Chapter 20

Black Tortoise, target the gymnasium, give it your all and charge forward!

Roar——!!!

As Lin Yue gave an order, Black Tortoise raised its mountain-like head and let out a roar that shook the heavens!

Immediately, it instantly transformed into a heavy siege vehicle and fiercely charged toward the nearby gymnasium!

Under its massive weight, the earth also began to violently tremble, and spider‑web‑like cracks spread wildly.

All obstacles in its way—abandoned cars, collapsed walls—were smashed to pieces!

This... this speed...

Wang Gongtou was also startled by Black Tortoise's sudden burst of speed; he never imagined a turtle could run so fast.

After all, no matter how big Black Tortoise is, its appearance is still that of a turtle.

Under Black Tortoise's full‑force dash, the two persons and the beast quickly reached the outskirts of the gymnasium, and the circling Ghost-faced Blood Bats finally noticed this rapidly approaching colossus.

Buzz——!

The piercing wing‑beat sound suddenly turned sharp; hundreds of Ghost-faced Blood Bats that had been leisurely circling above the gymnasium, like a black tide, surged toward Black Tortoise!

Black Tortoise, activate the Energy Shield! Ram straight through!

Lin Yue stood on the turtle's back, the wild wind making his clothes flap loudly, yet his stance remained as steady as a mountain!

Hum——!

A pale‑blue spherical shield opened once more, enveloping Black Tortoise entirely.

And at the moment the Energy Shield activated, Black Tortoise charged toward the gymnasium!

Boom——!!!!!

A thunderous, earth‑shaking roar!

Black Tortoise's massive body, like a black meteorite fallen from the heavens, slammed hard into the gymnasium's mottled outer wall!

The steel‑reinforced concrete structure shattered on impact, and a terrifying hole over ten meters in diameter was blasted out!

Rubble, rebar, and glass shards exploded outward!

And just as Black Tortoise rushed into the gymnasium, the cloud of Ghost-faced Blood Bats also swooped up to them!

Ding‑dong——!

The dense impact sounds rang out wildly, like countless steel beads striking thick glass!

Each Ghost-faced Blood Bat recklessly slammed into the Energy Shield; their sharp claws scraped the shield, sending out sparks, yet not even a ripple could be raised on the shield.

Their attacks, against a level‑2 Energy Shield, couldn't even tickle it!

Roar!

Black Tortoise came to a stop on an open field outside the gymnasium; its huge head suddenly protruded from the shield, and it opened a yawning maw at the futilely attacking blood bats!

Whoosh——!

A powerful suction force sprang into being!

The dozen or so Ghost-faced Blood Bats closest had no time to react before being yanked helter‑skelter by that force, flying uncontrollably into Black Tortoise's mouth!

Creak……creak……

A grating chewing sound rang out.

Those dozen or so blood bats were instantly chewed into mincemeat by Black Tortoise!

This action of Black Tortoise completely enraged the remaining Ghost-faced Blood Bats.

Immediately, these Ghost-faced Blood Bats emitted a sharp "squeak‑squeak," apparently calling for their companions inside the gymnasium.

Sure enough, just a few seconds later!

Hum——!

Even more Ghost-faced Blood Bats frenziedly poured out from the breach in the gymnasium's dome!

Four hundred!

Five hundred!

As far as the eye could see, Ghost-faced Blood Bats surrounded them on all sides; Lin Yue and company were already encircled!

They seemed to realize that physical attacks could not break Black Tortoise's shield, and in unison they unleashed a high‑pitched screech!

Instantly, an invisible sound wave surged within the hall, coalescing into a strange mental shock!

Ugh……

Wang Gongtou grunted, his head throbbing with sharp pain, as if countless steel needles were being driven into his brain.

At the same time, his vision began to warp, and terrifying hallucinations immediately appeared.

Lin kid! Watch out…… it's a mental attack!

He howled with the last shred of clarity.

Lin Yue fared no better; his temples throbbed violently, and a strong wave of dizziness surged straight to his head.

But he, relying on his far superior physique compared to Wang Gongtou, clenched his tongue tight, using the sharp pain to force himself to stay conscious.

Black Tortoise, kill them for me!

A cold glint flashed in Lin Yue's eyes.

Roar——!

Black Tortoise also seemed to grow weary of these flies' harassment.

The next second!

A earth‑yellow light suddenly flared brightly upon its shell!

【Earth Control】!

Splash——!

Only saw on the ground countless rubble, soil, and broken steel bars, as if given life, suddenly levitate upward!

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

As the Black Tortoise's will fell, these rubble, soil, and broken steel bars shot forth like a barrage of arrows, indiscriminately firing in all directions!

"Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!"

The sharp sound of weapons piercing flesh rang out densely; the Ghost-faced Blood Bats had no time to dodge before being struck by the rubble and dying on the spot!

Fresh blood instantly stained the ground red!

Just a single volley!

The Ghost-faced Blood Bat colony lurking here was cleared out by seventy to eighty percent!

The remaining dozens of Ghost-faced Blood Bats were terrified out of their wits, not daring to linger a moment, letting out a panicked scream and fleeing madly.

Lin Yue did not order a pursuit; killing that many Ghost-faced Blood Bats was already enough for the Black Tortoise to evolve.

"Lin kid, is that… already a win?!"

Beside him, Wang Gongtou, who had just awakened from the illusion, stared in disbelief at the scene before him.

He had thought the Black Tortoise could win, but he never imagined it would win so easily.

With just a gesture, he killed hundreds of Ghost-faced Blood Bats—what terrifying combat power!

Wang Gongtou realized he had still vastly underestimated the Black Tortoise's power!

"Old Wang, although a few hundred Ghost-faced Blood Bats look indeed frightening, their attacks could not harm the Black Tortoise at all. Most importantly, their defense is almost zero—I didn't expect that either; a single clash had the Black Tortoise's controlled rubble clear away more than half of them."

Lin Yue shrugged, indicating he was also somewhat surprised.

"It's not that they're weak; it's that the Black Tortoise is too strong!"

Wang Gongtou shook his head, feeling both emotional and worried,

"If it were an armored vehicle, it probably wouldn't last a minute before being torn to shreds, and the people inside wouldn't stand a chance!"

"I don't even know what the future holds for humanity!"

"I don't know how humanity will fare in the future,

Lin Yue said while jumping down from the Black Tortoise's back and walking over to the pile of Ghost-faced Blood Bat corpses,

"But I know, as long as the Black Tortoise can continue evolving, humanity will never perish!"

"Absorb!"

【Absorb scattered energy, gain 1 point of energy.】

【Detected dead lifeform (Level 1 mutant Ghost-faced Blood Bat), detected Level 1 Energy Crystal, absorb?】

"Absorb!"

【Absorb scattered energy, gain 1 point of energy.】

……

When all the energy had been absorbed, the numbers on the system panel finally froze!

【Required for promotion to Level 3: 1422/1000】

Enough!

"System, start evolution!!!"