Super Gene Chapter 3: Sacred-blood Armor

Han Sen retreated to his quarters, ignited a fire, and began simmering the black beetle’s claws and shell within a pot.

Lacking both proper tools and specialized knowledge, he was forced to rely on the most basic techniques to process the remains and derive the geno essence.

Since the shell of a sacred-blood creature required more than an hour or two of intense heat, Han Sen secured the lid before retrieving the black crystal to examine it more closely.

Even so, the object offered no clues regarding its origin.

Unexpectedly, Han Sen’s gaze fell upon a caged green-scaled beast, roughly the size of a civet, sitting in the corner of his room, and a sudden inspiration struck him.

Much like the black beetles, this green-scaled creature was merely an ordinary specimen. Han Sen had hunted them in the past, cooking them for sustenance to bolster his own geno points.

However, once these beasts no longer contributed to his growth, he had abandoned the last one and left it to be forgotten. To his surprise, the creature had somehow survived.

He hauled the lethargic green-scaled beast from its enclosure, hesitated momentarily, and then prepared to force-feed the black crystal to the animal.

To his shock, as soon as the beast spotted the crystal, it summoned every ounce of its waning vitality to extend its tongue, draw the object into its maw, and gulp it down whole.

"The black crystal possesses truly supernatural properties!" Han Sen marveled. He observed that the green-scaled beast appeared significantly more energetic after ingestion, its claws beginning to scramble and its head snapping toward the hand he kept pressed against its neck.

Han Sen tossed the creature back into the cage and observed it intently. The beast, which hadn't eaten for days, had experienced a full recovery, thrashing and clawing with the same vigor it possessed when first captured.

He sat opposite the cage, his eyes locked on the creature's movements. He harbored a theory; if he were correct, he might have stumbled upon something extraordinary—a discovery that dwarfed even his encounter with a sacred-blood creature.

But fearing he might be misinterpreting the signs, Han Sen watched the beast anxiously, praying to witness the transformation he desperately hoped for.

He stared with such nervous intensity that he remained unaware of his own hunger until the scent of bone broth drifted from the pot.

Checking the time, he realized nearly twenty-four hours had transpired. Rising to inspect the beetle shells, he found that the golden sheen had been thoroughly rendered, turning the broth a rich, deep gold. The aroma was so exquisite that it made the starving youth’s mouth water.

Just as he reached out to secure a bowl, a sound reminiscent of breaking iron echoed from the cage. Turning sharply, he saw that the creature had snapped an iron bar and was already pulling its head through the gap.

Its light green scales had shifted into a dark, foreboding shade. Its fangs were razor-sharp, and its claws had elongated into hooked, iron-like talons. The beast was on the verge of escaping.

Pleasantly surprised, Han Sen drew his dagger from his waist. He lunged toward the cage and plunged the blade into the creature's belly, twisting it firmly until the beast ceased its struggles.

"Primitive creature green-scaled beast killed. No beast soul gained. Consume the flesh of the primitive green-scaled beast to gain zero to ten points randomly."

When the strange voice resonated within his mind, Han Sen stood frozen in disbelief.

"A primitive green-scaled beast... so the crystal truly can trigger evolution in these creatures..." Overcome with joy, he found himself unable to process the magnitude of the discovery.

After a long silence, he used his blade to slice open the beast, revealing a crystal now the size of a pigeon egg. Ignoring the blood coating it, he pressed a kiss to the object twice, wiped it clean, and cradled it like a priceless treasure.

"The crystal was undoubtedly the catalyst that caused the black beetle to evolve into a sacred-blood creature... If this creature had been left to evolve further, could it have attained sacred-blood status too?" The implications were so vast that Han Sen dared not dwell on them.

His hands trembled with excitement. He bit his own tongue to confirm the pain, needing the sting to prove he wasn't dreaming.

After his fervor finally subsided, he safely stowed the crystal away and devoured the shell broth, earning another sacred geno point and raising his total to eight.

Though his crude methods prevented him from extracting the full potential of the shells, obtaining even a single sacred geno point was a triumph.

Recalling that he had earned a sacred-blood beast soul after felling the golden black beetle, he promptly pulled up his status profile.

Han Sen: Not evolved.Status: NoneLife span: 200 years.Requirements for evolution: 100 geno points.Geno points gained: 79 geno points; 8 sacred geno points.Beast soul gained: Sacred-blood black beetle.Type of sacred-blood black beetle’s beast soul: Armor.

"What form would such an armor take?" Before the thought even crystallized, a golden shadow erupted into the air, perfectly mirroring the appearance of the black beetle.

The apparition surged toward his chest, liquefying into a golden substance that began to envelop his frame. Almost instantly, his entire body and hair were shielded by the construct.

The streamlined golden armor radiated power, covering him in a suit that resembled a masterpiece of gothic, aerodynamically refined metalwork.

The suit exuded both speed and strength, lending Han Sen a slender, majestic silhouette that pulsed with latent, explosive force.

With a pristine metallic brilliance and a dense, solid texture, it rivaled the legendary gold cloth worn by the Golden Saints.

The primary distinction was its complete coverage, shielding his head and body entirely, though the gaps between the interlocking joints—modeled after the beetle's own physiology—remained his only potential vulnerability.

Moving within the suit, Han Sen felt no burden or restriction. On the contrary, he felt strangely light, surging with renewed energy.

"This is truly the armor of a sacred-blood beast soul; it is far more magnificent than any primitive armor I've seen at the Steel Armor Shelter." Feeling truly ecstatic, Han Sen savored the moment, having never dared to dream that he would one day possess a relic of such power.