Chapter 24: Body Transformation Pills, Speed Enhancement

Chapter 24: Chapter 24: Body Transformation Pills, Speed Enhancement

Seraphina Sullivan’s expression stiffened when she saw the number detected on the Sound Wave Vibration Gun.

"Thank god it’s not nighttime..." Seraphina sucked in a sharp breath, a cold sweat already breaking out on her back.

’Otherwise, they would have torn me to shreds.’

But then, a crazed smile spread across her face. "But... this is the perfect time to do some harvesting!"

She decisively pulled out three grenades and flicked off the safety rings with her thumb. After silently counting to three, she precisely hurled them into the most densely packed area of the nest.

"BOOM—!!!"

A deafening explosion echoed throughout the abandoned factory as flames shot toward the sky.

The shock wave sent rubble from the ground flying. Even though Seraphina had already taken cover, the blast wave still sent her stumbling.

Immediately after, a rapid series of system notifications chimed in her mind:

[Ding! Parasite Variant killed - Mission Progress 11/100]

[Ding! Parasite Variant killed - Mission Progress 12/100]

...

[Ding! Parasite Variant killed - Mission Progress 100/100]

[Ding! Parasite Variant killed - Mission Progress 921/100]

[Ding! Mission Two: Kill 100 Parasitic Creatures has been completed!]

[Reward: Body Transformation Pill]

"Holy crap! That’s insane!" Seraphina’s eyes widened as she stared at the system notifications in disbelief.

A few grenades had actually killed nearly a thousand parasitic monsters. The efficiency was simply absurd!

She glanced down at the remaining grenades on her belt and suddenly felt that Nicholas Jensen, that "human arsenal," was an absolute treasure.

’The destructive power of modern weapons is something else.’

Seraphina couldn’t help but feel envious of Nicholas Jensen’s Ability all over again.

Right now, however, Seraphina was more interested in the reward she had just received.

Gazing at the [Body Transformation Pill] that had suddenly appeared in her hand, glowing softly, Seraphina carefully examined its description:

[Body Transformation Pill]

Effect: Completely transforms your physical constitution, randomly granting one of the following traits.

1. [Injury Recovery] - Greatly enhances self-healing ability.

2. [Speed Enhancement] - Significantly enhances movement and reaction speed.

3. [Increased Strength] - Grants superhuman strength.

4. [Increased Stamina] - Greatly extends endurance limit.

Note: The transformation lasts for one day.

"So that’s how it is..." Seraphina finally understood after reading the Body Transformation Pill’s description. "No wonder Nicholas Jensen was still breathing after being so badly injured. That guy must have gotten the [Injury Recovery] trait."

Seraphina took a deep breath and swallowed the pill without hesitation.

A warm current instantly spread from her stomach throughout her entire body. Her bones made faint CRACKLING sounds as her muscle fibers began to restructure.

The process wasn’t painful. On the contrary, it felt as comfortable as soaking in a hot spring.

A few minutes later, Seraphina heard a system notification:

[Ding! Constitution Ability Acquired: Speed Enhancement]

[Description: Your movement speed and reflexes have been significantly enhanced!]

Of course, the transformation was still a gradual process.

’The speed type, huh?’ Seraphina tried moving quickly and, just as she expected, her body felt much lighter.

She casually picked up a piece of rubble and tossed it into the air. As the stone fell, she found she could clearly see its trajectory and caught it with ease.

Although it wasn’t the injury recovery trait she wanted most, she was still quite satisfied with this result.

After all, in the apocalypse, sometimes being able to run fast was more important than having a high combat power.

Just as Seraphina was about to further test the physical enhancements from the Body Transformation Pill, an unusual tremor suddenly came from deep within the nest.

Seraphina whipped her head around, her pupils contracting sharply. Through the thick smoke, a dark red worm the size of a truck was slowly crawling out from the depths of the nest.

Its bloated body was covered in mucus, and countless tiny Parasitic Bloodworms squirmed on its surface like a living blanket.

"What is that thing?!" She immediately activated her [Eye of Resume], and data flashed before her eyes:

[Name: Parasitic Matron Bug]

[Gender: Female]

[Professional Skills: Extraordinary Fertility, Parasite Nest, Spirit Shock]

[Weaknesses: Dislikes sunlight and water]

[Likes to replenish stamina with flesh and blood.]

When she saw the translucent egg sac dragging behind the Matron Bug, Seraphina’s stomach churned.

It was densely packed with hatching bloodworm larvae, looking like a cauldron of boiling blood porridge!

’Parasite Nest... so all the monsters in the city were born from this thing?! And the ’Parasite Nest’ skill is referring to this creature?’

What horrified her most was the description of its weaknesses—it "dislikes" sunlight and water, not "fears" them. This meant...

’It can move around in the sun!’

The thought had barely crossed her mind when the Matron Bug suddenly reared its head. Its mouthparts split open like petals, and it let out a deafening shriek.

Seraphina felt a sharp pain in her eardrums, and a warm trickle of blood flowed from her nose.

This was the Parasitic Matron Bug’s Spirit Shock Ability.

Clearly, her grenade attack had enraged the creature.

’Run!’

An astonishing power erupted from her legs.

The Body Transformation Pill she had just taken was clearly having a major effect.

The ground flew backward under her feet, and the wind howled in her ears. She felt like she was about to take flight.

She sprinted to her bicycle in a few long strides, snatched it up, and started pedaling so fast her legs were a blur.

The wheels spun frantically over the potholed road, and the chain let out a strained KLAK-KLAK sound.

Seraphina glanced back and saw the Matron Bug’s enormous body crushing the factory Wall. The concrete ground it passed over corroded, SIZZLING and smoking.

"Damn it! How did that thing follow me out?!"

Even more terrifying, it was spewing large quantities of bloodworm eggs from its mouthparts as it gave chase.

These eggs hatched in mid-air into fist-sized larvae, raining down on the surroundings.

However, unlike the Matron Bug, these Parasitic Bloodworms couldn’t withstand the sunlight. Exposed to the light, their bodies began to smoke and burst into flames, as if scorched by some special ray.

A few nearly landed on Seraphina’s back, but she pinned them with a backhand from her Silver Needle Sword.

Seraphina pedaled her bicycle desperately, her legs becoming a blur.

The wind howled past her ears and sweat soaked her back, but she didn’t dare to relax for even a moment.

Finally, after turning through several city blocks, she shook off the giant bug.

"Phew... Did I lose it?" She panted, looking back to confirm that the terrifying Parasitic Matron Bug was no longer chasing her before finally slowing down a little.

Although the experience had been harrowing, she had at least completed the kill mission and obtained the precious Body Transformation Pill.

All Seraphina wanted now was to hurry back to her temporary shelter and properly study this newly acquired Ability.

She changed direction and headed for the crane at the construction site.

However, not long after she left, the RUMBLING sound of propellers suddenly filled the sky.

A pitch-black military helicopter circled above the abandoned factory, a special insignia on its fuselage glinting in the setting sun.

"Parasite Nest spotted, I repeat, Parasite Nest spotted," the pilot reported calmly. "Visual on one Parasitic Matron Bug. Requesting instructions: destroy or capture for research."

A short command came back over the radio: "Destroy."

"Roger that. Executing elimination protocol."