Mutant awakening: My evolution knows no bounds

The hidden quest required Silas to eliminate all the Shifters and prevent them from infecting anyone else, turning them into more of those creatures. Silas had killed every last Shifter on his own, including the one that had been attacking Vic. Yet, for some inexplicable reason, he had failed the quest.

If all the Shifters were dead, the only plausible explanation was that someone had already been infected. The only people present were Silas and Vic. Silas knew without a doubt that he wasn't infected—the system had cured him. That left only one possibility: Vic.

Silas shifted his gaze toward Vic, who stood a few meters away, panting heavily and wiping beads of sweat from his forehead with his sleeve. His expression was one of exhaustion and relief, completely unaware of the scrutiny he was under.

Silas scrutinized him for several minutes, his eyes scanning Vic's face and posture, searching for any sign that something was amiss. However, after careful observation, he couldn't detect anything unusual. Vic looked... normal. Too normal.

'It takes at least ten minutes for someone scratched to turn into a Shifter. It's only been three minutes since the fight ended. I'll need to keep a close watch on him,' Silas thought, glancing briefly at his wristwatch before fixing his eyes back on Vic, every second ticking by with heavy significance.

"Hey, Silas, good job," Vic called out, walking towards him, his smile weary but genuine.

Without warning, Silas summoned his Grade 5 sword, the blade shimmering with a cold, deadly light. He pointed it directly at Vic, the tip hovering just inches from his neck.

Vic froze mid-step, his eyes widening in shock and confusion. "What's gotten into you, man? It's me... Vic," he stammered, his voice tinged with disbelief. He raised his hands slowly, making sure not to make any sudden movements that might provoke Silas.

"How are you feeling, Vic? Are you okay? Do you feel... different?" Silas's voice was calm but icy, the blade unwavering.

Vic's brow furrowed deeply. "What's with the questions all of a sudden?" he asked, his voice cautious and wary.

"Just answer the goddamn question, Vic!" Silas snapped, his eyes narrowing, his voice a low growl.

Vic flinched slightly but responded, "Aside from feeling drained after using my ability continuously, I'm fine. Why are you asking?" His eyes searched Silas's face for an answer, his confusion growing.

"Were you injured by the Shifters? Did they scratch or bite you?" Silas pressed, his tone colder now, his grip tightening on the hilt of his sword.

Vic let out an exasperated breath. "I just told you, I'm fine! And no, I wasn't bitten or scratched."

"How sure are you?" Silas's eyes bore into Vic's, his gaze unrelenting.

Vic's frustration flared, his voice rising with anger. "What the hell do you mean? You think I wouldn't know if I was bitten? What's with this interrogation?" he snapped, his fists clenching.

Silas glanced at his wristwatch again. Two minutes remained before the critical ten-minute mark. Each second felt like a countdown to an unknown verdict.

"Just... stand over there for now," Silas ordered, his voice firm, his knuckles white from gripping the sword hilt.

Vic complied, his movements stiff with tension, his eyes filled with a mix of anger and confusion. The seconds dragged on, each one stretching into an eternity. Silas watched Vic like a hawk, every muscle in his body coiled like a spring. He silently prayed that Vic wouldn't turn. If Vic transformed, Silas knew he would have no choice but to kill him. It wouldn't be his friend he'd be fighting anymore—it would be a monster.

The clock continued its relentless countdown. Silas's eyes darted between his wristwatch and Vic, searching for any sign of transformation. Finally, the ten minutes passed. Silas exhaled a deep, shuddering sigh of relief and lowered his blade.

Vic mirrored him, letting out a long breath and wiping the sweat from his forehead. "I'm sorry, man," Silas said, his voice softer now. "I was just... really worried about you. I couldn't bear the thought of you turning into one of those things."

Vic placed a reassuring hand on Silas's shoulder. "It's fine. I understand. If I ever do turn into one of those... end me before I draw my first breath," he said, his voice heavy with resolve. Enjoy new chapters from empire

"Don't talk like that. None of us will end up like that," Silas replied, forcing a faint, reassuring smile.

Suddenly, the sound of footsteps echoed behind them. Both men spun around, tensing instinctively. A group was approaching from the distance.

The newcomers consisted of three men and a young girl, all clad in scaly green armor. Swords were strapped at their waists, their expressions serious and watchful.

"Who are they?" Silas whispered, his eyes narrowing as he took in the approaching figures.

Vic studied them for a moment, recognition flickering in his eyes. "I know that armor—they're from the Aqua Blazing Guild. Just act normal. If they ask about the Shifters, tell them a Solo Ranger arrived and took care of everything," he murmured.

The group halted in front of them. Silas's eyes widened slightly, sensing an immense, powerful aura emanating from the girl. 'What is this power? It's all coming from her,' he thought, his gaze fixed on her with newfound wariness.

Meanwhile, the girl, Roxy, felt a similarly powerful presence but couldn't pinpoint its source. 'This aura isn't like anything I've felt from humans. It's almost like the energy my father radiates when he's angry,' she mused, her eyes narrowing as they settled on Vic. 'It's coming from him,' she concluded.

One of the men, Baldwin, cleared his throat. His voice was deep and authoritative. "Afternoon, boys. We received a call about a collapsing realm and mutants spilling through the portal."

Vic nodded, gesturing to the lifeless Shifters nearby. "Yes, sir. As you can see, they're all dead."

""""Nôv(el)B\\jnn

A/N: It's a new month, don't forget to vote with your Golden Tickets and support with gifts also.