Mutant awakening: My evolution knows no bounds

Silas froze after hearing the knock, his gaze locking onto the door. He stared at it for a few moments before cautiously walking toward it. Taking a deep breath, he exhaled slowly before pulling the door open.

Standing directly in front of him was Kara, her presence emanating an aura of barely contained fury. Her expression was akin to that of a raging devil, her eyes burning with intensity.

"We need to have a serious discussion about last night, Silas," Kara said sharply, her voice carrying an edge of authority.

Silas didn't need to guess what she was referring to; it was obvious. Yet, he chose to feign ignorance, playing dumb to confirm his suspicions.

"Uhm... what are you talking about, ma?" Silas inquired, scratching his head with a confused, dumbfounded expression.

"Don't play dumb, Silas. I was there last night. When I arrived, you'd already killed them all. I was the one who cleaned up your mess and brought you back to your dorm room after you passed out," Kara responded, her frown deepening as her eyes bore into him.

Silas nodded slowly, a sense of relief washing over him. "I see... I was wondering earlier how I ended up back in my room. Well, I guess it's good to know it was you. At least I won't have to worry about getting locked up behind the jingling bars," he said, his voice tinged with an ironic sense of relief.

Kara glanced around, her eyes scanning the room briefly before grabbing Silas's right arm and pulling him inside. She shut the door behind them with a swift motion.

"What the hell happened last night? What did you do to Caleb and his friends? I examined the bodies. They were killed by claws, and Caleb's body… it's like he turned into some sort of petrified husk. I need to know exactly what happened," Kara demanded, her tone sharp and unyielding.

Silas stayed silent for a few moments, weighing his response. Finally, he spoke. "There's something you should know about the Apex Mutant artifact I absorbed."

"Okay?" Kara urged impatiently, her arms crossed as she awaited his explanation.

Silas sighed heavily before speaking again. "In order for me to live and use my abilities to the fullest, I need to consume souls. If I don't consume souls, I lose control and go wild until a soul is devoured. That's what happened last night... I lost control of my body, and that's why those guys were killed so brutally. Caleb's body—well, it's what happens when I consume a soul."

His explanation was clear and devoid of any remorse, as if he were merely stating facts. Silas had no qualms about what he'd done; they deserved it. His concern wasn't the act itself but the implications of losing control and whether he had killed others beyond Caleb's group.

Even though he hadn't truly run wild last night—he had intended to kill them all along—the fear that lingered was of a different nature. The fear that, after killing them, he wouldn't stop and would rampage through the academy, wreaking havoc. That would end disastrously for him.

Kara stood still, processing the information. Her expression flickered between shock and understanding as the weight of Silas's confession settled in.

After a long moment, she finally broke the silence. "Yeah, I've read something similar to your case years ago... A mutant who feeds on souls to survive."

She sighed. "The Apex Mutant is a combination of all species of mutants, including the soul-eater species. Since you're now the host, it makes sense that you'd need souls to survive. But does it have to be a human soul?" Kara asked, her voice filled with genuine curiosity and concern.

"For now, yes," Silas replied. "But soon, I'll be able to consume the souls of mutants as well."

Kara's eyes narrowed, her suspicion evident. "How are you so sure of that?" she questioned, her glare intensifying.

Silas chuckled nervously, rubbing the back of his head. He hadn't told her about the system—the quests, the leveling up, or the attribute points. Even though Kara had proven herself trustworthy so far, he felt it was wiser to keep that part hidden, at least for now.

She would undoubtedly grow suspicious in the future as he continued to grow in power, but until then, he preferred to keep that secret to himself.

"I did some research," Silas answered. "That's how I found out."

Kara stared at him for a moment longer before nodding. "I see. Well, Caleb was the son of Sensei Josh, and I'm sure he'll be furious when he finds out his son is dead. But don't worry, I'll do everything in my power to make sure no one links it back to you," Kara assured, though her words carried a weight of warning.

Silas's heart raced when she mentioned Sensei Josh, but he sighed in relief at her assurance. Kara had a high rank within the academy, and with her power and influence, she could easily cover his tracks. Silas trusted she'd be able to sweep this under the rug.

"Today's a Saturday, meaning there are no classes," Kara continued, changing the subject. "Hurry up and get dressed. We have somewhere to be."

Silas blinked in confusion. "Err? Somewhere? Where are we going?" he asked, unsure of what she had planned.

"To the Ranking Arena," Kara replied, her tone making it clear this wasn't up for debate.

The Ranking Arena. Silas had heard of it—a place where top students with high-graded mutant abilities went to fight, climbing their way up the leaderboard. It was a prestigious and competitive environment, where students showcased their talents and gained recognition from the academy's top staff.

It wasn't just about the competition; students participated for various reasons—training, gaining popularity, or simply out of boredom. But for Silas, it had always been a place to avoid. He had never once set foot in the arena, both because he hadn't possessed any notable abilities before and because he had no interest in watching his bullies fight.

"Why do you want me to go to the arena, ma?" Silas asked after a moment's hesitation.

"It'll help you improve," Kara explained. "The duels will sharpen your battle IQ. That's why I want you there."

Silas frowned. "Fighting low-graded students won't help me improve anything. The fights would be too easy."

"Then pick a tougher opponent. Maybe a Grade 4," Kara suggested. "I want to see what you're capable of, Silas."

Silas hesitated again. "If I defeat a Grade 4 in front of everyone, I'll be exposing myself. I don't want that."

"Not if you fight anonymously," Kara countered. "I've seen students register under false names and wear costumes. No one will know who you are. All they'll see is an anonymous fighter defeating high-ranked students."

Silas stared at her, weighing his options before letting out a heavy sigh. "Fine," he muttered, before turning and heading to the bathroom.

Once inside, he glanced at the screen floating before him.

[Time left to accept the quest: 10:49:35]

"I've still got time. I'll go to the arena, defeat a few opponents, boost my level, and maybe earn some attribute points. I have a feeling this evolution quest is going to be dangerous, and I could use every advantage I can get." Silas thought to himself as he prepared to leave.