Chapter 5: The Price of Evolution
The stench of death and sewage in the alley felt stronger now — not only because of the Mole Rat Alpha crushing a taxi on the avenue, but also because of the cold scent of my own greed. Fifty XP. Almost a third of the experience I needed for Level 3, locked inside a single Level 5 monster I could barely dream of fighting.
I backed away slowly into the darkness of an abandoned garage, ignoring the cold sweat running down my forehead.
"Calm down, Klaus. Think. Strategy," I murmured, resting my head against the cold wall.
The goal was clear: finish the Survival Mission (50 kills) and reach Level 3.
The Math of Survival
My current status was:
Level: 2 (XP: 160/200)
XP Needed for Level 3: 40 XP
Mission Progress: 17/50 (33 kills remaining)
The Mole Rat Alpha (Level 5) would give 50 XP. If I killed it, I'd level up instantly and still have 10 XP left.
But it was surrounded by three Level 1 rats and had an HP bar I couldn't even see. Killing it felt like a 99% chance of death.
The alternative was the safe (and tedious) grind:
Each Putrid Mole Rat (Level 1) gave 10 XP.
Killing 4 more would give me Level 3.
Then I'd still need 29 more kills to finish the mission — 290 XP total, enough to reach Level 4.
Grinding was logical.
But the Alpha represented opportunity.
And worse — a threat too close for comfort.
If it decided to move areas, my hunting ground would be overrun.
"I need a safety margin. A minimum of power."
Decision made: Reach Level 3 first. Then, the mission. Then, the Alpha.
The Stealth Strategy
The next step required caution. I couldn't afford noise. The Alpha had made its nest near the main avenue.
I used my small frame and hermit instincts to move like a shadow.
The residential buildings became my new hunting grounds.
My Symbiote helped — Vital Absorption (F) gave me a subtle awareness of life vibrations through walls, like an organic sonar. It wasn't exact location-tracking, but more like a sixth sense for nearby hostile presence.
I entered the abandoned building next door, climbing the stairs in silence.
Kill 18: In the second-floor hall, a Mole Rat was tearing up a couch.
I used Feint and Lunge (F). The 10% agility boost let me stagger the beast and pierce its neck.
[You killed Putrid Mole Rat (Level 1)] [+10 XP] (170/200)
Kill 19: One floor up. The monster saw me first — charged forward.
I didn't dodge perfectly this time. A shallow claw mark grazed my shoulder.
[-15 HP] (145/160)
"Damn it." I exhaled sharply.
Used 1 Vital Energy to convert into +100 HP via Conversion (A). The wound closed instantly.
Kill 20: On the rooftop.
Quick fight. I was adapting. Fear was being replaced by routine.
[You killed Putrid Mole Rat (Level 1)] [+10 XP] (190/200)
Only one more to go.
Level 3 and the Choice
I descended back to the street, feeling the weight of my Vital Core (540/5000) and the tension of nearing a level-up.
The last monster stood in front of my building — inspecting the doorway.
It was twice the size of a Level 1, its skin more gray than rotten.
[Gray Mole Rat (Level 2)] HP: 200/200 XP: 20 XP
Twenty XP! I only needed ten, but a Level 2 would give twenty — and since it was above my level, the XP doubled.
20 (Base) × 2 (Level Bonus) = 40 XP.
"Forty XP. That'll push me straight into Level 3 with some overflow."
The decision was instant.
The grind was my economy, and the Gray one was currency.
The rat noticed me — growled, faster and stronger than the Level 1s.
It lunged.
I used Feint and Lunge (F). The agility boost made me a blur.
I aimed for its side — but my knife barely pierced the thick gray hide.
[-5 HP]
It spun, claws raking my right arm.
[-40 HP] (120/160)
Pain shot through me, sharp and raw.
My Healing Capacity (C) was active, but not enough.
I fell back, activating Vital Absorption (F).
A weak link formed, but it resisted.
I burned 3 Vital Energy to restore HP instantly.
It prepared for an all-out charge.
I analyzed. Its eyes were small. The flesh around the mouth — thinner.
"The weak point!"
I threw the kitchen knife — mistake.
It grazed its forehead. [-5 HP]
The rat roared and rushed.
That was my chance.
When it was a meter away, I extended both hands — not to block, but to channel full-force Vital Absorption.
The shadow tendril erupted violently, stabbing into the soft flesh around its mouth.
[Vital Absorption (F) – Forced Activation] [Life Drain + Bleed Damage Applied]
The Gray Rat screamed — not in pain, but terror.
The Symbiote wasn't just draining life — it was devouring existence.
Its claws flailed, trying to rip the shadow off.
Seconds later, it collapsed — dissolving into blue light.
[You killed Gray Mole Rat (Level 2)] [Bonus Multiplier: x2 XP] [+40 XP] [You leveled up!] [You leveled up!] [Stats increased: STR +1, DEF +1, VIT +1, AGI +1] Name: Klaus Race: Human / Symbiote Level: 3 (XP: 20/250) HP: 170/170 MP: 270/270 Stats: STR: 7 (+1) DEF: 7 (+1) VIT: 7 (+1) AGI: 7 (+1) INT: 15 MANA: 5
Relief hit like a punch to the chest.
Level 3.
A little stronger, faster, tougher.
Fatigue faded — pain dulled.
I was visibly stronger.
The Gray one gave me the boost I needed.
The Mission Dilemma
Confidence surged, but the mission still glared back at me.
Mission Progress: 21/50 (29 kills left)
XP for Level 4: 230 XP (Need 250 – have 20)
Now, Level 1 rats would give 10 XP base, but double due to lower level: 20 XP per kill.
29 kills = 580 XP — more than enough for Level 4.
I turned toward the alley — and froze.
The Alpha roared again, closer this time.
It had killed its lesser rats and was feeding, its massive form shifting with raw power.
Then it clicked.
Alpha (Level 5): 50 XP base
I was Level 3 → 2 levels below → x2 XP
50 × 2 = 100 XP.
If I killed it, I'd jump to 120/250 XP — halfway to Level 4 — and make 1/29 progress.
Risky, yes. But the XP was irresistible.
The Alpha turned, sniffing the air.
It was hunting me.
Running would only delay death.
To survive, I had to become the predator.
I needed an edge. And the System had taught me one thing: Combat Techniques unlock through repetition.
Preparation and Infiltration
I had Feint and Lunge (F). I needed more — defense.
The System rewarded repetition.
I trained — using an old metal grate in the garage.
Blocking. Countering.
Over and over.
Sweat. Pain. Precision.
Vitality 7 kept me going.
After ten perfect parries:
[You repeated a tactical movement 10 times during training.] [New Skill Unlocked: Shadow Shield (Rank F)] [Description: Concentrates symbiotic energy on the arm. Increases DEF by 10% for 2 seconds after a successful block.]
"Perfect."
Knife for offense.
Shield for defense.
It was time to face my first real boss.
The Alpha was distracted, gnawing on a corpse near the crushed taxi.
I activated Vital Absorption — channeling it into my left arm.
The Shadow Shield shimmered over it — dark and fluid.
I stepped from the shadows, toward the avenue.
The Battle
The Alpha lifted its head — red eyes locking onto me.
A small human.
A weakling.
It growled low, insulted.
"I'm Klaus," I thought, steadying my breath.
"And today, you're just XP."
It charged.
A massive paw came crashing down.
Block. Shadow Shield Activated.
The blow sent me flying back, but the shield absorbed the brunt.
[-15 HP] (155/170)
I was alive.
My DEF (7) plus the shield's bonus saved me from instant death.
The Alpha hesitated — surprised.
My turn.
Attack and Drain.
I dashed to its side — Feint and Lunge (F) triggered —
Agility surged. I stabbed upward, into the eye.
[-250 HP] — a critical hit.
The Alpha shrieked, the sound tearing the air.
It lunged to bite, but I had already fallen back — activating Vital Absorption.
The tendril of darkness pierced the wounded eye.
Not draining — devouring.
The massive HP bar, once unreadable, dropped visibly.
The Symbiote was ripping its essence apart.
The Alpha slammed its skull into the concrete, trying to crush me.
I rolled aside — debris flying.
The connection held.
The beast weakened — trembling, collapsing under its own weight.
Then silence.
It was dead.
Reward and Reality
A burst of light. The body dissolved.
[You killed Mole Rat Alpha (Leader) (Level 5)] [Bonus Multiplier: x2 XP] [+100 XP] [Mission Progress: 22/50] [Vital Core: 610/5000] [Item Drop: Alpha Claw (Rank D) – Crafting Material]
I was shaking, drenched in blood and grime.
But I had done it.
I'd killed a boss.
I exhaled, checking my status:
Level: 3 (XP: 120/250)
100 XP.
Nearly halfway to Level 4.
The gamble paid off.
The avenue was a wreck.
The Alpha was gone.
I was alive.
But the mission wasn't done — 28 kills left.
I picked up the Alpha Claw (D) and stored it in my Inventory.
The world had turned into an MMO — and I was grinding through it.
I had the power. And now, the proof.
I stared into the darkness of the ruined city, now pulsing with unseen monsters.
"Twenty-eight," I whispered — voice colder, harder.
Survival wasn't adventure anymore.
It was accounting.
And I had a balance to close.
End of Chapter 5