The Evolution of Fear
Chapter 17 – The Evolution of Fear
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[Continent Panel]
Continent: Zareth
Size: 30x the size of Earth
Known Inhabitants: Unknown
Danger Level: Extreme
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[System Panel]
System Administrator: Seo Joon
Free System Grants Remaining: [5/9]
Monthly System Grants Remaining: [0/1]
Total System Holders: [7]
Next System Holder Awakening: [24 Days]
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[System Holder List]
Seo Joon – [System Administrator]
#2 – ??? – [Wild Instincts] (Wolf)
#3 – Jang Mi-Rae – [Survivor's Resolve] (Human)
#4 – ??? – [Undying Hunger] (Zombie)
#5 – Gur'kan – [Necrotic Dominion] (Goblin)
#6 – ??? – [Titan's Endurance] (??? Race)
#7 – ??? – [Predator's Instinct] (Mutant)
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A Monster That Learns
The wound was gone.
Vanished like it had never existed.
Seo Joon's grip on his pipe tightened. His mind raced.
It could regenerate.
Fast.
And worse—it wasn't just blindly attacking.
It was waiting. Watching. Understanding.
This was the true horror of a system.
Given to the wrong creature, it didn't just make them stronger—
It made them smarter.
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An Unfair Fight
Mi-Rae stepped back, her breath uneven.
"That's not fair," she whispered.
Seo Joon almost laughed. Nothing in this world was fair.
They were fighting something that had no reason to exist.
Something that wasn't supposed to think.
And now?
It was studying them like prey.
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The First Move
The mutant charged.
Not wildly.
It zigzagged, its movements unpredictable.
Seo Joon barely raised his pipe in time—CLANG!
The impact rattled his arms, nearly dislocating his shoulder. Too strong.
Mi-Rae darted in from the side, her knife flashing.
The blade struck—
But the mutant twisted midair, dodging.
It had learned.
Her attack wouldn't work again.
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Adapting to the Enemy
Seo Joon gritted his teeth.
It wasn't just fast.
It was improving every second.
If they didn't kill it now—
It would become unstoppable.
He forced himself to move, pain screaming through his ribs. No hesitation.
He swung—feinting left.
The mutant dodged.
Exactly like he knew it would.
And Mi-Rae was already waiting.
Her knife flashed—this time aiming for its throat.
The mutant's golden eyes widened.
It had miscalculated.
SHLIK!
The blade sank deep.
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The Predator Falls
The mutant twitched.
Its body convulsed.
For the first time—it felt true pain.
It staggered, black blood pouring from its throat.
It tried to regenerate—
But Mi-Rae twisted the knife.
Ripping.
Destroying.
The glow in its eyes flickered—then died.
The body collapsed.
And then—
Seo Joon heard the notification.
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[System Holder #7 Has Died]
[System Administrator Bonus Applied]
[Predator's Instinct Acquired]
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To Be Continued…