Virus King.
SSS-level.
Even Ethan White, who had lived through decades of apocalypse, hadn't dared imagine that his new awakening would leap so high, so fast.
In his last life, he had crawled upward, clawing for survival, never blessed with such fortune. Now, in a single step, he had vaulted into the heavens.
An SSS-level talent.
On all of Blue Star, in all of the blood-soaked records of the apocalypse, there had been only a handful of people blessed with such power. You could count them on one hand. They were figures who shaped history. Some became saints. Some became emperors. A few even reached toward the mythic tier, brushing against godhood itself.
And now, he stood among them.
His chest tightened with disbelief, then filled with fire. In his last life, the world had called him the White Devil Saint—but he had only reached that level because of the Dark Mother Goddess. He had been her pawn, her pretty toy, her chosen proxy. Without her patronage, he would have been crushed early.
But this time was different. This time, his strength would be his own.
Taking a long breath, Ethan steadied himself and focused on the awakening within his soul.
A vast image bloomed before him.
It was a tree.
Its trunk was thick, ancient, unyielding. Branches stretched into endless darkness, splitting into paths that shimmered faintly with possibilities.
The Talent Tree.
Every human awakened with a talent. Below S-rank, those abilities were fixed—unchangeable, inflexible. His old Virus Resistance at E-rank, for example, had been a static trait.
But S-rank and above?
Those talents carried trees.
And trees could grow.
That was why the leap from A to S was considered an unbridgeable chasm. One meant limitation. The other meant infinity.
Ethan's gaze locked on the glowing core of his tree.
[Virus King (SSS): You possess absolute control over any virus or bacteria within your body. Any virus can be assimilated, repurposed, or weaponized under your command. Each time you encounter and absorb a virus, you gain Evolution Points, which may be spent to develop your abilities. Current Evolution Points: 2.]
His pulse quickened. He hadn't just survived the zombie infection—he had been rewarded for it.
New branches unfolded from the trunk, glowing faintly. Three options shimmered into view:
[Evolution of Infectious Diseases]: Harness traditional infections. Spread diseases via contact, fluids, droplets, or even advanced, unknown vectors.
[Virus-Enhanced Evolution]: Strengthen your body by fusing with viruses. Enhance physical and spiritual attributes through viral augmentation.
[Virus-Parasitic Evolution]: Create parasitic viruses designed to infiltrate, weaken, or control others. Certain parasitic strains can even reinforce your own abilities.
Ethan stared, breathing fast.
Three paths. Three possibilities.
But he only had two points.
His mind raced. Infectious disease evolution? He dismissed it almost instantly. The ability to spread sickness might be terrifying in the right hands, but it lacked immediate lethality. Worse, it could backfire, harming allies or destabilizing his control.
That left enhancement or parasitism.
His eyes narrowed. Parasitic evolution was tempting. The idea of controlling others with viral strings, turning enemies into unwilling puppets—it was the stuff of legends. But the problem was clear: it was slow. Parasitic viruses took time to incubate, time to spread.
Time he did not have.
The apocalypse was only days away. He needed raw combat power now.
And so, with a steady exhale, he poured his first point into Virus-Enhanced Evolution.
The branch lit up like fire racing along dry wood.
New options bloomed before him—two main paths, pulsing with radiant potential. Ethan's eyes widened. He knew these names. He had seen them whispered about in forums, rumored in half-lost dungeons. Legends borrowed from fiction, made reality by the apocalypse.
[Progenitor Virus: An ancient RNA strain—the foundation of the infamous T-Virus, G-Virus, and Ouroboros lineages. Fusion greatly enhances vitality, fortifies the body, and extends lifespan. Grants access to diverse viral evolutions across multiple branches.]
[Blacklight Virus: A DNA-based virus of terrifying potential. Fusion dramatically improves physical power, speed, stamina, agility, and spiritual capacity. Enhances cellular activity to superhuman levels. Grants access to the Blacklight branch, unlocking monstrous combat potential.]
Ethan's throat tightened.
It was real.
The Progenitor Virus, the Blacklight Virus—abilities he had once believed to exist only in fiction were alive in his tree.
The choice was brutal.
The Progenitor Virus promised diversity. It offered longevity, flexibility, breadth. It was a foundation that could be built upon endlessly.
The Blacklight Virus, on the other hand, promised raw, overwhelming strength. It was the embodiment of combat power, a virus that could turn one man into a one-man apocalypse.
But it would be costly. Development would demand Evolution Points in droves.
He hesitated only briefly. Then, his eyes hardened.
"I choose Blacklight."
In the apocalypse, hesitation meant death. Breadth was meaningless if you didn't survive the first clash. Power came first. Everything else could follow.
He poured his final Evolution Point into the Blacklight branch.
The Progenitor path dimmed, retreating into shadow. The Blacklight Virus flared alive, its crimson glow searing into his mind.
Pain followed instantly.
It was savage, merciless. A thousand knives carved through his flesh, stripping muscle from bone. His veins bulged, writhing as if serpents crawled beneath his skin. Sweat poured down his face, soaking the sheets.
His teeth sank into the quilt, muffling a cry that would have woken the dorm. His body arched off the bed, trembling violently.
Minutes passed like hours.
Then, slowly, the agony receded.
In its place came power.
Ethan gasped for air, every breath sharp, electric. He could feel it—an alien force coursing through his blood, settling into every cell. His muscles, once merely athletic, hardened and reshaped into coiled steel. His stamina surged. His reflexes sharpened. His spirit hummed with energy.
For the first time in two lifetimes, he felt truly alive.
A chime echoed in his ears.
[Preliminary fusion with the Blacklight Virus detected. Current integration: 0.1%. Attributes: Strength +10, Agility +10, Constitution +10, Spirit +10. Regeneration rate +200%.]
The words burned into his mind like a seal.
Strength flooded his veins. His hands clenched into fists, trembling with exhilaration.
This was no ordinary talent.
This was the birth of a monster.
And Ethan White, reborn with the power of the Virus King, was ready to claim his throne.
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