Chapter 151: Core Metamorphosis
A pleased smile immediately appeared on her face.
"So you’re finally admitting I’m special."
Cain looked at her.
"I’ve invested enough resources into you that you’d better be."
Her smile vanished, turning into a pout.
"You could’ve just said yes."
"No."
A soft laugh came from nearby.
Sonya turned toward Evelyne.
"What’s so funny?"
"Nothing."
Evelyne’s smile suggested otherwise.
Cain ignored both of them and continued running.
He had checked Evelyne’s Level before leaving the outpost as well.
It was much higher than he had expected.
After thinking about it, the reason was not difficult to understand.
Evelyne did not always need to personally kill enemies to gain meaningful Experience. Her healing could directly contribute to a battle, allowing the System to recognize part of her participation.
The Zombie King battle had rewarded her much more than Cain realized at the time.
It meant she did not need Cain to constantly leave weakened enemies behind merely to prevent her from falling too far behind in Level.
Still, Sonya remained the top priority as her Nine Suns Divine Body had already shown how ridiculous its potential could become.
So, getting her to Level 50 as soon as possible would strengthen the group considerably.
Cain remembered the map they had recovered earlier.
Several Zombie Race positions were marked along the route toward the Southern Spatial Anchor Gate.
If those markings were accurate, finding suitable targets would not take long.
"Keep up."
Cain increased his speed.
The others accelerated with him.
The destroyed outpost gradually disappeared behind them as they continued north across the black-gray terrain.
Spatial fractures occasionally opened across the crimson sky, exposing brief glimpses of distorted space beyond them before closing again.
They found another outpost barely five minutes later.
Nathan had been moving near the front when he suddenly raised one hand.
The others instinctively slowed, but Cain continued running.
He could already see the upper section of a dark wall beyond the uneven terrain.
Another Zombie Race outpost.
It was smaller than the one they had just destroyed, but Cain had no intention of stopping to observe it from a distance.
"Keep going."
Nathan glanced toward him.
"We’re not checking it first?"
"No."
Cain touched the communication device secured at his waist.
"We don’t have the luxury of taking our time anymore. We go straight in and deal with whatever’s there."
Everyone instantly increased their pace again as they agreed with Cain.
Evelyne immediately cast Life Link on Ron.
"Be careful."
Pale-green Life energy flowed into his body, forming a stable connection between them before fading from sight.
Cain and Elara did not need the same protection.
Cain was far stronger than the enemies they were likely to encounter here, while his fight with Elara was intended to end as quickly as possible.
Ron, on the other hand, had to defeat his opponent completely on his own.
That made him the one most likely to suffer any injuries.
At the same time, the outpost reacted before they reached the wall.
A harsh warning sound rang from inside.
The entrance opened and Zombie Race soldiers poured outside with their weapons already drawn.
More continued emerging behind them.
Cain’s pupils turned golden.
Twenty 1st Echelon soldiers.
Then two stronger figures stepped through the entrance.
Cain focused on the first.
[Zombie Race Soldier | Level 55 | 2nd Echelon]
His gaze shifted toward the other.
[Zombie Race Soldier | Level 57 | 2nd Echelon]
A smile appeared on his face.
"Perfect."
Ron immediately looked toward him.
"Found mine?"
Cain pointed toward the Level 55 soldier.
"That one."
Ron’s grip tightened around his spear.
Cain looked toward Elara next.
"We’ll take the Level 57 one."
Elara drew her sword.
"Alright."
Cain raised his voice as the enemy formation rushed toward them.
"Disable the 1st Echelons whenever possible. Leave the kills to Sonya."
The group spread out.
Cain turned toward Ron.
"Go."
Lightning exploded as Ron vanished from beside them and rushed directly toward the Level 55 soldier.
Cain unsheathed his sword.
Elara was already moving alongside him.
He looked toward the Level 57 zombie approaching from the opposite side.
"Let’s finish ours quickly."
Elara unsheathed her blade.
"That’s the plan."
The remaining 1st Echelon soldiers rushed forward.
Nathan and the others intercepted them before they could interfere with either battle.
Cain’s attention settled entirely on the Level 57 soldier approaching with a broad black sword.
The zombie raised its weapon and charged forward.
Its black sword swept toward Cain’s neck as dense Mana gathered along the edge.
Cain’s golden eyes followed the movement without difficulty.
Compared to the 2nd Echelons he had fought earlier, there was nothing particularly impressive about the attack.
He simply dodged it.
Dark-gray energy flowed across Cain’s weapon as he entered the zombie’s reach.
One horizontal slash swept across both legs.
Shhk!
The sword tore through the armor protecting both of the zombie’s legs before continuing through flesh and bone.
Both legs were severed below the knees.
The Level 57 soldier immediately lost its balance.
Its heavy body crashed forward while the black sword slipped from its grip.
Cain had already moved aside.
Elara had already been waiting for this moment.
Before the zombie could push itself up, she stepped forward and swung her sword.
Her sword passed cleanly through its neck.
The severed head rolled across the dark ground.
The fight was over within seconds.
A System notification immediately appeared before Elara.
[2nd Echelon Advancement Mission completed.]
Her expression instantly changed.
Cold energy surged from her body as the Perfected Ice Mana Core inside her chest reacted to the completed mission.
Cain immediately stepped between Elara and the rest of the battlefield.
"Focus on advancing. I’ll cover you."
Elara nodded and closed her eyes.
The Perfected Ice Mana Core within her chest began rotating.
At first, the movement remained stable.
Then something changed as another notification appeared before her eyes.
[Perfected Mana Core detected.]
[Advancement foundation confirmed: Perfected Stage.]
[Beginning Core Metamorphosis.]
Elara’s breathing changed.
The Ice Mana Core accelerated.
For the first time since reaching the Perfected Stage, the perfectly stable structure began behaving violently.