Level 1 Genetic Core, this thing was decomposed by Li Zheng from the corpse of the terrifying bat that had been killed with a headshot.
According to the item description, the first terrifying bat killed by sheer luck turned out to be an "Elite."
"This is like Bulbasaur munching on Pringles and heading into Mickey's Playhouse—talk about fantastic!"
Gamers know that monsters with an elite suffix are usually much stronger than regular ones.
Yet the first elite monster Li Zheng ever encountered died in such a frustrating manner...
Now reflecting on it, Li Zheng feels a strange and wonderful sensation.
"Could it be that upon arriving in the Matrix Realm, I've finally turned my luck from chronic misfortune to being incredibly lucky?"
How else to explain taking down the elite individual in the terrifying bat swarm with just one shot?
"Maybe next time, when I get a tool to develop alien genes, I'll try eating one myself? I mean, with my current luck, if I'm still worse off than that guy Phoenix Mountain… forget it, forget it, a 2% chance is still too low."
Li Zheng touched his face and wisely abandoned the idea.
"The terrifying bat has been fully decomposed, now let's see if there's any other supplies in the room."
Holding a lantern, it took Li Zheng only a second to lock onto the available resources in the room.
It wasn't that his eyesight suddenly improved or that the lantern's light range expanded, nor did the resources fall in front of him.
The detector gave a notification.
"Yo, a blue level of safety?"
Li Zheng walked towards that direction, and within two minutes, he saw a strange machine.
Oval-shaped design, its surface stained and rank with stench.
[Terrifying Bat Droppings (Gray), feces from genetically modified creatures in the caves, ideal material for compost.]
Covering his nose and mouth, Li Zheng raised the lantern over his head and looked around, realizing the area covered in droppings was bigger than he imagined.
"To produce this much... this group of terrifying bats must have stayed in this room for a long time."
Li Zheng pondered a question: What do these terrifying bats usually eat?
"Perhaps their escape room has lots of food?"
Li Zheng quickly figured out the key point, and another doubt emerged: Normally, shouldn't monsters stay where their food is stored? Why would the terrifying bat group linger in a room without food storage?
"Maybe the reason is inside that new device, let's check it out..."
Li Zheng stepped into the bat droppings, feeling the dried residue through his shoes, stepping unevenly and feeling grossed out.
"yuer～"
He couldn't help but gag, and his hand covering his nose and mouth tightened even more, nearly suffocating him.
Finally reaching the machine, he found its surface covered with a thick layer of terrifying bat droppings; even the system only provided a [Terrifying Bat Droppings] hint.
"Damn! Do I actually have to clean this up?"
Li Zheng felt even more disgusted, almost to the point of vomiting.
With no choice, he held the lantern in one hand, held his breath, and took an item from the capsule residence with the other.
Thick at the bottom and thin at the top, it was a Honey Fruit Tree.
The Honey Fruit Tree resembled a feather duster, just right for the task.
"It's a shame for the little tree though, it'll definitely be abandoned here once used."
Who knows if putting it back into the capsule residence would bring in any terrifying bat droppings.
Imagine cohabiting a 27-cubic unit space with bat droppings...
Li Zheng shivered involuntarily, better to leave it; just a Honey Fruit Tree, and he still had six more.
The Honey Fruit Tree swept across the machine, dislodging large amounts of bat droppings, revealing the machine beneath.
The design was oval, with a semi-transparent material surface; when the lantern light penetrated, a creature seemed to be lying inside.
[Genetic Biological Hibernation Chamber: Internal low temperature, a genetically modified creature is sleeping inside.]
Li Zheng leaned in for a closer look, clearly seeing the sleeping creature within the chamber.
It was a terrifying bat, only the size of a sparrow!
"A group of fifty or sixty terrifying bats settled here, could it be to guard this little bat?"
Li Zheng was puzzled.
Such a tiny bat, perhaps merely newborn, yet warranting defense from fifty to sixty adult bats?
Not to mention there was even an elite level terrifying bat present!
"Is there something special about this little bat?"
Unable to figure it out, Li Zheng planned to open it and take a look.
He's already killed over a dozen adult bats; moreover, this is just a juvenile bat.
Even if released and acting threateningly, he could crush it effortlessly, no need to worry.
"The detector's info signaling blue level safety? Terrifying bats should indicate danger... Oh, so this tiny one should indeed be within the safe range."
Li Zheng didn't think twice and found a protrusion on the side of the hibernation chamber.
He cleared away the surface gunk, revealing a device resembling an identity card reader.
Taking out his Identity Card, he tried swiping it.
Beep.
A blue light turned on, and a seam appeared at the edge of the hibernation chamber, rising upwards.
Cold air leaked from the gap, causing Li Zheng to step back several paces to avoid it.
Meanwhile, system notifications appeared:
[Player has obtained the first genetically modified creature, pet interface activated.]
[Player has obtained Black Iron Level pet: Terrifying Bat (unnamed)
Omnivorous
Juvenile
Gender: Female
Temperament: ???
Description: A genetically modified terror bat targeting weaknesses, no longer has the weaknesses of light-phobia and fire-fear.
Growth potential: Relatively high.
Status: Healthy/Low-temperature awakening.
Abilities: Weak Poisonous Bite, Agility.]
"Pet!"
Li Zheng's eyes widened. Although he had guessed this when the Genetic Core was decomposed at level one, now that his guess was confirmed, he felt a bit disappointed nonetheless.
"Why is it a terror bat?"
And according to the introduction, it's an immature terror bat!
What use could this thing possibly have?
Another mouth to feed?
A group of mature terror bats had been wantonly killed by him, a newcomer, ultimately forced to flee to other rooms for refuge.
Bringing along a tiny creature that could be squashed at the whim as a pet?
Don't be ridiculous!
It's already difficult to survive in the Matrix Realm, and now you have to carry a burden?
Food isn't suff...
Oh, food seems quite plentiful, so no worries.
"Let's see what this little thing looks like after genetic modification; if it's cute enough, keeping it around for fun isn't bad."
With this thought, Li Zheng waited until the cold air in the hibernation chamber dispersed then approached again.
Holding the lantern above the hibernation chamber, he illuminated the inside, and a little creature with eyes like black gemstones looked directly at him.
Li Zheng looked at it.
It looked at Li Zheng.
Perhaps due to genetic modification, the little creature looked only seventy to eighty percent similar to those terror bats previously killed.
Though all had a dragon-like head, the little terror bat's head lines were much softer, and its eyes more lively.
Perhaps this is the effect of ameliorating the light-phobia weakness.
A fine and short coat of soft fur with a bluish-grey hue, neither messy nor unkempt, even with a somewhat shiny gloss.
Four small short limbs, tender pink, nestled in front, currently trying to grasp something as the cold receded.
"Whoa, surprisingly good-looking, huh?"
Li Zheng raised an eyebrow; this burden...accepted.
"Come on, out you go."
Discarding the Honey Fruit Tree in his hand, Li Zheng reached into the hibernation chamber and gently pinched the little creature, lifting it out.
The little terror bat's body was still somewhat stiff, and Li Zheng turned his hand over, letting it settle in his palm to warm it with his body temperature.
Cradling the little bat out from the feces zone, it was already wobbling about in Li Zheng's hand.
Just as it stood up, the little fellow began to climb up Li Zheng's arm.
Yet when it reached the wrist, its four little limbs slipped.
Splats.
Dropped to the ground.
"Squeak squeak."
The little creature, after falling face-first, scrambled up, climbed onto Li Zheng's shoe, and began ascending his pant leg.
Didn't climb far,
Splats,
fell again.
This time it landed on Li Zheng's shoe top.
Got up, climbed again.
Splats,
climbed again.
Splats,
until it was exhausted, lying on Li Zheng's shoe top panting, unable to reach the knee even once.
"What are you doing there?"
Li Zheng watched the whole performance, giggling, he bent down and picked it up into his palm.
"Squeak squeak."
The little terror bat looked at Li Zheng's face, making a soft sound.
"You mean to get closer?"
Unexpectedly, Li Zheng felt he somehow understood the little terror bat's intent.
"Squeak squeak."
The little bat nodded.
"Alright, stay in my hand, don't move, or you'll fall again."
Li Zheng said as he brought his palm beside his cheek.
The next moment, something furry touched him.
The little terror bat affectionately nuzzled Li Zheng's cheek with its small head, its eyes like black gemstones squinting, continuously calling out: "squeak squeak...squeak squeak..."
Turns out, it put in all that effort just to be close to me.
At that moment, Li Zheng felt a bit of connection with this little creature he had just met.
"Little one, how about we rely on each other in the Matrix Realm from now on?"
"Squeak."