They packed the valuables and, after a few minutes of travel, set up camp in a cave hidden behind a thick layer of bushes. The sky had already darkened, and night had fully settled in.
Summer wandered over to a small lake beside the cave, its surface shimmering under the soft glow of the moonlight. He had come out to take a breather—or perhaps to release the stream of frustration that had been building up inside him. Watching the earlier battle had left him feeling restless, the realization weighing heavily on him: he hadn't been able to join the fight because he simply lacked the strength to contribute.
He clenched his fists as he stared at his reflection in the water, the cool night air doing little to soothe the frustration gnawing at him. The moonlight reflected in his eyes as he resolved to grow stronger, to one day stand strong.
Summer raised his head, surprised to hear the gentle splashing of water. "Uh huh... What's this?" he muttered to himself. His eyes narrowed as he peered through the dim light, trying to make out the figure swimming in the lake.
"Who would be brave enough to swim in these dangerous waters?" he wondered aloud, his curiosity piqued.
But as the figure emerged fully from the water, Summer's eyes widened in shock. It was Alisha-the Iron Lady herself-her bronze skin glistening under the moonlight. She was completely naked, her powerful, muscular body on full display. The moonlight highlighted every detail, from her hardened abdominal muscles to her perky, well-defined breasts.
Suddenly, as if sensing his presence, Alisha turned her gaze directly toward Summer. His heart skipped a beat, panic gripping him as he realized she had seen him. A knowing smile played on her lips, only intensifying his fear.
"I'm dead..." That was the only thought racing through his mind. Alisha had clearly noticed him, and instead of covering up, she began to approach him with deliberate steps, completely unconcerned with her nakedness. The way she moved, as if nothing unusual had happened, only made Summer more nervous.
"What do I do? Should I beg for forgiveness?" he thought frantically. "But why was she bathing naked in the first place?"
As Alisha drew nearer, Summer closed his eyes in shame, trying to avert his gaze. Although he had dated Julia in the past, their relationship had never gone as far as revealing their bodies to each other. Kissing and touching had been the furthest they had gone, and that was two years ago, before she had been recruited by Vale Origin Gene Academy.
Now, faced with the undeniable reality of Alisha's powerful presence and the raw vulnerability of the moment, Summer could only hope he wouldn't face her wrath.
Alisha stepped out of the water with large strides and wrapped a towel around herself. She noticed Summer awkwardly covering his eyes and couldn't help but chuckle.
"Relax, Summy. Don't worry, I'm not going to bite you," she said with a teasing smile. "I'm well past the age of being shy you know."
Summer, visibly relieved, let out a murky breath. As he lowered his hands, he heard Alisha continue, "See these scars?" She turned slightly, showing him the marks on her back and legs. "They remind me every day that I've grown up—earned every one of them."
"Sorry, I was just out for a breather. I didn't know you'd be coming here for a shower," Summer apologized, admiring her resilience and dedication.
Alisha's smile widened. "It's fine. Now, let's head back. This place isn't exactly that safe to walk around carelessly."
"Right, okay," Summer agreed, falling into step beside her.
As they walked, Alisha glanced at him curiously. "So, Summy, can I ask why you're so determined to go there? I know it's not in our protocol to pry, and you don't have to answer if you don't want to. But you seem like you come from a well-off family, and I can't help but be a little curious."
Summer hesitated before responding, "I'm sorry, Alisha, but I can't share my real purpose. Just know that I have to be there, no matter what. It's something personal."
Alisha shrugged, her expression unfazed. "I told you, I don't mind. But rest assured, we'll make sure you get there safe and sound," she said with confidence.
Curious, Summer asked, "Alisha, can you tell me more about your ability? I heard from Captain Lucia that your greatsword is one of your base Gene abilities. If you don't mind sharing, that is."
Alisha immediately summoned her greatsword into her right hand and held it out for Summer to see. "I don't mind at all. It's nothing too special, really. This greatsword is my first Base Gene ability. It's called the Baobab Blade. My gene ancestry traces back to the ancient N'golo bloodline from the Mali Empire. Go ahead, touch it," she offered, noticing the curiosity in Summer's eyes.
Summer nodded and reached out to touch the sword's smooth, sharp surface. He felt the weight and strength of the sturdy, long blade with keen interest. "Wow, it's tough as a meteorite. It looks incredibly strong. Why didn't you join one of the Gene Academies? Don't you want to be a Geno Explorer like everyone else?" Summer asked, his curiosity growing.
Alisha let out a bitter laugh. "Of course I wanted to, but they rejected me, saying they didn't need my melee abilities. Those elitists only care about flashy abilities and top-level Evolution Genes. They said I lacked the necessary talent to be one of them. Ridiculous, right?
You'd understand how hard it is to please them, Summy, if you had awakened as one. They rank Evolution Genes into six grades based on how old the Base Evolution Gene is. The grades are: Non-Awakeners—less than 50,000 years; Common—50,000 years or more; Rare—200,000 years or more; Epic—500,000 years or more; Phantasmal—1 million years or more; Mythic—10 million years or more; and Legendary—100 million years or more.
My Evolution Gene fell into the Rare category, which is why I was rejected. But I've promised myself that I'll surpass all of them through hard work alone," Alisha said with determination, gripping the greatsword tightly.
Summer absorbed all this new information. "So, those who carry genes from less than 50,000 years ago don't even have the right to dream of becoming Evolvers. What about my family? Do they also fall under the Non-Awakeners category?" Summer pondered, the chances seeming slim.
His thoughts drifted to Julia, who had surprisingly awakened a Mythic Evolution Gene. "She's so talented. Can I ever hope to catch up to her? Am I really worthy of her?" The realization hit him like a tidal wave, but he still hadn't given up. He clung to the hope that he could somehow prove himself worthy.