Re: Evolution Online-Novel

Snapping out of his thoughts about the past, Liam used his [Inspect] skill to study the monstrous insects. It identified them as 'Isons'.

<Ison, Level 25>

<Ison, Level 31>

<Ison, Level 23>

…

…

…

Liam eyed the several tags that popped out everywhere.

"These guys are all level 20 and above. That's why it was so difficult to deal with them." Liam explained everything to the rest of the group, partly to inform them and partly to not let them wallow in their helplessness any longer.

Unlike him, they had no idea what they were even dealing with. He was able to see their levels thanks to his [Inspect] skill, but none one else possessed any skills like that.

They did have a system just like everyone else on earth, but the system interface in the real world was nothing like the system interface back in the game world. 

The two systems were vastly different. 

While the one inside the game was extremely detailed, the one they had right now was a basic version, a very crude, almost useless one. With this, even the levels of the enemies were not visible. 

This was also why Liam had invested in the [Inspect] skill first and foremost. Now he was able to see what exactly they were up against.

Hearing him talk about these nightmares, everyone else as well broke from their thoughts and silently nodded as they continued to listen to his analysis. 

Liam cleared his throat and explained the different advantages these so-called 'Ison' creatures seemed to possess. This was not from the [Inspect] skill and rather from his own observations.

He talked about their speed, dexterity, strength, agility, sharp physical structures, hard exoskeletons, acidic secretions, venomous secretions, the capability of absorbing something from corpses, and the intelligence to act together as a swarm. 

The list was long as he went on and on, talking about them.

This was the first time Liam was also witnessing creatures like this. 

Just like the vampires, these guys had also popped out of nowhere, or rather from this strange hill-like structure, and with abilities he had almost no idea about.

However, while he might be analyzing these insects in-depth, his soul minions were still slaughtering them left and right as if they were nothing. 

Liam did not intervene and let his minions do the job while everyone else silently recovered from the safety of the sidelines. 

He also diluted some amount of the 'world seed' water with regular water and distributed it in the group.

They did not possess any antidote or healing spells at the moment that could help with the venom of these 'ison' insects, but the diluted version of the 'world seed' water itself was able to help most people.

The only exception was Shin Soo who had lost his right hand in the fight. 

Liam looked at the guy and patted him on the back, not with pity but with pride. "Thank you. If you did not do this and continue to fight, there would have been more casualties. Maybe no one would have made it."

Shin Soo shook his head helplessly. Who was thanking whom? Everyone here had to prostrate themselves to Liam and thank him, not the other way around. 

"Boss, I should be the one thanking you." He said, forcing a smile. 

In his heart, there was a small thought that he couldn't shake off. With his current condition, perhaps this was the last time he could be of any real help to Liam.

Liam once again patted him. He could read the guy's mind clearly. "Mmm. Don't worry. You won't always be like this."

Seeing his confident smile, Shin Soo couldn't help but become hopeful. He was about to say something when their conversation was interrupted by a white fox who pranced toward them happily.

This little thing… couldn't she read the mood here? Liam sighed.

He stared at the naughty fox, who was grinning from ear to ear in glee. Moreover, her mouth was stuffed full of something.

Hmmm? Liam raised his brow.

The fox came closer, and she spat out the contents of her mouth, finally revealing the reason why she had been so happy!

And this was because…

She had actually spat out a mouthful of mana cores!

Liam blinked as he saw the small heap of mana cores piled in front of him.

"Don't tell me…" He also couldn't help but grin in excitement. 

His pulse raced rapidly as he picked up an ison's corpse that was near him and broke its triangular carapace head. 

Immediately, green liquid spurted out. Inside the head, there was some sort of jelly-like brain, and… along with it, a small shining crystal!

This was undoubtedly a mana core!

Did that mean…

"Luna, do all of them have these mana cores?" Liam asked in a hurry.

And just like he wanted, the fox also nodded, shaking her head up and down in a frenzy.

"All of them have mana cores, master!" Luna proudly announced her finding.

She jumped onto Liam for some well-deserved pats, and he helplessly grinned, spoiling her rotten.

This was good. This was too good to be true. With disaster came opportunity!

In his past life, in the original second wave of the apocalypse, only beasts emerged, and not all of them had mana cores. Only a small percentage had, and there was nothing they could do using that little amount.

But looking at this swarm and the sheer numbers of these isons, the mana core haul was going to be very significant. Moreover, this was just one swarm. 

If, just like the portals, many of these hill hives had popped out all over the world, then their progress this time was going to be explosive. 

They could not only level up quicker using their swarms but also get enough mana cores to actually purchase something from the damned magic shops, which at this point, were useless shops just for show.

If he wanted what happened today never to repeat again, these mana cores would be the key! Perhaps this swarm itself was the solution for that!

***

Mass Release Chapter 6~

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