The monstrous roar rolled across the campus like thunder—deep enough to shake glass shards on the nearby pavement. Birds trapped in the cracked sky scattered in frantic swarms. The remaining students inside the science building froze, sensing the new threat.
Ethan felt the vibration travel through his bones.
This one was big.
Bigger than the warped beasts they just fought.
Bigger than anything he wanted to deal with in his current state.
Lena's grip tightened on her ruined weapon. "Ethan… whatever that is, we can't fight it like this."
Ethan nodded slowly. "Yeah. I know."
Ash pulsed a hard red, rotating faster now.
[RECOMMENDATION: FINALIZE EVOLUTION CHOICE IMMEDIATELY.]
"Right," Ethan muttered. "Options?"
Ash projected them again in glowing text:
[1. MUSCLE REINFORCEMENT — Physical Path]
Increases raw strength, speed, and durability. Stable growth. Ideal for close combat.
[2. ELEMENTAL IGNITION — Fire Path]
Unlocks elemental affinity. Ability to generate low-level heat and flame. Evolves into higher destructive abilities.
Both sounded useful.
Muscle Reinforcement would let him punch harder. Survive longer. Endure more hits.
Elemental Ignition would open pathways—heat control, fire manipulation, molten evolutions, and Solar skills later on. A whole branch of power.
Lena stepped closer, voice low but steady.
"Ethan… think about what you're building. Think long-term."
He looked at her.
She wasn't shaking anymore.
"When that Administrator came," she continued, "it didn't matter how strong your muscles were. It didn't matter how hard you hit. What mattered was that you had abilities that could evolve, adapt… break rules."
Ethan frowned. "You're saying I should pick fire?"
"I'm saying…" she inhaled, steadying herself, "…that the world changed. We need powers that can grow with it. And honestly?"
She met his eyes.
"You can already punch like a truck."
"That was during Adrenal Surge and Overdrive."
"And you'll have more evolutions like those. But elemental ability? That could give you reach. Options. Ranged attacks. And—" her voice lowered, "—something Administrators didn't expect."
Ethan hesitated.
He trusted her judgment.
But this wasn't just a strategy.
This choice would shape who he became.
Ash chimed.
[TIME REMAINING BEFORE HOSTILE ARRIVAL: 60 SECONDS.]
Ethan exhaled sharply.
He thought of the Administrator—its cold, shifting form; its ability to erase reality.
Could strength alone match that?
No.
He needed adaptability. Versatility.
Growth.
"Okay," he said.
Lena tensed.
Ash flickered brighter.
Ethan raised his hand.
"I choose Elemental Ignition."
Ash chimed sharply:
[CONFIRMED.]
[INITIATING EVOLUTION: ELEMENTAL IGNITION]
Ethan gasped as heat blossomed under his skin—starting in his chest, spreading through his veins like molten metal flowing through glass tubes. His eyes widened as his breath steamed visibly in the cooling air.
Lena stepped back. "Ethan?"
He doubled over, gripping his ribs as the heat rose. Sparks flickered across his fingertips—a faint orange glow like embers waking from cold ash.
The pain intensified.
He gritted his teeth.
"Ghh—!"
A pulse erupted from his core—
—sending a ring of warm air across the courtyard.
His vision flashed red-orange.
Heat radiated from his body, warping the air.
Then—
BOOM.
A burst of flame snapped to life in his hand—just a small sphere, no bigger than a fist, flickering wildly, unstable.
But real.
Fire.
Ethan stared at the burning light in awe.
A message appeared:
[EVOLUTION COMPLETE: ELEMENTAL IGNITION]
You have gained basic heat manipulation.
You can generate brief bursts of flame.
Damage scales with physical exertion + focus.
Ethan extinguished the flame by squeezing his fist. Heat dissipated with a faint crackle.
Lena smiled faintly. "You did it."
Ethan swallowed, adrenaline mixing with amazement. "Yeah. I have fire now. Actual fire."
Ash rotated excitedly.
[NOTE: FUTURE EVOLUTIONS MAY INCLUDE—INFERNO BURST, FLAME VEIL, OR ELEMENTAL HYBRIDS.]
"Hybrids?" Ethan asked.
[YES. FIRE + LIGHTNING. FIRE + VOID. FIRE + PHASE SHIFT.]
[THE POTENTIAL IS HIGH.]
A second roar echoed from beyond the library.
Much closer now.
Lena snapped her attention toward the sound. "We need cover. Now."
Ethan nodded. "Back inside. Move."
They ran toward the science building entrance, Ethan's steps steadier now—strength humming beneath exhaustion. As they reached the doorway, Ash pulsed sharply.
[HOSTILE LOCK ACQUIRED.]
Ethan spun.
A hulking creature burst through the smoke at the far end of the quad.
It was enormous—eight feet tall, hunched, with skin like cracked stone and eyes that glowed molten orange. Its jaw jutted forward like a bulldog fused with a lava golem. Each footstep left scorched footprints.
Lena's breath hitched. "Is that—"
Ash answered before she could finish.
[CLASSIFICATION: BRUTE-TIER HELLHOUND]
[LEVEL: 7]
[DANGER: HIGH.]
"Level 7?!" Ethan hissed. "I'm only level 2!"
[YES.]
[RUN.]
Ethan grabbed Lena's wrist. "Inside—NOW!"
They sprinted through the doorway just as the beast swiped its massive claw across the stone steps—
—shattering them into gravel and sending dust exploding down the hall.
The building shook.
Students screamed and scrambled farther inside.
Lena yanked open the next door, ushering people into the lab room. "Everyone! Move deeper! Go, go!"
The Hellhound sniffed the air, snarling.
Ethan pressed against the wall, heart hammering.
"We can't fight that thing out here," Lena whispered. "It'll crush us."
"No," Ethan agreed. "But if it gets inside… everyone dies."
Silence.
Then Lena whispered, "You're not thinking of going back out there alone."
"I'm thinking…" Ethan exhaled slowly, "…I have a new evolution. I need to test it."
"That thing is level 7!"
"And I'm the only one who can hold it off."
"But you'll die."
Ethan turned to her, voice low.
"People inside won't survive if I don't try."
Lena shook her head fiercely. "You can't fight everything alone, Ethan. You can't take that on by yourself."
He met her eyes.
"I know. But right now? I don't have a choice."
She grabbed his arm. "Ethan—please—don't do something reckless. Not again."
The Hellhound slammed against the front wall, stone cracking.
Ethan gently pulled her hand from his arm.
"I'll be careful. I promise."
Her eyes softened, fear mixing with frustration. "You'd better come back."
A faint smile ghosted across Ethan's lips. "I'll try."
Then he stepped away.
But before heading outside, he whispered to Ash:
"Tell me how to hurt it."
Ash pulsed bright orange—as if sharing Ethan's fire.
[HELLHOUND WEAKNESS: INTERNAL HEAT OVERLOAD.]
[RECOMMENDATION: IGNITE MOUTH OR EYE CAVITIES.]
Ethan blinked. "You want me to throw fire into it?"
[YES.]
[LIKE A GRENADE.]
"That sounds insane."
[WELCOME TO YOUR NEW LIFE.]
Ethan inhaled.
Heat flickered across his fingertips.
He stepped back into the courtyard.
The Hellhound turned toward him, snarling with molten fury.
Ethan clenched his fists as fire blossomed in his hands.
"Alright," he whispered. "Let's see what this evolution can do."
He charged.