The cavern slowly returned to silence after the battle. The faint purple glow from the Rift crystals pulsed softly across the stone walls while dark blood from the Mutant Crawlers seeped into the cracked ground. Kai Ren stood still for several seconds, controlling his breathing while the adrenaline faded from his body.
His muscles still felt warm from the recent devour evolution. The power flowing through his veins had not completely settled yet.
The system interface appeared again in front of his vision.
Host: Kai RenRank: Gene Initiate Lv.1
Strength: 16Speed: 15Endurance: 19Neural Reaction: 18
Genes:Mutant Bloodhound Gene (Rare)Mutant Crawler Alpha Gene (Rare)
Abilities:Predator InstinctEnhanced SmellReaction Speed BoostEnhanced Reflexes
Evolution Points: 10
Kai studied the interface carefully. The numbers had increased again, and the difference in his body was obvious. His movements were faster and more controlled. Even his breathing had become steadier, as if his body had adapted to constant combat.
But something else caught his attention.
A small flashing symbol beside the Evolution Points.
Kai focused on it.
The interface expanded.
Evolution Points Available: 10
Function Unlocked: Stat Enhancement
Points may be used to strengthen physical attributes.
Kai narrowed his eyes slightly.
So the system allowed direct enhancement.
That meant he could improve his body without waiting for gene mutations.
The possibilities were enormous.
Kai considered his options carefully. In the Rift Zone, survival depended on three things: speed, endurance, and reaction time. Strength was important, but without speed, even the strongest fighter could be killed by a faster monster.
He distributed the points.
Strength +2Speed +3Endurance +3Neural Reaction +2
The moment he confirmed the changes, heat surged through his body again. The sensation was milder than gene absorption, but still powerful.
His muscles tightened briefly before relaxing.
The system updated.
Host: Kai RenRank: Gene Initiate Lv.1
Strength: 18Speed: 18Endurance: 22Neural Reaction: 20
Evolution Points: 0
Kai clenched his fist slowly.
The improvement was immediate.
His body felt lighter.
Faster.
More stable.
If the earlier corporate hunters appeared again, the fight would be far easier.
Kai glanced toward the deeper tunnels ahead. The cavern was only one part of the underground Rift network. The deeper passages stretched far beneath the ruined city, forming a labyrinth filled with unknown creatures and unstable Rift energy.
Most scavengers would never enter these areas willingly.
But Kai was no longer a normal scavenger.
His system allowed him to evolve faster than anyone else.
Still, one problem remained.
The corporate hunters.
Kai moved carefully toward the cavern entrance and listened.
At first, there was nothing.
Then his enhanced hearing picked up faint echoes from the tunnel above.
Voices.
Multiple.
The Helix Corporation team had reached the underground chamber.
Kai imagined what they were seeing now: unconscious soldiers, destroyed equipment, and a missing artifact.
They would not leave until they found the person responsible.
Which meant they would search every tunnel connected to the chamber.
Kai needed to move deeper.
He grabbed one of the fallen Crawlers and dragged the corpse aside. From its hardened armor he broke off a sharp chitin fragment and slipped it into his bag. Materials from mutated creatures often sold well in the slums.
Even if he had the system now, credits were still useful.
Kai checked the rifle ammunition once more before continuing.
The deeper tunnel narrowed again as he moved forward. The purple Rift veins embedded in the stone walls pulsed faintly with energy. Occasionally the ground trembled slightly as distant movements echoed through the underground network.
Something large was moving somewhere far below.
Kai remained cautious.
The Rift Zone was unpredictable.
Creatures stronger than anything near the surface sometimes wandered through these deeper passages.
After several minutes of walking, the tunnel split into two paths.
Kai stopped.
Predator Instinct activated automatically.
His senses focused on both tunnels.
The left path carried a strong scent of decay and mutated flesh. Multiple creatures had passed through there recently.
The right path smelled different.
Faint.
Metal.
Oil.
Kai frowned slightly.
Human scent.
Someone else had used the right tunnel recently.
But the smell was old.
Maybe a previous scavenger.
Or something else.
Kai considered the situation carefully. The left tunnel likely contained more monsters. More monsters meant more genes and more evolution points.
But the right tunnel contained unknown variables.
And unknown variables could be dangerous.
The system suddenly reacted.
System Alert
High Energy Signature Detected
Distance: 300 meters
Direction: Left Tunnel
Kai's eyes sharpened immediately.
High energy signature.
That meant something powerful.
Possibly a strong mutant creature.
Kai turned toward the left tunnel without hesitation.
His steps became slower as he moved forward.
The air grew heavier with Rift energy the deeper he went. Purple crystals appeared more frequently along the walls, their glow illuminating the passage with eerie light.
Then the tunnel opened into another chamber.
But this cavern was different.
The ground was covered with broken bones.
Human bones.
Animal bones.
Mutant bones.
A massive shadow moved slowly near the center of the cavern.
Kai crouched behind a rock formation and observed.
The creature was enormous.
At least three meters tall.
Its body resembled a gorilla, but its skin was covered with thick armored plates that glowed faintly with Rift energy. Two long tusks curved outward from its jaw while its massive fists rested against the ground.
A Titan Mutant.
Kai's heart rate increased slightly.
Titan mutants were far stronger than ordinary Rift creatures. Their bodies contained extremely powerful gene cores, which made them valuable targets for high-ranking hunters.
But they were also incredibly dangerous.
Kai remained perfectly still while studying the creature.
The Titan Mutant moved slowly across the cavern, crushing bones beneath its massive feet.
Its senses were sharp.
One mistake would be fatal.
Kai glanced at the system interface again.
New Mission Generated
Objective: Defeat Titan Mutant
Reward: High-Rank Gene Chance
Bonus Reward: Evolution Points
Kai inhaled slowly.
This was far more dangerous than the previous battles.
But the reward could accelerate his evolution dramatically.
He checked the rifle again.
Five bullets remaining.
Not enough to kill something this large.
Kai quietly set the rifle aside.
The knife remained in his hand.
His new reflexes and speed might give him an advantage.
But the real challenge was finding the creature's weak point.
Kai watched carefully.
The Titan Mutant continued wandering across the cavern, occasionally smashing bones beneath its fists.
Then Kai noticed something.
A crack.
Near the creature's shoulder plate.
A damaged section of armor where the Rift mutation had not fully hardened.
A weak spot.
Kai's breathing slowed.
Predator instinct sharpened his focus.
The cavern became silent in his perception.
Only the Titan Mutant remained.
Kai moved.
His body darted forward silently across the stone floor.
The Titan Mutant sensed movement instantly and roared.
The sound shook the cavern walls.
But Kai was already moving.
He ran along the creature's side and leaped upward, driving the knife directly toward the cracked armor plate.
The blade struck deep.
The Titan Mutant roared again, swinging its massive arm toward him.
Kai jumped backward as the fist slammed into the ground, shattering stone.
The creature turned and charged.
Its speed was terrifying for something so large.
Kai barely rolled aside as the Titan Mutant crashed past him, smashing through several crystal formations.
Dust and crystal shards filled the air.
Kai dashed forward again.
This time he aimed for the same wound.
The knife plunged deeper into the crack.
Dark blood spilled across the stone floor.
The Titan Mutant staggered.
Kai attacked again.
And again.
The creature roared violently before finally collapsing with a thunderous crash.
The cavern trembled.
Silence followed.
Kai stood still, breathing heavily.
Then the system appeared.
Titan Mutant Eliminated
High-Rank Gene Detected
Titan Strength Gene Available
Kai stared at the interface.
This time the gene quality symbol glowed brighter.
Rare.
Possibly stronger than the previous genes.
Kai did not hesitate.
"Devour."
Energy burst from the Titan's massive body and flowed into Kai.
The power was overwhelming.
His muscles tightened violently as the mutation integrated.
Moments later, the system updated.
Titan Strength Gene Acquired
Ability Unlocked:
• Titan Strength
Evolution Points Gained: 12
Kai exhaled slowly as the energy stabilized.
His body felt stronger than ever.
And somewhere deep inside the Rift tunnels beneath Mega City Helios, a new evolutionary path had begun.
Kai Ren looked toward the deeper darkness ahead.
Stronger monsters waited there.
And with each hunt…
He would become something far beyond human.