Chapter 5: The Life Energy Level System
(This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation)
Shortly after the outbreak of The Cataclysm, the National Government Agencies disseminated a wealth of information about various Monstrous Beasts through the internet, radio, and television. These included their names, physical traits, and abilities.
Although the time for preparation was brief and the information limited, it’s undeniable that this knowledge saved countless lives. Without it, the number of survivors would have been drastically lower.
Among the beasts described was the very creature now in Lin Ze’s view: the Scorpion-Tailed Beast.
Like the Blood-Eyed Wolf, the Scorpion-Tailed Beast occupies a low position in the Monstrous Beast hierarchy. Its primary attack involves the sharp, venomous tail behind it, capable of delivering a strike that leaves fist-sized puncture wounds. The venom is so potent it claims a victim’s life within half an hour.
What surprised Lin Ze even more was the sudden clarity of detailed knowledge about the Scorpion-Tailed Beast in his mind. This information not only included the publicized traits but also additional details, such as its vulnerability to strong light.
Lin Ze had already suspected a connection between his Vampire bloodline and the Cataclysm. This realization only strengthened his belief.
Recalling his earlier encounter with the Blood-Eyed Wolf, he realized that similar knowledge had surfaced in his mind at the time. However, his focus on testing his newfound strength had caused him to overlook it then.
It could no longer be dismissed as coincidence when the same phenomenon occurred twice. Lin Ze theorized that the information disseminated by the government and the inherited knowledge in his mind likely originated from the same civilization or world.
[There’s far more to this Cataclysm than I know,] he thought.
Even as his mind raced, Lin Ze acted decisively. When the Scorpion-Tailed Beast lunged at him again, he darted forward without hesitation. His speed far outmatched the beast’s, and with a sidestep, he easily avoided its stinger. A swift reverse slash severed the tail cleanly.
The beast howled in agony, turning to bite him, but Lin Ze struck first. His fist crashed into its head, collapsing its skull. The creature’s body fell lifelessly to the ground.
The disparity in power between them was overwhelming. Despite Lin Ze’s lack of combat experience, dealing with the Scorpion-Tailed Beast required no effort.
With the fight concluded, Lin Ze turned to examine his surroundings. The second floor of the shop was compact but functional, featuring a kitchen, bathroom, living room, bedroom, and balcony.
After ensuring no other Monstrous Beasts were present, he began searching for weapons. Soon, he discovered a rectangular metal box at the bottom of a bedroom wardrobe.
Opening it revealed several blades.
“Tang Blades, huh,” he mused, picking up one and drawing it from its sheath. The blade gleamed coldly, its edge razor-sharp.
“Not bad.”
Satisfied, Lin Ze nodded. The box contained five blades in total: four long Tang Blades and one short blade. All were sharpened to perfection. The shorter blade was also a significant improvement over the kitchen knife he’d been using.
With these weapons, facing Monstrous Beasts would be far easier in the future.
Securing the metal box again, Lin Ze took one long Tang Blade for himself and resumed his search of the house. Unfortunately, he found no more sharpened blades. Although there were plenty of useful supplies in the shop, Lin Ze prioritized reserving space in his backpack for Blood Packs, forcing him to leave the other items behind.
[It’s not a big loss,] he thought. [With my strength, collecting supplies is just a matter of making a few trips.]
Leaving the blade shop, Lin Ze headed straight for the hospital. Along the way, he encountered more Monstrous Beasts. Each time he faced a new type, his mind was filled with corresponding inherited knowledge.
According to these insights, the strength of Monstrous Beasts is primarily classified by a system called Life Energy Levels.
Adult Blood-Eyed Wolves and Scorpion-Tailed Beasts typically fall between Levels 3 and 5. The higher a beast’s Life Energy Level, the stronger it is.
Level 10 serves as a critical threshold.
Monstrous Beasts with Life Energy Levels exceeding 10 are known as Savage Types, vastly superior to ordinary beasts. The difference between the two is like night and day.
Lin Ze recalled seeing something on television—a Scarlet Giant Python that coiled around skyscrapers like they were mere branches. That creature was undoubtedly a Savage Type Monstrous Beast with a Life Energy Level exceeding 10, perhaps even higher!
It was worth noting that in this Life Energy Level system, an untrained adult male only measured at Level 1.
[What would my current strength translate to in terms of Life Energy Level?]
Lin Ze estimated that he must be above Level 5 at the very least.
Relying on the information in his mind, Lin Ze carefully avoided beasts with high Life Energy Levels along the way, sidestepping unnecessary battles. As for low-tier creatures like Blood-Eyed Wolves and Scorpion-Tailed Beasts, he dealt with them decisively using his Tang Blade.
With a sharp weapon in hand, his combat efficiency significantly improved.
After about ten minutes, Lin Ze arrived near the hospital. Observing from a corner, he ensured no beasts lurked near the entrance before cautiously approaching.
[A hospital this large can’t be free of beasts. I need to stay vigilant.]
Lin Ze had been to the hospital a few times before and was somewhat familiar with its layout. Once inside, he headed straight for the emergency building on the right. As the frontline for urgent care, emergency rooms typically stored a supply of Frozen Blood Plasma to handle critical transfusions. It was highly likely he would find blood packs there.
Stepping into the first floor of the emergency building, Lin Ze was met with a nauseating mixture of rot and disinfectant. He wrinkled his nose in disgust. The hall was shrouded in darkness, with bloodstains smeared across the walls. Medical supplies were scattered on the floor, and occasionally, gnawed skeletons with deep teeth marks appeared amidst the debris, amplifying the sinister atmosphere.
Glancing at the directory, Lin Ze turned down the right-hand corridor and soon located the emergency room. A quick search led him to a small freezer where he found blood packs stored.
Luckily, the freezer’s power hadn’t failed yet, and the long shelf life of Frozen Blood Plasma meant the contents were still good.
Having fought several battles, the hunger within Lin Ze had intensified. The sight of crimson blood made his throat tighten as the craving surged, tinting his eyes faintly red.
Driven by hunger, Lin Ze grabbed a blood pack, tore it open, and drank deeply.
The icy blood slid down his throat and into his stomach, gradually easing the gnawing hunger until it disappeared entirely.
Finishing the blood pack in a few gulps, Lin Ze licked the corners of his mouth, a trace of longing lingering in his heart. However, this was merely the Vampire’s psychological thirst for blood. Physically, he was already satiated.
[Looks like 200 milliliters of blood can sustain me for two or three days.]
[But aside from quelling hunger, my body doesn’t seem to have undergone any changes.]
[Could it be that frozen blood can’t enhance my strength?]
As this thought crossed his mind, a fragment of inherited knowledge surfaced in his mind. Just as he suspected, frozen blood had lost its vital essence and spiritual energy. No matter how much a Vampire consumed, it would only serve to satiate hunger, not increase Blood Factor Concentration.
Though he had anticipated this outcome, Lin Ze couldn’t help but feel a twinge of disappointment. Nonetheless, he quickly composed himself and stuffed over a dozen blood packs into his backpack. Even after loading it up, there was still ample space left.
[There should be more blood packs in the blood bank.]
Shouldering his pack, Lin Ze left the emergency building and followed the signs to the transfusion department. There, he found significantly more blood packs in the storage units. However, many were whole blood, red cell concentrates, and platelets with shorter shelf lives, most of which had already expired.
Unsure if consuming expired blood would cause adverse effects, Lin Ze chose not to risk it. Instead, he focused solely on collecting unexpired Frozen Blood Plasma.
After filling his backpack, he left the transfusion department feeling satisfied.
[I’ll make a few more trips later and haul all the remaining blood packs back.]
[The hospital could lose power at any time. I need to retrieve everything before that happens.]
While passing through the corridor, Lin Ze casually glanced out a window and froze in his tracks. In the middle of the empty courtyard was a massive crater over twenty meters in diameter. At its center stood a rectangular stone stele over three meters tall, exuding an aura of unshakable might.