Chapter 46: Mutants and Monsters

"Hisssss!"

A large snake head came down from the heavy green foliage, opening its jaw wide enough to swallow her whole in a single bite.

The python-like creature had glossy emerald scales that blended seamlessly with the thick forest leaves. Its glowing yellow eyes locked onto her pale body with cold killer intent.

Summer was inwardly surprised to see the snake, as this was the first time she was seeing a monster other than zombies. She leaped backward smoothly, landing on a giant exposed tree root without making a sound.

[Dungeons, unless corrupted ones, contain monsters, rather than mutants.]

The system explained as the massive serpent coiled its body along the thick wooden trunk above.

’Aren’t they the same?’ Summer asked in her mind, tilting her small head slightly as she watched the monster.

[No. Mutants are beings blessed by corruption. Monsters are beings blessed by Mana.]

[Both are of opposing spectrums, even though their origin was the same. The Creation.]

Summer blinked her dark ruby eyes while keeping her distance on the wet mossy bark. Rain droplets trickled down her pale cheeks as she processed the fresh information.

’Then what am I? I can use Mana, and I am also a zombie.’

The system didn’t answer quickly. It remained silent for a long moment without answering.

[You are special. You just have to know that.]

Summer wasn’t satisfied with that answer. She puffed out her pale cheeks into a tiny pout, disappointed by the vague response.

But as the snake closed in on her, she didn’t have much time for dillydallying. The giant serpent slid down the giant root at a terrifying speed, its scales scraping loudly against the rough tree bark.

This was the first time she was going to fight something using Mana instead of corruption.

So she was fully on guard, as she didn’t want to be caught off guard.

This decision proved extremely wise, as rather than simply rushing toward her to swallow her, the snake suddenly closed its mouth as its cheeks bulged outward with immense pressure.

’Not good...’ Summer cursed inwardly as she activated Shadow Mirage.

Her physical form blurred instantly, leaving behind a dark shadowy phantom on the wet tree root.

A viscous green liquid flashed through her mirage body a split second later.

The concentrated venom shot past her fake image like a high-pressure water jet. The acidic spray splashed directly onto the giant root behind her, making a loud hissing sound followed by pungent green smoke.

The solid wooden surface corroded rapidly, turning into black bubbling sludge within seconds.

Summer materialized five meters to the left, standing lightly on a hanging vine.

[A monster with a toxic core... not bad.]

’Toxic core?’ Summer asked, glancing at the smoking crater in the ancient root.

[Unlike Mutants, monsters contain cores which carry their legacy. See its status screen.]

By saying that, the system showed her the status screen of the snake in a bright blue window.

Target Identified!

[Target Status]

Name: Jade Viper

Bloodline: Common Forest Python

Core: Common Toxic Core

Level: 10

HP: 450

Mana: 120

STR: 18 | AGI: 22 | CONST: 16 | INT: 8

Traits: Acidic Spray, Venomous Bite, Forest Camouflage

Summer scanned the floating numbers. The monster was significantly weaker than her in every single attribute category.

[Unlike Mutants, who could evolve to higher stages by devouring cores of other mutants, monsters can only evolve as far as their bloodline can reach.]

[This Jade Viper has a common quality bloodline, so its core can only evolve up to Common grade naturally.]

’So those blessed by Mana are weak!’ Summer concluded in her thoughts, raising an eyebrow at the small stat block.

The system was inwardly happy to hear that, as it was an avid supporter of corruption and zombie superiority.

But it couldn’t lie to the little girl about the true nature of the universe.

[A Common grade core of one blessed by Mana will sometimes have more potent power than even an Elite Mutant core.]

[Because it is the purest form of Creation, unlike a Mutant core, which is just a corrupted form of Creation.]

’I see,’ Summer thought, absorbing the lesson while watching the giant serpent.

The snake was momentarily shown surprise as she easily evaded its surprise attack. It had expected its high-speed venom spray to melt the tiny intruder into liquid meat instantly.

Seeing her pop up on a vine unharmed, the serpent became wary of the zombie girl. It stopped on a thick branch five meters above her, pulling its heavy body back to study her carefully.

’It’s smart too...’ Summer noted silently.

A normal feral zombie would have mindlessly thrown itself at her again despite missing the first hit. This creature was actively assessing her threat level before making another move.

[Obviously. When one becomes corrupted, their memories will be completely erased as corruption takes control over them.]

[Unless they manage to overcome this control and evolve, their intelligence will always be lower.]

[But monsters have no such problem.]

Summer frowned slightly as she processed the system’s explanation.

’Are you calling me dumb?’

[You are the smartest Zombie in the world!]

The system chimed back instantly with extreme speed, even flashing a love emoji text in bright gold letters.

’Mmm...’ A dimpled smile appeared on Summer’s pale face, completely satisfied with the praise.

Inside her mind, the system was sweating profusely and sighing in relief, knowing it had narrowly avoided a big confrontation with its stubborn master.

The snake became restless as time passed.

It was a simple low-tier monster after all, driven mostly by hunger and basic instincts.

After the initial wariness wore off, seeing that the little girl was just standing there with a goofy dimpled smile without taking any action, the serpent thought it had mistaken her for a threat.

It slowly coiled its muscular tail around the branch, lowering its triangular head as its cheeks bulged again, getting ready to spit venom a second time.

Similarly, Summer was also bored with studying the monster.

It was far too weak for her to learn anything meaningful from its actions. It was not an Elite, so its death would not even count toward her grand evolution counter of one thousand kills.

’Oh wait. Will killing monsters count toward my evolution?’

[Unfortunately, no...]

’That is too restrictive...’ Summer complained.

[Obviously it wouldn’t be easy, right? Your next evolution is a total game changer.]

Summer again wasn’t satisfied by that answer. If the system had a physical body, it would be shaking its head while watching her dissatisfied expression.

The little girl didn’t know how difficult it was for a Mutant to evolve into an Elite. Only one in a million could evolve, so Elite Mutants were far more valuable than Elite monsters.

The unsatisfied girl didn’t know her future evolutions weren’t going to be that easy. Not because of her strength, but rather because she simply didn’t have any resources for them.

Even though Summer was dissatisfied, she wondered what the core of a monster would taste like. Mutant cores tasted like different flavors of fruits.

Then what would a Monster core taste like?

Licking her lips in anticipation, she simply activated Shadow Mirage and rushed toward it without wasting another second...