every other spell. In a wrestling match, Colossal Dragons are no match for Behemoths of the same grade.”
“Tsk, tsk! Impressive!”
Meng Lei couldn’t help but marvel. Ol’ Amos was a Fire Dragon Person, and on top of that, he was even one that possessed terrifying strength. Yet even someone like him admitted that Behemoths overpowered Colossal Dragons of the same grade!
From this, one could tell just how strong the Behemoths were.
Ol’ Amos warned, “As the Multi-Armed Behemoth has four more arms than regular Behemoths, they are even more skilled at grappling and, in turn, even harder to deal with than usual. You’d best take it easy later!”
“Got it!”
It didn’t take long before Meng Lei arrived at the basin. The basin resembled a sunken-in bowl and was lower than sea level by almost a thousand kilometers.
Within the basin was a stone forest of erect rock pillars. As far as the eye could see, the place was actually a densely packed stone forest. They looked just like bamboo shoots in the mountains!
Whew!
Whew!
It wasn’t long after they entered the stone forest when thundering snores reached their ears. At the same time, a terrifying, mighty pressure also spread toward them and pressed down on their nerves.
“Sir, that’s the Multi-Armed Behemoth!”
The Uni-Horned Rose Python’s voice trembled as it pointed at a massive grayish creature lying in the stone forest. It could hardly conceal the fear in its eyes.
Being a snake-type Magical Beast, it feared Magical Beasts whose forte was physical strength the most, let alone physical strength freaks like the Multi-Armed Behemoth that had even grown itself a few more arms. It was practically the bane of its existence.
“Wake it up,” Meng Lei ordered as he watched the massive creature in deep slumber intently.
“Y-yes, sir!”
With a woebegone expression, the Uni-Horned Rose Python flew over immediately. It had already been some time since it had started to follow Meng Lei around, so it understood his personality very well—should it dare refuse to go over, it would definitely end up with a tragic fate.
“Sacas, my old friend!”
The Uni-Horned Rose Python didn’t dare to go too near. It hollered at the top of its voice before it was even anywhere near it.
Roar!
Rudely awakened from its slumber, the Behemoth flew into a rage. “Who is it?! Who dares disturb Sacas’ beauty sleep? Are you tired of living?!”
The Multi-Armed Behemoth was simply too loud. Its voice was as though the booming thunder. The resulting reverberations caused the surrounding stone forest to shake and sway as giant rocks fell and rolled off.
Even Meng Lei felt his ears, which were ringing from its voice, go numb. He couldn’t help but be astounded. “What the heck? It’s so loud!”
The Multi-Armed Behemoth—which had gotten onto its feet from rage—was 50-meters-tall. A thick layer of gray fur covered its body from head to toe. The muscles hidden by its fur could only be described with one word—exaggerated!
It had the mouth of a hippopotamus and the legs of a lion; the back of a crocodile and the body of a gigantic ape; as well as... The claws of a sloth!
Hanging next to its knees were its six incredibly thick and muscular arms—there was no question as to how terrifyingly strong they were!
Added to this its razor-sharp, barb-like claws that extended as far as two-meters-long, the Multi-Armed Behemoth gave off a spine-chilling aura.
So, that’s the Multi-Armed Behemoth?
Chapter 167: Golden
Giant, The Behemoth Submits
“Who is it? Who dares disturb Sacas’ beauty sleep?!” The Multi-Armed Behemoth roared furiously.
Its voice was as though the dull booming of roiling thunder, its reverberations erupting in the sky and blasting people’s ears.
“S-Sacas, my... My old friend!”
In a terrible panic, the Uni-Horned Rose Python’s voice trembled as it stammered, “I... I’m here to visit you. H-how are you?”
“Die, you lowly worm!”
The Multi-Armed Behemoth let out a ferocious roar. Then, without another word, it grabbed a gigantic ten-meters-long stalagmite and hurled it at the Uni-Horned Rose Python. It didn’t take Clara as a friend at all.
Whoosh!
The stalagmite produced whizzing sounds as it hurtled through the air. It blasted straight toward Clara like an intercontinental missile, and the might it contained enough to blast an E-100[1] apart.
“Hiss, hiss!”
The Uni-Horned Rose Python received a huge shock. It fled hastily to the side, its long tail swishing about as it did so. The gigantic stalagmite whizzed past it by a hair’s breadth, and then it just so coincidentally had to crash toward Meng Lei.
Crack!
Meng Lei formed a sword with his fingers. With a light slash, a golden ray of sword glint flashed across the air and instantly sliced the gigantic stalagmite into two.
Roar!!
The rudely awakened Multi-Armed Behemoth was currently running berserk and in a terrible rage. It strode forward with its thick, muscular thighs and charged over barbarically.
“You lowly worm! I’m going to tear you into pieces!”
The ground shook and trembled as the stone forest swayed about, while huge rocks rolled and fell off as smoke and dust billowed.
The Multi-Armed Behemoth, which was over 50-meters-tall, moved at breakneck speed. With just a few large steps, it had already crossed the several hundred-meter-long distance and charged right up to the Uni-Horned Rose Python. Then, its two-meters-long barbed claws grabbed forcefully at it.
“Hiss, hiss!”
The Uni-Horned Rose Python was scared witless.
“Clara, step back!”
Meng Lei’s voice rang out at this point.
“Yes, sir!”
His voice was no different from celestial music in the Uni-Horned Rose Python’s ears. As though it had been granted amnesty, the Uni-Horned Rose Python hastily dived behind Meng Lei, its tail swishing about in the air.
“The king of terrestrial battles? I’d like to have a taste or two of that!”
Meng Lei licked his lips. Rays of dazzling golden light shot out of him and instantly shrouded him within.
Roar!
The Multi-Armed Behemoth’s razor-sharp claws slashed down at him. With a golden flash of light, he quietly appeared at a spot 100 meters away. At the same time, the Metal Elements within a few kilometers started to converge madly toward him.
As the golden light turned brighter and brighter, the ball of light also became bigger and bigger.
10 meters, 50 meters, 100 meters...
The golden ball of light emitted an infinite light. It was as though the sun hanging in the sky, brilliant as it shone upon the land.
Boom!
An arm radiating a dazzling golden shine reached out from the golden light. It was golden-yellow in color throughout and looked just as though it were crafted from gold. The golden veins on the arm bulged fiercely on the surface, and the muscles on it were solidly intertwined. It brimmed with explosive strength.
Then, it was followed by the second arm... The third... The fourth...
In the short span of a breath, the form of a 50-meters-tall golden giant with three heads and six arms and radiating a dazzling golden shine all over was revealed in the golden ball of light. Then, it landed on the ground with a loud crash.
Boom!
An incredibly sharp and raging aura erupted from the golden giant and spread outward, sweeping toward every direction. Several rays of golden light burst forth from it, instantly jabbing so many holes into the surrounding stalagmites and turning them into swiss cheese.
Roar!
The Multi-Armed Behemoth let out an earth-shattering roar as it sprinted madly toward the golden giant. It was evident from those ferocious blood-red eyes that it intended to rip the golden giant into shreds.
“Good job making it here!” Meng Lei said as he laughed into the heavens. Then, he controlled the golden giant and dashed over, too.
Boom, boom, boom!
When two enormous creatures as tall as buildings more than a dozen floors high ran at high speed, just how huge and earthshaking of a commotion would it cause?
The ground shook and trembled violently as if an earthquake had broken out. Large expanses of stalagmites fell off as the earth shook and mountains swayed.
Boom!
In the next moment, the Multi-Armed Behemoth and the golden giant collided hard with each other, producing a shockingly loud metallic clash.
Crack!
The Multi-Armed Behemoth’s claws slashed a few deep fissures into the golden giant while the golden giant’s six fists landed on the Multi-Armed Behemoth at the same time.
Thud, thud, thud!
The two massive creatures retreated at the same time, pressing a few wide and deep enormous footprints into the ground as they did so. They even broke a few stalagmites along the way.
Their very first clash had concluded with a draw.
Roar!
The Multi-Armed Behemoth, whose savagery had been triggered, charged over once more.
Boom, boom, boom!
Boom, boom, boom!
Boom, boom, boom!
The basin was completely destroyed. Everywhere that the two giants passed by, all the solid stalagmites around them were as if they were made out of tofu, breaking with just a touch and being crushed with just a brush.
A good half of the stalagmites in the basin were already broken and in disorder in less than five minutes. The place looked as if a Category 12 typhoon had swept through it.
“Is he even human?”
As the one and only witness to the grappling match, the Uni-Horned Rose Python had long since been left flabbergasted and dumbstruck. It was astounded by the ferocity of the battle and even more so by Meng Lei’s choice of action.
It knew very well just how strong the Multi-Armed Behemoth was. On this continent lived hundreds, almost up to 1,000, of Saint Domain Magical Beasts, but those that really dared to get into a wrestling match with the Multi-Armed Behemoth didn’t even make up a handful.
That guy was the king of terrestrial battles and possessed Herculean strength. Wasn’t getting into a wrestling match with it tantamount to committing suicide? Were they tired of living?
Yet that was exactly what Meng Lei had done. To transform into a golden giant and fight the Multi-Armed Behemoth head-on, just how stubborn must he be?
However, the final outcome of the wrestling match was something completely outside of the Uni-Horned Rose Python’s expectations—Meng Lei had won!
The Multi-Armed Behemoth... had collapsed!
Its body, which sported multiple wounds, was trembling lightly. It panted heavily and took large gulps of air, actually unable to even lift a finger.
On the other hand, the golden giant stood steadily where it was, the many cuts on its body healing rapidly. A few breaths later, it was restored to its original condition and looked as brand new as ever.
After a comparison of the two, the outcome was clear.
Whoosh!
A sharp sword appeared in the golden giant’s hand. As it held the sword against the Multi-Armed Behemoth’s throat, it said in a deep, rumbling voice, “Sacas, I’ve taken an interest in you! You have two choices now!
“The first is to have your head cut off by me and die by my sword! The second is to become my dog and pledge allegiance to me!”
The one currently speaking was naturally Meng Lei. He had initi
ally planned to kill the Multi-Armed Behemoth, but after the fierce battle, Meng Lei now had a deep understanding of just how powerful and fearsome the Multi-Armed Behemoth was.
Ferocious and raging!
Immensely strong!
Massive combat strength!
To sum it up—violence! Incredible violence!
If he hadn’t been the one it was fighting, there was no way it would have lost. After all, the real reason for its collapse was exhaustion.
That’s right, utter exhaustion! If it weren’t because it had reached a point of utter exhaustion, in the end, it could definitely continue to fight on!
What? Its injuries?
They were just superficial wounds that didn’t get in the way at all!
It was a pity to kill a savage beast like that. Since that was the case, why not take it in instead and turn it into his second fighter?
“I’ll give you ten seconds to consider the offer!” Meng Lei’s voice was loud and sonorous as he said, “I want an answer in ten seconds!”
Roar!
The Multi-Armed Behemoth sank into a painful struggle. Its pride didn’t allow it to submit to others—it was a proud and arrogant Behemoth! A powerful Multi-Armed Behemoth!
How could it submit to others?
Yet, it was being presented with harsh reality.
If it didn’t submit... Then it would die!
“Submit?”
“Don’t submit?”
“Submit?”
“Don’t submit?”
“...”
“Time’s up!”
Meng Lei’s voice rang out once again. He asked, “So? What’s your decision?”
“I... I’ll submit!”
The Multi-Armed Behemoth ultimately lowered its noble and elegant head.
“That’s a wise decision you’ve made!”
[1] Refers to the Panzerkampfwagen E-100, a German super-heavy tank design developed toward the end of World War II
Chapter 168: Blazing Jealousy, As Vicious As A Viper
“Hurry up!”
“There’s a huge commotion over there!”
“A fierce battle must be taking place!”
“It’s a great chance to cash in on others!”
Picking Up Attributes From Today c1-406 Page 91