Mutant awakening: My evolution knows no bounds

Baldwin's eyes followed Vic's pointed finger, and when his gaze landed on the lifeless corpses of the Shifters, a slight frown deepened the lines on his face. The air around the bodies was thick with the metallic scent of blood, mingling with the acrid stench of burnt flesh.

"Seems they're all dead, just like you said," Baldwin muttered, striding purposefully toward the bodies. He crouched down, his sharp eyes narrowing as they swept over the gruesome remains. The blood-soaked ground told a tale of violence and precision. "You lot did this?" he asked, disbelief coloring his tone as his gaze flicked back to Vic, his brows raised in suspicion.

"You really think we're strong enough to take down all these monsters?" Vic shot back, his voice firm but carrying an edge of nervous tension. He made an effort to keep his tone steady, swallowing down the urge to stammer and betray any sign of weakness. "No, we didn't kill them. A Solo Ranger arrived before they could attack us and took care of them all."

"A Solo Ranger, you say?" Baldwin's eyes narrowed further, his expression unreadable. "Who was this ranger, if I may ask?" His hands ran over the deep gashes on one of the Shifters, fingers tracing the lethal wounds.

"I don't know," Vic admitted, shaking his head. "Never seen him before, and he didn't bother introducing himself. He was too busy fighting. All I know is, the guy was incredibly skilled," he added, his voice gaining confidence.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

"I can see that," Baldwin murmured, his eyes scanning the scene with a critical eye. "Judging by the precision of these injuries, he dispatched them with a single strike each. Not many have that kind of skill." He straightened, his towering figure casting a long shadow over the corpses. "What grade was this Solo Ranger, again?" he pressed, his curiosity sharpening.

"Uh... I couldn't see his skill slot because of his coat, but from what I saw of his strength and speed, I'd guess he's a Grade 4 or maybe even higher," Vic affirmed, his voice steady but his eyes flicking nervously.

"I see." Baldwin's gaze returned to the corpses, his brow furrowing in thought. "And why didn't he collect the valuable parts after killing them?" His voice held a hint of suspicion, as if probing for inconsistencies in Vic's story.

"I honestly have no idea," Vic replied, shrugging. "If I had to guess, it's because they're Shifters. We both know parts from these kinds of mutants don't fetch a good price on the market," he reasoned, trying to sound nonchalant.

"You're right," Baldwin conceded, his tone softening. "No one wants to buy parts from a mutant that was once human. It's practically like selling human body parts." He straightened fully, turning back to face the group. "That's one reason most guilds and Solo Rangers avoid realms dominated by Shifters. Too much hassle for too little reward."

His eyes swept over the group, settling on each of them in turn. "You're lucky that Solo Ranger showed up when he did. One scratch from those things, and it's game over," he warned, his voice dropping to a low growl. "Head back to the academy. My team and I will handle the rest here."

"Thank you, sir," Vic nodded, his voice respectful but tense. He turned to Silas, who had been silent the entire time, his expression unreadable. "Come on, mate," Vic said, tapping Silas on the shoulder. Without another word, they turned and began walking away.

As Silas passed by Roxy, he felt a surge of energy radiating from her. It was strong, almost palpable. She felt it too, but her eyes flicked to Vic, assuming the power came from him. After all, he seemed to be the strongest.

'Could he be the Host?' Roxy pondered internally as she stole a glance at Vic.

"I didn't catch your name!" Baldwin's voice rang out just as they reached the edge of the clearing. They turned around to face him, the tension thick in the air.

"I'm Victor. Victor Hardcastle," Vic announced, his voice ringing with confidence. "And this is Silas Griswold."

"Hardcastle... I knew your face looked familiar," Baldwin mused, a flicker of recognition in his eyes. "I used to work for your family, back in the day. That was before I got fired and ended up in the Aqua Blazing Guild."

"Oh, I see," Vic responded, an awkward note in his voice. "Sorry about that." With a quick nod, he turned and walked away, Silas trailing behind him.

Once they were out of earshot, Baldwin's expression darkened. He turned to his team, a cunning smirk curling his lips. "Gather the valuable parts from these mutants," he ordered, his voice low and conspiratorial. "We'll sell them at the Blood Market or the Black Market. Once we make the sale, we'll split the tokens evenly." His eyes gleamed with greed.

---

Silas and Vic walked in silence down the deserted street, the echoes of their footsteps the only sound in the eerie stillness. The once-bustling thoroughfare was now empty, the vibrant life of the city replaced by an oppressive silence. The air was thick with the scent of fear and blood; crimson stains marked the spots where panicked citizens had fallen in their desperate flight.

This was the first time a realm had collapsed here, and the chaos had left the entire community on edge. Doors and windows were shut tight, curtains drawn against the horrors outside.

They walked on for several minutes, their pace unhurried but purposeful. Finally, they arrived at the shopping mall. Vic pushed the door open, and they stepped inside, the familiar scent of stale air greeting them. A few meters away, their friends stood waiting.

Angelica's face lit up the moment she saw them. Without hesitation, she dashed forward, her long hair flowing behind her. Vic grinned, opening his arms wide, ready for the warm embrace.

But she bypassed him, throwing her arms around Silas instead. The embrace was tight, almost desperate, and Silas could feel her soft, ample chest pressed against him. The warmth of the hug took him by surprise, and he stood there, stiff and unresponsive, like a statue.

Vic's face flushed, a mix of surprise and frustration playing across his features. His arms dropped awkwardly to his sides.

After what felt like an eternity, Angelica pulled away, her eyes soft with concern. "I heard what happened. I'm so glad you're okay," she whispered, her voice trembling.

"Uh... hello?" Vic's voice broke the moment, his tone edged with irritation. "I was there too, you know! Aren't you worried about me?"

Angelica laughed softly, turning to him. She hugged him too, her arms tight around his shoulders. The gesture caught him off guard, and he stood frozen for a moment before returning the hug, a slow smile spreading across his face.

"I'm glad you're okay too, Vic," she murmured.

Vic pulled back, his confidence returning. "There's no way I'd go down that easily. No need to worry."

Sebastian approached, throwing an arm around their shoulders. "So, what happened out there? I heard there were Shifters everywhere. Give us the details."

Vic cleared his throat, a dramatic flair in his voice. "Alright, here's how it all went down..."

As Vic kept speaking, Silas couldn't help but feel there was definitely something off about him.