Chapter 4 – Evolution Shop
The crimson countdown hung in the sky like a second sun.
23:58:42
Its glowing numbers were visible from every corner of Elysia.
People who had never believed in monsters watched in horror as crimson fissures continued to split open across the city. Cars crashed into abandoned storefronts, helicopters circled overhead broadcasting emergency warnings, and the once peaceful streets had become a battlefield.
The apocalypse had begun.
Azrael slowly lowered his newly evolved sword.
The remains of the Abyssal Spawn had completely vanished, leaving only a fist-sized crimson crystal lying on the cracked pavement.
Seraphina cautiously picked it up.
The moment her fingers touched it, the System reacted.
Item Detected
Feral Core
Grade: Common
A crystallized energy core formed after the death of a Feral creature.
Uses:
Evolution Material
Shop Currency
Equipment Enhancement
Skill Advancement
"So this is loot..."
Azrael smiled.
"I was wondering when that part would show up."
Seraphina shook her head.
"You sound excited."
"I’ve played enough games to know monsters usually drop something."
She couldn’t help but laugh despite the situation.
"You really are impossible."
Before they could continue talking, the System chimed again.
New Functions Unlocked
✓ Inventory
✓ Evolution Shop
✓ Quest Board
Azrael’s eyes lit up.
"Evolution Shop?"
"Open."
A massive blue screen unfolded before him.
Unlike the previous notifications, this interface looked far more detailed.
Evolution Shop
Current Evolution Points: 100
Beginner Section
Minor Healing Potion
Cost: 20 EP
Minor Mana Potion
Cost: 20 EP
Basic Strength Pill
Cost: 50 EP
Basic Agility Pill
Cost: 50 EP
Iron Armor
Cost: 80 EP
Beginner Weapon Chest
Cost: 100 EP
Random Skill Scroll
Cost: 150 EP
Azrael’s jaw dropped.
"It actually has a shop."
Seraphina opened her own.
"The items are identical."
Azrael thought for a moment.
"If we’re going to survive..."
"We shouldn’t spend everything immediately."
She nodded.
"But healing potions seem necessary."
"Agreed."
He immediately purchased one.
A flash of blue light appeared.
A small glass bottle materialized in his hand.
Purchase Successful
Minor Healing Potion
Remaining EP: 80
"No way..."
"It actually created one."
Without hesitation, he drank it.
The sweet liquid flowed through his body.
The bruises from the previous battle disappeared almost instantly.
Even the pain in his back vanished.
Azrael stretched his arms.
"I feel completely fine."
Seraphina looked impressed.
"That’s... ridiculously useful."
She also purchased one.
Within seconds, every scratch on her body healed.
For the first time since the apocalypse began...
Neither of them was injured.
A loud explosion interrupted their thoughts.
BOOM!
Smoke rose several streets away.
Then another explosion.
And another.
Someone was fighting.
Azrael looked toward the source.
"We’re not the only ones."
The twins hurried across the ruined streets, carefully avoiding overturned vehicles and collapsed buildings.
The city felt eerily empty.
Not because everyone had escaped.
Because everyone was hiding.
Occasionally, frightened civilians peeked through broken windows before quickly disappearing again.
A little girl sat crying beside a wrecked car.
"Mom..."
"Where are you..."
Seraphina immediately ran toward her.
Azrael sighed.
"I knew you’d do that."
The girl looked up with tear-filled eyes.
"P-Please help me..."
"My mommy..."
"She’s trapped..."
Seraphina followed the girl’s shaking finger.
A woman was pinned beneath a collapsed concrete pillar.
She was still alive.
Barely.
Without hesitation, Seraphina knelt beside her.
"I’ll get you out."
The woman weakly shook her head.
"It’s... too heavy..."
Seraphina placed both hands on the broken pillar.
"Genesis Touch."
Golden light spread across the cracked concrete.
Instead of destroying it...
The light strengthened the surrounding support beams.
The broken structure shifted slightly.
Azrael immediately understood.
"Together."
He grabbed the pillar.
With his increased Strength, he lifted while Seraphina stabilized the collapsing debris.
After several exhausting seconds...
The woman was free.
"T-Thank you..."
She hugged her daughter tightly.
Before either twin could respond...
The System chimed.
Side Quest Completed
Rescue Survivors
Reward:
+50 Evolution Points
+5 Authority Experience
Azrael blinked.
"We got rewarded..."
"...for saving people?"
Seraphina smiled.
"I like this System."
"It doesn’t only reward killing."
Azrael nodded.
"That means there are multiple ways to grow."
Before they could celebrate...
A deep growl echoed behind them.
Three crimson eyes slowly opened within the shadow of a nearby parking garage.
Then six.
Then twelve.
The darkness itself seemed to move.
One...
Two...
Five...
Eight Abyssal Spawn emerged from the shadows.
Unlike the first one...
These creatures were smaller.
Faster.
They moved on all fours like wolves, their crystal-covered claws scraping against the concrete.
The rescued civilians screamed.
Azrael stepped forward.
"You protect them."
"What about you?"
He smiled confidently.
"I’ve got an idea."
He opened the Evolution Shop.
"Weapon Enhancement."
Available
Oblivion Iron Sword
Enhancement Cost
50 EP
Success Rate
100%
"Enhance."
Dark energy wrapped around the sword.
The blade trembled violently.
Cracks spread across its surface before disappearing completely.
Its black metal became smoother.
A crimson line appeared along the center of the blade.
Enhancement Successful
+1 Oblivion Iron Sword
Attack Increased
Durability Increased
Special Effect Unlocked
Armor Penetration +10%
Azrael swung the blade once.
It sliced through the air effortlessly.
"This..."
"...is much better."
The pack attacked simultaneously.
The first Spawn leaped toward him.
Azrael sidestepped.
One clean slash.
The creature split apart.
Another lunged from behind.
He spun.
The enhanced sword cut through its neck.
Two monsters.
Dead.
The remaining six surrounded him.
Seraphina raised her hands.
"Genesis Touch!"
Vines burst from beneath the pavement once again.
This time...
They were thicker.
Faster.
The creatures became entangled almost instantly.
The rescued mother stared in disbelief.
"They’re..."
"Using magic..."
"No..."
Her daughter whispered.
"They’re angels."
Azrael smiled.
"Not quite."
He rushed forward.
His sword danced through the battlefield.
Every swing claimed another monster.
His movements became smoother.
More natural.
Almost instinctive.
Within seconds...
Only one Spawn remained.
It backed away.
Fear filled its crimson eyes.
Azrael noticed.
"So..."
"They can feel fear too."
The monster suddenly turned and fled.
The System immediately appeared.
Optional Quest
Do not allow hostile targets to escape.
Reward:
+30 Evolution Points
Azrael looked at Seraphina.
"What do you think?"
She smiled.
"It’ll come back if we let it go."
"I was thinking the same thing."
He sprinted after the fleeing monster.
The Spawn darted through an alleyway with incredible speed.
Azrael chased it without slowing.
As he rounded the next corner...
He abruptly stopped.
The creature hadn’t been running away.
It had been leading him somewhere.
The alley opened into an enormous underground subway entrance.
The gates had been torn apart.
Deep within the darkness...
Hundreds of glowing crimson eyes slowly opened.
A guttural chorus of growls echoed from below.
The System flashed violently.
Danger Zone Discovered
Location:
Elysia Underground Station
Threat Assessment:
Extreme
Estimated Hostile Count:
327
Special Boss Detected
Name:
Crimson Devourer
Evolution Rank:
Feral Tier II
Azrael slowly tightened his grip around his sword.
Behind him, Seraphina finally caught up.
She looked into the darkness.
"...That’s..."
"...a lot."
The Crimson Devourer let out a thunderous roar from the depths of the station.
One by one...
The hundreds of monsters began climbing toward the surface.