"Sam, wake up. It's morning," Michael called out.
Sam slowly opened his eyes, letting out a long yawn as he welcomed the new day. The exhaustion from yesterday still lingered. After testing everything he had gained from his evolution, he had fallen into a deep sleep, utterly drained both physically and mentally. Tier evolution had taken a significant toll, requiring more energy than he anticipated. His three-day supply of food was completely gone—he'd eaten it all.
Stretching, Sam looked at Michael and replied, "Thanks for waking me up."
Michael grinned. "You've really changed quite a bit—and for the better, I'd say. Hahaha. Oh, and you should know, Eve is conscious now. Anne's been taking care of her, and she might even be able to start walking soon."
Sam's eyes lit up. "That's great news. Thanks. I'll go check on her."
With renewed purpose, Sam rose, ready to see his sister and begin the day ahead.
Sam walked toward the inner camp, heading straight to where his sister rested. Along the way, he noticed people watching him with varied reactions. Some gazes held curiosity, others awe, and a few even unease. It wasn't surprising—his recent battle prowess had left an impression, and his transformed appearance only added to the intrigue. His glowing silver hair and radiant eyes were undeniably otherworldly, making him look more like a humanoid creature than an ordinary person.
Reaching the tent, Sam saw Eve lying on a makeshift bed while Anne chatted with her. As he stepped inside, he said warmly, "How are you feeling? Are you still in pain?"
Eve turned to him, her expression momentarily stunned. "Sam… is that really you? People have been talking about how much you've changed, but I didn't expect this much. Do you feel any different?"
Sam chuckled lightly, rubbing the back of his neck. "Honestly, it feels pretty normal to me. Maybe when you undergo evolution, you'll have some changes too. Who knows, you might end up as beautiful as me." He grinned playfully. "Imagine that—glowing hair like mine."
Eve smirked, feigning jealousy. "You think I can't pull it off? Wait till I recover. I'll make sure my hair glows even brighter than yours." Despite her jesting tone, there was a glint of admiration in her eyes as she glanced at his ethereal features.
Sam crouched beside her bed and added, "Actually, I might be able to help speed up your recovery with my new skill."
"Really? How?" Eve asked, intrigued.
"It's a healing ability I've been experimenting with. I've only tried it on myself so far, so I'm not sure if it'll work on others. I'd like to test it on monsters first to be safe."
Eve nodded thoughtfully. "That's a good idea. But even if it doesn't work, it's okay. I just need a few more days, and I'll be fine."
They continued talking, with Anne occasionally chiming in with her usual humor. After spending some time with them, Sam stood up, his determination clear.
"I'm going to hunt some goblins while we still have time," he said, grabbing his sword. The group had decided to move north before noon, and he wanted to make the most of the morning. With his gear prepared, he left the camp and sprinted into the woods, ready for the challenges ahead.
In the woods, a small green goblin dashed frantically, its terrified expression betraying its desperation to escape from something unseen but utterly horrifying. It ran with every ounce of its strength, crashing through the underbrush until its tiny legs could carry it no more. Panting, the goblin scrambled beneath a bush, trying to conceal itself.
Suddenly, a hand emerged from behind, clamping tightly around its neck. The goblin let out a high-pitched scream, its voice trembling with sheer terror, but the sound was abruptly silenced. Its body convulsed, then began to deform grotesquely. Tumors sprouted across its flesh like rampant cancerous growths, expanding uncontrollably until the goblin's form collapsed, lifeless and grotesque.
From the shadows, Sam's voice broke the silence, murmuring in frustration, "It failed again."
Sam had ventured deep into the forest with a purpose: to capture goblins for an experiment with his new skill. He was determined to test the limits of his abilities, particularly his capacity to regenerate lost limbs.
He had already captured several goblins, starting his tests by severing an arm from one unfortunate creature. Focusing his Grandmist energy, he directed it toward the goblin's stump, attempting to regenerate the lost limb. Yet every time, the goblin's body resisted the energy, as though rejecting a foreign force.
Frustrated but resolute, Sam had increased the intensity of the energy, pushing harder against the resistance. But instead of achieving regeneration, the goblin's body had mutated horrifically. Its cells overreacted to the influx of Grandmist, growing out of control until its form collapsed into a bloated, misshapen mass that burst apart violently.
Sam knelt by the latest failed attempt, wiping goblin blood and gore from his boots with a grimace. "What's the problem?" he muttered to himself. "Is it because the goblins resist the energy? Or is it something else?"
The thought nagged at him: if the goblins hadn't resisted, would the skill have worked? He couldn't say for sure. But there was only one way to truly find out—the skill would have to be tested on a willing subject, someone who wouldn't instinctively fight against the Grandmist energy.
Sighing deeply, Sam stood and looked toward the distant horizon, his mind weighed down by the realization. "I guess there's no other choice… I'll have to try this on a person."
As Sam returned to the camp, he noticed people gathering around, their expressions a mixture of weariness and anticipation. He made his way to his father, who stood near a group of somber-faced individuals.
"Dad, how are things going?" Sam asked, his tone calm but laced with concern. "And what about the people who ran away yesterday? Did you find them?"
His father sighed, the weight of the situation evident in his voice. "There were 13 people who ran. We found 8 of them, but only 3 are still alive. The others... their families are burying the bodies now. We'll need to move soon."
Sam nodded, his expression solemn. "Five people dead in the first day," he thought to himself. "It's unfortunate, but better than expected. I thought the chaos of the monster wave would scatter everyone, leading to even greater losses."
His mind lingered on the tragic decisions that led to their deaths. "If they hadn't panicked and just stayed put, they might still be alive." He let out a quiet sigh, shaking his head.
Once preparations were complete, the group began their journey northward. This time, the pace was faster, largely because of Sam. With his newfound power, every threat was swiftly dealt with. Goblins, beasts, and other monsters that crossed their path were no match for him.
"If that bear from yesterday showed up now, I'd take it down in one strike," Sam thought, a small smirk tugging at his lips. He recalled testing his strength earlier that morning with the goblins and estimated he could now lift around 10 tons at full power. The sheer magnitude of his abilities still felt surreal.
However, Sam didn't eliminate every monster. He deliberately left those that posed no significant threat for the combat team to handle. It was a calculated decision to allow them to gain experience and level up. By the time the sun was setting, Michael had already reached level 9.
As the light began to fade, the group finally arrived at their destination—a barrier, just like the one they had encountered at the start of their ordeal. The sight of it loomed before them, marking the end of their northern journey and the beginning of another challenge.
Sam stood at the front of the group, his glowing silver eyes reflecting the fading sunlight as he prepared himself for whatever lay ahead.
"So, tomorrow we're heading east, right, Dad?" Sam asked as he joined his father by the fire.
His father nodded, the lines of exhaustion etched deeply into his face. "It seems so. This place is much bigger than we initially thought. It looks like the trial zone spans a 100-kilometer radius in a circular shape. If we move east at today's pace, it should only take a full day to reach the edge of this area. I just hope we find the way out soon. Some people can't endure much more of this," he said, his voice heavy with the weight of responsibility.
Sam frowned, sensing the strain on his father. "Dad, you need to prioritize yourself too. You should aim to reach level 10. Remember, if you don't put yourself first, you won't be able to help anyone else."
"I know…" his father replied, though his voice carried a weariness that spoke volumes. Leading and protecting over a hundred lives was no small burden, and it weighed heavily on his heart.
As night fell, the camp settled into an uneasy quiet. While the darkness was deep and enveloping, the mood among the people was lighter than the previous night. Sam's presence and the power he displayed during their journey had given them a sense of hope and security.
But for Sam, the day had been less than ideal. "I killed over a hundred goblins, rabbits, and anything else that moved," he thought to himself as he stared up at the stars. Despite his efforts, he had only leveled up twice.
"It seems Tier 0 creatures can only get me so far," he muttered under his breath. Frustration simmered within him. He knew that if he wanted to continue growing stronger, he'd need to seek out more formidable opponents. Stronger monsters awaited—he just had to find them.