"Day 8… Still nothing," Jayden sighed, dropping the mortar on the wooden table in his room.
He grabbed the pestle and stirred the contents of the mortar gingerly. Then—for the umpteenth time that day—raised the mortar to his lips and downed the viscous liquid.
His roommate scowled at the sight of that, sticking out his tongue and mimicking a gag.
"Jesus Christ, Jayden! Are you trying to get yourself killed by taking all that poison?!" He asked, disgusted by the putrid smell and sight.
Jayden in question, sighed again and massaged the bridge of his nose. "It's alchemy, Leon… And besides, I'm immune to most poisons."
"Yeah, right. And that's why you knocked yourself out cold yesterday while foaming from the mouth like an epilepti–."
"Most poisons… Leon. I didn't say all," Jayden cut him off.
He sat on his bed right after, ignoring Leon's ramble while pondering on why the higher ups hadn't sent them out on a Subjugation or Clearing operation yet—something usually done every week.
As his thoughts roamed, the brew he had just taken began to take effect.
Jayden could feel his muscular system undergoing a change.
Immediately, he lay down on his bed, resting his head on his pillow and closing his eyes.
His heartbeat sped up, nearing a life-threatening rate.
His muscles contracted and condensed, swelling back up a moment later and repeating the cycle.
The pain was bearable at first… until it became tormenting—numbing even. But Jayden couldn't even open his mouth to scream if he wanted to, because the muscles required for that weren't spared from the change.
They rolled underneath his skin like steel cords, tearing and healing over and over again.
This regular routine of his would have scarred anyone else and made them give up. But Jayden, even though he wanted to never go through this again, was forced to do it anyway, every seven days. And he had kept at it for over a year already.
Painful as it was, the results were worth it. Fortunately, today was the last day of taking that brew.
Ten minutes later, Jayden could move again, and the first thing he did was to open his eyes, only to see Leon standing over him, sweat lining his forehead and a bright golden glow surrounding him.
"The hell, bro!" Leon hollered, the golden glow around him exploding outward lightly and blowing Jayden's hair back. "I thought you were dead!"
Jayden didn't reply immediately, only staring at him silently.
'I do this every week, yet you always have the same reaction.' Jayden wanted to say. Instead, he just sat up, feeling out the changes in his muscles.
"As you can see, I am very much alive," he said, waving Leon off.
He clenched his fist and squeezed hard, his veins popping up and pushing against his flesh. He could faintly feel his bones groaning under the pressure.
He had successfully tempered his whole body, using his Alchemy skills.
Now his strength was beyond human, but still shy of a Grade 2 Evolver's strength.
Jayden smirked, tendrils of green rising out of him and wrapping around his wrists and ankles. In a rare moment of silent meditation, Jayden could feel his Essence rising as it circulated through his body.
His cultivation increased slowly, but surely, inching closer to the ceiling of Grade 1.
The Essence in the air parsed through his pores and into his Essence Veins, rushing towards his Crux where it coagulated.
Silence ensued in the next few minutes, only for it to be cut short by a sudden, blaring announcement over the speakers.
"Attention, first year students!!" The battle-hardened, gruff voice, laced with years of labour and torture, resounded all around the First Years' Dormitory of the Academy, alerting everyone who deemed it important enough to listen to.
"Area Z-24 has been declared a Red Zone!"
"I repeat, area Z-24 has been declared a Red Zone!"
"All teams move out!"
"Clear the Zone and its surroundings as soon as possible!"
Static played for a second, then came the voice again.
"The team that kills the most Godspawns will be rewarded with Grade 3 Essence crystals!"
"Goodluck!"
Jayden's eyes lit up upon hearing the reward, and he raised his gaze to meet Leon's.
Both exchanged a knowing glance, their blood rushing through their veins like magma through an erupting volcano.
The dormitory exploded into action as the announcement was repeated again.
Numerous teenage boys burst out of their rooms, wearing strong expressions as they headed towards the supply issue point in the academy.
They had great powers and abilities—terrifying and effective against Godspawns. In spite of that, ultimately, they were still humans.
They didn't possess the physical strengths Godspawns possessed. Plus, their numbers were too little compared to Godspawns.
The ratio was a thousand to one in their region alone; not to talk of other regions that had more infestations of them.
It might be easier in their region, however, some measurements were still needed. That is, protective gear and weaponry.
Technological advancement had sped up in the last decade due to the occurrence of the Godspawn Apocalypse. New and innovative tech had been developed, mixing in the magical qualities of Essence with human technology.
This caused the whole of humanity to surge into a new era. An era where it seemed like anything was possible…
The Era of Evolvers!
Jayden and Leon rose from their beds, taking whatever they needed and storing it in their Dimensional Inventory. However, before they could leave their room, a sharp knock came from their door, and without even bothering to get a reply, the visitor swung it open, entering the room without care.
"Late as always," the visitor said in an irritated voice.
She stared the two boys in the eyes, her black irises scanning them over as if she were a Major addressing two unruly Lieutenants.
Leon raised a brow, sent Jayden another glance, grabbed something from a shelf next to his bed and left through the door—though not without giving Jayden a wink and suspicious smile.
"Where were you last night?" Samantha suddenly asked, a frown lining her brows.
"Where else?"
"..."
Upon receiving no reply he turned around, tapping his mortar and pestle, resulting in them vanishing into his Dimensional Inventory.
Jayden turned back a second later, only to find… Nothing.
"Shitty, little speedster!"