Expedition Day

The flaming drill, aimed with lethal precision, found its mark in one of the beast's injuries. The sound of searing flesh filled the air, a gruesome symphony accompanied by the beast's pained roars.

"Rwwaahhhhhh!"

Atrixus stared at the creature's health bar before yanking his fiery drill arm out of its back.

■■□□□□□□□□

He proceeded to stab it into the same wound, watching the health bar reduce with every pierce.

Pucchii~ Pucchii~ Pucchii~

■□□□□□□□□□

Again and again, Atrixus drove the drill into the creature, each strike a blend of fire and force that tore through the opening on its scales.

The Evo writhed under the onslaught, its attempts to retaliate thwarted by the debilitating pain of its burning internals.

"I'm sorry," Atrixus whispered through gritted teeth, a part of him recoiling at the violence of his actions.

"But it's you or me, and I choose me."

The battle, if it could be called such, was a brutal affair. Blood and charred flesh painted the ground while the air was filled with the stench of death and destruction.

At last, the Thunderscale Evo succumbed, its life extinguished by the relentless fury of the Fiery Drill. As it fell, a hush descended upon the forest, the sounds of battle fading into an oppressive silence.

A system notification flickered into existence before Atrixus's eyes, a digital epitaph for the fallen creature:

« You Have Killed an Uncommon Thunderscale Evo »

Atrixus stood over the corpse of the Evo, his breath coming in ragged gasps.

He took a moment to catch his breath. The adrenaline that had surged through his veins, driving him to acts of desperation and violence, now ebbed away, leaving him with a mixture of relief and exhaustion.

As he stood there, trying to regain his composure, two notifications blinked into existence before his eyes, casting a soft luminescence that contrasted starkly with the dim surroundings. Each notification heralded a significant achievement.

« Level Up! You are now Level 11 »

« Level Up! You are now Level 12 »

Atrixus couldn't help but let out a weary chuckle. "Well, it's no Sacred Revilcorn," he mused aloud as his voice tinged with fatigue.

"But I'll take it."

The encounter with the Revilcorn had set a high bar. The number of level jumps back then seemed almost miraculous. Yet, even the lesser increments in his levels filled him with a sense of accomplishment, a validation of his efforts and the risks he had taken.

With the notifications serving as a reminder of his progress, Atrixus turned his attention to the task at hand.

The uncommon Thunderscale Evo lay before him, its body still emanating faint traces of electric energy, a residual echo of the life force it once possessed.

Atrixus knew what needed to be done next. The consumption of Evo flesh, a ritual that was both macabre and essential, was the key to gaining more Evo Points, the currency of evolution and power in his realm.

Drawing his knife, Atrixus began the grim task of dissecting the corpse. Each cut was precise, reflecting the necessity of the situation rather than any malice.

As he separated pieces of the flesh, the reality of what he was about to do settled heavily upon him. Eating the raw, still-warm flesh of another creature was not an act he undertook lightly, but survival in Shunri Paradise demanded adaptability and the willingness to embrace its savage laws.

He didn't have any cooking materials, and even if he did, they wouldn't function in Shunri Paradise unless they were made from materials that originated from there. Unfortunately, he couldn't take the corpse out either, so he was left with only one option...

With a piece of the Evo's flesh in hand, Atrixus steeled himself and began to eat. The taste was unlike anything he had experienced, a complex blend of flavors that was surprisingly palatable.

'But why does their flesh taste so good uncooked?' He couldn't stop wondering about it.

As he consumed the flesh, notifications appeared, each one marking the gain of valuable Evo Points:

« You Have Gained +2 Evo Points »

« You Have Gained +1 Evo Points »

« You Have Gained +3 Evo Points »

With every notification, Atrixus felt a surge of power, an affirmation of his growing strength. He already felt his strength increase when he leveled up after killing the Evo, and it still did so after consuming its flesh. Atrixus felt he might be one of a kind since it didn't happen with other System Bearers.

After consuming approximately 30% of the available flesh, Atrixus noticed the absence of further notifications. He had already gotten used to that law.

With the notifications now silent, Atrixus rose to his feet, his body feeling stronger, more capable. The path ahead was still shrouded in mystery, but he felt a newfound confidence in his ability to face whatever challenges Shunri Paradise might throw his way.

He had long lost the tracks of the Evo that Corin and Talia were traveling on, so he was heading forward on instinct.

"I need to find an access point as soon as possible," Atrixus was starting to miss the taste of water.

He had already finished the one he had carried there with him, and since then, the blood of Evos had been the only liquid he had been consuming.

He began to make his way forward hastily, a little disappointed that he didn't get an Assimilation from the uncommon Thunderscale Evo.

■■■

Within the confines of a lavish abode, the air was heavy with anticipation. A man, clothed in an outfit that whispered of wealth and power, sat ensconced in luxury.

Surrounding him, guards stood at the ready like he was some kind of hot shot.

The room, a grand hall adorned with artifacts that spoke of conquests and achievements, was momentarily a stage for a different kind of drama.

Two figures, a male and female that Atrixus would recognize stood before the man, their postures rigid with the weight of their failure.

"We have been unable to find him," Corin began with a steady voice despite the palpable tension. Talia nodded in agreement, their expressions grim.

The man in the expensive outfit, whose name was whispered in the shadows of Paricus City with a mixture of reverence and fear, listened in silence.

His face, a mask of composure, gave little away as the System Bearers recounted their tale.

They detailed their search for Atrixus and his subsequent disappearance.

As their report concluded, a heavy silence fell over the room, broken only by the crackling of the fireplace that cast flickering shadows across the lavish decor.

The man rose from his seat, his movements deliberate. The air seemed to thicken with his anger, a palpable force that filled the room.

"Fools!" he bellowed, his voice echoing off the high ceilings.

"You let some unknown System Bearer snatch the Revilcorn from under our noses!"

Corin and Talia flinched at the outburst, a crack in their composed facades.

"We apologize, sir," they responded in unison, their voices tinged with the weight of their failure.

"We promise to scour the entire slum region in search of him."

The man's anger was like a tempest that threatened to engulf the room.

He shot them a gaze that could freeze blood.

"Get out of my sight," he hissed, the words slicing through the tension like a blade.

"And do not return until you bring the boy back."

Dismissed, the System Bearers bowed and quickly exited the room, leaving the man to his fury. As the doors closed behind them, the guards resumed their silent vigil.

Left alone, the man turned to gaze out of the vast windows that overlooked Paricus City, his thoughts dark with rage and calculation.

"The boy has something that belongs to me," he murmured to himself, the words a vow of reclamation. "And I will have it back, no matter the cost."

The luxurious abode, for all its splendor, had become the epicenter of a hunt that would span the slums and back alleys of Paricus City.

Atrixus Timothy, unwittingly, had become the most sought-after figure in a game of power and possession.

■■■

The dawn at Sacred Heights High School was different that day; it carried an air of expectation, a prelude to adventure.

The students who had emerged victorious in the evaluation to become System Bearers congregated with an excitement barely contained within the confines of adolescence as the day marked their first foray into Shunri Paradise as part of a school expedition.

Their transport was a floating bus, a marvel of modern engineering that hovered above the ground quietly.

They all boarded it alongside their teachers, who addressed them for a couple of minutes before it finally took off.

The bus glided through the streets of Paricus City towards one of Aigon's access points, the cityscape blurring past the windows in a cascade of morning light.

Arriving at the access point, the students were greeted by a scene that was both mundane and extraordinary.

The area was bustling, System Bearers in various states of readiness moved with purpose, their armors gleaming under the sun.

Aigon workers navigated the crowd with ease, their uniforms marked with the insignia of the agency tasked with bridging the worlds of humans and Evos.

The group was led to one of the nearby buildings. Inside, the atmosphere was one of solemn anticipation. The students and their accompanying teachers were then ushered into a briefing room.