I Can See Evolution Paths

"What exactly are we arguing about?" Arthur asked.

Everyone stared at him.

Silver was the first to react. "You weren’t listening?"

Arthur shook his head. "I just got here and only heard something about people dying."

Cleo quietly looked up from her notes. "That’s one way of summarizing it," she said.

Silver laughed. "We’re arguing about what makes an expedition successful."

Amanda believed an expedition was only successful if everyone returned safely. Silver argued that excessive caution defeated the purpose of exploration. The third year believed strength solved most problems. Cleo believed preparation mattered more than raw strength. Zero had mostly been listening.

Arthur looked around, and then he realized they were all basically talking about the same thing from different angles.

Amanda folded her arms. "So?"

Arthur blinked. "So?"

"Who’s right?"

Arthur scratched his cheek. He didn’t immediately answer. Instead he thought about his own experiences. The desert. The ruins. The King’s Arena. Vedas. Mithra. The moments where preparation saved them. The moments where preparation wasn’t enough.

Arthur looked around the room. "I think you’re all right."

Silver immediately frowned. "All of us?"

Arthur nodded. "Yeah."

Amanda raised an eyebrow. "Even me?"

"If your friends are in danger, getting everyone home matters."

Amanda’s expression softened slightly.

Arthur looked toward Silver. "But if there’s something amazing nearby, I’d want to see it."

Silver laughed. "So you agree with me too."

"Sure."

Silver grinned. "I like this guy."

Arthur then looked toward Cleo. "And you’d prepare first."

Cleo paused, then smiled faintly. "At least someone understands."

Arthur nodded. "Preparation makes things easier."

Finally, he looked toward the third-year. "And if fighting solves the problem, I’d fight."

The third-year laughed. "Simple."

Zero, who had remained quiet until now, finally spoke. "And what about when none of those choices work?"

Arthur thought for a moment. Then he smiled. "I’d think of something else."

Zero’s smile widened. "I see."

Cleo quietly wrote something down.

Arthur noticed. "What are you writing?"

"Your answer."

Arthur blinked. "Why?"

"Because it’s interesting."

Silver laughed. "You really did give four answers."

Amanda shook her head. "He refused to choose."

Arthur looked confused. "Why would I choose?"

Everyone paused.

Arthur shrugged. "Why settle for one?"

Zero’s smile widened slightly. Cleo continued writing, her expression unreadable.

The conversation naturally shifted toward the upcoming One Above All tournament.

Arthur noticed the tournament information posted nearby. "That’s the tournament?" he asked.

Amanda nodded. "Every Student Council member participates."

Arthur’s eyes immediately brightened. "Good."

Silver looked at him. "Good?"

Arthur nodded. "I was hoping it’d be fun."

Silver laughed. "You really don’t know how to talk to people."

Arthur looked confused. "What did I say?"

The third year smirked. "You basically just called us boring."

Arthur paused. "I did?"

Nobody answered.

Amanda smiled. "Looks like I’ll need to train harder."

Silver stood. "Then I’m definitely winning."

The third year cracked his neck. "Guess I’ll stop holding back."

Cleo closed her notebook. "I’ll need to revise my schedule."

Arthur looked around. "Why is everyone suddenly training?"

Mithra quietly covered her mouth. Arthur genuinely didn’t understand.

After leaving the Student Council, Arthur realized something. The Everglades expedition wasn’t tomorrow. They had almost two weeks.

Arthur smiled. "Two weeks."

Vedas looked at him. "You’re already thinking about it?"

"Of course."

"What are you planning?"

Arthur thought. "Everything."

Vedas sighed. "That wasn’t an answer."

Arthur smiled. "It’s the answer I’m going with."

Arthur and Vedas headed into the Beast Bond District. The area was active with students training alongside their partners. Some were practicing synchronization. Some were struggling. Some were exhausted after failed attempts.

A student struggled to coordinate with their Beast. "Again!" The Beast refused. The student groaned.

Arthur watched. Vedas noticed. "You want to help?"

Arthur shook his head. "They need to figure it out themselves," he said.

Vedas smiled. "That’s probably the right answer."

Arthur looked at him. "Besides," he grinned, "we have our own training."

Arthur and Vedas entered one of the chambers. It was quieter here.

Arthur thought something and Vedas immediately reacted.

Arthur smiled. "You understood that?"

"You were practically shouting it."

"I didn’t say anything."

"Exactly."

Arthur laughed.

They began training. Their movements naturally synchronized. Arthur attacked, and Vedas responded before the attacks even reached him. When Arthur suddenly changed direction, Vedas was already moving.

And after a bit, a new notification appeared.

[Synchronization Increased] [70% → 73%]

Arthur smiled. "Nice. I feel even closer."

Vedas nodded. "I agree. It’s still amazing how I can feel your emotion."

Arthur laughed and said, "That’s just how great our bond is."

Then another notification appeared.

Arthur froze.

[Additional Evolution Data Unlocked] [Goblin Genesis Emperor] [Requirement 2: Defeat 50 Chief Beasts]

Arthur stared at the information for a moment.

Fifty Chief Beasts.

His eyes slowly brightened.

Vedas noticed immediately. "You’re thinking about something again."

Arthur smiled. "How would you feel about fighting some Beast Chiefs?"

Vedas blinked. "I would be asking why, but I have a feeling the answer would be ridiculous. So how many—"

"Not a lot." Arthur paused. "Just fifty."

Vedas’s expression went blank. "How is that not a lot?!" His shout echoed through the chamber.

Arthur looked genuinely confused. "They’re only Chief Beasts."

"Only?!"

"Well, you’ve already fought several."

"Not fifty!"

Arthur thought about it. "True."

Vedas relaxed slightly.

Then Arthur added, "But I suppose we could tell everyone back home that their King was too scared to fight fifty Chiefs."

Vedas froze.

Arthur continued innocently. "The children would probably be disappointed."

Vedas’s eye twitched.

"The warriors might avoid looking at you."

Another twitch.

"The elders would probably look embarrassed."

Vedas’s fists tightened.

Arthur nodded thoughtfully. "And Suri..." He paused. "She’d probably give you that disappointed look."

Vedas suddenly roared. "I’M NOT SCARED!"

Arthur smiled. "Then let’s go find fifty."

Vedas pointed toward him. "You’re doing this on purpose!"

"Maybe."

Vedas gritted his teeth. Then his expression hardened. "Fine."

Arthur blinked. "Fine?"

"We’ll find them." Vedas’s eyes burned with determination. "I’ll show you exactly what their King can do."

Arthur laughed. "That’s what I wanted to hear."

Vedas sighed. "I hate how easily you do that."

Arthur smiled. "Come on. Eden’s waiting."

Together, they left the chamber.

As they left, Eden was waiting outside. She immediately flew toward Arthur. "Did you get stronger?"

Arthur nodded. "A little."

Eden beamed. "Me too!"

Vedas looked at her. "You’re becoming competitive."

Eden proudly puffed out her tiny chest. "I’m going to catch up!"

Arthur laughed. "Then you’ll have to work hard."

Eden nodded seriously. "I will!"

Vedas smiled. "She might actually do it."

Arthur looked at him. "You sound worried."

"I am."

Eden giggled.

Arthur walked out of the Beast Bond District. The Academy was already changing. Students were training harder. The King’s Arena was becoming busier. The Evolution Archive was preparing Everglades records. The Expedition Hall was organizing equipment. Everyone had something to prepare.

Arthur looked toward the distant Academy gates. Two weeks. Then they would enter the Everglades.

He smiled. "Two weeks."

Vedas looked at him. "You’re excited."

Arthur nodded. "Very."

Eden flew beside him. "What do you think we’ll find?"

Arthur looked toward the horizon. For a moment the smile on his face became more curious than excited. He thought of the five regions.

The Beasts refusing to advance. The robed figures. The Mirror.

We can never let the Mirrors fall into their hands.

Arthur’s eyes narrowed slightly. Then the curiosity returned. "I don’t know," he said. He smiled. "That’s why I want to go."

Vedas nodded. "Then let’s find out."

Arthur looked at him. "Together."

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!