A cold knot of apprehension formed in Lin Ke's stomach as he knelt to examine the tracks. They were massive, each footprint nearly the size of his own head, pressed deep into the hard-packed earth. The residual energy signature they emitted was a low thrum of chaotic power, far more potent than the creature he had just defeated.
His rational mind, the part of him that calculated risks and prioritized safety, screamed at him to turn back. This was an unknown threat, far beyond the scope of a standard D-Rank Danger Zone. He had his 15 units of essence; he could retreat to the city, refine his plan, and return with better equipment or a stronger partner. It was the logical, sensible choice.
But the other part of him, the ambitious researcher who had gambled his future on a "dead" mythical egg, saw something else. A larger creature meant a more potent source of corruption. A single victory against such a foe could yield ten times the essence of a smaller one, drastically accelerating his timeline. The greater the risk, the greater the reward.
"What do you think, little guy?" Lin Ke murmured, looking at the Rock Vole on his shoulder. "Should we see what's making these?"
The Rock Vole didn't hesitate. It puffed out its small chest and let out a determined "Ji!", its eyes fixed in the direction of the tracks. It trusted its master's judgment implicitly.
That was all the confirmation Lin Ke needed. He marked his current position on his terminal, took a deep breath, and began to follow the trail.
The Blackstone Wilderness transformed as he ventured deeper. The terrain grew more treacherous, with steep, rocky inclines and narrow crevices. The signs of Abyssal Corruption became more pronounced and widespread. The hardy shrubs were twisted into unnatural, spiraling shapes, and the black rocks themselves seemed to weep a faint, oily purple residue. The air grew heavier, and a palpable sense of dread hung over the landscape.
Lin Ke moved with the cautious grace of a predator stalking its own dangerous prey. His Gene Editor was running at full capacity, no longer just scanning for threats, but actively building a profile of his quarry.
[Track Analysis: Subject's estimated weight is 250-300 kg. Gait indicates a quadrupedal lizard-like creature.]
[Environmental Data: Scorch marks on a nearby rock formation show traces of high-potency corrosive acid. Subject's primary ranged attack is significantly stronger than the previous specimen.]
[Behavioral Note: The trail follows a clear, territorial patrol route. Subject is likely an alpha predator in this immediate area.]
He was not just following; he was learning. Every broken branch, every displaced stone was a piece of the puzzle. By the time he had been tracking the creature for an hour, he already had a preliminary combat strategy forming in his mind.
The trail eventually led him to the base of a sheer cliff face, a dark fissure marring its surface like a jagged wound. The stench of corruption was thick here, a foul, acrid smell that stung his nostrils. The tracks led directly into the dark maw of the cave. This was the creature's lair.
Lin Ke's heart hammered against his ribs. He signaled for the Rock Vole to stay put, its small body perfectly camouflaged against the black rocks. He flattened himself against the cliff wall, his movements slow and silent, and crept towards the edge of the cave entrance.
He peered inside.
The cave was larger than it appeared, opening into a cavernous chamber. In the center, illuminated by the eerie glow of corrupted fungi, was the creature. It was an Alpha Corrupted Stone-Lizard, at least four times the size of the one he had fought. Its hide was like obsidian armor, and the purple, pulsating veins on its body were as thick as his arm. It was a terrifying monster, a true alpha, currently slumbering in the heart of its domain.
Lin Ke felt a primal fear, but his scientific curiosity quickly overrode it. His gaze swept the chamber, and that's when he saw it.
Behind the slumbering Alpha, nestled in a carefully constructed pit of rocks and sludge, was a clutch of eggs. There were five of them, each the size of a football. They were not normal eggs; their shells were a sickly, mottled purple, and they pulsed with the same faint, malevolent light as the corrupted fungi on the walls.
The Gene Editor flared with new, unprecedented data.
[Target: Corrupted Egg Clutch]
[Analysis: Embryos within are actively gestating, sustained by the ambient Abyssal Corruption. They contain a highly concentrated, yet unstable, form of genetic essence.]
His mission had been to hunt for a resource. But he had stumbled upon something far more complex. He had found a corrupted nest. A source. The implications were staggering, presenting him with a dilemma and an opportunity far greater and more dangerous than he could have ever imagined.