Evolution

In the first ten years following the appearance of the Gates, the world of Lumar experienced the gradual emergence of monsters.

These creatures, appearing through the mysterious portals, varied in strength and size, posing a growing threat to humanity.

Without understanding the cultivation realms that dictated the strength of these beings, the government of Nalthis created its own classification system.

Strider analysed the monster according to government estimate.

Grade 1 Monsters: Strength comparable to the 1st-3rd layers of Mortal Transformation Realm.

Grade 2 Monsters: Strength equivalent to 4th-6th layers of Mortal Transformation Realm.

Grade 3 Monsters: Strength matching the 7th-9th layers of Mortal Transformation Realm.

Fortunately, at this stage, modern weapons proved effective against these monsters.

Grade 1-2 creatures could be killed with bullets and explosives, while Grade 3 monsters required the use of missiles.

Because of this, Lumar did not experience widespread devastation.

In fact, it was quite the opposite.

These monsters, once hunted, provided an unexpected benefit.

The flesh of these creatures contained powerful nutrients, and when consumed, it strengthened the human body.

At first, only a handful of people dared to eat the monster meat.

But once they discovered its beneficial effects, the practice quickly spread.

From fear, humanity found opportunity.

But this peace would not last.

On the 11th year, an earth-shattering event occurred.

For the first time, a monster with strength beyond Grade 3 emerged from the Gate.

This creature, unknown to the people of Lumar, had reached the 1st layer of the Energy Accumulation Realm.

However, the government only saw it as an anomaly—a monster with a higher energy level than usual.

Thus, they classified it as a Grade 4 Monster.

With absolute confidence, the military launched countless missiles, expecting to eliminate the creature like all others before it.

But when the smoke cleared—

The monster stood unharmed.

Panic spread among the military ranks.

The government quickly decided to lure the creature into a deserted area and deploy a nuclear missile against it.

The explosion was devastating, the land reduced to molten glass—but when the dust settled, the monster was still alive.

It was gravely injured but still standing.

Only after bombarding it with additional missiles did the creature finally perish.

This event shook the world.

For the first time, the government of Lumar felt true despair.

If, in just ten years, a monster this strong had already emerged—

Then what would happen in another ten?

Would their nuclear weapons become useless?

Would humanity be wiped out?

It was at this moment that the leaders of the world made a crucial decision.

"If we are to fight against monsters… then we must become monsters ourselves."

And so, they took radical action.

They lifted all restrictions on consuming heaven-and-earth resources and encouraged people to harness their newfound abilities.

Humanity was no longer just surviving—

It was evolving.

Thus began the Era of Superhumans.

By the 30th year, martial arts had become mainstream across Lumar.

Countless individuals, after undergoing harsh trials, honed their bodies and minds, achieving strength comparable to the monsters they once feared.

Just as monsters were graded from 1-5, so too were humans:

Grade 1-3 Humans: The foundation of martial artists. Able to fight lower-tier monsters alone.

Grade 4 Humans: Elite fighters, capable of slaying Grade 3-4 monsters.

Grade 5 Humans: The pinnacle of martial strength. Only a handful existed, but they could fight Grade 5 monsters one-on-one.

However, no Grade 6 humans had emerged.

Against Grade 6 monsters, even five to six Grade 5 fighters had to work together to achieve victory.

The entire world had transformed.

Martial arts was now taught in schools, and genius warriors were recruited into the military at an early age.

Humanity had entered a new era of power.

While the world changed, Death Island remained the same—

No, it only grew darker.

The accumulated Yin energy reached unprecedented levels, transforming the island into a place of pure death and decay.

The government, wary of its ominous reputation, decided to investigate.

They sent a special task force consisting of:

One Grade 5 warrior and Five Grade 4 fighters.

But the moment they set foot on the island, Strider sensed them.

With a mere thought, he enslaved them all.

Through their voices, he reassured the government.

"Everything is fine. Death Island is not dangerous."

And so, Lumar's leaders turned their attention elsewhere, unaware of the darkness lurking beneath the surface.

Now, 60 years had passed since Strider entered this simulated world.

Every condition for his evolution had been fulfilled:

A strong vessel prepared to contain his Specter Essence.

Thirty monster cores from creatures in the Energy Accumulation Realm.

A ritual site saturated with pure Yin energy—a true land of death.

Everything was ready.

The moment of transformation had arrived.

On that fateful day, Strider initiated the ritual.

All prisoners across Death Island felt their lifeforce draining—

The prison is spread across the whole island with a total amount of more than eight hundred thousand prisoner.

In mere moments, their bodies shriveled into lifeless husks, leaving behind only mummified corpses.

At the center of the island, the high-ranking officer, whom Strider had cultivated to the Peak of Energy Accumulation Realm, stood frozen.

He was to be the final vessel.

Strider's dark essence flowed into him—

The man convulsed, his body twisting and writhing, his screams lost to the void—

The process took whole month during which many phenomenon occurred above the sky of death Island but due to the dense fog of death Island, everything had gone unnoticed.

Until, at last—

A new being emerged.

Strider had successfully evolved.

He was no longer just a Wraith.

He had become a Specter.

Power surged through his very existence.

A single thought could now crush an entire nation.

With this new strength, he had the power to rewrite the fate of Lumar itself.

But despite his overwhelming power, he remained still.

His primary objective had been achieved.

Now, he simply waited.

Because he knew—

Something still remained.

The simulation was not yet complete.

And whatever final challenge lay ahead—

He was ready for it.