Chapter 471 - Taming the Gold 3 Ring
Zhao noticed movement.
At first he thought they were shadows cast by the massive trunks, but soon he realized that the dark shapes sliding between the branches were something much more alive.
"The former predators," he murmured, watching how a large feline creature moved gracefully through the bark of one of the giant trees.
The creature he was now studying had been, in previous rings, one of the dominant predators. A Royal Shadow Cat of Gold 3 Rank. But now, in this transformed ecosystem, it had become something very different.
"They adapted."
It was apparently thinner than its relatives from lesser rings, or at least had much less fluffy fur, its muscles redesigned for climbing. Its claws had developed specialized hooks that allowed it to adhere to the smooth bark of the giant trees, and its eyes had evolved bigger to detect the mana fluctuations that indicated when a "fruit" was ripe for harvest.
The adaptation was remarkable to observe.
"Thieves," Zhao realized. "They became mana thieves."
The observation was fascinating. These predators, unable to grow at the same rate as their prey, had developed a completely new strategy: stealing the mana accumulation organs that the trees used to continue their evolution.
The Shadow Cat he was observing approached by stealthily climbing to one of the golden fruits, its movements slow and precise. Zhao could see how the creature evaluated the maturity of the organ by moving its nose and whiskers.
The process was methodical. The cat seemed to listen to subtle vibrations.
It seemed to be ready... The creature bristled its back and raised its ears, waiting for the perfect moment to attack.