Universal Shelter: I have a gold entry at each level! - Chapter 3

Chapter 003: Inheriting the Rock Armor Turtle’s Ability

A post-apocalyptic wasteland.

Animals and plants had mutated, collectively known as fierce beasts.

Humans had also undergone mutations, though not as drastic as other creatures.

There were three types of human mutations: Awakened, Mutants, and Enhancers.

• Awakened: One in ten thousand possessed unique and varied abilities.
• Mutants: One in a thousand, with strength determined by their mutation talent.
• Enhancers: Those who used external forces to strengthen themselves, forming the mainstream power system.

This basic information was something Mu Liang had learned from Mino.

“Huh? Mu Liang, you’re an Awakened???”

Mino stared blankly, unable to process the shocking revelation.

“Yes, my awakened ability is taming animals.” Mu Liang nodded lightly.

His ability to tame animals would eventually be exposed, so he decided to disguise himself as an Awakened.

“Mu Liang, you’re so… so amazing.”

Mino snapped out of her daze and grabbed Mu Liang’s arm, stammering with excitement, unsure how to express her emotions.

Her sister had once told her that their camp had no Awakened, only a few Enhancers and Mutants.

“Keep your voice down. Don’t let others hear.” Mu Liang reminded her with a smile.

“Right, right… We must keep your identity a secret.”

Mino hurriedly covered her mouth and nodded repeatedly.

However, she suddenly found herself troubled by a new worry—if Mu Liang was an Awakened, would he really stay in such a small camp?

Mu Liang noticed her sudden silence but chose not to disturb her.

Instead, he asked the system in his mind, “Didn’t you say I could inherit an ability from a tamed animal?”

“Ding! Would you like to inherit the Rock Armor Turtle’s talent: Earth Rock Spike?”

“Inherit.”

“Ding! Improving Earth Rock Spike… Adapting… Inheritance complete.”

As the system’s mechanical voice echoed, Mu Liang felt a refreshing coolness deep in his brain, followed by a warm current surging through his body.

“System, open my attribute panel.”

Beast Tamer: Mu Liang

Stamina: 6 | Speed: 4.3

Strength: 5 | Mental Power: 8.7

Lifespan: 24 years / 100 years

Taming Points: 0 (refreshes daily, can accumulate)

Evolution Points: 0

Ability: Earth Rock Spike (Level 1)

(Ordinary human base stat: 1)

Tamed Beast: Rock Armor Turtle (Level 1)

Talent: Earth Rock Spike (Level 1)

After reading his attribute panel, Mu Liang was completely stunned.

All his physical attributes had been enhanced, and his lifespan had even increased to 100 years.

If he continued evolving the Rock Armor Turtle, would his lifespan reach a thousand years? Even ten thousand?

It wasn’t impossible. After all, taming points refreshed daily, allowing him to continuously tame new animals.

As long as he kept inheriting new talents, his lifespan and attributes would keep improving.

“What kind of ability is Earth Rock Spike?”

Since there was no description on the panel, Mu Liang decided to test it himself.

He activated the ability with a thought, and a sharp rock spike, about the length of a palm, suddenly protruded from the ground a few meters away.

The Rock Armor Turtle tilted its head, its emerald-green eyes staring curiously at the rock spike in front of it.

“The power is decent. If used for a surprise attack on an enemy’s feet, it could render them immobile.”

“If I knock someone to the ground and then use ‘Earth Rock Spike’ again, it would definitely be a lethal strike.”

Mu Liang’s military instincts kicked in, thinking about how to maximize the ability’s combat potential.

He checked his attribute panel and noticed that using abilities consumed both stamina and mental power.

“I can use it about six times before exhausting my stamina.”

“To be safe, I should limit it to three uses, leaving some stamina for emergencies.”

Mu Liang quickly determined his limits.

Now, another problem occupied his mind—how to obtain energy-containing objects. This was crucial for strengthening the Rock Armor Turtle.

His first goal: evolve the Rock Armor Turtle to the level of the legendary Black Tortoise.

“Mu Liang, if you’re an Awakened, why did you faint that day?” Mino suddenly asked.

“I was bitten by a venomous beast,” Mu Liang casually gave the excuse he had prepared in advance.

He could never reveal that he was a transmigrator—not to anyone.

“So… once you recover, you’re going to leave, aren’t you?” Mino’s voice was filled with disappointment.

After a moment of silence, she figured it out on her own.

Mu Liang was an Awakened. Whether or not he stayed in the camp wasn’t really a question—he had been avoiding the topic from the beginning.

“Yes, I will leave.” Mu Liang nodded slightly.

Sooner or later, he had to leave the camp.

Only outside could he tame new animals and obtain energy-containing items.

Mino bit her lip and asked bitterly, “When?”

“In two days,” Mu Liang decided.

Thanks to his newfound strength, his injuries had not only healed but his body had become even stronger.

He chose to stay two more days to investigate whether the camp had any energy-containing objects.

“That soon? Can’t you stay a little longer?”

Mino looked like she was about to cry, but she held back her tears, gazing at Mu Liang pleadingly.

“You forgot? The tax is due in three days.” Mu Liang raised his hand and wiped a smudge of charcoal from her cheek.

To disguise herself as a boy, Mino had smeared charcoal on her face.

She also wrapped her head in cloth and wore oversized, tattered gray clothing.

“I’ll catch the lizards, I promise. You have to trust me.” Mino grasped Mu Liang’s hand tightly, speaking with determination.

“Then let me ask you a question.”

Mu Liang’s voice was gentle as he asked, “In two days, would you be willing to leave with me?”

“I w—” Mino started to answer but abruptly stopped.

She suddenly remembered her sister’s parting words before she left:

“Wait for me to come back for you.”

“You don’t have to answer now. Tell me in two days.” Mu Liang reassured her softly.

After all, they had only known each other for five days. Asking her to leave behind everything she knew to wander the outside world with him was indeed a difficult request.

“Mm.” Mino nodded lightly, her small face scrunching up in distress, her heart in turmoil.

Should she leave with Mu Liang? Or stay and wait for her sister?

If she chose wrong, she might never see him again.

If she chose wrong, she might never reunite with her sister.

This is so hard!!!