Chapter 183: Assimilation Compatibility Rate

West shot it a sharp gaze as he took a step forward.

"It’s not a native of the ruins..."

The realization sent a chill through the group while one of the teammates stepped forward instinctively.

"...We should take it down—"

"Fall back."

West’s command took the group by surprise.

"...What?"

"Fall. Back," West repeated but before anyone could move, the creature turned, locking onto their position with its glowing eyes.

"Powerful targets... spotted..."

Its head tilted slightly.

"...Assimilation compatibility rate... high..."

It paused briefly while scanning them before adding.

"Proceeding to neutralise targets...In order to begin assimilation process."

Immediately after saying that, it moved at an insanely fast speed. The air itself seemed to tear as it shot forward, appearing right in front of Nina in the next instant.

Its scorpion tail shot forward in a streak, aimed directly at her chest.

Nina didn’t even have enough time to react, neither did the rest of the group... but West did.

CRACK!

His hand shot out, catching the tail mid-thrust.

The impact alone sent a shockwave through the ground beneath them causing West to stagger backwards by half a step while Nina’s eyes widened.

"...!"

West’s grip tightened as his expression turned cold before he spun violently and flung the creature across the cavern.

BOOM!

It slammed into one of the metallic structures embedded in the ruin, sending debris flying everywhere from the impact.

Nina exhaled sharply.

"...Thanks..."

West didn’t look back.

"We’re leaving," He voiced with a firm tone.

"This thing is too dangerous."

He glanced at the others.

"It’s too fast for you to follow."

If West was alone, he wouldn’t worry much but because he was the leader here, he had to make the best call for the group. Since the boss creature was already dealt with, there was no reason for them to remain here.

Loot wasn’t as important as their lives.

"...There’s only one of it," one of the teammates stepped forth while clenching his fists.

"And there’s ten of us."

"We’ll win."

West’s eyes narrowed slightly. Truly there was strength in numbers but it was pointless if he was the only one who could follow the humanoid creature’s speed... it could just pick on everyone else and he’d have to run around trying to protect everyone rather than actually fighting.

Besides, his gut feeling told him this humanoid creature was really dangerous...

For him to feel that, at his level of power, meant something was wrong. Having everyone to watch out for while battling this thing, put him at a disadvantage so it wasn’t an option.

"...We’re leav—"

He didn’t get to finish before the rubble exploded and creature burst out...

In the next moment, it was already on the ceiling of the strange metallic structure merged with the ruins, crawling at very fast pace.

Its limbs clung to the surface as it dashed across the cavern, leaving behind faint trails of shadow as it moved.

"Above!" someone shouted.

A teammate named Raven activated her bloodline branch, causing her body to glow as she raised her hand and fired a barrage of blue energy blasts.

"Take it down!"

Others with bloodline followed and projectiles filled the air, ranging from air blasts to water to even flames...

However, it evaded every single attack effortlessly, leaving behind blurry shadows before disappearing...

It reappeared right behind one of the teammates.

"Behind you—!"

The teammate who had already activated his transformation branch slashed his lengthy claws sideways, ripping clean through the creature’s face...

Unfortunately, the ripped flesh reformed instantly like it had never been damaged.

"...What—?!"

West moved with speed, closing the distance but the humanoid creature didn’t wait for him to breach the gap...

It grabbed the teammate and hurled him forward with speed, leaving a streak across the cavern.

BOOM!

It slammed his back into the wall on the other end hard enough to crack it causing blood to burst from his mouth.

Before anyone could react, the creature latched onto him and...

CRUNCH~

It bit into his neck brutally, severing his entire head in the process causing blood to spray everywhere.

A chill spread through the air as everyone froze.

"Beginning assimilation..."

West arrived a second too late behind the creature

Without hesitation, he swung the massive dark blade tore through the air...

SHHHK!

The humanoid creature was cleaved in half by the force as a dark crescent of energy continued forward, slamming into the wall behind and exploding it into fragments.

The creature’s body dropped, split in clan halves as black goo splattered across the cavern ground.

West stood there for a moment, staring at the decapitated body of their teammate before dropping to one knee and touching the fallen teammate’s body.

There was nothing that could be done... he was dead. "~sigh~ Zu Li won’t let me hear the end of this."

"...What the hell was that thing...?" Jax voiced from behind in a tone of both shock and disbelief.

"...I don’t know..." West shook his head.

"...I’m just glad it’s gone..." Nina exhaled shakily.

"...Guys..."

Jared’s voice trembled while West’s head snapped up.

The humanoid creature’s body was moving... right before their very eyes... the two halves were reconnecting.

Flesh pulled together and reformed at incredible pace.

"...No..."

Before anyone could react, the creature lashed out, sweeping its tail forward at a speed that took even West by surprise.

BAM!

It slammed directly into West’s side, sending him flying straight into Jax.

Both of them were launched backward, spinning across the air before crashing into the ground and rolling violently across it.

Dust filled the air as a dull pain shot through West’s body.

Before West could get up, the creature moved again, crouching over the fallen teammate’s corpse.

Its fingers dug straight in as it spoke with the same cold metallic tone.

"Assimilating..."

The moment the creature finished assimilating with the fallen teammate, it transformed once more.

The creature’s body convulsed violently as its humanoid form grew elongated arms that dragged slightly against the ground with fingers ending in spiky blade-like claws. Its torso bore faint remnants of the teammate it had assimilated as pieces of clothing fused into its flesh and fragments of armor embedded unnaturally into its skin.