[Congratulation! The host can now evolve to the second stage.]
'Evolving? Does that mean I'll reach Nine-tier? No, it must be more complex than that.'
Devon mumbled in perplexity.
Those words before him sounded seductive, but there was still a catch.
'With these points, I could raise my skill level to a level of my skill at least three ranks higher.'
[Do you gonna use 400 EP, to begin with the evolving process?]
'…What's with this suddenly joyful tone? This story stinks of shit.'
Next to him, Mystic frowns as she watches his actions with suspicion.
'Why did he suddenly become so thoughtful?' That question could be read on her puzzled face as she looked at Devon.
'Sigh, I don't know where this is going. But the system hasn't made any bad proposals since the beginning. I just hope it's not the kind of dark system that has vicious goals towards its host like those of novels.'
[Do you want to use 400 EP, to begin with the evolving process?]
'Yes. Use them.'
[Request accepted. The evolving process will begin in 10 seconds.]
NOW THAT THINGS HAVE GOTTEN LIKE THIS! I CAN'T CHANGE ANYTHING.
THIS HARD-WON SECOND LIFE...
THIS TIME...
NO MATTER HOW DANGEROUS THIS
WORLD IS.
NO MATTER HOW POWERFUL MY ENEMIES ARE… I'LL SURVIVE!
Not only that, but also becoming powerful enough to live quietly in ease without disturbance or worry about anything. I would be my destiny's ruler.
Devon barely finished his words before his mind suddenly fell into darkness.
Gradually, the red glow in his eye sockets began to fade.
-!!
Mystic's eyes trembled, her breath caught, her heart beating like a drum, horrified.
Her body moved on its own at an incredible speed and cushioned Devon's fall.
"What's going on with him? Why is he unconscious!?"
Devon is an undead who doesn't need sleep, this strange state means much to Mystic.
The more she thought, the more panicked she became.
However, her confusion increased a notch the next second.
Regardless of her command, her grimoire floated up on its own and stopped above Devon's body as its pages turned on their own at a frantic speed.
Her eyes widened in shock when she saw this.
Her lips move in several times but unable to say or do anything.
At this moment, she seems to need one thing more than anything, considering the confusion and extreme doubt that she showed through her eyes, she seems to desperately need explanations.
The strange actions of her grimoire that made unilateral decisions by floating and creating a portal above Devon,
Devon, after having absorbed so many cores like a black hole, lost consciousness, …two hypotheses began to manifest in her mind.
However, when the grimoire swallowed Devon through its black portal, Mystic calmed down a little.
'I forgot that as a guardian beast, he can't die.' She sighs, her hand against her chest.
'However, I still don't understand what's going on. Is the energy of the cores too powerful for him? Yes, that must be it.'
She spoke to herself like a person trying to convince herself.
Never did the idea that her beast was undergoing evolution cross her mind.
All along, she had closely followed Devon's evolution through her grimoire.
So it's unlikely, if not impossible, that Devon would suddenly evolve by jumping two levels.
Therefore, even though she had no idea about the actions of her grimoire that was floating just above her while being bathed in a dark and terrific aura, she did not try to catch it.
Thus, she sits on Devon's stool and waits patiently for this riddle gone.
...
At the same time, the main tent where the generals' meeting is taking place, were quite a few powerful summoners.
In total, six people including two women, one is an ordinary blonde human with delicate features like an elf, but dressed like a witch with her black hat and her long and tight black dress.
Her grimoire is at the same rank as Nikolas', gold-tier.
But instead of being on her waist like the other tamers, her grimoire was above a crystal-like scepter with myriad colors.
As for the last woman, just by looking at her features, anyone could guess that she has a family connection with Nikolas.
She is also beautiful, even enough to rival the witch.
But unlike Nikolas and all the other members of this clan so far appeared, her long hair braided into a ponytail was red.
Her face with an opaque shape seems a little softer as well.
To her right was a man a bit older than Nikolas and that woman.
But he seems to be Pettriddas's twin.
Whether it's the shape of his horns and their thickness, not to mention his muscular body and facial contours, everything seems to be taken from Pettriddas.
The last two were captains under their command.
"What's wrong with this old man?" The redheaded woman clicks her tongue in exasperation after hearing her little brother's report.
Monica Forett Cer Shadow, a woman whose mere mention of her name sends shivers down her enemies' spines.
Sometimes nicknamed the guardian of hell because of her guardian beast, or called the demoness of the six swords.
This second nickname is because she wields six demon-rank swords that are hung on her back and around her waist.
She is the leader of the second most powerful squad known to all, the hell wolves squad.
The report wants her, who is supposed to leave the front after six months of guard duty, to stay a little longer to personally instruct Mystic.
It is a confidential order that the patriarch had entrusted to Nikolas.
As for how long she should stay, Nikolas has no answer to this question.
"Monica, don't forget that he is the patriarch, therefore, your superior."
Hearing her brother say those words, she smiled. But her smile completely contradicted the innocence on her face.
"Third Elder, are you afraid of me joining the family gathering?"
"What does that have to do with it?" The man replied in a bland tone.
"Hehe~, it's only a matter of time before this title of Third Elder is rightfully mine."
"..." Danzel Cer Shadow didn't answer, but his pupils were trembling as if they were in a fit of madness.
It was not just an impression; an abject and suffocating presence emanated from his body, making the breaths of the two guards irregular.
At that unsafe feeling, cold sweat formed on the foreheads of two full-armored knights standing near the tent entrance.
But Monica, the person who was the cause of all this was smiling.
Seeing the tension become electric between these two, Nikolas frowns and speaks in a loud tone.
"It is forbidden between two members of our clan to fight outside the rules."
"..." Danzel suddenly calms down as if he has just received orders from his superior.
His reputation is no less weak than Monica's, quite the contrary.
He is the leader of the strongest squad known in the world, composed only of hunters who have never let their prey escape their clutches, Berserker Wolves.
For these two legendary commanders to be here at the same time, it only means one thing, this front is not as simple as it seems.
"So, what's the verdict?" Nikolas then asks after seeing the two calm down.
Danzel crosses his arms and lies down in his chair.
"Well, my trackers haven't smelled anything foul in the last three months."
At his answer, Nikolas frowns. "Are they hiding and waiting for us to let our guard down?"
"No way," Danzel answers immediately.
"No matter the prey, as long as it has a scent, we'll be able to track it even at the ends of the earth." He then adds.
'As long as it has a scent, huh?' Nikolas thinks for a moment.
Meanwhile, Monica speaks. "What if the prey doesn't have a scent?"
"...That's possible. But in such cases, the situation must be referred to the highest ranks."
"By high-ranking you mean...
Before Nikolas finishes, Danzel nods.
"Yes, the second or first elder should take care of 'that'."
Nikolas and Monica frowned after hearing those words coming from the third elder.
Unlike them, the blonde raised her eyebrows in curiosity.
'The last two elders, huh? Despite having spent over thirty years serving this clan, I have never met those two.
No one knows what these two looked like outside of the elders and the patriarch.
Their appearances and powers are strictly confidential.
However, I had heard Milady Monica say that these two were surely the greatest asset of this clan.
They operate in the shades and massacre anyone who tries to harm this clan.'
By the mere mention of these two, Rebecca's mind began to wander through her memories.
"...In that case, I will have to report to the clan leader." Nikolas made this decision after thinking for a moment.
"I have to see the sixth elder, it's urgent!" At that moment, the agitated voice of a person rang out outside.
Nikolas frowned upon hearing that voice. "Let him in." He instructed the guards after identifying the person whose voice he recognized.
As soon as he entered, Noha spoke without greeting the guests in front of him.
"It's Milady, she... there's a problem with her!"
Almost everyone under the tent frowned after hearing Noha's report.
His pale face, his wild panting, and his dilated pupils, these signs show his state of extreme panic.
Monica frowns. "Pfff, that girl has always been fragile. It seems you overestimated her, Sixth Elder." Her voice was filled with disdain as she said these words nonchalantly.
Nikolas ignored her belittling words and looked Noha in the eye.
"What's wrong with her? She seemed to be alright a few hours ago."
"…I'm not sure, although her grimoire seems to evolve at iron-tier, her body constantly aching like those under overloading! She'll die if this keeps going!"
"..."
When the three heard those words thundering through their eardrums, no one spoke.
Instead, they all stood up while Nikolas looked at Noha as if he had just killed his parent. "Stay here."
--
On the front lines, doctors are as crucial as the soldiers fighting there.