Wendy Lewis had given Evan two recommendations for his next extract:

  the Forest Titan Roach Extract and the Undying Salamander Extract.

  Afterward, Evan did his own research.

  Both creatures were Tier?2 S?grade — apex predators among Tier?2 beasts, terrifyingly powerful.

  Forest Titan Roaches lived deep in dense plains forests.

  If Evan wanted that extract, he’d have to buy it through EvolutionTech.

  The Undying Salamander, however, was different.

  It appeared in mountainous regions, and there had been confirmed sightings deep inside the Blackrock Mountains.

  So there was at least a chance he could obtain one through hunting.

  A very slim chance — S?grade beasts were rare to begin with —

  but Evan still mentioned it to Yvonne Hart, just in case.

  The Mountain Changes Everything

  Once the group entered the mountain, the atmosphere changed instantly.

  No more idle chatter.

  No more jokes.

  Everyone’s senses sharpened, eyes scanning the surroundings for danger.

  The mountain ahead was tall and long, but fortunately not steep.

  The climb was steady and manageable.

  After about an hour of hiking, they encountered their first Tier?2 beast.

  “Look! A mosquito!” someone shouted.

  A mosquito… with the classifier “a head of mosquito”?

  Evan almost rolled his eyes.

  This is what happens when you skip school to herd goats…

  But when he looked up and saw the creature — roughly the size of a full?grown sow — he froze.

  Okay.

  That really was a mosquito.

  “Tier?2 C?grade — Bloodlance Mosquito!”

  Its mouthpart was a long, spear?like proboscis.

  One stab from that thing would probably punch a hole clean through a human torso.

  The Chrysalis?tier hunters immediately tightened formation.

  The Breaker?tier evolvers stepped forward, preparing to engage.

  But before any of them could act, Yvonne Hart — who had been guarding Wendy — suddenly moved.

  Yvonne Hart, Human Thunderbolt

  She shot upward like a firework, appearing beside the Bloodlance Mosquito in an instant.

  She raised her hand and slapped it —

  just like a normal person swatting a normal mosquito.

  Except Evan noticed the crackling arcs of electricity dancing between her fingers.

  Her palm struck the mosquito with a thunderous snap.

  The creature spasmed violently, electricity rippling across its body, and crashed to the ground.

  It twitched twice… then went still.

  “Holy— Yvonne is insane!”

  A human?shaped electric flyswatter.

  Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

  Wendy leaned toward Evan and whispered,

  “Yvonne absorbed a Deep?Sea Electric Eel Extract. She gained a passive skill — her attacks carry electric shock.”

  “Incredible,” Evan said. “Lightning effects on every hit. If she carried a hammer, she’d look even cooler.”

  “…Why would a woman wielding a hammer be cool?” Wendy asked, genuinely puzzled.

  “Lightning and hammers are a perfect combo.”

  “Really?” Wendy murmured thoughtfully. “I’ll ask Yvonne to try it later.”

  Yvonne extracted the Bloodlance Mosquito’s essence, then removed its massive proboscis — valuable crafting material.

  When she returned to Wendy’s side, the entire group’s attitude shifted.

  Their gazes toward Yvonne were filled with awe… and fear.

  This Bloodlance Mosquito wasn’t particularly strong for a Tier?2 beast.

  The six Breaker?tier evolvers in the group could’ve handled it.

  But Yvonne had deliberately acted first — swift, decisive, overwhelming.

  A show of force.

  A warning.

  A reminder to everyone present:

  This escort mission had a real powerhouse watching.

  Anyone with bad intentions should reconsider.

  Nightfall

  By dusk, the group reached the mountainside.

  “We’ll camp here for the night,” Yvonne announced.

  No one objected.

  They were paid by the day — dragging the mission out meant more money.

  Besides, nighttime was dangerous.

  Many beasts were nocturnal, and visibility was poor.

  Traveling after dark was asking for death.

  They could push forward a bit more before sunset, but deeper ahead was the territory of Tier?3 beasts.

  Camping here was the safest choice.

  The group lit campfires and began preparing dinner.

  Some brought their own food.

  Others roasted beast meat over the flames.

  Evan grilled two large frog legs for himself.

  Hunters gathered in small groups, chatting as they ate.

  Even Li Carter — quiet and withdrawn — had people approaching him to talk.

  Only Evan sat alone.

  He didn’t mind.

  Throughout the day, everyone had fought at least once.

  Evan, meanwhile, had spent the entire journey chatting with Wendy and eating snacks.

  Of course they resented him.

  Behind his back, they called him a pretty boy, a freeloader, a boot?licker.

  But so what?

  He’d spent the entire day learning from Wendy Lewis — gaining insights into evolutionary science he’d never get anywhere else.

  If being a “pretty boy” earned him that knowledge?

  Worth it.

  Besides —

  When scholars seek wisdom, can it really be called licking?

  Evan held out a freshly roasted frog leg toward Wendy.

  “Wendy, try this. It’s delicious.”

  Midnight

  After dinner, everyone settled down to rest.

  Only the night watch stayed awake.

  Some hunters leaned against trees.

  Some climbed up into branches.

  Others lay directly on leaves spread over the ground.

  Wendy had a small tent.

  Yvonne stood guard outside, unmoving.

  Evan lay right beside the tent entrance — the safest spot in the entire camp.

  He swallowed two Strength?Enhancing Pills, closed his eyes, and let the warmth of the campfire wash over him.

  He’d stayed up all night before, and today’s hike had drained him.

  Sleep came quickly.

  It was the most peaceful sleep he’d had since arriving in this world.

  For the first time, he was truly outside the reach of the Zhao family.

  The Beast Tide

  Sometime past midnight, he was jolted awake by a thunderous beast roar.

  Evan shot upright.

  The hunters, seasoned veterans, snapped awake instantly.

  “Enemy attack!”

  Yvonne’s voice was sharp and commanding.

  She clearly knew something — her expression was grim, her posture tense.

  Wendy emerged from the tent, and the group formed a protective circle around her.

  Yvonne scanned the darkness, searching for the threat.

  Then—

  “Crap!”

  Someone pointed toward the treeline.

  Dozens of glowing eyes appeared in the darkness.

  Then more.

  And more.

  Above.

  Below.

  All around.

  A suffocating sense of dread swept through the camp.

  “This is… a beast tide?!”

  A beast tide in the inner region of the Blackrock Mountains is the kind of event that wipes out entire hunting teams.

  Evan’s first night in the mountains is about to turn into a nightmare.

  If you were in this camp, what would you do first — run, hide, or fight?