CHAPTER 116 - DIVINE POWER, FAMINE

Han Wu stirred from his hibernation, and an unprecedented weakness weighed down his entire body. He was utterly drained. Blinking, he looked down at his emaciated frame—reduced to little more than skin stretched over bones after an extended period without food.

He then surveyed his skeleton army. He originally had 10 million of them, but now only 10,000 remained. These survivors were the elite: 1,000 Heroic skeletons and the rest Unique skeletons. Beyond the skeletons’ ring, countless Starved Wretches knelt and prayed to him.

Han Wu’s attention shifted to a strange orb of energy hovering before him. More precisely, it was a Special Runic Lexicon.

[Runic Lexicon: Famine (Special) Used on self to grant control over another life form’s digestion and metabolism speed.]

Han Wu absorbed the Special Runic Lexicon into his body, feeling it flow through him like a warm current. Flesh slowly regrew over his emaciated frame, restoring a more normal appearance.

He stumbled through his first two steps, then noticed a gate materializing ahead. It took 20 seconds to cover the final five meters and exit the trial. Immediately, he connected to his divine realm and summoned a great quantity of food. He devoured it rapidly, digesting it instantly, as the nutrients flooded through him. After consuming enough to feed a hundred people, the gnawing hunger finally subsided.

At last, Han Wu regained enough strength to inspect his own data.

[Name: Han Wu-Origin of Mutation]

[Rank: Demigod (Foreign) / Rank 2 Supergene Soldier]

[Divine Talent: Chosen One (Exclusive), Defiance]

[Divine Powers: Sacrifice (Exclusive), Controlled Mutation, Gene Lock, Famine]

[Skills: Mighty Cleave, Enchant Darkness, Dragon Slash, Dark Dragonification, Flash Kick, Plant Fusion Technique, King’s Dominance...]

[Divine Essence: 9 (5 remaining, in the process of being absorbed. Once you have 10 Divine Essence, you can become a perfect Demigod in the Divine Civilization)]

[Divine Points: 39.7 million (Personal) / 322.74 million (Foreign)]

[Faith Points: 49.08 million]

[Core Level: Level 10 (Rank 4 Sacred Object Law of Gluttony (Sealed), Rank 2 Sacred Object Revelation Stone, Rank 2 Sacred Object Shadow Nail, Rank 1 Sacred Object Poison Gland, Rank 1 Sacred Object Elf Shortbow)]

...

Han Wu confirmed his advancement to Demigod and the acquisition of Famine. Though pleased, a faint sense of dissatisfaction lingered. He had gained only a single Divine Power from ascending within the Rune Civilization, which struck him as unreasonably stingy.

Fortunately, the Origin of Mutation had reached Rank 2, granting him the Gene Lock ability, which was an even greater boon than Famine. Still, what pleased him most was ascending into a Demigod in a different civilization. Once he returned to the Divine Civilization and absorbed the remaining Divine Essence, he could finally become a perfect Demigod.

As Han Wu reviewed his gains, Sun Qingnian stumbled out of his own trial. His body showed no visible wounds, but his mind teetered on the edge of collapse. His face was pale and drawn, as though something had drained him dry over ten relentless nights.

“I’ve become a Demigod...” he murmured, voice hollow, before collapsing where he stood.

Han Wu quickly checked his conditions and was relieved to find that he had merely fainted from exhaustion. He placed Sun Qingnian and his Foxmen into his divine realm to rest temporarily. Then, gathering the remnants of his skeleton army, Han Wu headed toward the ruins’ exit.

As Han Wu moved through the second floor, he caught sight of a familiar figure. Qian Lili was locked in battle, commanding her stone golems to fend off the guardian’s relentless assault. Despite her efforts, the guardian’s power was overwhelming, and she didn’t have enough golems to turn the tide. At this rate, she was bound to fail.

Qian Lili noticed him as well and quickly devised a plan to win against the guardian. She waved and motioned for Han Wu to approach her. He was confused but approached cautiously. “Qian Lili, what’s going on?”

Even though they were classmates, they were also rivals. He had no reason to lower his guard.

She didn’t mind his wariness and got straight to the point. “You have a good relationship with Qin Shuang, right? I have some news about her. Want to hear it?”

Han Wu nodded instantly at the mention of Qin Shuang. “Tell me.”

Qian Lili nodded back. “I will, but first you need to pay me 10,000 Warfront Essence.”

It was a steep price, but for Qin Shuang’s sake, Han Wu agreed without hesitation. Seeing how readily he paid, Qian Lili regretted setting the price so low. Still, since she had made the offer and he had accepted, she didn’t want to break her word. She quickly shared the news.

Han Wu’s heart sank when he learned that Xu Tie had trapped Qin Shuang in the valley. Without wasting a moment, he hurried out of the ruins and headed straight for the valley.

He flew relentlessly for an entire day until he reached the coordinates Qian Lili had given him. Looking down into the valley, he spotted intermittent flashes of golden lightning—an unmistakable sign of the Golden-Crown Thunder Sparrow—and swiftly dove into the valley.

Han Wu used Dark Dragonification alongside King’s Dominance, doubling the power of all his abilities. His dragon form, now fused with the Plant Fusion Technique and enhanced by King’s Dominance, surged with strength that easily surpassed a Lord’s and neared the rank of a High Lord.

As he landed, he saw the Golden-Crown Thunder Sparrow locked in battle against an Iron Skin Lord. The Golden-Crown Thunder Sparrow was covered in injuries, and several Iron Skins were crawling over its body to pluck its feathers.

The Iron Skin Lord had merged with countless Iron Skins, drastically increasing its size and destructive power. It pressed on relentlessly, and the Golden-Crown Thunder Sparrow would surely lose if the fight dragged on. Han Wu silently commended his timing and swiftly intervened.

The Iron Skin Lord didn’t recognize him and shooed him away. Han Wu didn’t hesitate and pointed at it while using his new Divine Power, Famine. Suddenly, the Iron Skin Lord and the Iron Skins fused to it felt their stomachs empty as if they hadn’t eaten in ten days. Weakness washed over them, dragging their strength down. Within three minutes, all of them fainted from hunger.

The Golden-Crown Thunder Sparrow stared at Han Wu in disbelief. He patted its head and urged, “Stop spacing out. Quickly take me to your God. We don’t have time.”

The Golden-Crown Thunder Sparrow nodded and gestured for Han Wu to mount it. Immediately after, it led him to the cave where Xu Tie held Qin Shuang captive and was moments away from violating her.

Han Wu shouted, unleashing his Divine Power at the same time. “Let go of her!”

Suddenly, Xu Tie was overwhelmed by unbearable hunger and dizziness, so intense that he tried biting into his own flesh to quell the craving. He gritted his teeth and stared at Han Wu in disbelief. “How? How are you still alive? The Rust Demon should have killed you!”

Han Wu said nothing and intensified his Divine Power’s strength.

Xu Tie’s hunger crushed him. He collapsed to the ground, too weak to stand. Desperately, he summoned food from his divine realm and ate ravenously, but no matter how much he consumed, it could not match the energy he was burning.

“You... You’ve become a Demigod...” Xu Tie blurted through a mouthful of food.

Han Wu approached him and mercilessly slashed his throat with his greatsword. The rust covering the blade seeped into the wound, infecting Xu Tie and eating away at him from within. Agony twisted his face as his flesh crumbled into rust flakes.

“The Rust Demon didn’t kill me. It became my slave instead. Sorry to disappoint you, Xu Tie.” Han Wu spoke only as Xu Tie slowly crumbled into rust flakes. By then, Xu Tie was already dead and couldn’t hear a word.