Stealing the Mutant’s Corpse

Adam stood at the edge of the road, his sharp eyes observing the battle unfolding before him. Amid the chaos, a man cloaked in a blue aura shot into the air, his leg muscles tensing before launching an incredible leap.

Right beside the mutant spider, which was swinging its legs to attack, the man delivered a powerful kick to one of the monster's joints.

Crack!

The spider's leg snapped, its massive body staggering slightly.

"Attack its abdomen!" the man's voice echoed as he landed on the mutant's back, which was still struggling to regain balance.

His hand lifted high. Within seconds, electricity crackled around him, forming a two-meter-long streak of lightning.

Adam narrowed his eyes. "An Evolution Gene with lightning abilities?" he murmured, his tone flat yet filled with interest.

Behind him, Amel swallowed hard, instinctively gripping Adam's arm. "Boss, that lightning looks seriously dangerous..." she whispered, her eyes widening at the electric arcs dancing in the air.

"Watch closely." Adam remained calm, but his gaze never left the battle. This was his first time witnessing someone use Evolution Gene abilities in real combat.

In the middle of the battlefield, the man thrust his hand downward, slamming the lightning directly into the spider's body.

Zap!

Electricity spread instantly, slithering across the monster like wild serpents hunting their prey. The mutant spider convulsed violently, its body trembling uncontrollably as a high-pitched screech erupted from its mouth.

Arghhh!

Its eight legs flared with light, trembling before finally buckling. Then, with one explosive movement, the spider leaped into the air, attempting to flee from the humans' onslaught.

"Chase it down! It's already dying!"

A woman's voice rang out. Adam turned his gaze and saw a red-hooded woman sprinting forward.

From the spider's mouth, a sticky web shot straight at her. But she merely lifted her hand slightly. In an instant, the ground beneath her cracked, rising to form a sturdy wall like an impassable fortress.

Without hesitation, she vaulted over the barrier, charging straight at the struggling mutant.

The ground around her shifted. Five large cubes, each about 20 cm in size, floated into the air. With a flick of her wrist, one of the cubes shot forward, slamming into the spider's face with brutal force.

Crack!

Fresh blood sprayed from the monster's mouth. The spider thrashed, trying to escape, but the woman gave it no chance. With swift, relentless movements, she continued launching her earth cubes one after another.

Boom! Bam!

The impacts echoed through the battlefield. Some cubes missed their mark, crashing into vehicles and pavement, causing small explosions that shook the ground.

"I'm coming!"

Another voice boomed. A man wielding a long spear dashed forward, his movements incredibly agile. With a quick spin, he swung his spear before driving it directly into the mutant spider's abdomen.

The spider's stomach tore open. Blood gushed out, soaking the cracked asphalt beneath.

People began gathering, though not all of them possessed abilities. Those without Evolution Genes provided support by firing pistols or throwing explosive bottles that erupted into flames upon impact.

The spider howled in agony. With its remaining legs, it tried to strike back, but its movements were sluggish. The sticky webs it spat from its mouth weren't fast enough to ensnare the earth-wielding woman or the man with lightning strikes.

It only took a few more moments before the massive creature finally collapsed. Its eight legs lost their strength, crashing to the ground with a heavy thud—lifeless.

"They did it," Amel murmured, her eyes sparkling.

"Four Evolutionaries. Of course, they could," Lein replied casually, though his mind was working rapidly. His gaze scanned the battlefield, contemplating something.

Adam noticed. He turned to Amel and spoke quietly, "The parasites you asked about earlier come from mutants like that spider."

Amel's eyes widened. "So, we need to—"

"Take its body," Adam cut in, his voice low but firm.

Amel stared at him, hesitating. "Steal the corpse?" she asked softly, her tone a mix of doubt and disbelief.

Adam gave a small nod. "Yes."

Amel swallowed hard, still looking unsure. "But, Boss... they were the ones who killed it," she whispered, occasionally glancing down as if searching for answers.

Adam took a deep breath before stepping closer. His hand gently grasped Amel's arm, keeping her from stepping back. Their eyes met, their breaths nearly touching.

"Look at me," Adam said, his voice quiet but pressing.

Amel stiffened. "Bo-Boss?" she stammered, her foot shifting slightly backward.

Adam didn't break eye contact. "Look around," he continued, directing her gaze toward the shattered streets and collapsed buildings. "This isn't the world you once knew. There are no laws to rely on. The Earth you knew is gone."

Amel froze. His words struck her like an undeniable truth. Her body trembled slightly, her fingers clenching the hem of her clothes.

"O-okay, Boss," she finally whispered, barely audible. Cold sweat trickled down her temple.

Noticing Amel's change in expression, Adam realized he might have been too harsh. Slowly, he released his grip, putting some space between them.

Adam cleared his throat. "Huft..."

He stepped back, easing the tension. "Sorry," he muttered briefly, his voice still steady, but there was sincerity in it.

Amel still looked tense, blinking a few times before finally forcing a small, albeit awkward, smile. "It's okay, Boss." She reached out, giving Adam's arm a light pat. "I get what you mean."

Adam nodded before turning toward the intersection. There, the people who had just worked together were now splitting into two opposing sides.

"My team dealt the most damage. We get 70%!" declared the lightning-user, his face brimming with confidence.

The earth-wielding woman clicked her tongue. "Bullshit! Your lightning just looked flashy, but it didn't do significant damage!" she scoffed.

Their argument escalated. Adam watched the scene unfold, a small smirk forming on his lips. Perfect. This chaos was exactly what they needed.

He turned back to Amel. "We have an opening. Listen carefully."

Amel immediately focused, her round eyes filled with anticipation. She was usually playful and childlike, but when the situation demanded, she could be serious.

Adam stepped closer, whispering his plan quickly. Every detail was calculated. Amel nodded repeatedly, her expression shifting from confusion to certainty.

"Got it, Boss!" she said, a little too enthusiastically.

Adam simply raised an eyebrow before gripping his Viper Sniper, which hung beside his arm.

A small smirk played on his lips. "Let's move."