Chapter 60: The Terrifying Wings of Darkness, SSS-Rank Void Mantis!

"Is this... an ultimate move?"
Li Yao exclaimed.
Professionals possess ultimate moves, and monsters can have them as well.
The Butcher Iron Cavalry had a strength value of 700 and could deal over ten thousand points of damage. The damage coefficient of this skill was terrifying to the absolute extreme.
The Void Mantis's health had just barely broken ten thousand. If not for the barrier being applied in time,
taking that hit would have resulted in certain death or severe injury!
Fortunately, Li Yao was well aware of the principle that even a lion uses its full strength to capture a rabbit,
preventing him from capsizing in the gutter.
"The tenth floor of the Tower to the Heavens truly cannot be underestimated."
As his voice fell,
the Void Mantis and the Predator lunged toward the Butcher Iron Cavalry, which was now in a weakened state.
In less than a minute,
"Crunch, crunch."
The sound of teeth gnawing on metal echoed.
[You have slain a lord-grade creature, Butcher Iron Cavalry, beyond your level. EXP +30%]
[Warning: The professional is currently in a state unable to level up. Overflowing EXP has been stored, and the stored EXP will disappear after twenty-four hours.]
[Void Predator has completed evolutionary devouring, gaining +45,000 maximum health.]
"Huh? There are actually gold coins?"
The Tower to the Heavens does not drop any loot; all gains for a professional are settled uniformly upon leaving the tower.
Li Yao was somewhat excited, not expecting an unexpected pleasant surprise!
The Tongue-Ripping Queen dropped forty-seven coins, so even if the Butcher Iron Cavalry was slightly weaker, it surely wouldn't be too far behind, right?
Li Yao picked up the gold coins, counted them, and found there were neither more nor less—exactly forty.
In that case, the number of gold coins he possessed was completely sufficient to upgrade the Void Mantis to SSS-rank!
The next opponent to face was the Dark Wings, whose strength was completely unknown to him.
To ensure absolute safety, Li Yao decided to upgrade the Void Mantis's star level right now!
Suddenly,
Li Yao's figure froze.
As if sensing something, Li Yao lowered his head to look at the soles of his feet.
"Challenger, you are very perceptive."
Surrounding black mist suddenly rose, instantly merging and converging into a pool of black water.
The black water bubbled and splashed, and a human figure slowly rose from within.
Red hair, dressed in a dark purple ancient robe. Were it not for the two sharp horns atop its head, its appearance was almost indistinguishable from that of a human.
As it floated upward, four orbs of light lined up before Li Yao.
"These are your rewards. Choose two of them, and then leave."

"Please wait a moment."
Li Yao had no time to look at those four orbs of light right now.
In his perception, the creature standing before him at this very moment was unquestionably the strongest monster he had encountered thus far.
Whether it was the Tongue-Ripping Queen or the Butcher Iron Cavalry from just moments ago, compared to the creature before him, they were simply not in the same league!
You must know,
the Dark Wings right now was merely appearing as a reward distributor and bore no hostility toward him yet.
Even so,
the sense of oppression emanating from the other party was still so intense. If they were to actually fight later, he would already be at a disadvantage purely in terms of aura.
Li Yao would never allow such a situation to occur.
Void Mantis, upgrade for me!
100 gold coins vanished, turning into a stream of light that poured into the Void Mantis's body.
The figure concealed within the void thus manifested as well.
"Hmm?"
The Dark Wings' brow twitched slightly.
It could sense a faint, indistinct threat emanating from within this mantis creature.
"An illusion?"
Li Yao did not notice the abnormality of the Dark Wings,
focusing instead on checking the Void Mantis's stats after the star upgrade.
[Chess Piece · Void Mantis]
[Level: 20]
[Grade: SSS-Rank]
[Bond: Assassin · Void Creature]
[Star Level: 4-Star (Upgrading above SSS-rank requires 500 gold coins)]
[Health: 21,450 / 21,450]
[Strength: 3,741]
[Spirit: 431]
[Agility: 608]
[Endurance: 429]
[Skill 1: Void Assault, conceals within the void, entering Level 9 stealth. The first basic attack after entering stealth deals 500% physical damage. Cooldown: 9 seconds.]
[Skill 2: Taste Their Fear, deals 500% physical damage to the target. When there are no enemy units within a 2-meter radius of the target, this damage is doubled. Cooldown: 4 seconds.]
[Skill 3: Void Spikes, fires explosive spikes, dealing 350% physical damage to enemies in a forward area. Cooldown: 13 seconds.]
[Skill 4 (New): Void Leap, enters a void tunnel, instantly teleporting to any location within a hundred-meter radius. Cooldown: 15 seconds.]
"It's finally here!"
Li Yao was overjoyed.
The displacement skill he had been yearning for had finally arrived!

Not only that, after upgrading to 4-star, the Void Mantis's various attributes were comprehensively and significantly enhanced.
Compared to before, it was simply a difference as vast as heaven and earth.
Simply put,
as long as the Void Mantis was provided with an ordinary healing professional, it could now completely solo and defeat the previous Tongue-Ripping Queen.
The Tongue-Ripping Queen only surpassed the Void Mantis in health.
If both were at the same tier of health,
with the Void Mantis's damage output, it could finish her off in a single encounter!
"Challenger, you have one minute left."
At this moment, the impatient voice of the Dark Wings rang out.
It disliked the feeling of living beings being around it.
Hearing this, Li Yao finally began to properly examine his spoils of war.
Two pearls of different colors, a long sword, a yellowed ancient book, and an iron hammer.
Unknown materials, equipment, skills.
That last one should be the weapon wielded by the Butcher Iron Cavalry, right?
If he had to choose, it actually wasn't difficult.
The iron hammer was ruled out first; what kind of summoner uses an iron hammer?
As for the two pearls, Li Yao didn't recognize either of them, so they were definitely ruled out.
That only left the long sword and the skill book.
But all of these things belonged to him.
Why should he choose?
"I am an adult."
Li Yao casually uttered those words.
Dark Wings: "What do you mean?"
Li Yao attempted to cast Appraisal on the Dark Wings.
The moment the Dark Wings' stats flashed into Li Yao's mind,
a cold, lifeless chill abruptly descended.
"Cheap appraisal."
"It seems... you wish to battle me?"
The Dark Wings were not tall; excluding the sharp horns on its head, it was at most around 1.5 meters tall.
Li Yao smiled faintly as he looked down at the creature before him.
"I said, I am an adult. These rewards—"
"I want them all!"