Chapter Eighteen: The Second Realm and Demonic Spirits

Gazing at the crystalline, art-like azure flowers within the box, Lin Lei licked his lips.

“A normal person would only need to consume one to break through... but what if I ‘plunder’ it instead?”

He opened the glass vial and conducted a test.

Plundering the Azure Bloom required very little Gluttony Energy—only seven or eight units.

“With such a low cost, I’ll probably just absorb its raw source energy, not actually advance...”

Judging from the Gluttony Energy consumed, the “plunder” effect here would merely boost his source energy—if it were only that, the energy cost would be minimal. Lin Lei didn’t believe that such an excellent Tier-Two breakthrough material as the Azure Bloom was less valuable than a Tier-One Ghoul.

Shaking his head, he decisively popped the entire Azure Bloom into his mouth.

Natural breakthrough materials were generally tainted by foreign energies and couldn’t be eaten directly. However, this material, provided by the Bureau of Investigation, had already been purified and could be safely ingested.

It melted instantly on his tongue.

Its intense flavor was hard to describe—like wasabi, but without the burning spice. Not unpleasant, but not exactly delicious, either.

The next moment, Lin Lei felt a surge of explosive power coursing through his body.

Crack!

He seemed to sense an invisible shackle within him shatter.

This signaled the awakening of his Second Source Essence.

The overwhelming sensation of brimming source energy vanished. Immense energy flooded into his body, merging with his bones, muscles, and even every cell, causing his physical strength to skyrocket once more.

He felt something akin to the time he’d first taken the Initiation Elixir, but this time the improvement was far greater.

After all, within the Forbidden Zone, the ambient source energy was far denser, and with his Second Source Essence now unlocked, his absorption was all the more powerful.

He hadn’t even finished absorbing all the source energy when his eyes snapped open.

A flash of deep blue light flickered in his gaze as he turned toward the darkness ahead.

Within the gloom, shadowy figures with yellowed, bloodshot eyes emerged.

“Did consuming the Azure Bloom attract these anomalies?!”

Lin Lei raised an eyebrow and drew his alloy longsword.

A guttural roar erupted as the owners of those bloodshot eyes surged from the darkness, shrieking as they attacked.

They leapt forward on long hind legs, kangaroo-like in their movement.

The leading few nearly reached Lin Lei in a single bound—their speed was astonishing.

“Tier-Two anomalies?” Lin Lei’s expression changed. With such velocity, these creatures couldn’t possibly be Tier-One.

Now that they were closer, Lin Lei could see their true faces—noseless, sickeningly blurred visages.

The six or seven largest, at the front, were also the fastest.

Swallowing nervously, Lin Lei’s eyes gleamed red with excitement instead of fear.

“Demon Wraiths! The first few are Tier-Two, the rest Tier-One!”

His basic anomaly compendium had an entry for these. Demon Wraiths, depending on individual differences, spanned Tiers One and Two. They preferred pitch-black environments.

Unlike ghouls, who might dwell in cities, Demon Wraiths shared many similarities with them: they were social creatures, possessed sharp claws and fangs, and had an affinity for darkness.

Demon Wraiths, however, were stronger, more savage, and far more aggressive. Their method of movement—leaping like kangaroos—was especially unique.

When Lin Lei had first joined the Bureau of Investigation, the creature in Hodge’s Illusionary Realm assessment had been a Demon Wraith as well, though only a Tier-One. Now, however, several Tier-Twos confronted him.

If it had been any other type of anomaly, even as a newly-advanced Tier-Two, facing six or seven Tier-Twos at once would have been a brutal struggle.

But Lin Lei’s eyes burned with excitement at the sight of Demon Wraiths.

For all their strength, they possessed a fatal weakness—

They feared light.

They had no tolerance for natural light; sunlight would kill them instantly!

In the Forbidden Zone, Lin Lei couldn’t find natural light, and with most electronic devices failing inside, he hadn’t brought a flashlight...

But he did have flashbangs!

“Come on, then!”

Facing the horde of ferocious Demon Wraiths, Lin Lei showed no fear. He swiftly unclipped a custom chain-flashbang from his belt, pulled the pin, and hurled it.

A blinding white light instantly illuminated the surroundings, while a deafening, piercing noise erupted.

Flashbangs didn’t just blind targets temporarily; the noise could also rob them of hearing for a time.

Of course, Lin Lei’s helmet was specially designed, protecting both his eyes and ears, so he could all but ignore the flashbang’s effects.

In the harsh light, the Demon Wraiths were like ants on a hot griddle, utterly disoriented. Some of the lesser wraiths even collapsed, twitching on the ground!

Though not as lethal as sunlight, the flashbang’s intense light still severely debilitated them.

Seizing the moment, Lin Lei dashed forward, targeting the lead Tier-Two Demon Wraiths.

Even with their senses shattered, these creatures could still somehow detect his general position, swinging their razor-sharp claws blindly toward him.

“Worthy of Tier-Two anomalies!”

Activating Blood Boil, Lin Lei slashed with his blade—within seconds, he cut down all the Tier-Two Demon Wraiths.

He suffered minor injuries in the process—after all, Tier-Two anomalies were vicious, even when impaired.

But his protective suit and his own resilient physique kept his wounds from being serious.

The flashbang’s first burst of light faded, only for another to flare up again.

Lin Lei’s flashbang was a custom chain-flashbang, capable of multiple bursts.

Using the renewed glare, Lin Lei made short work of the remaining Tier-One Demon Wraiths.

By the time the flashbang’s effect ended, not a single Demon Wraith still stood in the darkness of the cave.

Dozens of corpses lay scattered across the ground, the air thick with the stench of blood.

Lin Lei surveyed the carnage, licking his lips, eyes agleam.

He began by “plundering” a Tier-One Demon Wraith.

The Gluttony Energy cost was slightly higher than that of a ghoul, about ten units—only marginally more.

Afterward, his wounds began to heal, and his lost blood was replenished...