Apocalypse: Master of Soul Beasts
Chapter 40: Manipulation_1

Chapter 40: Chapter 40: Manipulation_1

Seeing that he was about to be teleported out of the Promotion Space, Wen Yu simply stopped thinking.

He took out the Level 2 Mutant Rat King’s magic crystal that he had kept in his space ring and quickly began to absorb its power.

In less than ten seconds, Wen Yu had absorbed the entire magic crystal. He quietly assessed his physical condition.

Phew, I probably gained around 0.5 points. But it’s too slow. At this rate, I’ll need 80 Level 2 magic crystals. One Level 2 attributeless magic crystal is worth 500 points. Just to elevate my physical attributes to the peak of Level 2 requires 40,000 points. That number is astronomically high.

Contemplating the astronomical figure he had calculated, Wen Yu shook his head in resignation.

In reality, relying solely on using the Exchange Stone Pillar to exchange magic crystals could not meet the needs of professionists.

Only after the demon plague broke out did the promotion speed of professionists greatly increase. Even mutant creatures evolved quickly amidst the demon plague.

It was survival of the fittest; all those who survived the demon plague underwent a swift period of evolution.

Of course, this excluded the weak and the cannon fodder.

Feeling the increasing repulsion from the Promotion Space, Wen Yu returned to a battle-ready state. He calmly awaited the danger that would undoubtedly surface once he left the treasure land. Barely a few seconds passed before a white light enveloped him, teleporting him out of the Promotion Space.

An intense wave of dizziness hit him. Wen Yu didn’t move until it dissipated. If he misjudged his direction and ran into Simba, it would be an utterly undignified death.

Once the scene before him cleared, Wen Yu dared not move a muscle.

Simba and Cyclops stood not far in front of him. Seeing Wen Yu appear out of nowhere, Simba, who had been lying a short distance from Cyclops, slowly rose. Wen Yu felt an increasingly oppressive force emanating from Simba, a power so overwhelming that it robbed him of the courage to even think of fighting back.

Simba’s colossal eyes stared fixedly at Wen Yu, the mockery, coldness, and cruelty within them sending chills down Wen Yu’s spine.

Simba had been waiting for Wen Yu. During those few minutes, Simba hadn’t made any move against Cyclops. Instead, he had merely kept an eye on Cyclops to prevent his escape, all while waiting for Wen Yu to appear.

Simba’s animosity towards Wen Yu was far stronger than that towards Cyclops. This human had dared to cause him to lose his prey, dared to "toy" with him. So, the intelligent Simba had devised a plan.

A plan to make Wen Yu die in fear, resentment, despair, and misery.

Under Simba’s gaze, Wen Yu couldn’t even move his feet. Simba’s enormous eyes conveyed a clear message: Attempt to escape, and you die.

With Wen Yu’s current strength, there was no way he could escape from Simba.

Seeing Wen Yu stand perfectly still, Simba nodded in satisfaction and slowly started towards Cyclops.

Then, Simba smacked Cyclops.

The blow was deceptively light, almost like a lover’s caress. Even Wen Yu, watching from the side, could tell that Simba hadn’t used his full strength.

So, Cyclops hadn’t died. However, Simba’s "caress" was not without power. The massive force of the blow slammed into Cyclops’s body, causing him to let out a mournful scream and fly over ten meters away. The spot where Simba had struck was a mess of torn flesh.

The injury wasn’t life-threatening; Simba hadn’t intended for Cyclops to die quickly. That would spoil his fun. This was the very plan Simba had concocted.

Kill the chicken to warn the monkey, and then kill the monkey.

Seeing Cyclops get back on his feet, Simba leisurely strolled towards him. He wasn’t worried about Wen Yu taking the opportunity to escape; the situation was entirely under his control.

Simba’s strength eliminated all possibility of unexpected events.

As Simba drew closer, despair and fear filled Cyclops’s remaining eye, only to be replaced by a fierce will to survive.

Cyclops tensed his body and bolted. Although he knew he couldn’t escape, he had to try.

Seeing Cyclops attempt to flee, Simba opened his great maw and let out a deafening roar. The massive sound wave kicked up a cloud of dust, obscuring Wen Yu’s vision.

By the time the dust settled, Simba and Cyclops had swapped places. The difference was that Simba was standing, while Cyclops was lying on the ground.

Cyclops simply couldn’t escape.

Again, Simba leisurely walked towards Cyclops. Wen Yu had figured out Simba’s intent. Unfortunately, Simba’s plan was succeeding. Watching Cyclops repeatedly try to flee only to be intercepted and batted back by Simba, a desolate sorrow welled up in Wen Yu, the kind one feels for a companion facing a similar, grim fate.

When Simba is done playing, it’ll be my turn. Wen Yu knew he wouldn’t fare any better than Cyclops. What was happening to Cyclops was a grim preview of his own fate.

Cyclops’s despair intensified. His injuries weren’t severe; Simba was deliberately controlling his strength to prevent Cyclops from dying. That, Simba reasoned, wouldn’t be fun at all.

After countless attempts to escape, only to be smacked back each time, Cyclops understood. He couldn’t escape. This struggle was nothing more than a waste of energy.

As Simba drew closer, Cyclops didn’t try to bolt this time. Instead, he stood rooted to the spot, trembling all over. He hung his hideous head low, his tail tucked between his hind legs, and whimpered softly.

It was a sign of submission. To survive, Cyclops was begging Simba for mercy, offering his freedom and the remainder of his life as the price.

Simba tilted his head, watching Cyclops whimper incessantly before him. His huge eyes examined Cyclops with interest, as if pondering whether this creature was qualified to be his subordinate.

Sensing that Simba hadn’t continued the torture, Cyclops couldn’t help but feel a flicker of hope. His ugly head nudged forward slightly, softly rubbing against Simba’s forepaw, humble yet desperate.

This was a lifeform’s desperate struggle for survival.

Simba looked down, watching the large dog’s fawning display. The amusement and curiosity in his eyes slowly vanished, replaced by an ever-deepening killing intent.

You’re just a chicken in my eyes, one meant to warn the monkey. What makes you think you’re qualified to be my subordinate? If I let you go, then what about the monkey?

Simba didn’t need followers.

So, he smacked Cyclops away again, and with that blow, Cyclops’s last shred of hope vanished.

This time, Simba’s strike was especially powerful. What little intact skin Cyclops had left was now completely mangled, blood streaming from his limbs.

Cyclops staggered to his feet, assuming the same posture: head lowered, tail tucked, his limbs trembling uncontrollably under his body’s weight. But this time, his stance was filled with utter desolation and helplessness.

Simba walked towards him again, with the same unhurried, leisurely pace as before.