The warcraft they traveled in was shaped like a sleek mosquito, equipped with advanced railguns and a cutting-edge radar system. Its speed was a respectable one-third of Mach 1—about 400 kilometers per hour—cruising at an altitude of 2,000 feet. Even at that height, they had their fair share of challenges. Large, evolved birds frequently crossed their path, but the crew efficiently dispatched them with precise shots from the railguns.
After two days of relentless flying, covering nearly 19,000 kilometers, their fuel reserves were running low.
"Guys, I think we need to take a break at a fuel station nearby," Captain Lucia announced, setting the warcraft to automatic mode. "We need to refuel and gather some supplies."
"Sure..." Everyone nodded, feeling the exhaustion and stiffness from the long journey.
"Besides, Summer's condition isn't looking too good. He needs some meds," Alisha said, glancing at Summer's pale face. He was on the verge of being sick, his complexion haggard after the non-stop flight.
Only then did it truly hit Summer how grueling travel could be for someone without the enhanced capabilities of a Gene Evolver, despite his fit physique.
The Evolvers, on the other hand, could exert some control over their bodies, managing the physical strain with each stage of evolution. For them, this journey was just routine—leaving them a bit stiff, but otherwise unaffected.
As they prepared to descend, Summer tried to steady himself, realizing just how vast the gap was between him and those around him. But he wasn't going to let that stop him. This was just the beginning of his journey, and he was determined to see it through, no matter how tough things got.
....
After the tiring verification and security checks, they finally descended on a mid-sized island bustling with activity. Big cruise ships, warships, and aircraft were gathered all over, making the place lively with people of all colors and varying degrees of power. The island was tightly secured, with multiple layers of defense lines in place to protect against possible oceanic creature invasions.
As they settled inside a food hub, enjoying a much-needed meal, Summer couldn't help but ask, "I forgot to ask, are you all Adaptation Phase Evolvers?"
Alisha, after stuffing her mouth with a big piece of juicy meat, nodded and replied, "Yeah, we're all at the Adaptation phase. It's tough, you know. Gathering those Gene Crystals is a real drag and life-threatening. So, we do some missions for others to get cash and minimize the risk."
Yang, after taking a long drink of wine, chimed in, "Ah, not exactly. We're at Mid-Adapt or Late-Adapt phase, actually." He then added with a grin, "Alisha is a frontline warrior, I'm the tank, Silver's our long-range sniper, and Captain Lucia is our battle commander, though she sometimes acts as support with her rapier."
Captain Lucia sighed wistfully, "When will I be able to captain a spaceship? Even just being a pilot would be fine, if not a space captain."
Silver chuckled, "Lucia, you'd need to be a Surpasser before you even qualify for that post. Then, there's all that rigorous training and those tests. Haha, you've still got a long way to go."
"Hmph, so what? Almost everyone dreams of becoming a Geno Explorer one day," Lucia retorted with a determined look.
Summer listened intently, absorbing all the knowledge he could. From what he had learned so far, Gene Evolvers were categorized into four phases:
- Phase 1 – Neo-Evolver: Individuals who just awakened their Base Evolution Gene.
- Phase 2 – Adaptation: Individuals who had completed their initial evolution, and adapted themselves with their Base Gene ability and auxiliary Gene abilities.
- Phase 3 – Surpasser: A phase where the individual surpasses normal human limitations, gaining extraordinary abilities and skills.
- Phase 4 – Metamorphosis: The highest known phase known, where the individual undergoes a complete transformation, becoming something beyond human.
As he took in all this information, Summer realized just how far he had to go. But instead of feeling overwhelmed, it only fueled his determination.
After finishing the meal, Summer found himself put in charge of the bill. With a helpless sigh, he paid it—it was the least he could do for those who would soon be risking their lives to ensure his safety. It wasn't a small amount, around 2-3k dollars, but it was manageable. However, he knew that if this kept up, he'd be broke sooner or later.
After settling the bill, they took to the skies once again. This time, they wouldn't stop until they reached their final destination. The journey continued, with the intensity of the flying creatures around them increasing as they ventured deeper into unknown territories. Yet, the team skillfully avoided major threats, occasionally taking out smaller groups of hostile creatures. They were cautious not to provoke any large flocks, knowing well the dangers of their vengeful nature.
Two more days passed, and finally, Summer caught sight of something awe-inspiring through the transparent tempered glass, protected by an energy shield. The vast expanse of the Primal Zone's dense forest stretched out before him, larger than any Ocean he had ever seen. The sheer size and magnificence of the untouched wilderness left him speechless.
For someone who had grown up surrounded by the unending concrete jungle of the city, this was his first time witnessing the raw beauty of nature. The vibrant greenery, the towering trees, and the sense of life teeming within the forest filled him with awe.
They soon landed on a remote bank of the sea at the edge of the forest, the journey through the sky having finally reached its end. The dense forest loomed before them, mysterious and foreboding, yet alive with endless possibilities.
Summer knew that whatever lay ahead would be challenging, but he also felt a thrill of excitement. The true adventure was just about to begin.