The Glorious Evolution

The Next Morning...

Levi and the rest of his peers were all sitting in the C2 classroom, awaiting Instructor Seraphis to arrive. Most of them looked as tired as a student during finals week.

Yesterday, he had trained them to death with all sorts of drills, pushing them to their absolute limit.

Levi, Arthur, Nurah, and Jojo trained with them at the beginning, but when it was time for some spars, Instructor Seraphis called their upper classmates to handle them.

As always, the upper classmates had their asses kicked one-to-one, and even four-to-four.

This result sent tremors in the Training Center after the news spread that the newest freshmen had some monsters hidden amongst them, who had yet to be defeated by even sophomore trainees.

Instead of being satisfied with their performance, Instructor Seraphis had decided to hang a bounty on their names in the center’s Weconnect social media account and Mission Board!

Any Junior Daywalker capable of taking them down in a spar would be awarded five hundred coins.

However, if they lost, they would pay Levi and the others two hundred coins.

Once the news went viral, tens of well-known Junior Daywalkers accepted the mission and lined up to spar with them, uncaring about the penalty of failure.

In their eyes, there was no way Junior Daywalkers at the Evolution Stage would lose out to Rookies.

Nurah, doubtful... But, for the other three? Their confidence was brimming.

”How many challenges are you expecting tonight?” Melissa asked her friends curiously.

”The more, the merrier.” Arthur cracked his knuckles with a grin, ”You don’t see such farming opportunities happening often.”

”Only you are bold enough to consider Junior Daywalkers as side mobs while being a mere Rookie.” Rayan chuckled, ”Just don’t embarrass yourself and lose.”

”You wish,” Arthur smirked.

Before they could continue their conversation, the door was opened, and Instructor Seraphis walked in... Everyone went quiet and returned to their seats.

Instructor Seraphis stared at them for a moment in silence... Then, he announced, ”I have received news that the Blood Hunters have decided to move up their expedition’s date. The Raid will start in three weeks.”

”Huh...”

”Three weeks? It can’t be...”

”So soon, why the change? Doesn’t this mean we won’t have a chance to join them as helpers?”

Everyone clamored in frustration and confusion, not expecting such a curveball. They were just informed about the opportunity to participate in the expedition.

Now, it had been moved to three weeks instead of two months? They might make it to the evolution stage by abusing growth totems, but their training would be limited.

”Enough with the complaints. It’s their Raid and they can do whatever with it.” Instructor Seraphis said sternly, ”Though this change does affect our schedule.”

”Now what? Is it a lost cause?” Omar sighed.

He was looking forward to such an experience, and he wasn’t the only one.

”No, the condition will change from reaching the Evolution Stage to cleaning a Twilight Burrow. I don’t care how you pull it off in the next three weeks, as long as your party size is limited to three members or less.” Instructor Seraphis said calmly.

”...”

”...”

”...”

Melissa and the others were left speechless, not expecting such a massive jump in difficulty. While Twilight Burrows were packed with just Tier 1 nightcrawlers, there were close to fifty in each den.

It was the minimum number for a gathering of nightcrawlers to be labeled as a nest.

”This can’t be safe...” Melissa murmured.

”You’re correct, it’s not.” Instructor Seraphis said calmly, ”That’s why clearing it will show me that you can take care of yourselves during the expedition even at your current level.”

”Also, none of you are forced to partake in the trial. Taking a step down won’t paint you in a bad light to me.” Instructor Seraphis assured them.

Although he said this, no one had any plans of looking weak and rejecting the trial. Whether they succeeded in clearing it or not was different than pussying out.

”If you are interested, head to the Missionboard and choose a nest. I have already given the administration clearance for you to pick them up.”

”One last note, your mission will be streamed live under our Center’s Weconnect social media account.”

No one was surprised by the last part, as it was a known knowledge that the Grand Training Center’s missions were streamed live to the public.

Since the government was already keeping most expeditions’ streamed data private, they had to give something to the public. Otherwise, they would have a sense of the unknown behind the borders, and this sense was way scarier.

Thus, the government streamed the center’s trainees’ missions and such, keeping the public assured that the wastelands were being conquered steadily.

...

After Instructor Seraphis concluded with the update, he moved on to the subject of today’s class. It was about the nightcrawlers’ strengths and weaknesses. Also, how to find those weaknesses during a battle. When the class concluded, everyone was left to their own devices again until nightfall.

This time, Levi stuck around with Arthur and his friends, wanting to discuss the upcoming mission.

They were sitting in the cafeteria, eating lunch... Well, only one of them was truly eating.

Arthur had the entire section of the table filled with a crazy number of dishes, and he didn’t shy away from devouring them before everyone’s dazed looks.

”Although I had seen it multiple times, you still scare me every time,” Melissa commented while nibbling on a slice of chicken.

”All...of...you...Cough, are...missing out.” Arthur shared with his mouth full, almost choking for a moment.

”Yea... No, thank you, Mr Gluttony.” Jojo gave him a gross look.

”At least, I ain’t no hypocrite.” Arthur sniggered as he gazed at the steak on her plate, ”Didn’t you tell me in the gym that monks aren’t supposed to eat meat?”

”I never claimed to be a perfect Monk, I am a trying Monk.”

Jojo sliced up a piece of the steak and ate it with a contented smile, uncaring about Arthur’s judging look.

”Trying...” Arthur scoffed, ”The only thing you are trying is my patience.”

Knowing that their bicker would last a while unless they interjected, Levi asked with a serene smile.

”Who is going to participate in the mission?”

Everyone lifted their hands.

”As expected.” Levi added, ”We are five, and the mission requires three members max. So, I believe the best split will be me and my brother in one team, and you guys form another team.”

Arthur gave a thumbs-up while still stuffing his face with food.

”I don’t mind, but you guys are okay with just the two of you?” Melissa asked sweetly, ”Maybe it’s best if you add another classmate like Nurah or Omar.”

”We will be fine together.” Levi smiled.

Arthur gave another thumbs up, having no interest in adding anyone else. As long as he was with his brother, he was confident they would brutalize any chosen Twilight Burrow.

”Finish your lunch, then. We have to go snag something good before Demetris and the others clear them.” Rayan warned while speedrunning his lunch, eating like he had a flight to catch.

Everyone spent a few seconds pondering Demetris’ character. Then, simultaneously, they picked up their eating pace, knowing that two-faced vermin would definitely screw with them.

...

Sometime later...

Levi and his friends arrived at the central plaza. It was the most populated location in the training center due to the Mission Board.

Above the breathtaking artistic fountain, massive holographic blue screens were spinning midair...Each screen contained tens of missions.

They were arranged into three categories: Region, Gathering, and Expeditions.

Region missions were related to anything occurring inside the region, ranging from Stygian Gates, Escort Assignments, Safety Control, and such...It was like assisting the Officers in areas understaffed or such.

Gathering missions dealt with Daywalkers, Evolutionists, or governmental requests to collect a specific sort of materials outside of the region.

They usually pay a lot of coins since those requested materials might be rare or too far from the borders.

Last but not least, Expedition missions.

Levi and his friends went to the holographic screen showcasing the available expeditions. While Levi couldn’t see the details, Astra AI was reading them in his ear.

”Shit...Only those two are left unclaimed.”

Rayan’s expression turned bad after noticing that the section of Twilight Burrow was empty except for two missions left.

”So? Isn’t this what we wanted?” Arthur tilted his head in confusion. ”You take one, we take the other.”

”Read the details of the Nyxformis Burrow,” Levi said calmly.

”Hmm?” Arthur went on and read the details in his mind.

They appeared as such:

// NEST NAME: Nyxformis Burrow

LOCATION: Subterranean vaults near the Ruins of Ancient Casablanca City.

SPECIES: Paralantica Nyxformis.

> Venomous ant-nightcrawlers(Tier 1)

> 100+ active units/Paralyzing bite/Regenerative hive

> Resin tunnels, collapsible shafts.

QUEEN: Nyxformis(Tier 2)

> Immobile/Emits disorienting hum.

> Reproduction rate: 8 ants/hour.

> Replaces fallen instantly if the count drops.

Clearance Reward: 5000 coins to each member(5 max)//

”The hell? How can this be rated as a mere Twilight Burrow?”