Mutant awakening: My evolution knows no bounds

Silas tapped the notification, his curiosity getting the best of him. The screen morphed, presenting him with an entirely new interface showcasing a massive inventory of mutant armors, enhanced weapons, and mysterious artifacts. Items flashed before him like a treasure trove he could only dream of, each one more alluring than the last.

His fingers swiped across the screen in awe, his wide eyes reflecting the vast selection of items he had access to.

Some of the items drew his attention immediately: a potion that claimed to replenish soul points in seconds, similar to his Soul Recovery ability but seemingly even more potent; another item allowed for the storage of extra souls, letting him consume them later as he needed.

The possibilities in this shop were endless, and Silas felt a pulse of excitement. This was unlike anything he'd seen, and he had no idea where to even begin.

As he continued to scroll, his gaze landed on something that sent a thrill through him: the same Grade 5 quills he'd obtained from the Hedgetant were listed here. And the price? A single quill was worth 50,000 tokens—a value double that of an entire Grade 2 mutant's body parts. Silas's eyes widened in disbelief as he did the mental calculations.

"I collected a hundred quills," he murmured, feeling a rush of excitement building up.

"If I sell them all here, I'd be looking at five million tokens. Five million! Are you kidding me?" His voice was a mixture of shock and exhilaration, as if he'd hit the jackpot of all jackpots.

When he'd collected those quills, his intention was to sell them on the Black Market or Blood Market, underground marketplaces where rare and illegal items exchanged hands.

These markets dealt in mutant parts, experimental enhancements, and powerful weapons that were difficult—if not impossible—to find in standard shops. He knew he could turn a decent profit, even if the prices were significantly lower than in regulated stores.

Items that would fetch 1,000 tokens elsewhere could go for as little as 400 or 500 tokens in these markets, simply because the risks were high, and buyers knew it.

The Blood Market had appealed to him initially because it didn't ask questions. No one there would wonder how a student had managed to get his hands on a hundred Grade 5 quills, and the lack of scrutiny was exactly what Silas needed. He'd been prepared to take the lower price and sacrifice a bit of profit if it meant keeping a low profile.

"Where did a student get a hundred Grade 5 quills?" he could almost hear a suspicious shopkeeper asking if he tried selling them elsewhere.

That kind of attention was exactly what he wanted to avoid. But with the academy's shop now at his fingertips, Silas realized he didn't need to risk going through the Blood Market anymore. The system would give him double the tokens he'd anticipated, and he wouldn't have to answer a single question.

"Five million tokens…" he whispered, hardly daring to believe his luck. "I never imagined I'd have that kind of money in my life." He decided to sell half the quills now, keeping the other half in reserve for future opportunities or emergencies.

His fingers tapped the screen, and he watched as his stock of quills decreased by fifty. In the top right corner of his screen, his token balance shot up to 2,500,000 tokens in an instant.

Silas's grin stretched wide as he took in the staggering number. The thrill of newfound wealth surged through him, and he returned to scrolling through the shop, wondering what other treasures awaited him.

As he scanned the listings, his gaze froze on a particular weapon—a scythe that seemed to radiate a dark, enticing energy even from the display screen. It bore a similar shape to his own scythe, but this one was far more menacing.

The handle was lined with jagged edges that glowed a vivid red, casting a faint but eerie light around the blade. Skull motifs decorated the handle, and strange, intricate symbols were etched along the curve of the blade, seeming to pulse as he observed them.

The name alone piqued his interest, and he clicked on it eagerly.

[Name: Soul Reaper]

[Description: Guarantees a 100% hit rate on enemies below Grade 5. Additionally, the scythe drains a portion of the enemy's soul with each hit, adding to the user's soul points.]

[Bonus: Grants +5 strength while equipped.]

Silas read through the description slowly, his expression shifting from curiosity to excitement, then to something close to reverence.

"A scythe that can drain my enemies' souls? That's… amazing." His mind raced with the possibilities. This weapon wouldn't just help him in combat; it would allow him to regain soul points while fighting. No more having to retreat or conserve his power—he could charge forward, sustaining himself directly from his opponents.

"On top of that, it guarantees a sure hit if the enemy's below its grade." He didn't need to think twice before he clicked "Purchase." The transaction completed, and his tokens dropped by a million. Silas barely blinked at the cost; the scythe was worth every token.

Just as he confirmed the purchase, a brilliant blue light appeared on his bed, flashing brightly before settling into a faint glow. When the light dissipated, the Soul Reaper lay on his bed, the markings on its blade casting a red, ominous hue that illuminated his room.

Silas stepped closer, entranced, and picked up the weapon. The weight was perfect, feeling both powerful and balanced in his grip. As his hand wrapped around the handle, a system notification flashed in front of him.

[Name: Soul Reaper]

**Strength: 50 (+10)**

A surge of power coursed through him as he held it, and he couldn't help the grin that spread across his face. His old scythe had struggled against the Hedgetant's quills and even more against the orcs' tough scales in the Grade 5 realm.

But now, he had a weapon that could pierce any defense, no matter how impenetrable. And it didn't just have offensive power—the Soul Reaper offered the advantage of keeping his soul points replenished, a feature that could be lifesaving in prolonged battles.

Pleased, Silas added the scythe to his arsenal and sat back on his bed, still buzzing with anticipation for his next encounter. Now, he was truly ready for anything, and he knew exactly who he wanted to test his new weapon on.

---

Meanwhile, in a different part of the academy…

In a dimly lit office, Sensei Josh paced restlessly, his hands clenched into fists. His office was small and shadowed, the only light coming from a faint desk lamp that cast his expression in stark relief. Beads of sweat glistened on his forehead, and his jaw clenched as he muttered furiously under his breath.

"How the hell did that little brat survive?" he hissed, the words laced with anger and a touch of fear. Each step he took echoed through the silent room, a relentless rhythm of frustration. He had meticulously set up the perfect trap, one he'd been sure Silas would never escape. Grade 5 mutant realms were unforgiving, lethal for anyone below their level.