The Evolution of the Weakest Ghoul

Chapter 6: Chapter 6: Retreat

Hearing the system notification, a soft surge of energy filled Ronan’s body. For a moment, he felt himself becoming stronger, even if only by a tiny bit, as his expression changed.

Now, killing humans was no longer just a way to survive, but also a way to grow stronger.

But this was only the beginning.

A stronger surge of energy suddenly coursed through his body as it groaned beneath him. His wounds and cuts closed one after another, and the bleeding finally stopped.

Ronan couldn’t help but remember what Essence was.

It was not only the energy needed for breakthroughs, but also the energy consumed whenever one used an ability. To regenerate, one needed enough Essence, and Essence itself enhanced the body, which was why it was also required for breaking through to higher Realms.

”Stats.”

Ronan felt a slight burst of happiness as he briefly forgot about everything that had happened.

---

Host: Ronan

Race: Ghoul

Realm: Mortal • One Star

Trait: Blood Sucking Lv.0

Essence: 0.001/1 (1.001/10 needed to reach the next star.)

Effect: Minor body enhancement.

Abilities: None

Inventory: Evolution Card ×1

---

Seeing his stats, Ronan’s eyes widened in realization.

His Essence had been used to heal his body, and now he understood why it was recovering.

Seeing the importance of Essence, Ronan knew he needed more as he glanced around, his eyes scanning for prey until he spotted several severely injured human soldiers.

Seeing this, a wild smile spread across Ronan’s Ghoul face as his sense of reason was stripped away little by little. He approached the dying soldiers and put an end to their misery one after another.

---

Meanwhile, in another corner of the town, within a dark alleyway...

Various dark figures appeared as Levit and the other Vampire masters emerged from the shadows.

Ronan and the Ghoul army were nothing more than a distraction.

Like feathers drifting through the wind, they moved around the town, bypassing the unaware, panicked humans and the reinforcing soldiers until they finally arrived at a massive mansion.

They could sense several presences inside, but one in particular caught their attention.

It belonged to a Transcendent Realm expert, while the rest were High to Peak Mortal Realm experts.

Inside the mansion, the town leader, the elders, and the commander of the town’s army sat together, hurriedly discussing what to do.

”Any suggestions are welcome. This invasion is too close... far too close.,” the town leader, an aged man, said helplessly as the others sighed.

This was the truth.

To defend against the Abyssal Creatures, humanity had developed a structure of power from the highest cities down to the outermost towns.

Towns were only a few kilometers apart and were each under the jurisdiction of a city that occasionally sent envoys to check on them.

If an Abyssal attack happened as usual, they could reach the next town in time and seek reinforcements, allowing them to protect one another.

But who could have known the Pathway would open directly outside their gate?

”I already sent out a messenger, but it will still take him several minutes to reach the next town, and even longer for reinforcements to arrive,” one of the elderly men lamented as his white beard trembled.

This revealed the fatal weakness of humanity’s structure.

The higher one climbed, the safer it became.

But those at the outer edges were simply too far apart.

Most of the time, before help could arrive...

The damage had already been done.

”Also, the Ghoul horde has broken through the gate,” the commander dropped the bombshell, causing everyone to suck in a sharp breath.

”So quickly?”

Worry immediately appeared on their faces.

”And we all know Ghouls are servants of Vampires. So I think the bigger question is... if the Ghoul horde is already at the gate, then where is their master?” the town leader voiced his concern as everyone felt a chill run down their backs.

”We are here.”

Suddenly, a voice echoed throughout the meeting room as the Vampires, their crimson eyes glowing, stepped out with faint smiles on their faces.

The town leader and elders hurriedly stood up in fright while the commander drew his sword and stepped forward to defend them.

”Stay back,” the commander ordered as Levit stepped forward.

The instant he did, the doors burst open as numerous guards flooded into the room, surrounding the Vampires.

”You are surrounded. Surrender, leave with your army... or perish with them,” the commander said coldly as he stepped forward, encouraged by the arrival of the reinforcements.

These were his most elite guards.

There were more than fifty of them, and each was at the Peak Mortal Realm, only a step away from the Transcendent Realm.

Individually, they were powerful.

Together, they were strong enough to challenge Transcendent Realm experts.

Hearing this, Levit couldn’t help but laugh.

He was genuinely amused by humanity’s courage.

”You may have overestimated yourselves,” Levit said as his crimson eyes glowed even brighter.

Mind Manipulation Lv.5.

Not only Levit, but the other Vampires also activated the same ability.

The room instantly fell silent as they won the battle without even lifting a finger.

”Now, issue the order for your men to retreat. Then you and your guards will attack them from behind,” another Vampire stepped forward and commanded.

”Yes, Master.”

At that moment, the humans’ pupils glowed with a crimson hue as they responded like soulless puppets.

Just as the human soldiers were reduced to three hundred, a strange order was given.

The commander ordered them to retreat.

”Could it be...?” one of the soldiers muttered as the others gritted their teeth.

Retreat?

That could only mean they were abandoning the town, meaning the people... their families... would be left to die.

He couldn’t help but clench his fists.

Then did his comrades’ deaths mean nothing?

They had died believing they were fighting until the very end to protect the people, to keep them safe, and to bravely lay down their lives for the town.

And now...

The higher-ups were telling them to abandon it?

Damn it...

”Retreat!” the officer in charge shouted as the rest began pulling back from the Ghoul horde.

The man remained rooted to the spot.

Then he felt a heavy palm land on his shoulder.

”That is an order, soldier,” the officer in charge commanded, seeing the man still stubbornly resisting.

The man finally gave in and retreated with the others.

After all, their formation depended on large numbers to survive.

”Heh...”

For a brief moment, Ronan managed to snap out of his frenzy as he looked at the retreating humans.

He wondered what had happened, but he didn’t have to wonder for long.

He sensed multiple powerful auras approaching as the town leader and elders appeared.

However, Ronan’s eyes weren’t on them.

They were fixed on the man clad in knight’s armor, wielding a longsword.

The moment the man stepped onto the stone pavement, Ronan felt his entire body tense as every instinct warned him.

This man...

This man was extremely dangerous.

And the system proved him right.

---

Host: ????

Race: Human

Realm: Transcendent • Two Star

Trait: None

Essence: ???? (???/???)

Effect:

Enhanced strength.

Enhanced agility.

Enhanced perception.

Enhanced speed.

Faster regeneration than normal humans.

Abilities: None