The city was alive with a sense of urgency. Association officials were frantically investigating the source of the cataclysmic event that had just transpired.
The damage was enormous, and the prime suspects were the Tier 1 hunters, whose skills could cause such devastation. Little did they know, the real culprit was far beneath their radar—an unexpected Tier 0 being.
Meanwhile, inside his room, Evan sifted through the spoils of his battle against Varnox and Gilder. Amid his hurried retreat, he had collected items he hadn't had time to properly examine. Now, in the safety of his solitude, he could finally look at them.
Among the treasures was a peculiar pair of fruit-like items. Their shape was strange, unlike anything Evan had seen before. In addition, two pages looked familiar, possibly from Nexus, though the origins were unclear.
Curious, Evan turned to his system to reveal their descriptions. He first focused on one of the strange fruits. It glowed with a greenish-gold hue, and silver veins of mana twisted across its surface. When touched, it hummed faintly, almost melodically. But the system's response was less than helpful.
[Item: ?????
Grade: ????
Tier: ?
Description: ?????????????????????????????????????????
Effect:
-> ??????
-> ?????? ]
Evan furrowed his brows. The fruit wasn't responding, much like his mask had when he first obtained it. It seemed to be beyond his current Tier or perhaps broken. But this item had come from that fool's hidden room, so it had to be important.
"Might be some potential item Gilder's father brought for him," Evan muttered, about to discard the fruit, but then an idea struck him. "Hey, talent, can you give me the description of this item?" he asked, hoping his talent could shed some light on it.
[
Evan groaned, feeling a mix of frustration and resignation. "Oh, come on! At least help me out here, you dumb system." He sighed. "Fine, tell me the cost of evolution then."
[
Evan's eyes nearly popped out of his head. "Wait—126,000 EEP for a Tier 0 item? Are you crazy? Who would pay such an outrageous price for something like this?"
[
Evan fumed. "Fine, whatever. I don't have that kind of EEP anyway." He started to put the fruit aside, but then the talent responded again.
[
"Wait a second... So I can enchant it?" Evan said, his frustration lifting slightly as a new plan formed.
[
"Okay, okay, don't always make me feel inferior. Then, enchant it twice. I don't have many points left anyway."
[
As the enchantment process began, Evan impatiently waited for the result. When it finished, the fruits had changed. The once greenish hue now blended with deep gold, and the silver veins of mana had spread across the surface like a fine web. The new description was revealed.
[Jerdant Soulfruit has been enchanted 2 times. Talent has provided the host with the data of the new enchanted item.]
[Item: Jerdant Soulfruit (+2)
Grade: Epic+
Tier: 1
Type: Consumable | Soul-Enhancement Fruit
Description:
A mythical fruit born deep within the forbidden Emerald Dusk Forest, later enhanced through ancient arcane enchantments. The Jerdant Soulfruit, now pulsing with primal vitality and spiritual energy, is revered as a treasure that transcends mortal limits. Upon consumption, the user is infused with overwhelming strength and experiences a rare advancement of their very soul—strengthening their existence at both physical and spiritual levels. Few who consume the fruit unprepared survive its raging vitality and soul-scorching force.
Effects:
➤ All Basic Stats increased by +75 permanently (Strength, Agility, Intelligence, Vitality, Endurance, Stamina).
➤ Soul strength increased by some small percentage (permanent).—Enhances Soul Resilience, Mental Defense, Mana Control, and Future Evolution Potential.]
Evan's jaw dropped. "Oh my god, this fool had something this good just lying around? How could he not have used it?" he muttered, his face lighting up with excitement. "But thankfully, it's in my hands now."
He then decided to check the fruit's unenchanted form, but the talent wasn't going to let him off that easily.
[
Evan groaned. "Come on! Let me see what you did with my 10,000 EEP!" But no response came from the talent, and Evan realized he had once again been tricked.
In his frustration, he stuffed both enchanted fruits into his mouth without a second thought. As the energy surged within him, his body began to swell with power, his muscles bulging unnaturally. But just as quickly as the pain began, the energy seemed to break apart and dissipate.
His body was overrun by the massive flow of power. The sensation was overwhelming, but then something miraculous happened—something inside of him devoured the excess energy, preventing him from being consumed by it. Whether it was his Death Monarch physique or some other force, Evan wasn't sure, but it saved him.
[System has detected a huge amount of energy circulating inside the host's body.]
[All basic stats have been increased by 150 stat points permanently.]
[Your soul strength has been increased by some percentage.]
[Body's Soul Resilience, Mental Defense, Mana Control, and Future Evolution Potential have been enhanced.]
[The huge amount of energy in the host body is still circulating, trying to reach every part of the host body to complete its effects.]
[The energy is too much to hold inside the host body, and the body is going to be overloaded with energy.]
[An unknown substance in the host's body has started to eat away all the excess energy.]
Evan checked his system screen, watching the stats increase. Everything had been neatly enhanced, and despite the chaos, he felt the positive effects taking hold. His body and soul were strengthened beyond his wildest expectations.
Turning to the next item, Evan faced another challenge. The two pages were just as mysterious as the fruit. But the system, once again, was not eager to provide details. Determined, Evan decided to use his talent for assistance—this time, he would be more strategic.
"System, I wish to enchant these two pages with your help."
[
Evan blinked. "Whoa, okay, I don't have that many EEPs right now. Do you think I'd enchant them with such outrageous costs? I just needed the names, thanks for the help, talent!" Evan laughed at his cleverness.
[
The sudden change in the system's response stopped Evan in his tracks. He realized too late that he had dug his own grave by making fun of the talent.
Evan couldn't help but wonder why such rare and dangerous items had ended up in the hands of the Gilder family. The Tier 3 battle art was not something to be taken lightly, but Evan speculated that its incomplete state might have allowed it to remain hidden in Nexus, out of the public eye. Given that people from Ceruleth were forbidden from using such battle arts by certain ancient rules, it seemed that these items had slipped through unnoticed.
The mana-refinement art, on the other hand, was clearly intended for Gilder's use. Likely brought back by his father, the art was commonly used by Tier 1 hunters to cultivate their mana density and strength. It was a tool for growth, not unlike the magic Evan had encountered during his travels.
As Evan pondered all of this, it struck him—he had stumbled upon a golden opportunity of Lucas. The stat-boosting items, the battle art, and his connection to dragons through his surname, Drake, had all fallen into place. The mana refinement art, likely designed for mages or even swordsmen, seemed to complement his own abilities perfectly.
Evan realized that this chance might have come to Lucas when he freed Mike's father in future. Had he not intervened, he might have reached a new height of power with these few items.
Meanwhile, miles away in Lucas's house, the uneasy feeling that had plagued him since Mike and Raven's departure lingered. Lucas lay beside Tess, but something gnawed at him. It was as though he had lost something—a powerful, irreplaceable item—taken from him against his will.
The feeling slowly faded, but not before Lucas felt a sharp pain in his chest, a fleeting sting that vanished as quickly as it came. Only after half an hour did the unease finally dissipate, allowing him to fall back into a restless sleep.
The next day, Evan prepared for another hunt with Lucas's team, having organized the items he obtained from Varnox. The routine began again—hunting, selling, and progressing with ease, as they had grown much stronger since their previous hunts.
However, news of Mike's death soon reached them. The team learned the painful details, including Raven's involvement in the events leading to Mike's demise. Evan, ever the strategist, told them a carefully crafted lie, spinning a tale of heroism in which Mike sacrificed himself to save Raven and his father from an old childhood friend.
The revelation of Mike's betrayal came as a shock to Tess and Ilya, leaving them stunned. But Lucas remained eerily calm, as though he knew something they didn't. Evan's suspicion of him grew, though he lacked the proof to confront him directly.
The team's morale took a hit, and they cancelled their dungeon expedition for the day. The heavy mood lingered, but Lucas's attempts to motivate them with some of his less-than-serious pep talks eventually got them back on track. Slowly but surely, the team returned to their usual pace, hunting diligently once again.
In the weeks that followed, everyone had levelled up significantly. Lucas reached Level 72, while Evan was nearing Level 70. But Evan was beginning to feel the strain of his unique physique. His growth was slower than it should have been, thanks to the high EXP requirements his body demanded. If he had started his journey earlier with this physique before, he was sure he would have reached Level 100 by now.
His stats had been steadily rising, and with his class perks, his mana pool was growing impressively high for a Necromancer. Yet, time was running out. The countdown to unlocking his system had shortened from 14 weeks to just 9. It was clear to him that more time would be needed to reach his full potential.
With that in mind, Evan made a decision. He was finally ready to confront Lucas—the Dragon Mage. His power now surpassed Lucas's, and he was confident he could defeat him, even without his class points fully assigned.
His army of undead was growing, too. His elite summons were steadily increasing, and among them was a powerful new addition: a mutated, winged eagle Undead. This Mid-Boss summon, once a boss monster from a gate they had hunted, was an imposing creature—capable of lifting two or three people at once.
Ilya and Tess were in awe of the eagle, amazed at its size and strength. They had quickly learned how to work in sync with the bird, using it to avoid danger during battles. As Evan prepared for his ultimate showdown with Lucas, he knew that with his army and summons, he was ready for whatever the future held.
For the past few days, Evan hadn't spared a moment of rest. Every single day, he pushed himself to his limits, refining his skills and relentlessly upgrading his abilities.
And finally, after much struggle, he managed to manifest the Ice element through his skill Ice Spike. The process had been long and tedious, but his determination paid off. The skill had reached its max level on its own, a testament to how hard Evan had pushed himself—though, in truth, he had only just reached 12% of F rank in his progression.
His status was drastically different from before. All of his Weapon Master and Mage class skills were maxed out, and his Necromancer skills were quickly approaching their caps. But, as expected, progress was growing harder at every level.
The biggest hurdle? His weapon mastery. His proficiency with most weapons was hovering around the S rank, but even his sword, bow, and dagger—his go-to weapons—weren't advancing at the same pace. They were stuck. And that meant Evan needed a massive boost to break through.
Today, however, he had a singular focus: to deal with Lucas once and for all. He couldn't afford to wait any longer. If he ascended to his next Tier, he knew Lucas wouldn't stand a chance. But for now, Evan steeled himself, knowing the time for action had come.
As he left his house, he thought about the possibility of never returning. He couldn't afford to entertain any doubts. Today, the end of the line would come for Lucas.
Evan quickly made his way to the CGA, his summon by his side, leaving the taxi behind. He arrived in no time, already heading toward the usual spot where his team was waiting. Ilya soon appeared, and the team made their way toward the dungeon inquiry section.
Their target: the Stonecoil Hollow, a vast underground cave system home to Earth Elemental serpent-based monsters. The final boss was a serpent-humanoid creature.
As always, the rules of dungeon raiding applied. They checked their belongings and prepared for the hunt. But Evan, instead of buying any supplies, took a moment to inform Darian about his plan.
The exchange was brief but necessary. Darian nodded in acknowledgement, confirming that everything was in place for what was to come.
Raven gave him a final glance, then turned to his team. The tension in the air was palpable. The final battle was approaching.
Once inside the dungeon, Evan wasted no time. He deployed his undead army, the elite summons quickly tearing through the dungeon's monstrous inhabitants. Stonecoil Vipers, Terrashard Constrictors, Earthcoil Ritualists—one by one, they fell. And then came the Mid Boss, a massive Earth Serpent. A challenge, but not one beyond the strength of Lucas and the team.
Meanwhile, Evan kept his undead army in check, using Necro Heal to maintain their strength.
As the skill levelled up, its range and efficiency had improved drastically. The battle progressed with relative ease until they encountered the real challenge: the final boss, Earthcoil Shaman – Varkhaz.
Varkhaz, in his dying breaths, began to mutate, transforming into a Demonic form. The corrupted energy surged through him, threatening to overwhelm the team. Ilya and Tess were holding their ground, but the Shaman's power was immense. Even Lucas, despite his efforts, couldn't maintain his stamina long enough to deal a decisive blow.
Evan knew what had to be done as he knew what Lucas was going to do now. Without hesitation, he made the call and called out his army back.
Lucas, at his limit, was barely holding on. Evan stepped back as Lucas summoned his Dragon Magic-enhanced Flame Orb. The attack hit the Demonic Shaman with devastating force, finishing him off in a flash of light and heat.
But that wasn't the end.
As the team began tending to Lucas's wounds, the unease in the air became palpable.
Evan stood motionless, facing the army of undead he had summoned, his cold gaze piercing through the battlefield. The others didn't sense it at first, but the atmosphere had shifted.
Then, it happened. A dark veil—Evan's signature skill— which he used many times formed in front of their eyes.
Lucas, who had just begun to relax, saw this and chuckled, his fatigue setting in. "Raven, what are you doing? This isn't the time for your little pranks…" He tried to laugh it off, but his words trailed off as he noticed something was terribly wrong.
Ilya and Tess screamed in alarm.
Without hesitation, Lucas dashed toward the girls, but before he could reach them, he was stopped dead in his tracks. The undead—Evan's undead—were surrounding the girls, their grip firm as they held them unconscious. But it wasn't just that. Raven, the man who had been his friend, was standing at the centre of it all.
"Raven!" Lucas called, his voice laced with disbelief. "What is this? It's not the time for your pranks. Let them go!"
But Raven didn't answer. His gaze remained fixed, his presence unsettling. The dark veil that enveloped the area grew thicker, and the air seemed to grow colder. It wasn't a joke. It wasn't a prank. This was something else entirely.
The sound of Lucas's heart pounding in his chest was deafening as he realized—too late—that he had underestimated Raven. The very man he thought he could trust had turned against him.
"Raven, what are you doing?" Lucas repeated, his voice now shaking. But there was no response.
The weight of the moment hung in the air, as Evan's plans began to unfold before their very eyes. As he rushed out to get the girls back.
Before Lucas could reach the unconscious girls, Evan appeared beside him in an instant. With a single strike, he sent Lucas flying, slamming him into one of the stone walls within the underground dome where they had battled the boss just moments ago.
"What are you doing, and what did you do with the girls?" Lucas spat out blood, struggling to rise from the floor. The recoil of his previous skill still shook his body.
Evan's cold voice rang out, "You talk too much, Lucas. Can't you see what's happening here? Isn't it obvious what I'm doing? And don't worry about the girls—they're fine. But should you care about them right now? If I were you, I'd be more concerned about myself."
Summoning an undead mage, Evan directed it to fire spells at Lucas. He tried to dodge and evade, but his body was still in poor condition. Desperately, Lucas downed a few bitter health and mana potions, hoping to regain his strength.
"Now, that's more like it. Get ready, Raven. I'm going to beat you senseless, and then I'll find out who's really behind all this," Lucas gritted through his teeth, his confidence returning as his body recovered.
He charged at Evan, his strength now restored. Evan summoned his normal-grade undead, ordering them to engage Lucas. But Lucas was certain he could handle these creatures alone, tearing through them one by one, his focus on getting to Raven.
Just when he thought he had cleared the path, Evan's movement caught him by surprise. Before Lucas could land his attack, Evan delivered a brutal blow to his stomach, sending him crashing backward.
"Surprised? A necromancer rivaling you in strength and agility?" Evan taunted, his voice cutting through the air like ice.
Lucas, despite the pain, clenched his fists and stood up, determination in his eyes. "No. I figured it out. I know how you got so strong. But it doesn't matter. I can still beat you."
With newfound resolve, Lucas rushed at Evan again, his speed almost double what it had been before. Evan, impressed by the surge of power, decided to honor the challenge. But Lucas' strength wasn't enough to break through Evan's defenses. Evan skillfully blocked, dodged, and counterattacked with precision, each hit wearing Lucas down further.
"What did you do to the girls? Answer me!" Lucas demanded, his voice hoarse from the effort. He was still fighting, but his mind was focused on the safety of Ilya and Tess.
Evan smirked. "Oh, you care so much about them, even while you're getting pummeled? Fine, I'll tell you. They're just asleep, under my
Lucas finally breathed a sigh of relief, but it quickly turned into frustration. "Now you've really crossed the line."
With a fierce shout, Lucas's body began to change. Dark scales spread across his skin, transforming him into a scaled humanoid beast. "You're the first to see this power, Raven. Behold, {Dragonification}!" His voice roared with newfound power as the transformation completed, his strength surging.
Evan's eyes narrowed. The power radiating from Lucas was immense, but Evan wasn't backing down. He matched Lucas' power with his own, using his Combat Eye to read every movement, every shift of his opponent's body. The two clashed, their attacks creating shockwaves that reverberated through the dungeon.
Lucas fought with everything he had, but Evan's calculated evasion and counterattacks began to take a toll on him. The pain in Lucas's body grew with each blow, but his determination kept him going.
"Stop running your mouth, Lucas. You're weaker than I thought," Evan taunted as he dodged another strike.
"You're about to regret underestimating me, Raven!" Lucas growled, pushing himself further.
Evan's eyes glinted coldly. "Not as much as you will." With a swift motion, he called forth his summons again, but Lucas's sharp instincts cut them down almost immediately. Only one thing could save Evan now.
"System, redistribute my stat points," Evan muttered under his breath, his hands shaking from the intense strain.
Before he could complete his command, Lucas was already on him, his dragon-empowered form moving faster than ever. A fist collided with Evan's face, sending him flying once more.
"How's it feel, huh?" Lucas sneered, walking toward him, confident that victory was now within his grasp.
But Evan, blood dripping from his nose, slowly rose. His vitality kicked in, healing him instantly. "You think those punches hurt? You're really not even close to my level," Evan said, his voice steady despite the pain.
"How?" Lucas stumbled back in disbelief, his body trembling as Evan's strength became undeniable.
Evan smirked. "I wasted so much time getting close to you, Lucas. But you're weaker than I imagined. I should've finished this sooner."
With a wave of his hand, Evan activated the final phase of his power, the culmination of everything he had learned and evolved. His stat points had shifted, pushing him beyond his limits.
Lucas's confidence shattered as Evan closed in. "Now, I'm done holding back."
[...To be continued...]