The western district was quieter by the second night.
Not peaceful.
But controlled.
Generators were operational inside the supermarket storage room.
Limited lighting had been restored.
Cold storage units were functioning again.
Small advantages.
But advantages accumulate.
Zhao Ren stood near the second-floor window overlooking the main street.
Threat Detection was calm.
No major hostiles within range.
He opened his status panel again.
Grave Sovereign: 45 / 100 Unique Absorptions.
Close to halfway.
But he needed diversity, not repetition.
Industrial variants had helped.
Still, most absorptions were low to mid-level.
To evolve faster, he needed stronger and rarer types.
As if responding to that thought
A faint system prompt appeared.
Interesting.
Environmental diversity.
Hidden zone.
Higher risk.
Higher potential reward.
He closed the panel and turned toward Chen Wei.
"There's an underground network beneath this block," Zhao Ren said.
Chen Wei raised an eyebrow slightly.
"High density?"
"Yes."
Chen Wei didn't hesitate.
"I'll assign a small team."
"No," Zhao Ren replied calmly.
"I go alone."
Chen Wei studied him for a moment.
"Understood."
The sewer access hatch was two streets west.
Metal cover slightly displaced.
No visible disturbance.
Zhao Ren removed it quietly and descended.
The air below was cooler.
Damp.
Echoing faintly.
Threat Detection activated immediately.
Multiple presences.
Scattered.
He moved carefully along the narrow pathway.
No rushing.
He needed variety, not chaos.
The first variant appeared around a bend.
Smaller.
Lean.
System panel identified it.
Perfect.
New classification.
The engagement was controlled and brief.
Zhao Ren absorbed it.
He continued deeper.
Two more distinct variants appeared over the next fifteen minutes.
One with elongated limbs.
Another with hardened outer plating.
Different traits.
Different structures.
Each absorption increased the counter steadily.
Then
A slightly larger presence ahead.
Not overwhelming.
But stronger.
System identification appeared.
Interesting.
Environmental intelligence.
He adjusted position.
Used the narrow corridor to limit movement.
The encounter remained controlled.
No excessive force.
No prolonged exchange.
When it fell, Zhao Ren placed his hand on it.
The system vibrated differently this time.
Stronger.
The moment the counter reached fifty
Everything paused.
The sewer tunnel dimmed briefly.
A new system notification appeared.
Interesting.
He no longer needed direct contact for every absorption.
Efficiency increased.
Positioning advantage widened.
He exhaled slowly.
Halfway achieved.
And the evolution was functional not cosmetic.
Above ground
A faint tremor passed through the district.
The system voice echoed citywide.
Time remaining: 36 Hours.
Zhao Ren closed the panel.
Han Qian would feel the shift as well.
So would others.
The Trial was tightening faster now.
He turned toward the ladder and climbed back to the surface.
Above ground, the city lights flickered under controlled generator power.
Stability.
Structure.
Momentum.
Halfway to full evolution.
And for the first time
The path ahead felt clearer.