Wasteland Border Inspector - Chapter 704

Chapter 704: Chapter 236: Cycle of Life and Death, Finale of the Immortal Objects! (Part 4)

The most critical part is that the Shrinking Earth Giant Louse clearly had no physical form, yet Tan Ming forcibly endowed it with one.

This means that after the supernatural coexistence, the power and attributes it can provide will surge dramatically.

The Wishful Size, although its size has shrunk significantly, the description of having twice the physical quality of its size allows him to possess even stronger explosive combat power.

The newly added “Shrinking Ground” ability is even more absurd; isn’t this equivalent to a flash move in a game?

Being able to move freely within a fifty-meter range, if anyone were to shoot at him, it would be nothing short of seeking death.

Within a three hundred meter distance, he only needs to initiate Shrinking Ground six times to reach the target, and no one can withstand such an assault.

Moreover…

“Over tenfold defense boost to life and eightfold strength, sixfold speed?”

Cheng Ye was momentarily stunned.

This set of data is not based on his previously frail body but is an enhancement relative to his current physical fitness.

While still incomparable to the attributes when using the Horned Starfish, once the Shrinking Earth Giant Louse is possessed, can ordinary people even break his defense?

Can those ordinary sources of infection even pose a threat to him?

But when his gaze fell on the cost bar below, the excitement that had just surged up quickly calmed down again.

Even with the qualitative change of the Shrinking Earth Giant Louse, its essence is still a parasitic talent, completely different from the coexistence mode of the Heart-Protecting Fire.

So, what would be the updated cost?

[Special Debuffs:

1. Collector cannot unload the fixed special skill: Shrinking Earth Giant Louse*, this skill will be permanently bound to the Skill Bar.

2. Each time the Collector uses the ability, he must supply a certain amount of life force as a startup resource; current required resource: 5%/use, maximum demand in 24 hours: 35%, exceeding 35%, using the ability within the period will no longer deduct life force.

3. Each time the Collector uses the “Shrinking Earth Giant Louse Coexistence State” ability, he must bear an unavoidable cost.

Current cost to bear: 50 kilometers of high-intensity exercise (must be completed within 15 days)

Each time the Collector uses Attribute Sharing, he must bear an unavoidable cost.

Current cost to bear: Fixed extraction of 350% of life force (single 50%/every 24 hours extraction once/lasting 7 days)

4. This talent has been locked by special forces and cannot be fused with other non-parasitic talents or skills; please do not attempt; otherwise, it will lead to a tremendous change in the Collector’s life form or death.]

…

As expected, after the extraordinary evolution of the Shrinking Earth Giant Louse, the costs and restrictions also changed.”

Cheng Ye glanced over with seriousness, nodding slightly.

Even though the Shrinking Earth Giant Louse has completed its evolution, the talent prefix still hangs as “parasitic,” and the skill being unloadable was already anticipated.

The previous mode of fixed life force extraction has turned into the deduction of startup resources only upon using the ability.

This change indicates that the basic parasitic cost of the Shrinking Earth Giant Louse has been met, making subsequent consumption more flexible.

“The lost life force can be restored through the physique, which is a much smaller risk.”

Cheng Ye felt somewhat satisfied.

But upon continuing to read, he couldn’t help but be troubled; the fixed cost of using the ability had clearly increased.

Previously it was 100 kilometers of medium-intensity exercise, now it has become 50 kilometers of high-intensity exercise, halving the length yet multiplying the difficulty.

Moreover, a continuous extraction of 350% of life force is required when using Attribute Sharing, which even with Living Water Essence, might not be able to withstand completely.

And as for the last term, Cheng Ye glanced at it, unable to help but gaze towards the direction of the White Water River.

Did Tan Ming impose restrictions on the Shrinking Earth Giant Louse?

It’s hard to guess the thoughts of this old-era Extraordinary; he could only temporarily suppress his doubts and turn to look at the changes in the Heart-Protecting Fire.

However, just with two glances, Cheng Ye quickly looked away.

Based on the skill description, the Heart-Protecting Fire only dropped a level, its growth rate changing from the previous 15% to 37%, as if refined.

The specific changes brought by the refinement, due to not having equipped it, cannot be viewed for the time being.

“Equip it after the contamination dissipates, we must not branch out.”

Having reviewed all the changes, Cheng Ye pondered a little without thinking much further about changes in strength.

There’s only one final step left for a promotion in rank, and after containing the Immortal Objects, it will surely fill these gaps.

For now, maintaining the order of Dapo Town is more critical, waiting for the outcome between Tan Ming and the Immortal Objects.

The sun rises and sets.

Five days passed quietly in silent waiting. Including the start of the assessment, this upheaval in Dapo Town had lasted nine days.

On the banks of the White Water River.

Luokuke sat stiffly on a stone, his gaze fixed on the flowing surface of the river, slightly dazed, as if pondering something.

Only when familiar footsteps sounded beside him did he slowly turn his head, forcing a small smile on his face, his voice a bit hoarse: “How’s the situation in the town?”

“Still alright.” Cheng Ye stopped beside him, brow slightly furrowed as he shook his head, “Although the sedatives were used up long ago, those on the verge of collapse, I’ve simply knocked them out; the situation hasn’t reached an uncontrollable point yet. Oddly enough, the spiritual contamination seems to have weakened today, and the residents’ condition is slightly better than yesterday.”

“Are you not comforting me?” Luokuke paused, suddenly giving a self-deprecating smile, with a tinge of uncertainty in his voice.

“You’re overthinking.” Cheng Ye raised an eyebrow, “How about I carry you for a walk around the town? After all, everyone’s mind is chaotic now, and no one would specifically notice you.”

“Better not.” Luokuke hastily shook his head, a hint of embarrassment flashing in his eyes, “Being seen in my half-iron half-human state is too humiliating.”

As he spoke, his gaze returned to the river surface, settling on the sunset about to dip below the horizon. After a moment of silence, he gently sighed, his voice heavy: “The food… should be running low, right?”

“Hmm… indeed, we just drank the last bag of Nutrient Paste today.”

Cheng Ye nodded, his tone calm, “Fortunately, the water supply is still sufficient, as long as we are frugal with water, we can last another four or five days.”

This supernatural battle has far exceeded his initial expectations in terms of duration.

Tan Ming and the Ten Thousand Orders Land Conch have been fighting for nearly a week yet haven’t decided a winner.

But judging by the changes in the residents’ mental state, he faintly feels that there should be a resolution in another three to five days.

But, what if Tan Ming loses?

This thought had just appeared when Cheng Ye suppressed it.

The town’s construction work had halted two days ago, with more and more people becoming agitated under the influence of spiritual contamination, beyond the comfort of words, relying only on medication or physical control; the situation, in fact, was slowly deteriorating.

For a while, he was somewhat silent, the two standing quietly by the water, just as during the past five days, occasionally zoning out, sighing.

Cheng Ye talked about the situation in the town, Luokuke mentioned some past adventures in the Wasteland, but mostly they were engulfed in silence.

But as the sunset was about to dip beyond the horizon.

Suddenly, an invisible wave flashed by.

Cheng Ye was stunned, raising his hands in astonishment, only to find that the runes on both hands lit up.

One bright, one dim.

The Withered Rune flared up while the Vital Rune dimmed.

Everything in the world seemed to be left with only desolation, but it quickly returned to normal.

At the same time, a faint thought etched into his mind through the runes.

“It’s over!”

It’s… Tan Ming’s voice!

He… has won!

…