1. The Road to Evolution

In the bustling city, bathed in the morning light, an ordinary day at a third-rate university took a sudden turn as a deafening noise shattered the tranquility, causing the entire classroom to tremble violently.

"Earthquake?" someone exclaimed, panic lacing their voice.

"Everyone, run for your lives!" another voice cried out urgently.

Startled, Alan Fishers's desk mate shook him awake. "Alan, wake up!" he urged, snapping him out of his daze.

"What's happening?" Alan asked, bewildered. However, before he could make sense of the situation, a series of enigmatic voices resounded in his mind.

"The gods and demons have arrived, and the path of evolution has opened..."

"Congratulations, you have become an evolver."

"Congratulations, you have successfully activated the SSS talent ability."

"Congratulations, you have become a One-Star Black Iron Warrior."

"Congratulations, you have acquired the ability Devour."

"Congratulations, you have obtained the ability, Analyze."

The arrival of gods and demons, the path of evolution—what did all of this mean? Alan was overwhelmed by confusion, but his thoughts were abruptly interrupted by a piercing scream echoing through the campus.

"Monsters! They're attacking!"

"Where are the security guards? Someone alert the teachers!"

"Hurry! We need help! There are monsters outside the school!"

The screams from the arean caught Alan's attention, and without hesitation, he raced outside to investigate.

As he approached, he witnessed a terrifying sight—dozens of one-meter-tall monsters had materialized on the campus. With their green skin, wicked grins, and wooden sticks in hand, they exuded an aura of menace.

In a moment of panic, one of the monsters caught up to a fleeing middle school student and swung its wooden stick with deadly intent.

The sickening sound of impact reverberated through the air as the student's head was brutally crushed, blood and brain matter splattering across the ground.

Witnessing this horrific scene, some students couldn't contain their nausea, while Alan himself struggled to comprehend the situation. But he remembered the voice that had mentioned his awakened SSS talent.

[Devour: Capable of absorbing all energy]

[Analyze: Provides insight into everything]

Activating his Analyze ability, a surge of light flickered in Alan's eyes. Within moments, information flooded his mind, revealing the identity of the green-skinned beasts.

[Green-skinned beast: One-Star Black Iron Beast.

Attack: Weak

Defense: Fair

Skills: None

Originates from the black iron world, a low-level predator that feeds on plants and occasionally hunts creatures from other worlds.]

Alan slowly began to grasp the situation. "A One-Star Black Iron Beast from the Black Iron World," he murmured. But his thoughts were interrupted once more by a familiar scream.

Turning his gaze, he saw Sofia Morgan and two other female students cornered by three green-skinned beasts. Sofia's life hung in the balance.

"Sofia!" a voice roared.

Victor Anderson, the charismatic captain of the school basketball team, fearlessly charged forward, determined to rescue the endangered beauty. With an iron rod in hand, he swung it at one of the monsters.

Victor, known for his athletic prowess and irresistible charm, had always been the center of attention among girls. Even Sofia regarded him differently. In this critical moment, as Victor sought to display his masculinity and protect the woman in peril.

However, what happened next left Victor dumbfounded...

Bang! The impact of the iron rod on the green-skinned beast's head proved utterly ineffective. The recoil numbed Victor's hands, nearly causing him to lose his grip.

"Victor?" Sofia exclaimed, hope flickering in her eyes. Yet, in the next instant, the green-skinned beast retaliated against Victor.

Crack! Bones shattered, and Victor, towering at 1.85 meters and weighing 80 kilograms, was sent hurtling through the air like a ragdoll. Blood spewed from his mouth as he crashed to the ground.

"Ah!" Horrified gasps escaped the lips of onlookers. Sofia remained composed, refraining from screaming, but her two friends were on the verge of hysteria.

"It's over..."

"Is this how I'm going to die?"

"I never got the chance to experience love..."

Sofia closed her eyes, a sense of despair enveloping her. With even Victor defeated by the monster, who among the entire school could possibly challenge them?

In that moment, Alan realized it was his turn to take the stage.

"Stop!" a voice resounding with unwavering resolve rang out, capturing the attention of the three green-skinned beasts.

In the blink of an eye, Alan stood before one of the beasts, seizing it with his right hand in a swift and decisive motion.

Sofia's eyes widened in astonishment as she witnessed an extraordinary sight. It wasn't Alan's hand that broke, but...

[Devour]

A powerful suction force emanated from Alan's palm, drawing the green-skinned beast toward him. The creature struggled in vain, but it was inexorably drawn into Alan's grasp.

One second... two seconds... three seconds... The terrifying power of devouring activated, draining the energy from the green-skinned beast.

Alan released his grip, and the beast collapsed to the ground. Its once muscular form withered, leaving behind a shriveled husk, as if it had been drained of all moisture.

Indeed, it was the formidable SSS talent at work.

[Congratulations, you have devoured a one-star green beast.]

[Congratulations, you have successfully advanced.]

[Congratulations, you have become a Two-Star Black Iron Warrior.]

[Congratulations, you have acquired a special ability: Healing.]

"I've leveled up?" Alan's surprise soon turned to joy, a triumphant smile spreading across his face.

Suddenly, two wooden sticks struck Alan's body with lightning speed. The force behind the blows could shatter even a steel plate. However, Alan stood unwavering, firmly resisting the assault.

As a Two-Star Black Iron Warrior, his physical defense rendered the attacks of the one-star green-skinned beasts futile. To Alan, their strikes felt like mere tickles.

"Begone!" he exclaimed, delivering a powerful backhand blow. In an instant, an overwhelming force erupted, smashing into the other two green-skinned beasts and sending them hurtling into the iron door with a resounding crash. The impact left the door severely deformed.

This display showcased the astonishing striking power Alan had attained.

Witnessing this awe-inspiring spectacle, Sofia stood frozen in awe, her mouth agape. When had Alan become this powerful? Was she trapped in a dream?

In Sofia's memory, Alan was an unassuming figure, rarely speaking and fading into the background without any notable strengths or weaknesses. Even if Alan hadn't intervened, Sofia might not have noticed his existence.

Filled with newfound strength, Alan surveyed the green-skinned beasts ruthlessly slaughtering his classmates. Anger surged within him as he picked up a wooden stick and charged into the fray.

For a moment, Alan resembled a tiger among sheep, his movements so swift that afterimages trailed behind himas he swung the wooden stick with unparalleled speed.

The air resonated with the sound of whistling strikes. With each blow, the green-skinned beasts' skin tore, revealing deep, bloody wounds. Though not yet defeated, they were gravely injured.

He moved like a possessed deity of war, emanating an aura of majesty that struck fear into all who witnessed it.