A massive explosion erupted. The ground trembled, fragments of the concrete road shattered in all directions. The already fragile shop collapsed entirely due to the impact of the attack.
Amel hovered in the air, observing the aftermath of her attack. She nodded in satisfaction before turning back toward Adam, who was staring at her, mouth slightly open.
"Huh...?"
Adam was still trying to process what had just happened.
"You can even shoot energy blasts?" he asked in disbelief, his gaze fixed on the gauntlets Amel was wearing.
Amel simply grinned, letting Adam examine the armor on her hands more closely. "Yes, Boss. I didn't use it back at the shop earlier—I was afraid I'd destroy the place," she explained innocently.
Adam looked at her skeptically. "So you were hiding your strength on purpose?"
Amel just kept smiling brightly, showing no signs of guilt.
Adam sighed, then nodded in satisfaction. "Good. You're strong. You deserve to be my subordinate."
His face was full of confidence, like a leader bestowing his approval on a worthy follower.
Amel didn't take offense. Instead, her smile widened. "Thank you, Boss. I'll support you."
Seeing Adam so fired up made her feel happy as well.
"But next time…" Adam gave her a sharp look, his voice more serious. "Don't destroy zombie corpses. We need the crystals inside them."
He had made the same mistake earlier by completely obliterating two zombies.
Amel nodded in understanding. "Got it, Boss."
Adam turned and continued walking toward their original destination.
Amel remained floating, keeping her powers active. Occasionally, Adam glanced at her with a hint of envy. Deep down, he knew—if he had a choice, he would rather have a cool ability like Amel's instead of being a Microbe King.
They walked through the ruined city streets, surrounded by rubble and decaying zombie corpses, staying within a 400-meter radius of the Factory—Adam's base of operations. Amel moved swiftly, dealing with the zombie hordes blocking their way. Instead of using energy blasts, she opted for close combat. Her armored fists crushed brittle skulls, her kicks sent rotting bodies flying through the air. Every movement was efficient, almost like a deadly dance.
***
Adam and Amel were now resting by the roadside, taking cover behind a dust-covered, rusted-out vehicle. Amel sat cross-legged, a bright red crystal floating between her hands. Her eyes were closed, fully focused on the energy flowing from the crystal into her body.
Whoosh…
A cold breeze carried fine dust across Adam's face. He remained vigilant, gripping his Viper Sniper, occasionally aiming at the broken windows of the towering buildings, searching for any suspicious movement.
"Done."
Amel's voice broke the silence. Adam turned to see the girl grinning widely, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
"You saw the evolution feature, right?" Adam asked, his voice calm but his gaze scrutinizing her expression. If all her stats had reached 30 points, then her second-stage evolution should be available now.
"Yeah, I see it, Boss," Amel replied enthusiastically. But as she spoke, her brow furrowed slightly. Her eyes were locked onto the translucent screen in front of her, and her lips unconsciously whispered the words displayed.
[Next Evolution: Absorb 1 Evolution Gene]
"Parasite..." she muttered. Raising her head, she looked at Adam with a raised eyebrow. "Where do we get one?"
Adam stepped closer, his expression calm. "You need a parasite just like the one you absorbed during your first evolution," he explained.
He could already sense the significant change in Amel after she had absorbed 90 crystals over the past hour and a half. Compared to before, the girl's strength had increased nearly fivefold. Adam analyzed her carefully—understanding the power levels of others was crucial for survival. That way, he wouldn't recklessly challenge someone stronger than himself.
Amel clicked her tongue lightly, clenching her fists. "A parasite, huh…" she thought aloud. "So we have to hunt again?"
Adam chuckled softly. Then, without warning, he flicked his finger against Amel's forehead.
"Oww!" Amel yelped, quickly covering her forehead with both hands. She glared at Adam with an indignant expression. "Boss! Why?!"
Adam shrugged. "You're changing fast," he said, the corners of his lips curling up slightly.
Amel puffed out her cheeks, clearly displeased at being treated like a child. "Of course! I won't let myself fall behind you!" she declared with unwavering determination.
Adam stared at her longer than he should have. There was something in her expression that made him pause. Wide, eager eyes, slightly puffed cheeks—childish, yet strangely… endearing.
'Damn… this girl can be this cute?' he thought.
"Boss?"
Amel waved a hand in front of Adam's face, snapping him out of his daze. Her brow furrowed slightly, confused by his sudden silence.
"It's nothing," Adam replied quickly, regaining his composure. "Let's go find a Mutant monster." He turned and started walking, shifting his focus away from Amel. His face felt warm, and he hoped she didn't notice the faint blush creeping onto his cheeks.
Amel hesitated for a moment, then quickly followed behind. "Boss… what's a Mutant? Wait for me!" she called out, her enthusiasm undiminished.
They continued their journey, venturing further away from the Factory. Along the way, Amel bombarded Adam with questions, her curiosity seemingly endless. Her behavior felt so natural, as if she had known Adam for years. He found it strange how much her personality had changed after her evolution. Before, she had been quiet and serious, but now…
As the sun sank lower, the sky turned into a golden-orange hue. They walked along a wide highway, littered with wrecked vehicles and buildings scorched with dried blood and lingering flames.
"So, what's your plan for Agung, Boss?" Amel asked from behind. Her voice was energetic, showing no signs of exhaustion despite their long trek.
Adam didn't answer right away. He lifted a finger to his lips.
"Shh…"
He closed his eyes, sharpening his hearing. In the distance, a loud thudding noise echoed through the air. He opened his eyes and turned his gaze toward the end of the road, toward the source of the sound.
"Let's go," he said briefly, quickening his pace.
Amel's expression shifted. Her usual bright demeanor turned serious. Without asking further, she followed Adam as he began to run.
They took cover behind a large building. From the shadows, Adam peeked toward the intersection ahead.
In the middle of the crossroads, a three-meter-tall giant spider was rampaging. Its legs were as thick as a grown man's thigh, and from its mouth, sticky webbing shot out in all directions, ensnaring several humans trying to fight it off.
Adam turned to Amel, lifting a finger to his lips once again. "Shh…"