From the moment they had been transported from the forest to this sprawling city, Watts knew the game had changed. These beings had evolved.
They weren't ordinary anymore. They were what he had come to classify as Level 1 existences. As such, Watts had devised a foundational understanding of their powers.
In simple terms, normal races cultivate one of three aspects—the soul, the mind, or the physique. Those who push their cultivation to the peak of the normal evolve into Level 1 entities. These beings, powerful and god-like, can affect entire continents with nothing more than their sheer existence.
Humans, along with a few select races, are exceptions, sometimes gaining abilities even before reaching Level 1. Other races remain mundane until their evolution, where they finally gain their first abilities. The nature of the ability depends on the cultivated aspect. For instance, a developed physique leads to superior strength and shapeshifting, while the soul grants reality perception—the ability to perceive all layers of existence, from the physical to the metaphysical.
Those who cultivate multiple aspects receive a combination of abilities, but evolution requires one physical element innately tied to the individual: air, water, fire, time, space, or others. Humans are unique in this respect. Their natural affinity for physical elements often allows them to develop abilities before they even reach Level 1.
Watts mused about Shadow. If his companion were to evolve, there was no doubt his element would be Time.
The universal hallmark of all Level 1 entities, however, was elemental mastery. At their peak, they could manipulate their chosen element to a degree that reshaped entire continents.
Now, standing before him, was Ramak—a researcher, a physique evolver, and a Level 1 existence. Watts had used his Universal Eyes to uncover the alien's identity. And yet, all his preparation didn't stop the shock when Ramak shifted from a humanoid form into a towering seven-foot Asura. Six muscular arms stretched outward, radiating overwhelming power. The transformation wasn't just a change of shape—it was a weapon. Ramak borrowed the inherent strengths of the Asura form, magnifying his own to devastating levels.
The aura that radiated from the alien was suffocating, an oppressive force of superiority. It wasn't just physical power; it was the undeniable feeling that this creature could destroy everything with a flick of its finger. Watts's mind raced. He couldn't win. Not in any conventional sense. The only weapon he had was his ability to adapt, and he would have to rely on it fully.
Shadow was out cold, his last burst of energy expended against the clones. That left Watts alone.
The Asura moved first. Every motion was impossibly deliberate, each step reverberating like a death knell. Shadows coiled around it, alive and writhing. Wherever its feet touched, the ground decayed into ash. Its black void-like eyes were merciless as it unleashed a wave of decay, consuming everything in its path. Cars, buildings, and streetlights flickered and crumbled into nothingness as darkness expanded like a tide.
Watts leapt onto a lamppost, his body twisting as the steel beneath his feet morphed into a temporary platform to avoid the decay. His mind raced. The alien's ability to disintegrate matter posed a serious threat. His weapons wouldn't last long, let alone his own body.
The Asura roared—a guttural, primal sound that shook the city. Shadows thickened around it, spreading aggressively like liquid ink. Then, it charged. Faster than Watts's eyes could track, a shadow-wrapped fist slammed into his chest, sending him hurtling through a row of buildings. Walls crumbled under the force of his impact, and for a moment, he lay still, pain rippling through his body.
His ribs screamed in agony, his lungs struggled to draw breath, and his muscles felt shredded. But his body wasn't done yet. As the alien loomed, Watts's adaptive ability kicked in. His ribs knitted themselves together, denser than before. His muscles regenerated, growing stronger to absorb the Asura's power. His skin hardened, drawing ambient electromagnetic energy from the city to fortify itself.
When he rose to his feet, it wasn't as the same man. His body had adapted to withstand the force of the alien's attack.
The alien noticed. "You adapt quickly," it growled, a flicker of curiosity in its tone. "Too quickly for a human."
It unleashed a barrage of shadow spikes, each one capable of disintegrating matter. Watts moved like lightning, weaving through the onslaught with precision. His speed was nearly on par with the alien's, his electromagnetic boost propelling him beyond his previous limits.
With a flick of his hand, Watts manipulated the electromagnetic field around the alien, creating a cage of searing light and magnetic force. He had realized the shadows were amplified by the surrounding darkness, so he summoned light to disrupt their cohesion. The alien roared as its shadows recoiled, weakened by the radiant energy.
"You're not the only one who can manipulate forces," Watts said, confidence returning to his voice.
The alien dissolved into pure shadow, surging toward Watts like a tidal wave. But Watts harnessed the electromagnetic spectrum in full force. Ultraviolet light burned through the darkness while radio waves destabilized its structure. With a final burst of power, Watts summoned metal from the surrounding buildings, forging a massive glowing spear that crackled with energy.
He hurled it with all his might. The spear pierced the alien's chest, detonating on impact. A blinding light tore through the sky, scattering the shadows and leaving the alien crumpled on the ground.
Relief flooded through Watts—but it was short-lived.
The alien's voice rang out, calm and calculating. "Interesting. Now I have to experiment on you."
Watts turned. The alien was standing, unharmed, at the entrance of a building that somehow remained intact. "You really thought I was fighting you with my real form?" it said with a low chuckle. "Let me show you what happens when I stop holding back."
The alien stepped forward, its aura growing even heavier. Watts's instincts screamed again, louder this time. "How many times today?" he muttered under his breath, his fists clenching as he prepared for the fight of his life.