Morning sunlight filtered through the narrow streets of Sector 7.
Adrian walked calmly along the road, but his mind was busy reviewing the system panel again and again.
System Status
Host: Adrian Ren CarterAge: 22
Mutation Level: Not Awakened
Available General Experience Points: 25
Available Gene Points: 6
Gene Abilities:• Radiant Carapace — Level 1
Adrian exhaled slowly.
"The forest monsters are getting stronger."
The Shadow Fang Wolf yesterday proved something important.
The world had already changed.
And he needed better equipment.
A kitchen knife and baseball bat would not be enough for long.
Industrial Market – Sector 7
The market district was already active.
Workers, vendors, and mechanics filled the streets.
Most people still looked normal.
Running.
Shopping.
Talking.
No one seemed to realize the world was already evolving.
Adrian quietly walked into a hardware store.
The sign above the shop read:
Harrison Tools & Industrial Supplies
Inside the shop, rows of tools lined the walls.
Axes.
Knives.
Heavy equipment.
Adrian walked straight toward the blade section.
A large steel axe caught his attention.
The weapon had a dark forged head and a reinforced handle.
Adrian lifted it.
The weight felt perfect.
The edge was thick and durable.
"This could split bone," he muttered.
A shop worker walked over.
"Good choice," the man said.
"Industrial steel axe. Forestry grade. Strong enough to chop hardwood."
Adrian nodded.
"I'll take it."
Then his eyes moved to another blade.
A stainless steel dagger.
Short.
But thick.
Much thicker than a normal knife.
The blade looked reinforced.
He picked it up.
Balanced.
Extremely sharp.
"What about this one?" Adrian asked.
The worker shrugged.
"Custom piece. Extra thick stainless steel."
"Hunters sometimes buy it."
Adrian smiled slightly.
"Perfect."
Outside the Shop
Adrian walked out carrying a long equipment bag.
Inside the bag were:
• Steel Axe• Extra-thick Stainless Steel Dagger
He stopped in a quiet alley and opened the bag.
The axe reflected sunlight as he pulled it out.
He swung it once.
WHOOSH
The air split sharply.
His Iron Muscle ability made the weapon feel lighter than expected.
"Good."
The dagger came next.
Adrian tested the blade against a wooden crate.
Slice
The wood split cleanly.
He nodded.
"These will work."
System Notification
New Equipment Detected
Steel AxeCategory: Heavy WeaponCombat Efficiency: High vs Large Creatures
Stainless Steel DaggerCategory: Close Combat WeaponCombat Efficiency: High vs Small Targets
Adrian grinned.
"So the system recognizes weapons too."
He closed the panel.
Then looked toward the forest outside the city.
His hunting ground.
Neo-Terra Forest Edge
The air felt slightly colder today.
Bird sounds were fewer.
Insects crawled across leaves.
Adrian stepped quietly into the trees.
The axe rested on his shoulder.
The dagger remained strapped to his waist.
His eyes scanned the surroundings.
Predator Instinct slowly activated.
Movement.
Left side.
Adrian moved silently toward a fallen tree.
Under the bark, something crawled.
A cluster of mutated iron termites.
Their metallic shells glimmered under sunlight.
Adrian smiled.
"Good."
He raised the axe.
CRACK
Wood shattered.
The termites scattered.
But Adrian moved quickly.
The dagger flashed.
STAB
CRUNCH
System Notifications
Iron Termite killed+0.1 Experience
Iron Termite killed+0.1 Experience
Iron Termite killed+0.1 Experience
Adrian continued hunting.
The axe crushed beetles.
The dagger pierced insects hiding under bark.
Within half an hour the notifications continued stacking.
System Notifications
Radiant Beetle killed+0.5 Experience
Iron Termite killed+0.1 Experience
Radiant Beetle killed+0.5 Experience
Adrian wiped blue insect blood from the dagger.
Then opened his panel again.
System Status
Host: Adrian Ren Carter
Mutation Level: Not Awakened
Available General Experience Points: 31.7
Available Gene Points: 6
Adrian nodded.
"These weapons make hunting much easier."
But suddenly—
His Predator Instinct triggered.
A warning signal flashed through his mind.
Something heavy moved in the deeper forest.
The ground vibrated slightly.
Leaves rustled.
Adrian slowly tightened his grip on the axe.
His eyes focused ahead.
Between the trees—
A massive silhouette appeared.
Much larger than a wolf.
Two glowing eyes stared directly at him.
System Alert
Unknown Mutated Creature Detected
Threat Rank: C
Adrian's breathing slowed.
The axe tightened in his hands.
He smiled slightly.
"Good."
"Let's test the new weapon."
To Be Continued…