Mutant awakening: My evolution knows no bounds

Chapter 175 Disappointed

Silas materialized in his dorm room just a few heartbeats after receiving the final notification from the system.

Looking around at the familiar space filled with everyday items—a worn-out desk piled with books and the small shelf stacked with various collectibles—he felt a sense of comfort. With a deep breath, Silas took a seat on his neatly made bed, anticipation coursing through him as he waited for the system to notify him about the rewards he believed were rightfully his for completing the quest.

Minutes ticked away slowly, and as he sat there, his excitement began to transform into confusion. No notifications appeared on the screen, and silence filled the room, save for the faint hum of the overhead light.

"What's going on? Where are the rewards?" Silas questioned aloud, a frown forming on his face. He wasn't genuinely expecting a reply; after all, the system was just that—a programmed tool. However, to his surprise, the system responded promptly.

[Your rewards will be granted to you after you complete the second and final stage of the evolution quest.]

A pang of disappointment hit Silas as he read through the notification. He had been eagerly looking forward to reaping the benefits of his hard work, so learning that he would have to wait even longer was a letdown.

Silas felt the weight of his situation pressing down on him. If he failed the last stage of the quest, everything he had worked toward would slip away into oblivion. This particular thought kept swirling in his mind, leaving him feeling uneasy.

"I had planned to allocate my attribute points wisely and prepare myself thoroughly for the next evolution quest, but it seems I have no other option but to wait," Silas mused, trying to stay optimistic as he summoned the interface of his system.

It had been some time since he last checked his progress, and now that he found himself with nothing pressing to do, he decided it was a good moment to assess how far he had come on his journey.

---

[Name: Silas Griswold]

**Race: Mutant**

**Evolution Tier: Tier 3 Soul Devourer

**Level: 73

**Health: 100/100**

**Soul Points: 200/200**

**Soul Reserve: 100/100**

**Attribute Panel:**

- **Strength: 100**

- **Speed: 50**

- **Reflex: 50**

- **Agility: 50**

- **Intelligence: 50**

- **Available Attribute Points: 50**

**Skill Panel:**

- **Lightning Dash (LVL 4):** Boosts speed for 5 seconds. Costs 10 soul points.

- **Soul Claws (LVL 3):** Extends claws from fingertips. Costs 1 soul point.

- **Soul Control (LVL 2):** Manipulates beings with souls.

- **Soul Jab (LVL 1):** Channels soul energy into a punch, halving higher-grade opponents' health.

**Arsenal:**

- **Grade 4 Chest and Leg Armor**

- **Grade 4 Sycrax Blade**

- **Grade 5 Soul Reaper Scythe**

- **Ghost Mask and Outfit**

- **Clone Skill Card (19)**

- **Nature Manipulation Skill Card (2)**

- **Mutant Taming Skill Card (2)**

- **Nightmare Shroud Skill Card (1)**

- **Venomous Spines Skill Card (2)**

- **Rewind Skill Card (5)**

_ **Destructive energy skill card (1)

- **Cave Ants Body Parts (32)**

- **Litant Body Parts (30)**

- **Grade 5 Blade of the Guardian of the Broken Throne.**

---

As Silas analyzed the screen, his fingers rubbed thoughtfully against his chin. He wore a look of deep contemplation, his mind racing with thoughts about his next steps.

"My armor was completely obliterated by Ozivox's nightmare. I need to figure out a way to repair it and also enhance its effectiveness to prevent such destruction from happening again," Silas reflected quietly. Determined to take action, he clicked on the [Shop] panel, hoping to find solutions there.

The screen in front of him quickly transformed into a vibrant marketplace overflowing with various items, from weapons and armor to fascinating types of equipment. The colorful icons made the shop seem almost alive, and Silas felt a flicker of hope ignite within him.

As he scrolled through the shop, he actively searched for an item that could repair his damaged armor while also looking for an upgrade chip to bolster its capabilities. His fingers danced over the options available, but he couldn't shake the feeling of frustration.

"Instead of just repairing and upgrading my old armor, why don't I sell it and buy a Grade 5 armor instead?" Silas pondered aloud, a look of determination crossing his features. It seemed like a sound plan in theory, but in practice, it required careful consideration.

The thought of how easily his armor had been wrecked during the fight irritated him. He had invested a hefty amount of tokens to upgrade it, only for it to be rendered useless in battle. Looking back, it felt like a waste.

He realized that had he possessed a Grade 5 armor, it would have been much more resilient and could have withstand that brutal encounter. Although he knew he could always buy an upgrade chip and enhance his existing armor to Grade 5, it would never be quite the same as a genuine Grade 5 armor. The difference in quality was undeniable; Grade 5 armors were forged with strength and durability that far exceeded their upgraded counterparts.

Not only that, but Grade 5 armors also came with special skills that regular and upgraded armors simply did not possess. The potential advantages were too significant to ignore.

"System, I'd like to sell all my armors, please," Silas said firmly, making the decision to move forward. As soon as he confirmed his request, the amount he could receive for the sale appeared brightly on the screen, giving him a clear sense of the next step in his journey.

The amount he received for his armor was a bit disappointing, given how badly damaged it was, but Silas had no choice but to sell it. He understood that in his current situation, any amount of tokens was better than nothing at all.

After completing the sale, he looked at his account balance in disbelief; he now had a total of 3 million tokens. Yet, despite the hefty sum, he quickly realized that 3 million tokens would not be nearly enough to purchase a reliable Grade 5 armor from the shop. Determined to find a solution, he contemplated selling some of the mutant body parts he had collected from the realm. In a moment of decision, he opted to sell twenty of each type he had.

With a few taps on the screen, he sold approximately 40 mutant body parts, and to his relief, his total token balance rose to 6 million. Feeling a renewed sense of excitement, Silas wasted no time clicking on the icon that displayed [Armors]. Almost instantly, a variety of armor types materialized on the screen before him.

The display showcased different grades, unique designs, various sizes, and a wide range of prices. Silas noted that the least expensive option available was a plain Grade 1 armor, fetching a modest price of 2,000 tokens. He began to scroll through the options, examining numerous armors, but he found himself growing increasingly confused about which one would be the best choice for him.

Minutes slipped by as he browsed through the selections, carefully evaluating each piece until his gaze finally landed on a striking armor.

The armor was a stunning blend of red and black, giving it an intimidating appearance. Its surface had a rugged texture, and the spiky shoulders added to its fierce aesthetic. This particular armor was designed to cover the entire body, though it left the head exposed, which gave it a unique touch. He was particularly drawn to the sharp claws that protruded from it, resembling those of a prowling panther.

**[Name: Predatory Armor]**

**[Grade: 5]**

**[More Information: Once equipped, it adds an extra ten points to all user attributes, and adds an additional ten to the speed attribute, making it a total of 20 points to speed. The claws also contain venom that paralyzes enemies and induces hallucinations for a duration of one minute.]**

A wide grin spread across Silas's face as he absorbed the information about the armor. It seemed almost perfect for him. The design aligned with his taste, and the benefits it promised were exactly what he needed.

"4.5 million tokens is quite a lot, but it's well worth it," Silas mused, weighing his options. Without further hesitation, he completed the transaction, and moments later, the armor appeared in his Arsenal, ready for use.

"I can't wait to test this out in the second stage of the quest," he smirked, his excitement bubbling over. With that thought in mind, he dismissed the screen and lay back on his bed, a sense of satisfaction washing over him.

However, Silas knew that he wasn't entirely sure when the next evolution quest would begin. It could be a while before it arrived, and he needed to stay proactive during that time.

"I might as well visit the Ranking Arena to grind for some points. It's been a while since I've been there," he thought, recalling the events that had kept him away after his last encounter.

The memory of the clash with the mysterious fighter still lingered in his mind. Though it had rattled him, he felt that the current situation was calm enough for him to consider returning and earning some points.

He settled in for a moment, letting himself relax, but soon sleep overtook him as he drifted off.

---

The morning sun began to rise, casting its warm rays into his small room, illuminating every corner and eventually landing on Silas's face. The gentle light pierced through his dreams, causing him to stir and wake from his slumber.

Yawning and stretching, Silas climbed out of bed and headed toward the bathroom to prepare for the day ahead. He felt rejuvenated, eager to face whatever challenges awaited him.

Suddenly, he heard a series of knocks at the door—KNOCK! KNOCK!

Silas paused mid-stride, tilting his head toward the sound. He stood there for a few seconds, his mind racing with possibilities about who might be visiting him so early in the morning. Deciding to investigate, he walked over to the door and opened it wide.

The moment the door swung open, a strikingly beautiful lady strode past him and entered his room with confidence. It was Kara.

"Good morning, Miss Kara. What brings you here so early?" Silas asked, a hint of confusion coloring his tone as he shut the door behind her.

Kara's expression was serious, and her gaze locked onto him with an intensity that made him uneasy. "Where were you last night, Griswold?" she asked, her tone almost stern.

"Uhm… what do you mean? I was right here, sleeping," Silas murmured, a bit taken aback by the abruptness of her question.

"No, you weren't. I came by last night, but you were nowhere to be found. So where were you?" Kara pressed, her voice demanding answers that Silas wasn't sure he could provide.