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

Chapter 005: The Girl with Blue Rabbit Ears

“Ding! A tameable animal has been detected. Would you like to tame it?”

The Beast Tamer System’s notification rang in Mu Liang’s mind.

He suddenly realized that the chameleon’s ability to change colors was actually quite useful.

Plus, his daily Taming Points had already refreshed, meaning he could tame a second animal.

Every day, after midnight, Taming Points would reset to 10.

“Tame the chameleon,” Mu Liang commanded.

“Ding! Detecting Level 0 lifeform: Chameleon. Taming in progress…”

“Ding! 10 Taming Points consumed. Taming successful.”

A soft white glow enveloped the chameleon. It stopped struggling and instead stretched its limbs comfortably.

Three seconds later, it underwent a transformation—its body shrinking to palm size, its scales shifting into vibrant red, green, and blue striped patterns.

“Ding! Would you like to inherit the Three-Colored Lizard’s talent: Mimetic Camouflage?”

“Inherit.” Mu Liang nodded.

“Ding! Mimetic Camouflage is being improved… Adapting… Inheritance complete.”

Mu Liang felt a cool sensation spread across his skin, followed by a faint warmth inside his body—so subtle that he wouldn’t have noticed if he wasn’t paying close attention.

“System, open my stats.” He wanted to check if anything had changed.

Beast Tamer: Mu Liang

Stamina:2
Speed:5
Strength:1
Spirit:9
Lifespan:24 years / 110 years
Taming Points:0 (Resets daily, can be accumulated)
Evolution Points:0
Abilities:
Earth Rock Spike (Level 1)
Mimetic Camouflage (Level 1)
Tamed Beasts:
Rock Armor Turtle– Talent: Earth Rock Spike (Level 1)
Three-Colored Lizard– Talent: Mimetic Camouflage (Level 1)

“So my stats barely increased. The real benefit of the Three-Colored Lizard is its talent, huh?”

Mu Liang activated Mimetic Camouflage, feeling the same cool sensation on his skin. The light around him distorted, blending him into the environment.

The whole process took about a second.

Turning his eyes downward, he saw that his clothes, shoulders, and even his back had changed to match the rocky terrain—various shades of brown and ochre.

He remained still.

Ten seconds… One minute… Ten minutes…

Half an hour passed.

“It seems like there’s no time limit for this ability.”

Mu Liang moved his hands and feet, and as soon as he did, the camouflage faded, revealing his true colors again.

“I see. The camouflage works by bending light, but any movement disrupts the effect.”

Now that he understood the strengths and weaknesses of Mimetic Camouflage, a smirk appeared on his lips.

“This ability is perfect for stealth and assassinations.”

“Go on, stay hidden around me.”

Mu Liang set the chameleon down.

At Level 1, the Three-Colored Lizard wasn’t strong. For now, it would just serve as a companion.

The lizard glanced at Mu Liang, then scurried up a rock wall, keeping just the right distance behind him.

If it stayed still, it would completely vanish from sight.

“If it gains an offensive talent later, I could train it into an Assassin’s Creed-style killer lizard.” Mu Liang thought with amusement.

Pulling his combat knife from the rock, he picked up the dead lizard and stuffed it into his pocket before continuing his hunt.

For over two hours, all he managed to catch were small lizards.

He also came across some venomous scorpions and insects but had no interest in eating them. Those were last-resort survival food.

“These look like rat burrows.”

Mu Liang found several small holes and inspected the tracks around them.

He planned to send the Three-Colored Lizard inside to flush out the rats when—

Thump, thump, thump…

His sharp hearing caught the sound of footsteps—getting closer, heading his way.

Years of special forces training kicked in instantly.

Mu Liang pressed himself against the rock wall, activated Mimetic Camouflage, and disappeared from sight.

Less than a minute later, a familiar yet unfamiliar figure entered his view.

It was Mino.

But what was unfamiliar… was the long blue rabbit ears on top of her head.

“Get her! Don’t let her escape!”

“You’re dead, girl! How dare you steal our prey?!”

“If we catch you, I swear I’ll kill you!”

Four men shouted threats as they chased after the girl, wielding bone knives and wooden spears.

“Shameless bastards!”

Mino shouted back angrily, “I caught that prey in my trap! Since when did it belong to you?!”

She was running with enough breath to spare for yelling back—clearly, she wasn’t at her limit.

Mu Liang watched her dash past him, not stopping the first three pursuers.

But when the fourth one reached him—

Mu Liang lunged forward, grabbed the man’s jaw, and used his own running momentum to slam his head into the ground.

“Crack!”

A sharp snap rang out.

The man’s neck broke instantly.

His mouth was covered, leaving him no chance to scream before he died.

The whole thing took less than two seconds.

Mu Liang stood up and silently pursued the remaining three.

Using the same method, he eliminated the one at the back without a sound.

Now, only two were left.

Something felt off to them—there were no footsteps, no breathing, no yelling from their companions.

Sensing danger, they stopped running and turned around.

“Who the hell are you?!”

“What did you do to them?!”

Gripping their weapons tightly, the two men shouted in alarm.

Mu Liang halted four meters away from them.

Hearing their voices, Mino instinctively turned her head.

“Huh???”

Her small mouth dropped open in shock.

She had deliberately led them away from Mu Liang’s direction… and yet, somehow, she had still run into him.

“Mu Liang! Run!” Mino shouted.

“So, you’re with her!”

Hearing Mino call his name, the two pursuers relaxed slightly.

Their biggest fear was running into scavenger hunters—merciless killers who preyed on the weak.

But since this guy was her ally, that meant he wasn’t some unknown threat.

“Kill him first!”

The man with the wooden spear took the lead, lunging forward to stab Mu Liang in the chest.

Mu Liang sidestepped fluidly, dodging the attack.

Using the attacker’s momentum, he stepped in close and slammed his elbow into the man’s chest.

“Crack!”

His ribcage shattered.

The man flew backward, collapsed on the ground, and coughed up blood.

Mu Liang’s physical stats were already three times higher than a normal person’s—

And that was before factoring in the enhancements from the Rock Armor Turtle.

With just a little force, an ordinary person stood no chance against him.

“Y-You’re an Enhancer…”

The last remaining man, gripping a bone knife, paled in fear.

He was frozen—unable to advance or retreat.

“Mu Liang! Watch out!” Mino shouted.

She rushed forward and kicked the man hard in the stomach.

“Thud!”

He fell to the ground, eyes darting between his dying comrade and Mu Liang.

Trembling, he stammered, “You… you can’t kill me! I work for Boss Bloodbeard!”

—

Translator’s Note:

Enhancer (强化者): Likely refers to people who have undergone physical or supernatural enhancements in this post-apocalyptic world.
Bloodbeard (血胡子): Possibly a gang leader or local warlord in this wasteland setting.