Chapter 8 One-Star Evolution
William felt a chill as he rapidly searched for a way to deal with the situation in his mind.
Indeed, he was a reborn individual with rich experience and innate skills. Before long, he might become one of the most powerful beings in this city, this country, or even the world.
However, at this moment, he was still just an ordinary person. He could handle a few newly mutated zombies, but he couldn't deal with a group of dozens of mutated stink bugs.
Even though these stink bugs hadn't evolved terrifying abilities yet, they were definitely not something an ordinary person could handle. With their sharp fangs and bristles, a gentle touch could result in flesh and blood, and their mouths and bodily fluids were highly corrosive. A mere touch on a normal person's body could lead to organ necrosis, meaning unless you evolved to Four-Star or above with powerful self-healing abilities, you would be disabled for life.
In the brief time William was contemplating, the group of stink bugs had already reached the doorstep of the villa, banging the sturdy wooden door with a thud, while some began to attack the French windows directly. Fortunately, the villa's windows were strong enough. Otherwise, William and Sienna would have been under attack by now.
However, safety was only temporary. After a few unsuccessful attempts, some of the stink bugs, which were clearly more evolved than their counterparts, suddenly opened their mouths and sprayed green liquid toward the doors and windows. The situation on the other side of the wooden door was invisible to the two, but on the window side, the glass was rapidly corroded by the green liquid.
"Let's go!"
William knew they couldn't stay here. In this situation, unless he immediately became a One-Star Powerhouse, their only option was to escape.
Sienna, who was being pulled back by William, saw a large hole gradually forming on the glass, covering her mouth in disbelief. The aggressiveness displayed by these stink bugs had thoroughly frightened her.
"Let's go to the basement."
Sienna, a former Nine-Star Powerhouse in her past life, still had good mental resilience. Being dragged back by William for a few steps, she immediately suggested a location.
William had initially planned to quickly take Sienna to the second floor and then jump out to escape the villa, but he hadn't expected there to be a basement here.
Compared to fleeing, William preferred fighting. If he could eliminate all these stink bugs, he might even gain some benefits.
The improved potion was ready. After taking it, he could become a One-Star Evolver, but it required a process that would take about five minutes. They didn't have that time to escape just now, but if there was a place that could withstand these stink bugs for five minutes, the outcome would be entirely different.
Following Sienna's guidance, the two quickly ran to the kitchen. Behind a cabinet after the First-Level doomsday Roulette, there was a metal door leading to the basement!
They swiftly entered, and the stink bugs closest to them had already chased into the kitchen at that moment.
The basement had motion-sensor lights that turned on as soon as they entered.
It was a room of about thirty to forty square feet, with several wine cabinets on one side filled with wine, and on the other side, there were several oak barrels, presumably containing red wine. The most eye-catching item was a huge safe embedded in the wall.
This item clearly wasn't something a regular household would possess.
However, at this moment, William didn't have time to worry about these minor details. Even if the safe was filled with gold and jewels, they were worthless in the apocalypse.
He took out a syringe from his bag and injected the improved One-Star Evolution Potion directly into the vein on his upper arm.
It was the most effective and fastest way of absorption. It worked much faster than oral consumption, but it also brought more pain. Sienna stood by, watching with evident anticipation.
Up until now, this world had only given her fear and horror. She eagerly wanted to see a hopeful side.
Outside the basement, the stink bugs had begun attacking the metal door. Although the door was sturdy, it wouldn't hold up for long under the strong acid of the stink bugs.
After injecting the One-Star Evolution Potion, William suddenly felt waves of intense pain surging through his body. The sensation was unbearable, but at this moment, he felt an unprecedented excitement. This feeling was familiar to William. He had experienced it six times in his past life. The excruciating pain in his body brought immense joy to his spirit because it signified evolution, strength, and a new direction of genetic recombination for humanity.
Impurities in his body were expelled through sweat, and the feeling of pain gradually subsided. In its place, every part of his body, even every cell, was jubilant as if reborn.
His vision, hearing, and even sense of smell had greatly improved.
Most importantly, a surge of power began to flow through his body, making William want to shout with joy.
He knew he had successfully evolved. His qualities were now two to three times that of an average person.
It was the One-Star Evolution Potion, the improved One-Star Evolution Potion!
The not-so-heavy metal door of the basement couldn't hold off the stink bugs that could spray acid for long. Just as William completed his evolution, these mutated creatures rushed into the basement.
William looked at the dozen or so stink bugs swarming toward him. Gripping the machete in his hand tightly, he took the initiative to confront them.
With a flash of the blade, the leading mutated stink bug was split in half, spraying dark green bodily fluids all around. In the hands of a One-Star Evolver, a regular machete displayed unimaginable power.
Moments ago, he was fleeing, but now he was actively launching an attack, leaving these somewhat intelligent stink bugs momentarily stunned.
However, William didn't stop there. The surging power in his body made him incredibly eager for battle at this moment. Although these stink bugs were only as big as giant rats after evolving, making it a bit hard for him to wield the machete, it didn't dampen his fighting spirit. With his body strengthened and more relaxed use of skills, he swiftly dispatched two more stink bugs by deftly targeting the joints in their shells.
These recently mutated stink bugs had already developed hardened shells on their backs, making it difficult for ordinary knives to harm them. However, with William's increased strength and precise angles of attack, focusing on the weak points where the shells connected, it appeared effortless. It was a testament to the experience and skills he had honed over his ten-year post-apocalyptic career.
After William took down three bugs in one go, these stink bugs finally reacted. They hissed, their eyes gleaming with bloodlust, and all charged toward William. Some even leaped from the ground, aiming for William's face with their evolved sharp saw-like teeth visible, some even with traces of flesh and blood.
The sight of these creatures leaping toward him scared Sienna beside him, who covered her mouth tightly, afraid to make a sound and disturb William.
Seeing several bugs leaping toward him, William was not alarmed but rather delighted. With another swing of his machete, a brilliant light reflected from the machete, and these bugs in mid-air were cut into two pieces, falling to the ground dead.
At the same time, William's body moved, swaying left and right as he charged into the swarm of stink bugs. His legs kicked out repeatedly, and with a body strength nearly three times that of an average person, the bugs he kicked either died instantly or suffered severe injuries, losing their combat capabilities.
In the blink of an eye, the twenty or so stink bugs that had rushed into the basement were all slaughtered by William!
