Chapter 20: A New Dawn

The dim light of the underground hideout flickers as Arc Lee stares at the glowing screen in front of him. His heart pounds harder than ever, a strange mix of adrenaline, disbelief, and exhilaration swirling in his chest. His status panel has changed. He was no longer ordinary—or even the enhanced version of himself that fought on the battlefield. He was something new, something... beyond human.

Status Panel: Arc Lee

Race: High HumanStrength: 97Agility: 99Dexterity: 94Perception (Unlocked): 43Mana: 400Skills:Modern Weapon Master (Peak) [10/10]: Evolution available upon mission completionClose Combat Master [10/10]: Evolution available upon mission completionUnknown Flame Seed (?????): Locked

His hands shake slightly, and he forces himself to steady his breathing. High Human. The words pulse on the screen, and he feels the shift deep within him—like his body isn't entirely his own anymore. Strength and energy ripple under his skin, and every nerve feels like it's sharper than a blade, primed to react at a moment's notice.

Arc flexes his fingers experimentally. This... is something else. The boost from the evolution wasn't just numbers on a screen. His muscles felt lighter, stronger. His mind clearer. And the mana—something he'd never even thought possible—buzzed in the back of his mind like a crackling power source just waiting to be tapped.

He clenches his fists, feeling the incredible strength in his grip. If the Arc from yesterday were to fight him now, that version wouldn't even last a second.

The Shock of Change

Arc leans back against the cold wall, letting out a shaky breath. The perception stat being unlocked was already throwing his senses into overdrive. Every sound, every flicker of movement, seemed magnified. Even in the dim space, he could pick out every grain of dust floating in the air, every shifting muscle twitch from his allies waiting in the shadows.

"This is... insane," he mutters, running his hands over his face.

He glances back at the panel. Two skills at the absolute peak, waiting to evolve into something even greater. Modern Weapon Master and Close Combat Master—they were already at 10/10, meaning no one else could come close to matching his expertise in those fields. But this was only the beginning. Arc could feel it in his bones. His potential wasn't capped. He was standing on the edge of something far greater.

Then there was the Unknown Flame Seed. The question marks beside it burned in his mind, nagging him with endless possibilities. He had no memory of unlocking anything related to flames or fire, and yet... it was there. Something powerful was lurking beneath the surface—something waiting for the right trigger.

System Notification: New Missions Available

The familiar blue text floats before his eyes.

New Mission: The Veins of Mana

Objective: Awaken the dormant mana veins within your body. Mana veins are branches connecting individuals to the universal flow of energy.Reward: Mana Core Awakening + Evolution Path: Elementalist Unlocked

New Mission: Reactive Evolution

Objective: Survive a series of high-threat combat encounters designed to push your evolutionary limits.Reward: First Skill Evolution + Title: Survivor

Arc raises an eyebrow, reading through the missions. Reactive Evolution? Veins of Mana? It feels like he's reading the kind of things he used to dismiss as fantasy nonsense. And yet, here it was—laid out before him, demanding he adapt, grow, and push beyond everything he thought was possible.

But one thing catches his attention more than anything else: The Mana Core. If the mission unlocks a core within him, it would mean gaining access to the full extent of mana manipulation—a power that could change everything.

Reflection and Resolve

Arc exhales, trying to absorb everything. High Human. Mana Core. Evolution. His old life felt like a distant memory already—just a soldier following orders, fighting wars for people who didn't care whether he lived or died. But now? Now the stakes were different. The world was bigger. And it was his to conquer or be destroyed by.

The memory of his parents flashes in his mind, and a deep ache settles in his chest. This power... this evolution... it isn't just about survival. It's about making things right.

He had seen his family taken from him—brutally, senselessly. Their deaths had been the trigger for him to join the military in the first place, thinking he could fight for justice. But justice was a lie. No one cared. The world had moved on, and he was left with nothing but pain and rage.

But now? Now, I have the means to change everything.

Arc clenches his fists, his knuckles going white. I will evolve until there's no one left who can stand in my way. He swore to himself he'd do whatever it took to revive his parents—and punish the ones responsible. And now, the system was his tool to make that happen.

A Glimmer of the Future

He glances at his reflection in the cracked glass of the control panel. His eyes, once dull with exhaustion and anger, now gleam with a strange, otherworldly light—a mark of his evolution.

"High Human," huh?" He smirks, though there's no humor in it. "Let's see what this means."

The system pings again, notifying him of a nearby combat encounter that qualifies for the Reactive Evolution mission. His muscles tense in anticipation, the thrill of battle thrumming through his veins.

System Notification:

Combat Encounter Detected: Hostile Bio-Enhanced Hunters Incoming.Location: 2.3 km East of Current Position.Recommended Action: Engage and Survive.

A grin spreads across Arc's face, sharp and dangerous. It was time to test this new body—and see just how far his evolution could take him.