Duo Leveling LITRPG | Post Apocalyptic | SYSTEM-Chapter 75- Can Monsters Evolve Without a Dungeon Break?

Chapter 75: Chapter 75- Can Monsters Evolve Without a Dungeon Break?

Chapter 75- Can Monsters Evolve Without a Dungeon Break?

«Dungeon Breaks aside... Can monsters still evolve?»

That had once been a fierce debate among players, back when dungeon raids had stalled and downtime stretched endlessly long.

The general consensus?

It was supposed to be impossible.

Maybe, just maybe, the ’Spore Virus’ could speed up a creature’s evolution?

Some oddballs even went as far as conducting experiments. But, of course, every single one ended in failure.

The Spore Virus only affected NPCs and humans. No monster, no matter the kind, had ever managed to assimilate it.

Not one.

«GRAAAAR!»

And so, staring at the Lykan roaring in front of him, it wasn’t exactly easy for Jhin to come to an immediate conclusion.

Sure, it looked like it had evolved through a Spore Virus...

But it wasn’t an ’Peculiar’ (Immaterial Monster).

And it wasn’t exactly what you would call a Grid or a Trigger, either.

If you wanted to get very, very technical—

«A Grid that retains the characteristics of a monster.»

That’s the verdict Jhin arrived at.

Still.

The question lingered.

If the theory that Spore Viruses could trigger evolution had ended in failure back in the game...

How on earth had it succeeded here?

He got his answer soon enough.

Right after he tore into the creature’s nape.

«They planted a Dungeon Flower in a monster? You’ve got to be kidding me.»

Dungeon Flowers were rare items, used to accelerate Dungeon Breaks.

The more flowers you planted, the faster the break.

That was their usual function.

But this time... someone had used them differently.

Very differently.

«Mixing the Spore Virus with Dungeon Flowers... No wonder it failed back in the first world.»

Back then, any detected Spore Virus had been exterminated on sight.

By the time Dungeon Flowers entered the game, the virus had already been driven to extinction.

No experiments were even possible.

And yet here, in this world... someone had dragged the idea back to life—and actually tested it.

Jhin clicked his tongue in disbelief at the Company’s stubbornness, and kept digging into the monster’s flesh.

If he could just cut out the source, this huge thing would collapse, its core lost.

But that was when it happened.

He caught a glimpse of it—The souls making up the creature’s body trembled in unison.

Its skin boiled under his eyes.

What the hell?

There wasn’t time to think.

Swoooosh!

The creature’s skin sprouted—sharp as thorns.

Jhin swung his sword quickly, slicing through them, but the thorns weren’t stopping.

More, and more, and more.

His hands grew dizzy from the frenzy.

It was a struggle just to dodge them, let alone pierce the monster’s core.

A deep frown twisted his brow.

«I’m not fast enough.»

The speed at which souls were replenishing the creature now outpaced how fast he could dig into it.

He needed something faster.

More lethal.

A single step closer—

But that one step felt a thousand miles away.

If he pushed harder— If he gave just a little more— Maybe he could reach it.

But.

«I’ll die.»

That was the future he saw, clear as day.

And it wasn’t one he ever wanted.

«...Tch.»

Forced to retreat, Jhin kicked off hard, barely escaping the giant left hand that smashed down where he had just been.

Staggering back, he watched as the monster’s core was once again buried in souls.

Failure.

Again.

Dizziness washed over him.

He stumbled.

Crack!

The half-shattered Goblin Mask finally crumbled completely, exposing his blood-smeared face.

He panted, his breath harsh and ragged.

«If I could land just one blow... break the Dungeon Flower somehow...»

While he brooded, Caleb and the others rushed over.

Their faces tightened with worry, seeing the ruined mask.

And among them, Jhin ’s gaze found one person.

It was like getting hit in the head with a hammer.

Why... why had he forgotten?

«...Are you okay?»

The voice was right there.

So close.

All along.

Once again, standing before the goblin-like monster, Jhin steadied his breathing.

There was only one shot at this.

Fail this time, and he wouldn’t be able to maintain the Peculiar any longer.

«Don’t be scared.»

[Activating skill: Calmness (S)]

Shaking off the creeping fear, Jhin gripped his sword tighter.

A chill rose from the Cursed Master of Chaos Sword, sharpening his senses.

«Here I go. Be ready.»

Muttering quietly, Jhin slipped into the Lykan’s attack range.

The goblin leered, hands darting forward—

Both hands this time, fully regenerated.

The pattern’s the same.

Eyes flashing, Jhin swung.

The sword, laced with frost, hummed low as it sliced through the lunging left hand.

Boom!

The right hand crashed down, but he was already gone, Power gathered at his toes for a burst of speed.

But this time—something different.

Sh-sh-sh-sh-shk!

[Activating skill: Danger Sense (B)!]

A shiver ran down his spine.

An avalanche of thorns came racing toward him.

They had grown in just seconds.

Clicking his tongue, Jhin ’s eyes turned gold.

[Activating skill: Soft skills (A)!]

At close range, the rain of thorns would have been deadly.

But from a distance, he could dodge them.

He could read them.

Following the flow, Jhin cleaved through the spikes, forging ahead.

The Lykan chased him, roaring in frustration, but Jhin danced out of reach every time.

«Maybe... you’re actually easier than the Tri-Goblin.»

The creature’s raw power was immense—probably hovering around C-rank level.

But it was brainless.

It couldn’t use that strength properly.

What good was brute force, if you had no idea how to wield it?

Keeping his distance, Jhin provoked the monster into firing more and more thorns.

Every spike it created drained the souls maintaining its body.

Thanks to the soft skills, he could see it all—clear as day.

Still.

He wasn’t overflowing with stamina either.

From the corner of his eye, he could feel those watching him—

It was almost time.

Time to strike.

BOOM!

Changing tactics, Jhin dashed forward into the Lykan’s attack range.

Weaving between the thorns, he closed the distance.

The nape—right in front of him again.

[Activating equipment skill: Frostbite of the Cursed Master of Chaos Sword.]

The cursed sword sent waves of frost across the monster’s body, slowing it down.

Even as his Power drained completely, shedding the armor of Peculiar, Jhin didn’t care.

Bare flesh? Fine.

While he was at it—

He decided to unleash the last hidden card.

The last skill he had as the Peculiar.

The mass of souls holding his goblin mask together tore free in a rush—

And the mask dissolved into nothing.