Even with how tired he felt, it took Jack only a couple of seconds to regain his form. Although having a 1·0 points in agility attribute fell short of state level athletics standard, his 1·6 attribute points in stamina made it possible for him to stand on equal footing with them since he now had 60% than any average adult male.
His 1·4 attribute points in constitution meant his body system was now 40% superior to that of any average adult male also, thus it wasn't strange for him to back in optimal condition after just a few seconds rest.
Standing up, Jack took a short walk around the area and claimed all his battle loots. Although a few evolvers harboured evil thoughts on Jack's loot, his earlier rampage had scared the living hell out of them, decimating whatever guts they had in them that would have blinded their eyes with greed.
Apart from the expected numerous amount of nucleus, Jack was also lucky enough to chance upon a skill among his loots which came as a surprise to him because this was his first time of seeing one.
The skill book was about 2 inches thick with hard covers on both sides and it also had mysterious engravings all over it making it seems unrealistic. Reading it's name which spelt 'mana shield', instantly Jack realized that it was a skill meant only for mages and without second thoughts, he placed in his backpack along with all his other loot as he thought inwardly "This skill book definitely belongs to Lilth".
Jack currently felt happy he brought his backpack because he had just noticed that if he didn't, he would have been in a bind right now on where to secure his loots. Well, not only that, he also felt that he owed Lilth a lot as she had offered him a place to stay last night, feed him, clothed him and even went as far as saving his life at the expense of hers.
Although he had also saved her life too, Jack didn't bother to count it as a form of repayment as he knew that if because of him, she wouldn't have ended up in such a situation that required saving.
Some evolvers had also caught sight of the skill book when he took it which made their eyes burn with greed but the very moment they remembered it's owner, all their greed was instantly quenched. All except for that one one man among them.
"Damn bastard, that skill book should have been mine and mine alone" Philip cursed inwardly when he saw Jack place the skill book inside his backpack. As a certified social networker, he had also found out about the existence of skill book and knew all about its high demand. If so, why won't he know that if a skill is not suited for his designation, he could also sell it for a lot of cash.
Philip as someone who frauds people online for living rarely left the comfort of his home but yesterday as he was on his way to visit his doctor that was when it all happened. Watching a goblin feed on a woman while she was still alive had scared him so bad, he pissed in his pant.
Later while he was hiding in fear from a group of goblins, he was fortunate enough to run into a man who had killed a goblin at the cost of his own life and the goblin after its death had dropped a designation scroll which was picked up by him.
As fate will have it, it was a warrior base designation scroll which granted him a free warrior related skill too, making it possible for him to corner and kill very first goblin which then dropped a warrior related skill also. This series of occurrence had caused him to believe he had now been blessed by the heavens and all good things should rightfully belong to him including the skill book currently held by Jack.
In reality, Philip who was among the group of evolvers securing the defense line and had been aiming for that particular goblin which had dropped the skill book even before Lilth had crossed the defense line in order to save Jack but due to his cowardice nature, he never made a move to attack it.
Earlier when he saw Lilth become a prey for the group of goblins including the one he was about to face off against because of her risky action to save Jack made him sneer at her in his heart and also laugh about her foolishness inwardly. Infact he wasn't the only one who did so
Alas who would have thought that a knight without a shining armour will swoop in and save the damsel. Killing his formal target in the process and gaining the skill which should have been his. Currently Philip felt like he had swallowed a fly as all he wanted to do was rush towards Jack, beat him up and force him to cough out that skill book.
Too bad, just like all other evolvers, he also understood full well that he wasn't Jack's match but even with that, he didn't want to give up on the skill book. So, he carefully approached another evolver he had noticed was beaming with as much greed as him over Jack's skill book. "Hey, are you interested in making extra cash or acquiring a new skill?"
The evolvers was a bit skeptical about Philip sudden proposal but after a little convincing, he eagerly agreed and together they silently divided and approached other nearby evolvers. Unfortunately for them, no other evolver agreed to join in their operation but they all gave their promise on not saying a word about it to Jack.
"Foolish fool, don't come running to me later when you all start regretting it" Philip crused him inwardly as he felt angry because they had all rejected his proposal to gang up on Jack. He had firmly believed that even though Jack was strong, he was still only human and with enough numbers, they could easily overwhelm him.
Unfortunately, his first plan which involved doing had failed before he even started but sure a thing didn't discourage him. Rather, it caused him to think of a more bolder and crazier plan as he hurriedly returned to the side of his only partner to discuss more about it.
"Boss, why did you reject that guy offer when it surely falls in line with our field of work" a dark youth about the same age as Jack quietly ask an old man with gray hairs, beards and walking stick he stood behind off.
"Foolish child, today he is targeting that child called Jack, tomorrow its gonna be someone else. who knows if one day, you will also become his next target. Besides take a good look at this creatures we are calling monsters, there aren't bearings their fangs at each others but rather at us. You tell me, if we keep bearing our fang at our fellow humans then how are we ever gonna stand a chance against them" the old man scolded the youth as he turned and stared in the direction of what was left of the monster horde, his pupils seems to carry a profound meaning.
"Who would have thought I will meet such a promising youth over here, it seems, my vacation is gonna be a little too interesting" thought the old man with a smile as he withdrew his gaze from the monster horde and directed it at Jack.