Chapter 35: The Might of the Demons

Taking a moment, Wang Feng took Ye Yang to test his various capabilities once again. He still possessed absolutely no special abilities; the instruments could not detect any fluctuations, and his attribute scores remained dismal. However, his strength attribute had increased slightly, rising from 19 to 22 points. While still far from the passing mark of 80—a distance so vast it made Ye Yang want to cry—it was progress.

The so-called attribute scores represent which areas of one's body are more proficient or emphasized. A high score across the board means one is an all-rounder, while low scores mean one is a failure. Ye Yang was a total failure.

However, the "Yao" power test left everyone stunned. Even the white-bearded old man who had tested him previously was shocked, and Ye Yang himself was quite excited. During the last test, despite having high latent "Yao" power, his usable power value was only 23. This time, however, a earth-shaking change had occurred.

"Yao power value... 292?" The white-bearded old man tugged frantically at his beard, staring at Ye Yang in speechless disbelief. It was so fast; he was about to surpass Level 2.

For a Level 1 Hunter, the requirement for Yao power is over 100, Level 2 is over 300, Level 3 is over 500, Level 4 is over 1,000, and the strongest, Level 5, is over 2,000!

There is no upper limit to Yao power, but for a Hunter, reaching 2,000 is usually considered terrifying. Even a Level 4 monster only has about 3,000. These values are accumulated slowly through combat or training. Of course, if one's latent Yao power is low, no amount of training helps; for instance, Chen Yun’s power always hovered around 400, while Lin Tian’s was only about 150.

Ye Yang didn't understand the old man's praise. He hadn't even passed Level 2, so what was there to be happy about? What he didn't know was that while Yao power growth isn't usually slow, it never happens at his pace—multiplying more than tenfold in just a few days!

"Alright, keep working hard," Wang Feng said with a satisfied nod. At this rate, the boy’s Yao power should exceed 400 before his internship, right? The growth speed was truly impressive.

"By the way, let's test your latent Yao power again. You should be able to hold out longer this time, and you won't end up hospitalized," Wang Feng laughed.

"Ah? No... let's not, do we have to?" Ye Yang felt like crying. That thing hurt like hell; he had been sent straight to the hospital after the first test. Even if he was stronger now, it would still be unbearable.

"Enough talk!" Wang Feng arched an eyebrow and kicked Ye Yang into the instrument. The white-bearded old man began preparations with a chuckle; he was eager to see the results too. Of course, before looking, clearing the room was mandatory. Ye Yang's latent Yao power was an absolute secret, not to be known by too many, though Ye Yang himself didn't know why.

Ten minutes later, Wang Feng dragged Ye Yang out of the lab like a dead dog. He had fainted again. This ordeal was simply not something a normal person could endure; even Hunters struggled with it.

Wang Feng’s expression, however, was one of great satisfaction. Ye Yang's latent Yao power was extremely pleasing, even far exceeding his own. Although the test didn't yield a final figure due to Ye Yang passing out, it had already surpassed his expectations, far exceeding his own power levels.

"2671... 2671!!!" In the lab, the white-bearded old man was trembling, staring fixedly at the screen. "This little guy... he's a monster. Is it even possible for a human to reach this figure? A Level 5 Hunter is only at 2,000 and change! And... and this isn't even the final figure!"

"Shut up. Only a few internal staff know about this. If word gets out, you're dead!" Wang Feng barked from outside the door. The old man quickly covered his mouth. Indeed, if this leaked, it would be a disaster; these were not figures a human should be able to reach.

***

Ye Yang remained unaware of these details. Wang Feng refused to tell him his latent data, so he eventually gave up in frustration.

With field training imminent, Ye Yang had to start reviewing the combat materials. But they were so long—over a hundred pages! He decided to skim; as long as he had the strength, the theory shouldn't matter, right? At least, that's what he thought.

Flipping through, he was annoyed to find that fifty of those hundred pages were dedicated to special abilities: training methods, practical applications, evolution paths, and a directory of ability types. Damn it, he didn't have a single bit of ability! Was there an ability called "Having Nothing"?

Further on, two sections caught his attention: first, a detailed analysis of interdimensional creatures, and second, a comparison of combat effectiveness between Hunters and these creatures. These were exactly what he wanted to know.

Ye Yang had known long ago that zombies originated from interdimensional bacterial infections, but the notes here were far more detailed.

Level 1 Zombies are caused by interdimensional bacteria infecting humans or animals, leading to madness and rapid death. Their strength is only slightly higher than an average human, and they possess no Yao power. However, because they feel no pain, their attacks are frenzied and difficult to deal with. They are flesh-eaters, possess low intelligence, poor vision, but sharp hearing and smell. Their weakness is the brain; mercury is also highly lethal to them. They have no regenerative abilities and will slowly decay, with a lifespan of no more than 30 years.

Level 2 Mutants are also caused by interdimensional bacteria, but unlike zombies, they have evolved into living organisms. They live for about 50 years. Usually 2 to 2.5 meters tall with immense strength, their weakness remains the brain. They have strong regenerative abilities—even lost limbs can grow back—and higher resistance to mercury. They have developed a small amount of Yao power, making them very difficult for ordinary humans to handle, though they are still far weaker than Hunters.

Level 3 Predators, or "Abnormal Appetites," are a further evolution. They are stronger, greedier, and more ravenous than mutants. Their sole purpose is to consume, and they can live for over a century. They are highly intelligent, capable of speech, and possess significant Yao power, approaching a human Level 4 Hunter. Though they don't know how to use it effectively, it reinforces their physical structure. Mercury can inhibit their rapid regeneration, but it is no longer lethal.

Level 4 "Demons" are the top-tier interdimensional beings. They are not caused by bacteria but by sentient spore organisms from another dimension that invade human hosts. They are highly intelligent, fully capable of mimicking human behavior to the point where only specialized "perceptive" Hunters can distinguish them by their Yao power fluctuations.

During combat, they can transform into monstrous forms to unleash overwhelming power. Their strength is immense; while the limit for a human Hunter is around 2,000, a Demon’s Yao power is at least 3,000. Unless a Hunter possesses a special ability, they cannot compete. Their weakness is the brain, but because they can alter their internal structure, the brain may not be in the head—it could be anywhere. They possess super-speed regeneration, rendering them nearly immortal unless their Yao power is depleted or they are hacked to pieces.

Fortunately, there are only about a thousand Demons worldwide, which is why humanity has survived this long.