Zayn stood over the two Gene Hunters' bodies, his breathing finally slowing. The adrenaline faded, but his awareness remained sharp. Something inside him had awakened—and it wasn’t just the Gene System. It was the urge to survive, no matter what it took.
[20 Gene Points Available]
?? Open Genetic Console? (Y/N)
Zayn blinked. “Yes.”
A blue translucent interface unfolded in front of him, far more detailed than before.
?? [GENETIC PROFILE]
Name: Zayn Kael
Level: 1
Evolution State: Awakened
Gene Points Available: 20
Abilities:
-
?? Shadow Step (E Rank) – Allows instant movement up to 10 meters.
-
?? Night Vision (E Rank) – See clearly in complete darkness.
-
? Instinct Reflex (F Rank) – Slight time dilation during danger; boosts reaction speed.
Enhancement Options:
?? Upgrade Reflexes → Rank E (Cost: 5 GP)
?? Unlock New Ability: Rapid Regeneration (Rank F, Cost: 8 GP)
?? Boost Physical Strength (Minor Increase, Cost: 4 GP)
?? Store Gene Points
Zayn hesitated. Rapid Regeneration could mean survival in a dangerous fight, but strength was important too.
He made his choices quickly.
? Upgrade Instinct Reflex to Rank E
? Unlock Rapid Regeneration (F Rank)
? Boost Physical Strength x2
[Upgrade Complete.]
?? Gene Points Remaining: 0
Zayn felt the effects instantly. His muscles tightened, movements sharper, more fluid. A tingle passed through his spine as his cells adapted to regenerate faster than normal. Even the bruises from earlier began to fade.
He turned toward the two corpses. Looting wasn’t dishonor—it was survival.
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The second hunter had a compact wrist module—some kind of storage tech. Zayn tapped the pad.
Click. It opened with a soft hiss, revealing:
-
?? Pulse Dagger (shock-based energy blade)
-
?? Tactical Armor Vest (Tier 1, reinforced fiber)
-
?? Encrypted Communicator
-
?? Two Gene Serum Vials (Rank F essence)
-
?? Mission Log File – Confidential
Zayn’s eyes narrowed at the vials. He picked one up. The liquid shimmered—a living strand of energy. Pure essence.
Gene Point value estimated: +5 GP per vial
(Absorption carries 2% rejection risk.)
Zayn smirked. “Let’s test my luck.”
He drank the first vial. Heat surged through him, not as painful as the Shadowfang core, but still sharp. A few seconds later:
?? [Gene Absorbed. +5 GP earned.]
He took the second one too.
?? [Gene Absorbed. +5 GP earned.]
[Gene Points Available: 10]
Zayn opened the hunter’s encrypted communicator. It took a few tries, but the system finally unlocked.
The mission file caught his eye:
**> Target: Shadowfang Sanctuary #47
Status: Active Monster Nest
Threat Level: Beta**
> Objective: Secure rare core, eliminate competition.
Reward: Direct entry into Eden Program.
Authorized by: Black Horn Gene Guild
Zayn frowned. Black Horn. One of the most powerful gene guilds in the outer ring. Ruthless, elite, and cold-blooded.
So these two weren’t just scavengers. They were elites on a test mission. That meant more were coming. And if they found out Zayn had killed their men...
He glanced at the crater the cannon had left behind. No one would recognize the bodies.
But time was short. He needed to leave the sanctuary and hide, or better—get stronger before they caught up.
Zayn climbed up through the cracked walls of Sanctuary #47, emerging into the ruins of Old Riven, once a thriving city before the portals tore reality apart a century ago.
Now it was wilderness. Cracked skyscrapers. Rusted machines. Wild mutant beasts.
The sky overhead was always gray—the clouds never cleared this close to the border.
In the distance, the glowing walls of Zone 12 shimmered faintly—the last safe settlement in the region.
He had two choices:
Go back to Zone 12, sell what he had, and blend in.
Head deeper into the wilderness—toward the Red Forest, where mutated monsters bred freely, and rare cores were said to exist.
He checked his system again.
?? Gene Points: 10
?? Pulse Dagger: Ready
?? Armor: Equipped
?? New Objective: Decide Next Move
Zayn stared into the horizon. His path was no longer bound by fate or luck.
He had a system. He had power.
And soon… the world would know his name.