Seth put on the clothes he had been offered...

He tucked in the black shirt into the wine-colored pants, buckling his belt. He slid on the wine suit bearing the Duskreaver crest — a setting sun behind mountains with a sword plunged into it.

After arranging his hair, he stepped out of the hospital room and was hit with the rowdy noise of people.

Doctors, nurses, and patients — everyone seemed busy, the corridor crowded.

His vision focused on a pair waving at him in the distance...

His expression remaining placid, he walked toward the twins, who led him to an elevator.

While riding downwards, Helen and Henry couldn’t help but steal side glances at Seth.

How couldn’t they? It wasn’t noticeable before when Seth was lying on the hospital bed, but now, standing beside them, they could see it clearly.

Seth was now a head taller than them, estimated to be pushing 6’2 in height.

His physique was more robust, and his hair reflected light like silver steel cords running down his back.

Seeing Seth now, it would be hard to believe this was a 17-year-old.

Ding!

The elevator finally landed at the ground floor.

Seth couldn’t help but be filled with melancholy.

Seeing the rows of waiting patients, nurses behind desks, and the glass doors in the distance revealing perfectly intact civilization... it was a jarring contrast to the corruption zone Avalon had become.

They stepped out of the building. A limousine was already parked, waiting for them.

Seth stared at the brilliant peaceful sky. It was high noon, and he couldn’t help but feel at peace — a peace he never thought he would find anytime soon.

Back in Avalon, if someone had told him he would still find a human city intact and untouched by corruption, he would have found it hard to believe.

But here he was...

A guard in an all-black suit opened the car doors for them and stepped aside.

After which, the limo took off...

Seth sat directly opposite the twins, relaxing on the soft ventilated cushion. He rested his grey pupils on Helen.

’She is the most likely to talk!’ he assessed.

His lips curved into an innocent smile. "Ahem, big sister, is there any advice you would like to give me before we arrive?"

Helen’s heart fluttered, a rush of pink flooding her face as though her heart had been stroked.

Of the twins, she was the younger one, and also the last born of their mother. All her life she had only ever had elder siblings looking after her, never having a younger one.

Well, she did — Seth — but she wasn’t exactly able to interact with him lest she earned the ire of her mother.

So she had kept her distance, not out of disdain or loathing, but out of helplessness.

Deep down, she always had a longing to build a relationship with her junior brother.

And Seth calling her "big sister" was practically taking a jab at this soft spot of hers.

She quickly feigned a cough to hide her blushing. She glanced subtly at Henry, as though asking if it was okay for her to speak, and he shrugged.

She turned her gaze back toward Seth, carrying a hint of curiosity.

"Younger brother, I heard from Uncle Sanders that you and a few others were the ones to first clear a corruption zone."

Hearing this, even Henry’s ears perked up, examining Seth curiously as he waited for a reply.

’What does that have to do with anything?’ he was puzzled, but regardless, he replied, nodding. "Yes, indeed..."

The two twins’ eyes widened as they glanced at each other, then back at Seth. Hearing it from their uncle and Seth confirming it were two different things.

One had to realize the fear Seth had just casually acknowledged doing was something humanity had tried repeatedly — but each time, they failed disastrously.

The Cleaner Squad had been reinforced two weeks back, bolstering their team to a 500-man army. But even then, they came back with zero results!

In fact, they suffered disastrous casualties, only 72 people managing to escape.

And that was when news got out: corruption zone cores were guarded by absurdly powerful abominations called Defileds!

What was worse, they seemed to be directed by an even stronger, more abominable creature — currently unknown.

The current humans stood no chance against these abhorrents.

But thankfully, the racial lamp had been lit and the fortune of the race integrated, causing humanity as a whole to grow stronger. Adding the boon of the racial traits, there was now a slight chance at victory.

Still, the government had yet to show any signs of attacking a corruption zone again.

They were most likely consolidating their powers, grooming stronger breeds of Evolvers before making another strike.

Helen sighed helplessly. To think her brother and his motley crew of classmates accomplished what even the government was helpless to do...

And that was before they awakened the human racial traits.

’How strong is this younger brother of mine?’ Helen’s gaze flashed curiously as she examined Seth up and down.

"Younger brother, you asked for advice, but I seriously don’t know what I can tell you." Helen shook her head, wearing a wry smile.

Seth just smiled. "Don’t worry, anything will do."

After hesitating for a bit, she sighed and finally spoke. "I’ll be frank. Things aren’t going well. Father is on the verge of being ousted because of his rigid stance on protecting you..."

Seth’s smile faded, his gaze going cold. "Protect me? From what?"

Henry stared Seth in the eyes, and he was the one to reply this time. "Let’s just say not everyone is happy about your recent success."

Seth raised a brow. "So what do they plan to do about it?"

Henry replied, "The higher-ups believe you accomplished what you did because of the family’s lineage. So by default, they claim a share in whatever benefits

you gained from clearing a zone!"

The air went still as a radiating chill suddenly encompassed the car...