Arrgh!!!
A death scream rang out as Harold, the junior class captain, slowly had his head crushed by a mutant mini-boss.
His defensive gene skill, Absolute Shell, proved useless before the corrupted. If anything, it only made his death slower and more painful.
Across from him, Uriel frowned as he witnessed the junior's plight from the corner of his eye.
He had already made peace with the reality that there would be casualties on this mission.
Heck, he wasn't even 100% sure he himself would survive.
But he never expected the first death to happen this early. Uriel gritted his teeth as his essence pulsed, lightning cracking brighter and more dangerously around his figure.
He sped up, and in a blink he was before his foe — an eyeless, snake-like beast with a maw that split far too wide across its scaled face.
In Uriel's arm was one of his battle trophies: a gauntlet called Scarlet Claws.
The tips of the arm-wear glinted ominously as they scraped against the monster's multicolored scales, sparks dancing in their wake.
The creature mobilized its tail, whipping it at a speed even Uriel could hardly react to. He crossed his arms over his chest as the tail met its mark.
Crack!
A sickening crunch rang out as Uriel's chest caved in. His figure flung uncontrollably backward.
He fell from the air, rolling and skipping across the grass from the intense force of the blow.
Struggling up, he coughed mouthfuls of blood, wheezing as he tried to suck in air forced out of his lungs.
The serpent-like beast slithered forward frenziedly, drool pouring from its gaping maw, a pale ashen tongue dangling from the edge.
Uriel felt death pressing in rapidly. He struggled to stand, but his muscles wouldn't respond. His essence churned in fury, lightning bubbling forth from his pores.
Uriel's skill was called Essence of the Skies. It was more of a trait than a skill.
His essence converted into pure lightning, buffing his speed and attacks. But he couldn't manipulate it.
He had tried, but every attempt ended in scalding backlash. It was as though he could only use it for empowerment.
But why couldn't he manipulate it?
Right now, the answer couldn't be clearer.
If he couldn't feel his essence, if he didn't understand it, how could he control it?
It was like skipping high school and trying to enroll straight into college.
The monster drew close, casting its slithering shadow upon him.
Its maw split wide, too wide, streams of gray drool cascading from its revolting mouth.
It aimed to devour Uriel in a single gulp.
In just one exchange, defeated so easily?
No. He refused to go down this way.
Uriel's pupils dilated as his mind broke through. His senses dug deep into his body, searching wildly until he found it — a cold flowing stream in his veins. His essence.
[Congratulations! Your comprehension shines through the Origin!]
[You have tamed the Essence of the Skies!]
Uriel's blood boiled. Something deeper resonated within him as he vaguely saw a shadow entrenched in his mind.
The shadow's face was blank, except for the wild, unrestrained smile it bore.
Its presence couldn't be described with any other word than transcendent.
Uriel was dazed as the shadow's mouth moved, still carrying that unrestrained air.
Its bold, deep voice resounded in his head speaking with an ancient primal accent. "You are worthy of my blood! I claim thee!"
Dark clouds gathered in the sky, bubbling furiously with lightning as thunder resounded.
The sun was blotted out. Everyone on the battlefield froze for a second as a blinding flash sparked.
Lightning descended — not striking, but pouring.
Uriel's pores relaxed, absorbing every lick of current that doused his body.
[Congratulations! You have been claimed by @#&$#]
[Your gene skill is undergoing an unprecedented evolution!]
[Your Noble-grade gene skill 'Essence of the Skies' has evolved to Royal-grade gene skill 'Sky Ruler Essence'!]
[Congratulations! You are the first creature on your planet to evolve a gene skill!]
[You have gained title: Skill Evolver!]
[Details: +20% success rate when evolving a skill.]
Uriel blinked as his mind tugged.
Crackle! Boom!
A furious wave of lightning burst out of his frame, burning through everything around him with deadly currents.
The monster, a hair's breadth away from devouring him, froze as bolts dug through its scales, rampaging through its body.
Its scales cracked, blood seeping as it writhed in pain, entangled in itself.
"Who was that man?" Uriel whispered, glancing at his hands. He thought of the shadow figure.
After a moment, his mouth moved. "I see. Apart from the skills we have, we can still dig deeper and claim things more profound."
His lips curved into a smile. This mysterious new world was unlike the old Earth. He couldn't see through it — and that made him excited.
His eyes shone with anticipation. What thrills did this world hold?
Even ignorant, he could tell he had barely scratched the surface of its mysteries.
The monster wasn't pondering mysteries. It slithered upward, lightning currents dying down. Its wounds stitched together, healing at an astonishing rate.
Its maws bared furiously, it was already ready for round two.
---
Two pairs of eyes watched Uriel from afar.
"Why do I get the feeling four-eyes is suddenly very strong?" Brandon muttered, scratching his head in wonder.
He was in a sorry state — clothes in tatters, hair rough.
Behind him, someone stood back-to-back as three corrupted creatures surrounded them. Elaine.
Her beautiful glowing irises flashed as she reached the same conclusion, glancing at Uriel.
"He's not the only one…" she muttered, her eyes turning to Seth in the distance.
Her brows furrowed. What just happened to make their strength skyrocket?
It wasn't that they suddenly got stronger physically, but on a more fundamental level.
Unfortunately, the three corrupted surrounding them didn't give time to ponder.
Roarrr!
The monsters roared in unison. A familiar wolf-like beast rushed forward, aiming straight for Brandon.
Brandon's fists flamed. A cold wind blew from Elaine, a crackling sheet of frost trailing behind.
Opposing energies of frost and flame ignited.
Both readied themselves for battle.