Chapter 087: Corpse in the Sewer!

Silence filled the dark, damp sewers. The only sound that could be heard was the faint squeaking of small, unmutated mice in the corners.

Along the way, they had grown accustomed to Novak effortlessly crushing any opposition.

However, they had witnessed the strength of those giant rats.

So it didn't surprise them at all that Novak could eliminate such a terrifying force in mere seconds.

But now, things were different.

They had received a notification from the Cosmic Will, granting them a special task. The creature before them was the final boss of that mission—a Level 7 Horror Creature.

If this Plague Rat King were to leave its lair and enter the villa district, it would result in a catastrophe beyond imagination. Yet, in the hands of Novak, it hadn't lasted more than a second before it fell lifeless to the ground.

As Daphne felt the warm rush of energy from leveling up again, this time reaching the threshold of level 3, she didn't feel any joy. No matter how much she advanced, she couldn't shake the feeling that she would never be able to catch up to the man in front of her.

Novak, meanwhile, paid no mind to the thoughts of the others. After the Blacklight Virus in his body reached 4% evolution, his physical attributes, excluding his mental power, had all exceeded 100 points. Compared to his previous self, he was twice as powerful now.

What threat could a mere level 7 mutant rat pose to him?

What did surprise Novak, however, was that this Plague Rat King had dropped something valuable:

[Plague Boots (Grade E)]

[Armor - Feet (1 of the Set)]

[Agility +5]

[Toxic Protection: Reduces debuff effects from high levels of toxicity.]

[Plague Set (1/5): All Attributes +1]

[Requirements: Evolution Level ≥ 5]

[Note: Boots worn by the Plague Messengers as they spread disease and death, leaving footprints of demise in their wake.]

A set item!

Even though it was a low-level set, the value of any set equipment was highly coveted. Once a set was complete, the combined benefits far exceeded what ordinary gear could offer. In Novak's previous life, advanced suits were the ultimate goal for many evolutionaries. Low-level sets like this, while not as strong, were still extremely precious.

Typically, such items only dropped in secret realms, and their drop rate was incredibly low. Because of their rarity, they were also highly sought after in the marketplace—essentially a form of hard currency.

For this Plague Rat King to drop a set item? It hinted that this place could potentially become a secret realm, increasing its value exponentially!

A secret realm capable of producing low-level set equipment was far superior to the incineration chamber he had previously encountered, where the difficulty of the boss made it too challenging for most evolutionaries.

With that thought, Novak slipped on the Plague Boots, instantly feeling lighter on his feet. But there was still one final step before this place could be turned into a secret realm—he needed to find the source of the rat population's mutation.

Novak exhaled slowly, gestured to the group behind him, and ventured deeper into the sewer.

The passage stretched endlessly, far more extensive than any typical sewer system built by a construction company. It felt more like a corridor of demons.

As Novak and the group of evolutionaries moved further in, the oppressive silence became more pronounced. Even the occasional squeaking of small rats had vanished.

Novak's brows furrowed deeply.

Finally, he stopped.

Daphne, sensing the heavy atmosphere, nervously asked, "What's wrong?"

"Something's off," Novak replied. "I'll send you all back first. If you stay here, you might encounter something dangerous, and I may not be able to protect you."

The group was startled by his warning but quickly nodded in agreement. The way forward was fraught with danger, and they knew Novak was serious.

Retracing their steps was easy; after all, Novak had cleared the path on their way in. They followed the map he had made and exited the sewer with ease. By the time they emerged, the outside world had already fallen into night.

Without much conversation, Daphne simply told Novak to be careful before returning to the villa.

Novak, now alone, exhaled deeply and unleashed his full speed, racing toward the depths of the sewer. What lay ahead was terrifying even to him, and he hadn't lied to the others—if they had continued, they would have been in serious danger.

The air grew more toxic the deeper he ventured. The bacteria-filled atmosphere would have been lethal to any ordinary evolutionary, potentially leading to permanent attribute reduction or even death from disease.

For Novak, however, the bacteria were harmless. In fact, they were the perfect nourishment for the Blacklight Virus.

Before, finding the source of the rat mutation was just a necessary task to complete the mission and form a secret realm. Now, Novak was genuinely intrigued. With each step deeper into the sewer, he could feel his evolution points increasing, almost every second.

The green bacteria swirled around him, only to be absorbed and converted into nourishment for the virus within him. These weren't just ordinary evolution points—they were rare and precious, and Novak knew their value.

His interest in the source of the plague grew stronger.

A soft splash echoed in the darkness.

At last, Novak reached the end of the sewer.

It opened up into a space that seemed to be part room, part prison cell. Of course, there shouldn't have been such a structure in the sewer—it must have once been a reservoir.

Purple-green creepers clung to the corners, while dark green air sacs floated around the area. It was a place where any ordinary person would die within seconds from the sheer toxicity of the air.

This, without a doubt, was the true source of the mutation.

Novak's blood-red pupils could pierce through the darkness, revealing every detail. And in the center of the room, leaning against the wall, was a dead body.

In that instant, Novak understood everything.

The special mission wasn't just about the mutated rats. The true nature of the "Border of the Sewer" mission lay here, in this room of death.