Chapter 2 - Shadows of Retribution

Alex's cramped slum dorm reeked of blood and ozone from Kairos's botched lightning strike. Silver Fang prowled the shadows, its crimson eyes scanning for threats, while Alex pored over the system's interface. The holographic panel pulsed with new options, taunting him with potential.[System Update: Infinite Chain Evolution]Evolve Scrap (Lv.2)Chain evolutions on successful outputs.Input any evolved entity + scrap for 2x growth.Bonus: Absorb enemy essence for permanent buffs.This changes everything, Alex thought. No more one-shot wonders. He could build an army from garbage. But footsteps echoed outside—he had minutes before the academy guards swarmed.A knock rattled the door. "Alex Thorne! Open up! Instructor Varkis demands your presence!" Two armored enforcers, lackeys of House Voss, bellowed.Silver Fang growled low. Alex smirked. "Time to test chain evo." He snatched a rusted dagger from the floor—pure scrap—and touched the beast. "Evolve Scrap: Chain!"Light erupted again, fiercer. Silver Fang swelled, shadows coiling like living armor. [Chain Complete: Shadow Fang Sovereign (Rare Rank)] New traits flashed: Phase Dash (intangible burst), Essence Drain (steal stats on kill).The door splintered under enforcer boots. "Surrender the freak beast, trash!" the leader snarled, spear glowing with mana reinforcement.Alex pointed. "Drain them."Shadow Fang blurred forward, phasing through the spear thrust. Fangs pierced the leader's shoulder; dark tendrils siphoned blue essence, shrinking the man's muscles visibly. He crumpled, gasping, "W-what sorcery?"The second enforcer swung wildly. Alex dodged, grabbing the dropped spear—another scrap. "Evolve!" It morphed into a sleek Abyssal Lance, humming with shadow energy. One thrust downed the foe cleanly.[Essence Absorbed: +2 Strength, +1 Agility. Total Buffs: STR 12, AGI 15.]Panting, Alex looted their spirit stones—pure mana crystals worth a month's food. Jackpot. But alarms blared academy-wide. Kairos had snitched.He slipped into the night, Shadow Fang scouting ahead. The coliseum loomed, lit by floating orbs. A crowd gathered, Varkis ranting: "That slum rat awakened a demonic beast! Kairos barely escaped! Seize him on sight!"Hidden in shadows, Alex spotted Kairos, bandaged chest and all, boasting to nobles. Rage boiled. Payback time."Essence Drain his goons first," Alex whispered. Shadow Fang struck silently—two cronies drained dry, collapsing like husks. Panic rippled.Kairos whirled. "There! Lightning Sovereign—Obliterate!"Bolts arced, but Shadow Fang phased, countering with a drain claw. Kairos staggered, his SS-rank aura flickering. Alex leaped in, Abyssal Lance piercing his thigh. "Who's trash now?""You'll regret this, Rat! House Voss will—" Kairos choked as essence drained, his golden hair dulling.[Critical Hit! Absorbed: Lightning Affinity (Partial). New Skill: Thunder Phase (Lv.1).]Kairos fled into the crowd, humiliated. Cheers turned to whispers—Did trash just own the prodigy?Varkis charged, axe raised. But Alex's system pinged: [Weekly Event Unlocked: Academy Hunt. Evolve or Perish.] A map highlighted the forbidden forest. Run or fight?Shadow Fang nuzzled him. Alex grinned. "Forest it is. Let's evolve wild."As they vanished into the misty woods, the system hummed: Next scrap: Apex Predator Seed. God rank awaits.