Mutant awakening: My evolution knows no bounds

"Mutants that travel in packs and live in caves..." Silas thought, his mind racing to piece the information together. His eyes suddenly widened as the realization dawned on him. "Wolves!" he exclaimed aloud, the word escaping his lips almost involuntarily. "I think they're wolves!"

As if on cue, a pack of dark, shadowy creatures emerged from the depths of the cave. At first glance, they looked like regular wolves, but as they stepped into the crimson glow of Vic's light, it became clear that these were no ordinary animals.

Their bodies were much larger, their fur not soft but gleaming like polished metal. Their claws and fangs, sharp and menacing, looked as though they had been forged from pure steel, each one capable of slicing through flesh and bone with ease.

Their eyes, glowing with an unnatural luminescence, burned with a predatory hunger, exuding an aura of malevolent energy that sent a shiver down Silas's spine.

[Name: Steel Wolf]

[Grade: 2]

A notification screen materialized before Silas, pulling his attention for a brief moment as he scanned its contents.

'Grade 2 mutants should be relatively easy to deal with, but the problem is their sheer numbers,' Silas mused silently. 'This situation reminds me of those Crazed Chimptants I had to face during my first evolution quest. It's not the strength that's dangerous—it's the overwhelming force of numbers.' After quickly dismissing the screen, Silas redirected his focus to the advancing wolves.

"You were right, Silas! They are wolves!" Vic shouted with a mixture of excitement and determination in his voice. His two fists clenched tightly as he stared down the approaching pack. "Angelica, get ready! You know what to do!"

The wolves, with their eyes fixed on their trespassers, emitted a deafening, bone-chilling howl that echoed throughout the cave, amplifying the growing tension.

Without wasting another moment, they charged forward as one, their bodies moving with a terrifying speed and precision. Angelica, however, remained calm and collected. With a confident stride, she stepped forward, her eyes narrowing in concentration. She raised her right hand, and from her palm, a bolt of purple lightning crackled to life, surging through the air like a snake made of pure energy.

The bolt raced towards the incoming wolves with lethal intent.

ZAP!

The lightning struck several wolves, sending them flying backward with a sharp yelp, their bodies smoldering from the impact. But the attack had not been enough to stop the entire pack.

The wolves that had escaped the strike continued their relentless charge, closing the distance with frightening speed. Without hesitation, Angelica sent another bolt of crackling energy forward. This time, her aim was true, and a few more of the creatures collapsed lifelessly to the ground, their steel fur charred and smoking.

"Nice shot!" Vic complimented, slamming his foot onto the ground. Instantly, the earth beneath his feet rumbled, and three sharp spikes of rock erupted from the floor, shooting forward with deadly accuracy like missiles aimed at the charging wolves.

The spikes impaled several of the wolves, the force of the impact killing them instantly. But still, the pack pressed on. Undeterred, Vic repeated the same action, slamming his foot down once more. Four more jagged spikes of earth shot forward, each one finding its mark, piercing the wolves through their heads and bodies.

The wolves' bodies flew backward before crashing to the ground with a sickening thud.

Silas stood back, observing the efficient teamwork between Vic and Angelica.

'They're handling these Grade 2 wolves pretty well. It's almost like they've been preparing for this moment,' he thought, unable to help feeling impressed by how smoothly they worked together. But even as he watched them, a gnawing sense of responsibility tugged at him.

'I can't just stand here while they do all the work. The system's made it clear—I'm supposed to be the leader of this team, not a bystander.'

Clenching his fists tightly, Silas took a deep breath and suddenly dashed forward, his body moving so quickly that he was a blur of motion.

A powerful gust of wind swept through the cave, rushing between Vic and Angelica as they both turned in surprise. In the blink of an eye, Silas had already placed himself directly in the path of the remaining wolves, standing as an immovable barrier between the pack and his teammates.

Three wolves immediately fixed their gaze on Silas, their metallic bodies gleaming as they leapt high into the air, aiming to pounce on him from above. Silas's eyes narrowed as he tracked their movements. With a sharp instinct honed through countless battles, he stepped back just in time, allowing the wolves to crash into the ground where he had just been standing.

One of the wolves quickly regained its footing and lunged at Silas again, its fangs bared and claws outstretched. But before it could get any closer, Silas launched a devastating punch.

BAM!

The sound reverberated through the cave as Silas's fist slammed into the wolf's steel body with incredible force. The impact sent the creature flying several meters across the cave before it landed with a sickening crunch.

[Congratulations, you have slain a Steel Wolf.]

A notification appeared before Silas, but he dismissed it almost immediately, his focus now shifting to two more wolves that were closing in on him. He pulled his right arm back, muscles tensing as he prepared to strike.

BAM!

His punch connected with the first wolf's head, knocking it down in a single blow. Silas didn't pause for a second, turning his gaze to the second wolf, whose gleaming eyes were locked onto him. With a swift, powerful punch, Silas sent it flying backward, the creature letting out a final whimper as it hit the cave floor.

Two more wolves leapt towards Silas, their claws extended as they aimed for his throat. In a fluid motion, Silas leaped into the air, evading their attack, and as he descended, he brought his heel down with brutal force.

BAM!

His heel smashed into the wolf's head, causing it to cry out in agony before collapsing. Silas landed smoothly, spinning his body around with graceful precision before delivering a flawless roundhouse kick to the final wolf, sending it flying.

[Congratulations, you have slain a Steel Wolf.]

[Congratulations, you have slain a Steel Wolf.]

[Congratulations, you have slain a Steel Wolf.]

[Congratulations, you have slain a Steel Wolf.]

[Congratulations, you have slain a Steel Wolf.]

Multiple notifications flashed in front of Silas as he stood amidst the carnage, his face expressionless despite the pile of dead wolves around him.

'It would've been so much easier if I had my scythe and armor,' Silas thought to himself.

'But I can't risk using the scythe. If they find out I'm actually the Ghost Ranger, it might not end well for me, especially with that guy I killed at the Ranking Arena still fresh in people's minds.'

Even as he pushed these thoughts aside, he knew deep down that he wouldn't be able to hide his weapons forever. The deeper they ventured into this realm, the more powerful the enemies would become, and eventually, he'd be forced to reveal his full arsenal.

"That was quick. We owe it all to Silas Griswold," Vic remarked, walking over to Silas and clapping him on the shoulder. "You didn't have to jump in, though. We could've handled those weaklings ourselves."

"Yeah, I know," Silas responded, his tone casual. "But I figured I'd help out." Vic gave him a playful smirk before kneeling down to inspect the scattered wolf bodies littering the cave floor.

"These bastards were definitely grade 2s," Vic mused aloud. "Guess we were being paranoid about the academy sending us to a high grade realm with tougher..."

"VIC, BEHIND YOU!" Angelica's panicked voice cut through the air. Vic and Silas spun around just as a shadowy creature emerged from the darkness, its massive claws already swung towards Vic's head.

"""

A/N: Golden Tickets or Gifts to unlock bonus chapters..