Chapter 55: The Physically Specialized Form

[Runic Circuit Core: Unbreakable (1)]
[Rating: 0 Star, Tier 2]
[Effect: Attach to Life Gear to increase Physique by 3 points, and activate “Unbreakable Circuit (1)”]
[Unbreakable Circuit (1): When “Physique,” “Endurance,” and “Grace” rune factors are present with this in your Life Gear, you gain additional effects: “Physique +5,” “Life Gear Hardness +20%,” and “Life Gear Buffer +20%.”]
[Note: As immovable as a mountain!]

Excellent! Tough and strong, just my style!

Without hesitation, Zhou Yan swapped this new circuit onto his Life Gear, adjusted his rune configuration, and activated it.

Next, it was time to ascend!

...

[Advancement Complete]

Having gone through the process twice before, this advancement required no further elaboration.

As the strange luminous patterns on the surface of Zhou Yan’s Life Gear faded, all runes, including the circuit, were once again absorbed into the Gear.

His Life Gear underwent new enhancements and transformations.

First came the routine strengthening: the three fundamental attributes each rose by another five points after fully absorbing the rune effects, and Life Gear Endurance increased by fifty once more.

Now, the base attributes stood at:

[Physique +34, Acuity +28, Spirit +25]

Then, the hardened coverage expanded further.

Last time, his left chest gained a hardened armor plate, like a heart-guard—an enhancement that had nearly saved his life in the previous fierce battle.

This time, though he was in the full-body exoskeleton form of “Armor of the Blight Locust,” Zhou Yan could sense that the hardening, once limited to his left chest, now covered the entire front of his upper body.

This portion of his exoskeleton was denser and more resilient than the rest, offering superior defense.

‘I wonder what the basic Life Gear will look like once the fusion state is lifted,’ Zhou Yan mused silently. He casually slotted the spare “Hidden Circuit” into an empty rune slot. Even without the matching rune factor to activate its special effect, the circuit itself still granted a few attribute bonuses.

He clenched his fists, feeling the overwhelming power coursing through his body, an irrepressible urge rising within him.

‘Not much time has passed. I might as well head outside the lab and clear out as many of the mutated giant insects as I can.’

‘While racking up points and improving my Walk Evaluation, I can also rid the world of these disasters.’

With this in mind, Zhou Yan acted immediately, quickly stepping out of the now-empty laboratory.

*

“The mist has thinned considerably.”

Outside, Zhou Yan keenly noticed that not only had the dense fog inside the laboratory been entirely absorbed by the Locust Man, but even the fog outside had become much thinner.

Where previously visibility was limited to about five meters, now he could see at least twenty meters ahead.

Moreover, with his acute perception, Zhou Yan could tell that the remaining mist was dissipating even further.

So, the source of the disaster was indeed that Locust Man...

The locust that absorbed the “Chaotic Blight Stone” became the origin of the terrifying fog that induced mutation and gigantism in other insects. After Zhou Yan slaughtered its kin, it sensed danger and began to reabsorb the mist it had released, evolving into a unique humanoid locust form.

Yet in the end, Zhou Yan still defeated it—and even collected it as fusion material.

“By that logic, I’ve basically saved this world, haven’t I?” A faint smirk curled beneath Zhou Yan’s exoskeleton.

He then shook his head lightly.

Even without him, if this disaster hadn’t escalated further, the appearance of so many giant insects still wouldn’t have posed a true threat to humanity. As long as these were still carbon-based lifeforms, in this world that appeared to have modern technology, they likely wouldn’t withstand guns and artillery.

Once the authorities caught on, deploying specialized military force would probably resolve things easily.

What interested Zhou Yan more was that, upon his arrival, the mission briefing mentioned the disaster began when this laboratory obtained a “mysterious crystal sponsored by a benefactor.”

Did this “benefactor” know the stone would cause such consequences?

If so, and it was intentional, then this world’s troubles had only just begun...

But none of that concerned him.

He was merely a “Calamity Walker” here to complete his mission.

Now, it was time for a glorious slaughter!

Putting aside these thoughts, Zhou Yan—with a mind ten times stronger than a normal human’s—followed his subconscious urge and chose a direction: a vast forested mountain area ahead and to the left of the laboratory.

He crouched slightly, the exoskeleton over his feet shining with a strange light.

With a thunderous crack, the ground shattered, and Zhou Yan shot off like an arrow, soaring toward his chosen destination.

This was his new technique gained from his fusion form: the Locust Feral Kick!

Strengthened by the power of chaos, his legs’ strength was pushed to the exoskeleton’s limit—double his normal leg power.

If he used this might for a straight vertical leap, Zhou Yan, in his current state, could jump more than ten meters high—about ten times the world record for a human (around 1.4 meters).

It might not sound impressive at first, but to put it in perspective: Zhou Yan, with the Locust Feral Kick, could leap onto the roof of a six-story building in a single bound!

Of course, this time he didn’t leap straight up.

Instead, he sprang forward at about a forty-five-degree angle, reaching only ten meters in height but landing nearly forty meters away in a graceful arc.

He mentally calculated the time it took.

Shaking his head, he realized that while spectacular, this wasn’t actually faster than his normal running for travel.

But if, during a charge, he launched a flying kick at an enemy—unleashing the kick’s force both at takeoff and on impact...

What devastating power that would be!

Rather than speculate, he decided to put it to the test at the next opportunity.

Zhou Yan’s eyes gleamed as his pace quickened.

*

Ten or so minutes later, deep in the forest—

Boom!

Bathed in foul-smelling ichor, Zhou Yan’s figure burst from the thinning mist like a rocket, executing a perfect flying kick.

He landed nimbly, but his legs buckled slightly, nearly dropping him to his knees.

Looking down, he saw deep cracks in the exoskeleton boots, which were already beginning to knit themselves shut.

Behind him, the shattered remains of a monstrous wasp—utterly obliterated by his attack—lay scattered across the ground.

[Slain: Blight Tiger Wasp Leader—gained Spirit: 223]
[Acquired: Rune Factor—Acuity]
[Acquired: Rune Factor—Destruction]
[Acquired: Micro Life Essence (30)]
...
[Nest Destroyed: Tiger Wasp Hive]
[Mutant Insect Nests Destroyed: 4/?]
...

A string of notifications echoed in his mind, but he simply stared at his nearly-ruined boot armor, lost in thought.

“Using the Locust Feral Kick twice in quick succession—once for the leap, once for the strike—completely exceeded what this exoskeleton can withstand...

“The resulting destructive force reached nearly three times my normal maximum—no wonder the Locust Man was able to threaten me.

“What an incredible burst technique! But now, it’s mine to wield!”

Having confirmed the combat potential of his new form, Zhou Yan was elated.

Yet before his excitement could fade, another flurry of notifications flashed before his eyes.

[Chaos Calamity World #537264: Walk completed]
[Basic Mission: Survive one day (completed ahead of time)]
[Bonus Mission 1: Slay the “Proto-Insect” (completed)]
[Bonus Mission 2: Destroy Mutant Insect Nests (completed)]
[Walk in the Calamity World: Exceeded Standard]
[Final Score: 100]
[Reward: Talent Blood Crystal]
[Settlement complete. Returning imminently.]

Another Talent Blood Crystal!?

Zhou Yan’s eyes lit up.

A moment later, before he could process any further, his entire being dissolved into particles and vanished from the world.

***

(The Mist Insect Calamity Arc—End)