Mutant awakening: My evolution knows no bounds

Klaus pulled his hair back down to cover his beautiful, glowing eyes before turning to face Kara and Miley, who stood a few meters away. He picked up both of the Sycrax's horns and began walking toward them.

Miley's face was a canvas of disbelief, her eyes wide as she struggled to process what she had just witnessed. Klaus had effortlessly defeated the creature that had wiped out an entire team without so much as breaking a sweat. Kara, too, was astonished by his strength, though she ensured her expression remained composed, betraying none of her amazement.

"All done," Klaus stated as he stopped in front of the two women. "I was able to defeat it so quickly because this is the weakest Sycrax species," he added nonchalantly.

"How can you tell if it's the weakest?" Kara inquired, taking one of the horns from him to examine it more closely.

"The weakest Sycrax has only two horns, while the strongest has seven. The number of horns determines their strength," Klaus explained, his tone matter-of-fact.

"So... you mean the Sycrax that... killed them all... the one they couldn't even land a single hit on... was the weakest?" Miley muttered, her voice tinged with embarrassment and disappointment.

"Yes," Klaus replied sharply. "If the weakest one is this powerful, imagine the strength of those with five to seven horns. Even though I'm the strongest staff member at the academy, I'm not sure I could take down a five-horned Sycrax, let alone one with seven. Let's just hope we don't cross paths with those," he remarked, his voice filled with an ominous warning.

Klaus's words sent Kara into deep thought. She couldn't help but wonder if Silas would ever be able to defeat a seven-horned Sycrax when he reached the peak of his power. She had witnessed his rapid growth firsthand, and if he continued at this rate, there was a real possibility he could stand toe-to-toe with even the most formidable Sycrax.

Noticing the embarrassed look on Miley's face, Klaus placed his right hand gently on her shoulder.

"Don't be too hard on yourself, Miley. Just because it was the weakest Sycrax doesn't mean it was actually weak. Its power level is equivalent to that of a Grade 5 mutant, or maybe even an advanced grade. You did your best, all right?" he assured her. Miley offered a slow, reluctant nod, absorbing his words.

"Alright, let's get out of here. It seems this mission turned out to be a waste of time," Klaus added, turning on his heel and beginning to walk away.

"What about their bodies? We can't just leave them here," Kara spoke up, her voice firm, causing Klaus to stop and turn around.

"I only see one body, which means Barry's has already been devoured by the Sycrax. Just leave Sam's body here and let a mutant feast on him tonight," Klaus replied coldly, his voice devoid of emotion.

"How can you be so heartless, Klaus? They were your teammates!" Kara spat, her frown deepening, disgust etched into her features.

"What? You want me to feel pity for a man who wanted me dead? Hell no, Kara," Klaus said, his voice like ice. "If you care so much, carry his body yourself. As for me, I'm walking out of here with my hands in my pockets," he added, turning away and resuming his stride.

Once more, he paused and turned back to face them.

"I saved your lives... I hope you remember that. Also, you're welcome... even though I don't recall either of you saying thank you," Klaus remarked, his tone dripping with sarcasm before walking away for good.

Kara let out a heavy sigh, her gaze shifting to Sam's lifeless body. With a determined look, she walked over, hoisted him onto her shoulder with all her strength, and turned to Miley.

"Let's get out of here," she muttered. Together, they began their somber trek away from the battlefield.

""""

Back in the Mutant Realm...

A few hours after Silas left the spot where the female staff members were, he arrived at the Realm's god chamber. He had deliberately taken his time, stopping occasionally to delay his arrival, just as he had promised the staff. But now, he was finally here.

The chamber wasn't the grand, castle-like structure he had encountered in other realms. Instead, it resembled an ancient, overgrown forest. Towering trees stretched towards the sky, their dense canopy blocking out most of the light. Thick, twisted roots snaked across the ground, and the air was heavy with the scent of damp earth and moss.

"Strange," Silas mused, his eyes narrowing as he took in his surroundings. A slight crease of confusion marked his brow.

Suddenly, the soft rustle of leaves broke the silence, and without warning, a sharp branch shot out like a spear, hurtling towards him with blinding speed. Silas's keen eyes caught the movement just in time. With a fluid motion, he twisted his body, narrowly dodging the attack. The branch struck the ground behind him, embedding itself deep into the earth.

"A nature-type mutant," Silas muttered, his gaze scanning the dense forest. "Judging by this environment, I'd bet my life on it."

Another branch shot out, followed by two more in rapid succession. Silas's reflexes kicked in, and he danced between the attacks, each movement calculated and precise. The branches whizzed past him, slicing through the air with deadly intent.

As he caught his breath, Silas sensed a sudden, sinister presence behind him. Instinctively, he ducked, feeling the rush of air as three more branches missed him by mere inches. His patience was wearing thin.

"Where the hell are you?!" he roared, his voice echoing through the forest. "Are you going to hide behind these trees like a coward? I thought you were the god of this damn realm!"

A branch lashed out, coiling around his right arm like a snake. Silas's scythe materialized in his hand, a cold shimmer of steel. With a swift slice, he severed the branch, its wooden tendrils falling lifeless to the ground.

"Fine," he growled, his eyes blazing with determination. "If you won't come to me, I'll find you!"

In a blur of motion, Silas charged forward. His scythe cleaved through the first tree with ease, the ancient wood splintering and crashing to the ground. He didn't pause, moving from one tree to the next, each swing of his scythe precise and devastating. Leaves and debris filled the air, the forest floor soon littered with fallen giants.

Finally, only one tree remained, standing tall and defiant. Silas tensed, ready to strike, but he froze as the tree began to shift. Bark cracked and twisted, branches retracting. Slowly, it morphed into a towering, six-foot-tall figure. Its body was composed of interlocking wooden segments, leaves sprouting from its joints. Its eyes glowed with an ancient, malevolent light.

A notification appeared in front of Silas:

[Name: Treebane (Realm's God)]

[Grade: 3]

[HP: 300/300]

"There you are," Silas muttered, a predatory smirk curling his lips.

Treebane stood motionless, its leafy eyes fixed on him. The tension between them was palpable, the air thick with the promise of violence.

Silas dismissed his scythe, cracking his knuckles. "I'm glad you finally decided to show yourself. Let's dance."

Without warning, he launched forward. His speed was blinding, a mere blur of motion. Before Treebane could react, Silas was upon it. His fist clenched, a shimmering blue aura enveloping it.

[Soul Jab activated]

Silas's punch connected with Treebane's chest. The impact was explosive—a thunderous crack echoed through the forest. The force of the blow lifted Treebane off its feet, sending it crashing several meters away. It hit the ground with a heavy thud, motionless.

Silas approached, his eyes scanning the floating notification above the fallen god.

[Name: Treebane (Realm's God)]

[Grade: 3]

[HP: 150/300]

He grinned. "Soul Jab... definitely worth it."

Treebane lay on the ground, struggling to regenerate, its limbs twitching. Silas summoned his Grade 5 scythe, its cold metal gleaming in the dim light. With both hands, he raised it high and swung it down with lethal precision.

SLASH!

The scythe cleaved through Treebane's neck. Dark, purple-tinted sap gushed from the wound, staining the forest floor as the head rolled to the side. The once-mighty god was no more.

A series of notifications popped up in rapid succession:

[Host has gained 3 extra attribute points.]

[Skill Card: Nature Manipulation obtained.]

[Congratulations! You have slain the Realm's god.]

[You have leveled up.]

[You have leveled up.]

[You have leveled up.]

[5 extra attribute points gained.]

[Active skill: Lightning Dash has leveled up.]

Silas's system interface appeared before him:

---

[Name: Silas Griswold]

Race: Mutant

Evolution Tier: Tier 3 Soul Devourer

Level: 73

Health: 100/100

Soul Points: 200/200

Soul Reserve: 100/100

Attribute Panel:

Strength: 50

Speed: 39

Reflex: 39

Agility: 44

Intelligence: 50

Available Attribute Points: 128

Skill Panel:

Lightning Dash (LVL 4): Boosts speed for 5 seconds. Costs 10 soul points.

Soul Claws (LVL 3): Extends claws from fingertips. Costs 1 soul point.

Soul Control (LVL 2): Manipulates beings with souls.

Soul Jab (LVL 1): Channels soul energy into a punch, halving higher-grade opponents' health.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Arsenal:

Grade 3 Chest and Leg Armor

Grade 4 Sycrax Blade

Grade 5 Soul Reaper Scythe

Grade 5 Dagger

Ghost Mask and Outfit

Clone skill card (22)

Nature manipulation skill card

--------------------------

"""

A/N: Vote with your tickets and power stones.