Dai Zen continued to dodge the creature's attacks, vainly searching for an opening to strike.
Meanwhile, his crimson eyes scanned the area cautiously. Lower level Badly Evolved creatures lined the hallway, watching the battle with somber red eyes, but none intervened.
Dai Zen came to a simple and silent conclusion. The monster he was facing was probably a minor boss of this floor, commanding respect and obedience of the weaker Badly Evolved.
That's why they simply watched as spectators without daring to get involved in their leader's fight.
If he could defeat this boss, the others might start attacking him or even turn against each other.
The creature's remaining claw lunged at him, trying to disembowel him. Dai Zen arched backward, and the lethal blades passed just inches from his stomach.
His sword flickered, opening a long gash along the bottom of the claw. Black blood appeared through the open wound as the monster screamed again, staggering back and shaking the injured limb.
Feeling the weakness, Dai Zen pressed his attack. The sword was maneuvered in such a way as to pierce the creature's chest, sinking deeply into its torso.
The monster let out a guttural groan as it weakly tried to push him away. But its strength faded as fluid flowed from its wounds, and its deformed body lost power.
It collapsed onto the bloody floor as its bright gaze darkened, leaving behind flat marbles.
[You have obtained the Existential Record of Badly Evolved; Mutant Level 10]
<+8 Strength>
<+6 Resistance>
<+3 Agility>
[You have leveled up to Level 5!]
[You gain +3 Stat points to distribute]
...
[You have leveled up to Level 6!]
[You gain...]
...
[You have leveled up to Level 7!]
[You gain +3 Stat points to distribute]
...
"Ugh... this hurts."
Dai Zen growled through gritted teeth as power flooded every corner of his body. His muscles twisted and contorted under his clothes, gripping his bones to infuse them with an immeasurable amount of strength.
The fatigue from the battle rose from his mind and body, disappearing.
However, the wound on his head remained a vivid pain where his skull had crashed into an unyielding wall during that first furious exchange.
Dai Zen's eyes were drawn to a flawlessly green sphere being spat out of his fallen enemy's body. He quickly approached and stored it in his backpack.
As the remaining monsters cast covetous glances at his growing life force and the mangled corpse of their leader, Dai Zen decided it was time to interrogate his mysterious companion.
"This restored stamina; what is the cause?"
"It's normal that you haven't noticed it yet because this is the first time you've been exhausted before leveling up." The Fairy perched on his shoulder, her gaze following his to the creatures approaching them while others started fighting: "Leveling up grants renewed stamina—a part of the Vitality Stat— but it doesn't heal wounds or numb the pain. The intention is to refresh one for continuous fighting, not to eliminate the consequences of it."
Dai Zen nodded, flexing his fingers on the sword hilt.
"Useful. But it would be better if it had restored the Mana."
"That would be a pretty OP cheat!"
When Dai Zen took a step forward to begin the massacre, the rest of the Badly Evolved creatures sprang into action. They were no longer content to feast on their own comrades' flesh, but their hunger and thirst for the energy exuding from the human before them drove them to attack.
The blade shimmered like mercury as the horde of monsters rushed at him. Blood splattered the faded walls of the room as his sword cut through claws and fangs, splitting beasts in two with every flash.
The crimson eyes burned with fierce hunger as the claws tore through the air, seeking the tender flesh of the intruder who dared invade their feeding territory. The wild jaws opened wide, with the fangs thirsting for blood.
But the creatures' power was nothing compared to Dai Zen's power. He was no longer the fragile youth he once was but a warrior forged through the absorbed Existential Records, transformed into a sharp killing sword.
Muscles brimming with energy reduced the mutated beasts' strength to that of children's punches as Dai Zen's whirlwind of death pierced through their ranks.
Through the dew of dark fluids, his sword howled among their bodies.
After a few moments, only scattered corpses with twisted limbs and scarred flesh remained where a horde had once been bustling.
Dai Zen surveyed the carnage, his sword dripping dark fluids, while a feeling of satisfaction overtook his heart.
The Fairy was fluttering around and gazed at Dai Zen's face. Until a few minutes ago, she could still see his fear of the unknown, but now he showed an impassive expression at the bloody scene below him.
"You have adapted quite quickly to these apocalyptic events."
"... I only understood that to survive, I must keep a calm mind in any situation."
A strange expression adorned the Fairy's face as she nodded.
"Good, good. In the face of the unknown, indecision and panic only lead to destruction. At least I feel safer with your mindset."
[You have obtained the Existential Record of Badly Evolved Level 6]
[You have obtained the Existential Record of Badly Evolved Level 7]
[You have obtained the Existential Record of Badly Evolved Level 5]
...
[You have obtained the Existential Record of Badly Evolved Level 4]
[You have leveled up to Level 8!]
[You gain +3 Stat Points to distribute]
...
"Another level. It was worth it." Dai Zen let out a sigh.
From the moment he accessed the Existential Records, he thirsted for more.
The ecstasy of defeating formidable enemies, obtaining Stats, and rising to higher levels was an addictive drug he never wanted to abstain from.
Each defeated enemy and hard-earned reward fueled the flames of ambition, leading him even further into the ruthless but irresistible realm of Evolution.
"The path is clear."
***
[Dai Zen - Hybrid - Badly Evolved]
Level: 8
Trait: Nullity
Evolution: First Rank
Class: No Class
Title: Untitled
[Stats]
Strength: 29 (+30)
Vitality: 15
Resistance: 30
Agility: 18
Magic Power: 15
Mana: 70
[Available Stats Points: 24]
[Skills]
—Darkness Manipulation | First Rank Skill | Level 7