Genesis Code: The Genetic Awakening-Chapter 48: Monster Grinding (1)

A few hours later.

Caleb took some time to rest after his victory over the floor boss. Once he felt rejuvenated, he purified the core and absorbed the mana, restoring his reserves back to full capacity.

After freshening up with a quick rinse, he changed into a clean, identical black outfit. Double-checking his gear and ensuring everything was in place, he made his way to the vortex chamber.

"Hopefully, no more tunnels or caverns this time," he muttered as he reached the gateway. Casting one final glance behind him, Caleb stepped forward and plunged into the vortex.

......

Caleb opened his eyes to a refreshing sight—a clear blue sky, soft clouds, fresh air, and vibrant greenery. He found himself standing on a small, flat-topped mountain that sloped gently to the ground below.

"Finally, a change in scenery," Caleb remarked, a smile spreading across his face as he crouched to take in the view. "And a forested ruin, no less."

Sprawled across the landscape were ancient ruins, their crumbling structures overtaken by nature’s greenery.

His scans revealed no hidden chambers or signs of useful relics, but it appeared as a town long abandoned.

In the distance, a winding river snaked through the land, its shimmering waters cutting through the scene.

Beyond that, a towering castle stood majestically, dwarfing everything except the mountain range far behind it.

"That must be my destination," Caleb said, standing upright and clenching his fists in determination.

Moments later, the system brought up a notification, displaying the list of monsters lurking on the 11th floor.

"Finally," he muttered, shifting his focus to the HUD. "Four new types, plus some repeats from the previous floor. Let’s see what we have."

[Bramble Serpent]

[Description: A snake covered in thorny vines, with emerald green scales and glowing yellow eyes]

[Abilities: Strangles prey with its thorny body and releases spores that cause paralysis]

[Golem Treant]

[Description: A massive tree creature with bark-covered arms and a glowing core of energy in its chest]

[Abilities: Absorbs magic attacks and launches energy blasts from its core]

"This one is interesting." Caleb flashed a small grin. "Unfortunately, not the kind of ability I want." His gaze moved on to the next on the list.

[Forest Wraith]

[Description: A ghostly humanoid wrapped in leaves and vines, its face obscured by a mask]

[Abilities: Phases through physical attacks and binds foes with enchanted roots]

"Now we’re talking. Phasing should be quite useful." He could already imagine some of the things he could do with that ability and they weren’t all combat related. "Hehehe... this is going to be fun."

[Mist Lynx]

[Description: A sleek feline with fur that shifts to match its surroundings]

[Abilities: Manipulates the forest mist to obscure vision and pounces silently]

"Mm..." Caleb stared at this description for a while. "Maybe I can get it for Jess. Should be handy for someone like her."

After finalizing his choice of abilities, Caleb stretched and loosened up, preparing for the upcoming battles.

’Each floor brings stronger monsters, and while I can still handle them, relying purely on brute strength won’t cut it forever. I need strategy and precision.’

His gaze shifted back to the list, lingering on the Bramble Serpent and Forest Wraith. ’Those two will be the most troublesome.’

For the Golem Treant, the solution was simple—avoid using magic attacks and exploit its slow movements. The Mist Lynx would have little chance to hide with his domain sense active.

The real challenges would be the Bramble Serpent and the Forest Wraith. The serpent’s thorny body was a hazard to his close-combat style, and the wraith’s phasing ability would render his attacks ineffective unless he timed them perfectly.

"Looks like I’ll have to get creative," Caleb muttered, cracking his knuckles and grinning. "Time to grind."

Whoosh!

Caleb dashed down the mountainside, his figure a blur as he disappeared into the forest. He moved swiftly, weaving through weak monsters and crumbling ruins with ease, his agile steps barely making a sound. Each stride brought him closer to his first target.

’Getting stronger remains my top priority,’ he thought, his eyes scanning the surroundings as he ran. ’That means collecting as many cores as I can. But the weak ones won’t do me much good.’

He came to an abrupt stop at the edge of a dense patch of plants and broken ruins. A thick mist blanketed the ground, swirling around his knees like a living thing.

’Sixteen Mist Lynx,’ Caleb noted, extending his domain sense to its full range. A small smirk tugged at his lips. ’They really think they’re well hidden.’

Perched high in the trees, nestled within the crumbled remains of structures, and prowling silently through the mist, the Mist Lynx lay in wait. However, they were no match for his keen perception.

The moment Caleb arrived; they sensed him too—just as he had sensed them. The Mist Lynx were about the size of large predatory felines, their sleek forms blending seamlessly with the forest.

Their eyes, though sharp and watchful, seemed to vanish into the mist, making them even harder to spot.

As they edged closer, their movements were precise, their keen senses locked onto Caleb. Instinct told them this prey was formidable, but they trusted in their speed and numbers—no target had ever escaped them.

Caleb reached behind his waist, retrieving his weapons with practiced ease, and dropped into a low stance.

’These ruins and trees... they’ll work perfectly for hit-and-run tactics—not just for me, but for them too,’ he mused, his sharp gaze scanning the shadows.

The Mist Lynx seemed to sense that Caleb had spotted them, yet they remained still, biding their time, waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike.

The atmosphere grew heavy, a silent standoff between man and beast. The distant cry of a bird shattered the stillness, and in the blink of an eye, Caleb made his move.

Whoosh!

In a single burst, he covered several meters, closing the gap in an instant. The Lynx reacted immediately, their coordinated assault beginning as all sixteen converged on him at once.

Four leaped from above, claws outstretched, slicing through the air with deadly precision. Others emerged from the mist below, their low, swift movements aimed at taking out Caleb’s footing. The final group lunged straight at him, jaws wide, aiming for a decisive bite.

"Not today, kittens." Caleb’s grin widened as he sprang off the trunk of a nearby tree, his movements blurring with speed.

In a flash, he appeared before one of the attacking groups. "I’m the predator," he declared, his eyes gleaming with excitement.