"Tcklick, Tcklick!"
While Vlad was distracted with his own thoughts, the freakishly large flea beast noticed his existence as well. Its disgusting eyes quickly turned crimson red as it mindlessly leaped at him.
'Why is everything so aggressive towards me? It's always attack first, ask questions later with these guys,' Vlad complained as he willed his body to split into six evenly-sized slimes. The original was attacked and pounced on by the flea, while the ones that split away moved around to the back and condensed five black blade tendrils.
All at once, and with maximum lethal intent, the five copies of Vlad thrust their black tendril blades forward. They pierced through the huge Flea's skin like a hot knife to butter, plunging them deep into the creature before slicing upward, creating a bloody display of blood and guts.
The Flea had been cut up into six evenly-sized pieces, before the six pieces shriveled up and dissipated as all Energy and Mass transferred over to Vlad.
[Absorbed Sludge Flea * Energy +156 Million * Size +15.75 Centimeters]
Over 150 million Energy! What sort of absurd concept was that!?
'My Energy Meter is now a fourth of the way full,' Vlad thought excitedly. 'If I can find a few more of those huge things, I should be able to evolve again before Dawn.'
Vlad was currently the size of a loaf of bread or a small house cat, meaning he could see the world around him quite clearly. At present, it was dark outside, but with the birds already coming out to sing, the sun was sure to rise soon. And if he didn't want to be found and hunted by the Cultivators that frequented the area like some sort of monster, he had to hurry up and evolve again.
'My spidey senses are tingling, telling me that this upcoming Evolution will be entirely different from the ones that preceded it. My survival chances in this strange world will definitely skyrocket so long as I make the cut, I just know it.'
He had to Evolve, no matter what.
And so he continued to slaughter.
Microorganisms no longer satisfied him, so he bounced out of the sewage puddle and explored the surrounding area. He was attacked by a few more of those Sludge Fleas, but since they were far smaller than the first one, the Energy and Size he obtained was far less.
However, after a few minutes of killing them as well as some smaller critters – such as Crickets, Grasshoppers, Ants, and the like – there finally came a breakthrough point.
[1 Billion/1 Billion Energy] – [Evolve?]
[1 Billion Energy achieved] – [Evolve Energy Type?]
'Hmm??'
Two Evolutions at once!? What good fortune!
Obviously, Vlad wasted no time in going through with the Evolutions. He answered yes for both and let the results speak for themselves.
OOOM!
The wind in the area started to violently blow around, creating a small air dome where Vlad was undergoing his Evolution. The Spiritual Energy in the atmosphere also began to act up, as great amounts of it gravitated toward him, swirling like a miniature hurricane.
The small creatures in the area that hadn't already been devoured by Vlad jumped back in fright. They scrambled, escaping the location as fast as they could.
However, before they could fully leave, the same gravitational force attracting the Spiritual Energy also started to pull on them. And before they knew it, they were already being taken up off the ground and thrown into the whirling Spiritual Energy storm.
To their horror, they found the Energy inside them being forcefully syphoned out, followed by the rapid shriveling of their physical forms!
Vlad's Evolution was sucking them dry!
Countless tiny and small Lifeforms ended up losing their lives, with all of their Blood Essence and Energy mixing in with the still-expanding Spiritual Energy storm.
But just as it seemed the storm would continue expanding, the entirety of it suddenly condensed toward its center. All of the Blood Essence and Spiritual Energy entered into a singular existence, disappearing as if consumed by an insatiable black hole.
Then, from within the storm's eye, a figure emerged.
He was otherworldly – like a being not from this world.
Long, raven-black hair. Crimson-colored eyes deeper and darker than the most mysterious of abysses. Eyebrows molded like the sharpest of swords. An angular face exuding a devilish charm. A chiseled body that could only be described as a marble-slab worker's finest piece.
It was as if an actual Immortal had descended.
There was even a mighty instrument located between this man's legs that embodied the very dominance of Heaven itself.
"It's even larger than it was in my past life," was the first thing to leave Vlad's mouth as he stared at his lower extremities.
It was like he had three legs instead of two!
Staring at his reflection in a nearby puddle, he realized something else as well.
"I'm… stupidly handsome!"
In both his lives, he had never seen anyone as beautiful as himself. Even the Supermodel women in his past life fell short of the current lethal appearance he now possessed.
If looks could kill, then he was the closest one to being a Serial Killer!
"But I do wonder why I wound up looking like this, and in possession of such a powerful lower staff," Vlad pondered. Perhaps this was what he considered to be the ideal male or something? It was hard to say anything for certain.
Either way, he had absolutely evolved – and it wasn't limited to just his physical appearance.
BLING!