“`
Time passed, second by second, and after a considerable pause, an ethereal voice finally descended from above, as though the voice of the Black Scythe Lord came from beyond the heavens.
“Human—sorcerer—why have you earned the favor of the Insect Race?”
“It’s because I once developed a piece of the Insect Breathing Method, a variation of the Knight Breathing Method that insect types can cultivate.”
Hearing the words from the other side, Ivan hurriedly took out a rhombic crystal and lightly pushed it forward, letting the rhombic crystal drift in front of him as a way to present it.
Up to now, he had advanced the Insect Breathing Method to a high level, with no further progress possible.
The effects of the Insect Breathing Method were more or less the same, mainly used to stabilize the various powers within the insect body, to reduce the risk of mutation, and to assist insects in completing their transformation.
After the rhombic crystal had flown up, a force swept over it.
Unable to withstand the pressure, the crystal burst into powder with a pop.
This unexpected turn of events startled both Ivan and Jane, and they became secretly alert in their hearts.
“Knight—centaur—transformation—human sorcerer, good.” The voice of the Black Scythe Lord resonated once more, allowing both of them to sigh in relief.
“Thank you for your praise; however, this Breathing Method still has some shortcomings,” said Ivan.
“Insufficient—must be perfected.” The Black Scythe Lord showed no sign of movement, and as he spoke, strands of an inexplicable force drew out from the giant insect’s head, converging into a single point, eventually transforming into an energy sphere glowing with a sinister light.
Two fist-sized pale black energy spheres formed, seemingly slow yet swift in reality, and flew towards Ivan.
Ivan immediately understood and stretched out his hands to receive them; before his palms even touched the pale black energy spheres, the hairs on his arms stood up, and he felt a subtle trembling coming from deep within his flesh.
This involved high-level energy!
He braced himself and held it in his hands, feeling an extreme weight, as if he were carrying a mountain peak.
In the next second, the pale black energy sphere merged into his body from his palms, a multitude of images and memories exploded in his mind, giving him a surreal sense of reality.
A long and enduring song of life began to play.
This was a hymn of life about the ‘Black Scythe.’
At its birth, it was nameless and had only a vague consciousness, knowing nothing but the pervasive poison fog and smells around, tantamount to cursed lands and waters. For a poisonous scythe beetle, such hostile places were akin to paradise.
Later, it came to know that this place was called the ‘Black Abyss,’ a place that deterred countless creatures.
In the vast Black Abyss, it was but one among tens of thousands of insects, born needing to constantly shift between prey and predator.
It was fortunate, and after consuming enough prey, it soon encountered a transformation, transforming into a Level 1 creature.
“So this is how an insect’s transformation is carried out—each transformation requires exerting all strength, fighting for a slim chance of survival, from death back to life, with the entire process supported by a strong desire for evolution.
If this desire cannot sustain until the transformation is complete, the insect’s consciousness will fade during the transformation, becoming an inconspicuous one among the countless withered.”
Ivan superficially experienced some memories of the poisonous scythe beetle; when the transformation began, the experience suddenly became very real.
At this moment, he became a tiny beetle in the Black Abyss.
After the transformation, the poisonous scythe beetle became a creature of Level 1 status, gaining an ability—Poison Body Armor, which greatly increased its defensive capabilities.
Every day, conflict erupted within the Black Abyss.
The intelligence of the poisonous scythe beetle grew, the images in the memories became clearer, and it remained preoccupied with hunting or fleeing, leading a life that was simple yet full.
The scenes flickered by like fleeting glimmers of light, up until the challenge of transforming into Level 2 status.
“It’s so real, the excruciating pain during transformation, and even the rotten, damp smell of the surroundings, are clear as day, making it hard to distinguish between illusion and reality.”
Through the identity of the poisonous scythe beetle, Ivan personally experienced the transformation to Level 2 promotion.
Ivan could also truly sense the joy and restlessness of the poisonous scythe beetle after completing its transformation, as well as the agility of becoming an intelligent creature, and a new ability—Eating Hundred Poisons.
Since then, it had a simple name, ‘Black Scythe,’ and became a little tyrant in a corner of the Black Abyss.
In a few moments of confusion, the transformation to Level 3 status began.
This time, Black Scythe underwent what could truly be called a life-and-death ordeal.
The transformation lasted more than two years, during which its consciousness became as thin as a wisp multiple times. Fortunately, it did not give up and eventually powered through the transformation using its ‘Eating Hundred Poisons’ ability, rising to become one of the great tyrants of the Black Abyss.
“Level 3 is so difficult; to reach Level 4, one might have to endure repeated agonies amidst despair.”
Ivan wiped the non-existent sweat from his forehead, watching as the poisonous scythe beetle became more and more majestic after reaching Level 3 creature status.
Within the poison fog of the Black Abyss, a Level 3 creature could already be called a king.
The days of the poisonous scythe beetle became more and more comfortable afterward, with numerous wives and followers. It began to set foot beyond the Black Abyss into the high mountains, and its fame spread nearby.
“`
Time hurried past.
“Evolution is an instinct deeply etched in the bones of the Insect Race, no matter how comfortable the days are, they can’t compare to this bug heart striving upwards.”
“However, the chances of metamorphizing and advancing right now are too slim.”
Ivan muttered to himself. Next, he would accompany the Poison Scythe Beetle through another round of metamorphosis.
This time, the Poison Scythe Beetle would attempt to touch the mysterious Level 4.
As expected, not long after the metamorphosis began, the Poison Scythe Beetle suffered defeat and backlash, dying trapped within its cocoon. As time passed, its life slowly faded away like a candle in the wind, at any moment ready to be extinguished.
Who knows how much time passed until something fell from the sky, landing at its site of transformation.
The Poison Scythe Beetle’s fortunes had turned, as it instinctively and through its Eating Hundred Poisons ability absorbed the nutrients around it. After a lengthy period of repair, it finally broke free from the cocoon to see the light again.
It remained a Level 3 creature, yet its strength had diminished significantly.
It was only then that the Poison Scythe Beetle realized that thirty years had already passed by in a flash.
Apparently, a higher-level battle had erupted outside; the abyss had been destroyed in the combat, turning into a twisted post-war battlefield and some remnants of high-level creatures’ corpses were left behind. One of such objects had fallen into its place of metamorphosis.
The original toxins of the abyss had not entirely dissipated, some had merged with the twisted force fields, making the toxins more ferocious.
It also discovered that due to the twisted force fields, it had undergone some changes, enabling it to survive long term in this eerie place.
At this discovery, the Poison Scythe Beetle was not shocked but delighted, treating the battlefield as its lair, regarding everything there as its own.
Another thirty years passed, and the Poison Scythe Beetle resurfaced, attempting once again to break through to Level 4.
“Ah! Failed again.”
After an indeterminate amount of time, Ivan sighed helplessly.
This ‘Black Scythe’ really made him feel uncomfortable. With just a slight hope of success, it rashly began to metamorphize which, to put it bluntly, was too crude and extreme.
Fortunately, after the previous failure, the Black Scythe prepared, and through a long period of torment, it barely managed to struggle out of the cocoon.
The Poison Scythe Beetle’s strength had regressed, fallen to Level 1, entering a state of unprecedented weakness.
The price paid was devastatingly heavy.
“This time it mustn’t fail.”
In the blink of an eye, a hundred years went by, and Ivan felt a strong premonition that the long-dormant Black Scythe would successfully step into Level 4, this metamorphosis filled him with great anticipation.
When the time came, the Poison Scythe Beetle unhesitatingly began its transformation.
After a prolonged metamorphosis period, Ivan finally personally witnessed the transformation of Level 4, a supremely and wonderfully extreme leap in life, far more incredible than any previous metamorphosis.
“Black Scythe Lord, Level 4 creature, Hundred-Shape Black Poison domain.”
At the successful moment of transformation, Ivan felt the enormous power of Level 4, a force so different from Level 3 that it was dizzying, an addicting power that was hard to shake off.
The sensation quickly stripped away.
He suddenly came back to his senses, filled with a profound sense of loss.
Afterward, the scenes were still the past life of the Poison Scythe Beetle, but gradually they became blurry, and the clarity never returned during the transformation, which left Ivan both regretful and relieved.
He guessed he wouldn’t be able to withstand the Level 5 transformation and easily lose himself in power, but fortunately, there was no need to worry anymore.
Level 5, intermediate elements domain.
Level 6, advanced elements domain, the Elemental Throne.
Regrettably, the Black Scythe Lord fell during the metamorphosis to consolidate the Elemental Throne, ultimately failing to forge the ‘Black Scythe Throne’ that could overlook the mortal world.
“It tried too hard, metamorphosing even whilst severely injured, the Black Scythe Lord might have been of the Insect Race, but it was a man of iron and steel.”
Even with a brief glimpse, Ivan still witnessed many things about the Black Scythe Lord, including its conscription by others, following the powerful beings of Danaila World to fight against external enemies.
From this, Ivan saw the familiar ‘black robed monster’, which was from the devils of the abyssal world of Mingyu.
The Black Scythe Lord was also recruited by the Star Realm’s Scarlet Legion. Being of the Insect Race, it did not consent and was secretly ambushed by people from the Scarlet Legion, almost dying from severe injuries, leaving behind an injury that was hard to heal.
Its final death had a significant connection to this injury.
After watching this chapter written with life, Ivan’s emotions were unsettled for a long time, his heart filled with shock and reflection; he understood the Black Scythe Lord’s intentions.
Taking itself as an example, it shared the real sensations of metamorphosis, hoping he could further deduce the Insect Breathing Method to seek a chance for survival for the Insect Race.
For the Black Scythe Lord, this was its grand love for the Insect Race.
For Ivan, this was undoubtedly a heavy responsibility.