Ultragene Warlord

[For consuming the flesh of a peak-grade moonlight wyrm, you received one peak gene fragment. Current total: 1]

[...one peak gene fragment. Current total: 8]

As the hunters devoured the feast, pleasant announcements from the will of the world chimed in their heads. The hunters' genetic energy fluctuations grew more and more intense; after all, these were peak gene fragments, each one of which was even stronger than ten superior gene fragments!

Even Yang Ze, who had gotten the fewest peak gene fragments out of them all, had seven. This meant that, excluding any limit fragments, Yang Ze had the equivalent of a hundred and seventy superior gene fragments, something that any other hunter could only dream of. Except for the members of Team Zenith, no hunter could achieve such a feat.

"Captain, we obtained two moonlight wyrm soulshards during the hunt, right? What do they do?" Yang Ze asked, clearly interested in the superior-grade soulshard that the first wyrm had dropped.

"Not two, but only one peak-grade soulshard," Zhang Lie corrected him.

"What? But, Captain, didn't the liminal superior-grade wyrm produce a soulshard too?" Yang Ze asked again.

"Yes, that's right, but I smashed the superior-grade one to pieces during the last fight!"

Yang Ze was stunned. "What, Captain! That was a superior-grade soulshard! How could you smash it to pieces?"

"I'm not lying to you—it's really been destroyed. I'll get you one in the future if you still want it," Zhang Lie replied with a smile.

"No, no, it's fine, but just what can the peak-grade soulshard do?" Yang Ze asked again.

This time, however, Zhang Lie replied with another mysterious smile. "That's a secret for the moment."

No matter how the other hunters tried to get Zhang Lie to spill the beans, however, Zhang Lie refused to say anything more. As they consumed more and more of the wyrm's flesh, everyone finally obtained all ten peak gene fragments from the peak-grade moonlight wyrm, and their positions as the top seven of the worldwide stage of the Void Cup were all but secured.

Zhang Lie's stats would have shocked any other hunter.

Zhang Lie: a mortal lifeform

Framework: Foundation, Lv. MAX; Ninecarp Transformation, Third Form: Winged Tiger Techniques: Rippling Walk (pinnacle), Three-Wave Crescendo (pinnacle), Calm Waters (pinnacle), Fists of the Silent Sea (pinnacle), The Boundless Blade (advanced), Eclipse (novice)

Genes: Basic, 160; Mutated, 150; Superior, 150; Peak, 10

Soulshards: White Grub (superior), Galewolf (mutated), Blood Ant (superior), Potbellied Toad (mutated), Venombane Scorpion (superior), Eternalspring Cocoon (superior), Forest Wolfman (superior), Flamewing (superior), Runic Salamander (superior), Moonlight Wyrm (peak)

He had obtained eight superior-grade and one peak-grade soulshard, and his framework and techniques had essentially all reached the limit of what was possible in the first realm. Given his stats and experience in his past life, it would be difficult for him to find an opponent in the second realm, let alone the first.

Although the other hunters of Team Zenith were a step below Zhang Lie, they were still far above the majority, if only because of their peak gene fragments.

Because Zhang Lie and the others had managed to obtain peak gene fragments even in the first realm, their foundations would be far stronger than those of any other hunter. This would be a significant advantage once they ascended to higher realms. That night, the hunters were once again relieved that they had made the right decision in joining Team Zenith.

A day and night in the dimensional world corresponded to a mere few hours in the real one, and by the time it was dawn in the Blacksteel settlement, Zhang Lie and the others were ready to head to Odinstadt.

They returned to the dojo and packed a few essentials. It was 11 PM on Earth; when Zhang Lie saw the dozens of unread messages from Yan Long, he ultimately chose to head to Odinstadt overnight so as not to anger Commander Yan Long further.

Teleportation arrays were the main mode of transportation for just about any hunter or lifeform in the galaxy, and areas with teleportation arrays around them were sure to be densely populated.

Even the smallest array in Odinstadt was still littered with all sorts of amenities for hunters and the general public. Tomorrow would be the first day of the tournament, so tonight was the last night in which many of the competitors could relax. As a result, there were lots of people nearby, enjoying food and drink as they watched hunters teleport to the city.

With a flash of light, three figures blinked into existence, all wearing crimson armor with the most expensive accessories available for purchase. From one glance alone, it was evident that they were no ordinary competitors.

Within a nearby restaurant, a man seated by a window suddenly shouted, "Ha! As expected, the strongest hunters arrive last. Do you know just who those hunters are?"

The other customers seated nearby murmured to each other, and someone called out, "Looking at how cocky you're acting, it must be the top three hunters of England, no? But I heard that the top three this year are far weaker than the top three five years ago."

The first hunter to speak frowned. "Those are all lies, I say! The top three hunters of England are all from illustrious, knighted families! They've dominated every match in the preliminary stages."

"Dominated? You think the winner of a twenty-minute fight can be considered dominating? Why don't you go look at the Chinese preliminaries?"

The first hunter retorted, "What do you mean? Are you looking down on English hunters?"

"That depends on whether they've shown some true talent, no? Don't you know what their nicknames are? The three wastrels of England: Farrell, Fred, and Richard. They might be better than the other hunters of your country, but on the international stage? I think not!"

Genetic energy flared from the first hunter, as though he were intending to start a fight.

"Enough! Violence is prohibited in this establishment! Any offenders will be detained!" A waiter rushed over almost immediately.

Detained! Both hunters immediately backed away from each other; neither were native to Norway, so it would be troublesome if they truly were detained. Furthermore, if that really did happen, they would miss the exciting spectacle that they had traveled to see: the worldwide stage of the Void Cup.

In the end, they could only grit their teeth and ignore each other. The restaurant was quiet for a little while longer, but conversations erupted whenever some famous hunter or team appeared from the array.

Just then, seven black-armored hunters appeared in a flash of light and instantly became the topic of conversation. Inscribed on their breastplates was the word 'Zenith'—they were representatives of the Zenith Dojo, along with their leader, the Dragonwolf Zhang Lie!

According to the Chinese media, he was an existence that no other hunter in the first realm could defeat, a dragonsoul warrior of China and galaxy fighter of the world federation, who had managed to found a dojo in his early twenties.

Perhaps foreign media might downplay his strengths and twist his deeds, but his abilities and accomplishments were obvious. The fact that he had killed a three-star black-tipped scarab alone during the Kez invasion was proof enough of that—no ordinary first-realm hunter would even be able to get close to one and leave unscathed, but not only had Zhang Lie done so, he had annihilated the three-star scarab.

As a result, Zhang Lie had quite a lot of fans even among foreign hunters.

"Isn't that... it is, it's the Dragonwolf Zhang Lie!"

"Sensing this aura for myself, I'm now starting to understand why people think he's the favorite to win the tournament..."

The Zenith hunters had yet to fully acclimate themselves to their newfound peak gene fragments, and the aura they were giving off was indeed quite frightening.

However, there were a few hunters staring at Zhang Lie with narrowed eyes.

"Head! Head! Our target has appeared in the northern sector of Odinstadt. Requesting that the operation commence!"

"Do it—no matter the cost, even if you have to drag the entire city down with you!" a malicious voice ordered.

They weren't the only ones who treated Zhang Lie as their target. Within the restaurant, several silent customers immediately paid their bill and rushed out.

The members of Team Zenith could feel the killing intent directed at them from afar, but Zhang Lie was confident that their plans would be foiled. "Here's a good opportunity to test your newfound strength, everyone. If anyone dares to strike at us, retaliate with full force!"