Dawn broke.
A pale light spread across the horizon as night finally loosened its grip.
The transport vehicle rolled back into camp, carrying the exhausted remnants of the Earth Dragon Team.
"I'm… dead tired…"
Xiao Yunlong slumped into his seat, eyes heavy, voice drained.
They had fought without pause through the entire night—hunting the elusive Shadow Cat squad along the outskirts of the camp. Even as a Spirit Warrior, he was at his limit.
Qin Dadi and Liu Zhaozhao looked worse.
Their powers had been pushed too far.
The aftermath was brutal—splitting headaches, drained bodies, fraying focus.
Only the coming of dawn had saved them.
Without darkness, the Shadow Cats lost their greatest advantage.
They retreated.
For now.
Xiao Yunlong turned his head slightly.
His gaze landed on Qin Tian.
This new recruit…
He was wrong about him.
Completely wrong.
Through the entire night, Qin Tian had fought like something carved from steel.
Cold. Efficient. Relentless.
More than two-thirds of the Shadow Cats had died by his hands.
And yet—
No fatigue.
No slowing.
Even now, his expression remained calm, untouched.
Are clones… this terrifying now?
Xiao Yunlong closed his eyes.
For the first time, that thought unsettled him.
Back at their quarters—
"I'm sleeping."
Liu Zhaozhao didn't even pause to clean up. She stripped off her combat gear and walked straight into her room.
The door slammed shut.
A faint, exhausted groan followed.
"I'm out too."
Xiao Yunlong splashed water on his face, barely conscious, then disappeared into his room moments later.
Silence settled.
"Qin Tian."
Qin Dadi pointed toward a door on the right.
"That room is yours from now on. If you need anything, tell me—I'll have logistics handle it."
He paused, frowning slightly.
Then added:
"…Actually, I'll arrange everything. I'll teach you the basics later."
"…Okay."
Qin Tian nodded and turned away.
Qin Dadi raised a hand, as if to call him back.
But hesitated.
His expression darkened.
Not now.
After the war… maybe.
He exhaled, rubbing his temples, then entered his room.
Within seconds—
Snoring.
Swish—
Water ran.
Qin Tian turned off the tap and looked up at the mirror.
A stranger stared back.
Sharp brows. Deep-set eyes. A face carved with cold precision.
Detached.
Unapproachable.
Almost inhuman.
"…Not bad."
A faint smirk tugged at his lips.
"So handsome it's criminal."
The cold mask fell away—for once.
Relaxation seeped into his posture.
Keeping that expression all the time…
Was exhausting.
There were moments he wanted to speak, to ask questions, to join the others—
But the role he played forced silence.
A nod here.
A quiet "mm" there.
Nothing more.
He skipped the shower.
Too risky.
Instead, he washed up quickly and lay down on the bed.
Then—
His mind sank inward.
Six light spheres floated in the darkness.
Four green.
Two white.
Above each—
A faint, translucent "+".
At the edge of his awareness, numbers flickered.
326 Evolution Points.
Earned in a single night.
From killing.
"…Let's test it."
Qin Tian focused on one sphere:
[High-tier Strength]
He selected the "+".
A numerical input appeared.
He entered:
20.
Confirmed.
Buzz—
The sphere trembled.
A faint glow flickered—
Then faded.
Nothing changed.
"…That's it?"
No cost indicator.
No feedback.
Just… silence.
Only the color seemed slightly deeper.
"Fine."
He shifted focus.
Two white talents:
[Lesser Blade Sense]
[Cat's Agility]
Lower tier.
Easier to evolve.
More efficient.
Without hesitation—
He chose:
[Cat's Agility]
200 Evolution Points.
Confirmed.
Buzz—
The sphere shook violently.
Its pale white deepened—thickened—
A faint green began to emerge.
At the same time—
His body reacted.
Muscles tightened.
Reflexes sharpened.
A subtle, undeniable change.
"…So partial evolution works too."
Then—
Another input.
51 Points.
Buzz—
The transformation accelerated.
White faded.
Green consumed everything.
[Cat's Agility] → [Shadow of the Spirit Cat]
[Type] Passive Talent[Description] Enhanced agility, explosive movement, and reflexes. Silent steps. Environmental blending. Sharpened senses—smell, hearing, night vision.
Crack—
A strange sensation spread through his body.
Like invisible hands reshaping muscle and bone.
Not pain.
Not pleasure.
Something… in between.
Qin Tian closed his eyes.
The world changed.
Breathing—from the next room.
Metal grinding outside—vehicles passing.
The faint scent of burnt oil in the air.
Everything—
Clear.
Sharp.
Alive.
A slow smile formed.
Dangerous.
Quiet.
Addictive.
This world was brutal.
Death lurked everywhere.
A stray bullet.
A single misstep.
And it would all end.
But—
This feeling of growth.
Of becoming something beyond human—
It was intoxicating.
Then—
His thoughts shifted.
To last night.
Qin Dadi — overwhelming force, like a moving fortress.
Liu Zhaozhao — flames that scorched the battlefield.
Xiao Yunlong — a blade faster than sight.
Without his rifle—
He wouldn't last a single exchange.
Not even close.
The gap wasn't just power.
It was experience.
Control.
Understanding.
Superpower Users.
Spiritualists.
Two paths.
Two worlds.
From what he had learned—
Spiritualists stood above.
Divided into two branches:
Spellcasters.
Martial specialists.
Anything a Superpower User could do—
They could do better.
Stronger.
Cleaner.
Absolute.
Qin Tian's eyes narrowed slightly.
A plan began to take shape.
Careful.
Deliberate.
Calculated.
"If that's the case…"
His gaze darkened.
"I'll start with Xiao Yunlong."