"So high humans can't evolve anymore huh..." I muttered to myself.
My eyes then went again to Artifact section, as I asked myself what it might be.
According to fantasy logic, I should be able to summon it but I just can't...
Anyways, after that, I asked a bunch of things to Mike and Sarah, like why can't I evolve?
The answer is simple, Evolution either needs a catalyst or a long long time...
The system with its arrival cut out the time factor and transformed humans into best possible forms they will be able to evolve into.
On the other hand, it used the catalyst to bring out successful mutations aswell.
Now that catalyst, it is still in them and can be used again with other catalyst to bring out more mutations in them but for high humans, they have no such catalyst in them.
So, all we can do is either form a catalyst in us or level up our ability to become stronger.
That's all they know, how to form a catalyst? Level up our abilities? Or even what a catalyst is? They don't know...
I can try asking out using one of my 3 free questions but decided to save the other 2 for later.
As for the last one? Well...
The requirement of Level 9 authority is to own an artifact of rank D or higher. That's what I used it to know.
However, even though it came as a suprise that I have a Rank D artifact, there was no real use of it as I have no idea how to summon it or where is it.
Anyways, leaving aside the system issue, the condition on the floor have worsened a bit since morning.
Everyone brought their lunch from home in the morning and some got it from cafeteria, the water is still available here but it's been a whole day now.
Most have barely eaten as the food is equally divided among everyone here and the situation is such that 3 of the people here have gone to another floor to get food.
However, the floor below us is kind of dangerous so everyone is a little tense.
'Well, they could have tried going upstairs aswell since there are restaurants about 20 floor above us, but I guess it's uncertain it will be safe as well. Rather than betting on it, it's better to take some risk here...'
Anyways, the whole of our team have a total of 5 high humans including me, 1 with Transcendence, 2 with Telepathy and 2 with Telekinesis.
Since 1 guy with Telekinesis was needed to go with the reason being that they would be still connected with someone up here, I was also almost forced to go as well but thankfully, the other guy braved up and said that he wants to go.
Definitely someone after high risks and high rewards.
Which is completely fine with me as the top priority for me right now is my family.
I haven't been able to get in contact with them since morning and it not gonna lie, it kind of makes me worried.
It's taking a lot out of me not to imagine the worst case scenarios and all I can do is pray and keep trying to contact them.
That is till my battery runs out, it might not last for long.
The corridor felt heavier with every passing second as no one spoke a word. Everyone was just staring at the door, eagerly waiting and hoping that those who went will come back with good news.
Then... Someone stood up, it was the half pig guy from before, Mr. Carter. Till yesterday, he was the team leader here, only under the manager but now, he is nothing more than a half pig with some authority here.
"CLOSE THE DOOR!!" Mr. Carter's voice cracked through the hallway as he lunged forward, grabbing the door with both thick, bristled arms.
His half-pig form looked terrifying now, with broad shoulders, coarse dark hair covering parts of his neck, slightly protruding snout, tusks barely visible when he shouted.
But there was no hesitation in him. This wasn't the calm team leader from yesterday. This was someone trying to survive just like everyone else.
Everyone else reacted instantly as well as they followed behind him towards the door.
Mike rushed in beside him, slamming one heavy claw against the metal door to force it shut.
John grabbed the handle as Saniel pressed his palm forward, using telekinesis to add invisible force against the other side.
The door slammed shut just as something crashed into it from outside. The impact echoed through the corridor as a deep, guttural growl seeped through the metal.
My heart dropped.
Mr. Carter was breathing heavily. "Push! Don't let it open!" he said as another slam echoed, this time even harder than before as the door frame trembled.
"What's happening?!" Someone shouted in a scared voice as Mr. Carter's small, dark eyes were wide.
"They were running!" he said. "It followed them!!" A scream rang inside his head as he flinched. "They brought it with them!" he yelled. "It followed them up!"
Cold dread spread across the room as I immediately understood what's happening.
"Brought what?!" Sarah asked but before he could answer- Something heavy smashed against the other side again.
The metal bent slightly inward as a long, sharp scraping sound followed. It was like claws dragging slowly down steel.
Mr. Carter's voice dropped.
"It's not alone…"
The words hit harder than the impact.
Daniel clenched his jaw. "Ryan's still connected to you?"
Mr. Carter nodded quickly. "Barely. He's panicking. He says it was waiting down there. In the storage area."
Another bang, this time the top hinge let out a sharp metallic crack as a few people screamed.
"It's fast," Mr. Carter continued, voice shaking despite his bulky frame. "Too fast. It didn't chase them immediately. It waited until they reached the stairs. Then it followed quietly."
The scratching suddenly stopped completely leaving everything in a absolute silence.
There was no growling or banging for a while, absolutely nothing as everyone froze, holding their breath.
Then, the one connected hrough the telepathic link... Mr. Carter suddenly felt on his knees as he let out a long scream.
"They all... They all are... THEY ALL ARE DEAD!!" HE SAID AS My stomach tightened.
"Dead?" someone whispered, their voice barely audible.
For a brief second, there was nothing. No growling. No scratching. Just a suffocating silence that pressed down on all of us.
Then...
*BANGG!!!*