Although Liam had no idea what data the Information Integration ability was based on, he knew the figures it provided were rarely wrong.

  According to the ability’s own explanation, it was the first-tier form of an Optical Brain, capable of gathering necessary information from photons in the air to assist its user.

  “Flashback!”Liam selected the option on the light screen. Immediately, a time adjustment menu appeared, allowing him to trace back as far as ten years or as recent as one second ago.

  Thankfully, this ability was an optimized version derived from Elijah’s power — and Elijah didn’t possess it himself. Otherwise, he and the girl would never have hidden in the woods, and they wouldn’t have needed to burn the forest down.

  Liam glanced at the abandoned city ahead and chose the most recent second.At once, a full aerial view of the city unfolded on the screen. He could clearly see zombies wandering the streets, mutated creatures preying on them, and even tiny mutant lifeforms lurking in the shadows of skyscrapers.

  He discovered he could adjust the perspective with his mind. It was an absolute godsend for reconnaissance.Too bad this was the apocalypse — no girls dressed up fancy anymore. The ability was just born at the wrong time.

  He also spotted its flaw: the screen wouldn’t activate in sealed environments. Liam guessed that Flashback would become completely useless on nights without moonlight or starlight.

  The abandoned city ahead was medium-sized. Most zombies were already dead; only the stronger ones remained. But mutated creatures were everywhere — this place was practically their nest.

  Liam stared at the screen, switching angles constantly. He was searching for a safe place to rest.The wilderness might have fewer mutants, but any they encountered would be terrifyingly powerful. He preferred forests, ruined cities, or mountains for shelter.

  The girl hadn’t slept in three days. She’d been guarding him the entire time, and Liam could see it in her bloodshot eyes. He had to find somewhere she could rest peacefully.

  The view shifted again — and finally, Liam found a factory occupied by only two mutated wildcats.Eliminate them, and they’d have a temporary stronghold.

  Liam was about to lead the girl over when he suddenly thought of Black Armor.With a thought, he pulled up the Biological Detection function.

  He activated it on Black Armor, and its status immediately appeared on the screen.

  Name: Black Armor (Parasite Insect)Race: Butterfly Insect ClanGene Source: Black Emperor WormPotential: ★★★★☆Physique: —Strength: 152Agility: 207Cell Activity: 30Reaction: 79Total Combat Power: 354

  This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

  Abilities:Silk Binding +1Poison Silk Web +100Charge +5

  Evolution Points: 56100Next Stage: Black Armor PupaUltimate Form: Dark Death Butterfly

  “No way… its combat power is higher than mine?”Liam stared in shock. He’d never thought Black Armor was strong, but the data proved this big, black creature was genuinely powerful — especially its Poison Silk Web, which added a full 100 to its power. It was terrifying.

  Liam had always treated Black Armor like a mount. He’d never unlocked its true potential.Seeing these absurd stats, he finally realized how badly he’d underestimated it.

  “Black Armor, take out that zombie,” Liam ordered, pointing at the screen.

  Black Armor charged straight into the abandoned city. It shot silk to trap the targeted zombie, dragged it outside the city walls, then unleashed a wide, colorful web that wrapped the undead completely.Liam watched as the zombie’s body turned purple and melted into a puddle of black sludge.

  “Insane,” Liam muttered.He had no idea his mount was this broken. He wondered if its poison could counter Lucas’s corrosive liquid. Either way, the Poison Silk Web lived up to its 100-point boost.

  Liam felt like he’d been sitting on a treasure without knowing it.Devour and Self-Optimization only strengthened him personally, but parasite insects were his real greatest weapon.

  He made up his mind: they would settle in this ruined city for a while.At the very least, he needed to expand his parasite insect army. Black Armor alone wasn’t enough.But with ten parasites at a similar level? Even if Lucas came back, Liam wouldn’t fear him. He might not kill him, but he could definitely cripple him.

  “Black Armor, capture all mutated creatures nearby. Kill any zombies you find along the way,” Liam commanded.

  Black Armor moved again at once. Its webs were sticky enough to hold prey and drag them back. Its silk was even tougher than Ghost Eye Poison Spider webs — creatures dozens of times larger couldn’t break free.

  Liam watched Black Armor “kidnap” mutants at incredible speed and was left dumbfounded.The efficiency was insane. He could never work this fast.

  “I really misjudged you…” he murmured again.If he hadn’t obtained this broken Information Integration ability, Black Armor would’ve stayed underrated — maybe forever just a mount.

  After roughly half a day, Black Armor had captured all mutants on the city’s outskirts.Liam roasted two non-special mutant boars for the girl, then began selecting hosts for the parasite insects.

  Parasite insects were extremely weak on their own. They had to devour a host’s genes and evolve to reach their complete form.Their final strength depended entirely on the host — the stronger the host, the stronger the parasite.

  Black Armor’s combat power was absurd. Liam no longer planned to use it as a mount.His own power was only 115, while Black Armor hit 354.Since Black Armor couldn’t be a mount anymore, Liam wanted a mutant that doubled as both a fighter and a ride.

  First, it had to be huge. All small mutants were eliminated.Black Armor needed energy to evolve, and these small, ability-less creatures became its food.

  Next, it needed strength and speed. Slow, bulky mutants also became meals for Black Armor and the girl.

  Only three mutants remained.

  The first was an Artillery Beetle, tank-sized, with a cannon on its forehead that fired devastating blasts — though its barrel was currently glued shut with Black Armor’s silk.

  The second was a Two-Headed Lizard, an extremely rare variant.This one had mutated perfectly: one head controlled water, the other fire. Its body was covered in sharp spines, and its spine showed signs of ancient atavism.

  The third was a Giant Toad.Looking at it, Liam couldn’t help but reminisce about his old my unemployed days. He’d once loved a manga series — though now he felt bitter toward the author, who’d dragged the story on for years without an ending.In this apocalypse, it would never get one anyway.

  After careful consideration, Liam chose the Two-Headed Lizard as the parasite’s host.It had two abilities and clear atavistic traits. With the parasite’s optimization, it might even evolve into a genuine dragon-type parasite insect!