Genesis Code: The Genetic Awakening-Chapter 49: Monster Grinding (2)

With his blades in a reverse grip, Caleb effortlessly cleaved through the first monster, sidestepping its claws and fangs.

An outward blast of mana erupted from him, hurling the remaining lynxes into the surrounding trees and ruins.

The monsters screeched in pain, struggling to regain their footing, but Caleb was already upon them, slicing through them like vegetables.

"You’re even weaker than the boss monster I fought a few hours ago!" he sneered.

Whether it was his growing strength or the fact that these creatures relied solely on their speed and mist camouflage, Caleb found himself dispatching them with ease.

Within minutes, the final lynx let out a pitiful wail before succumbing to its injuries.

"Haa..." Caleb exhaled, crouching to extract the cores from their bodies. "I must admit, my moves are getting more refined."

Ding!

A notification from his system caught his attention, and he quickly checked the status.

[Side Quest: Collect 100 high-level cores for a special reward.]

[Details will be revealed upon completion.]

"That’s new..." Caleb muttered, his brows furrowing in surprise. "I was starting to wonder what triggers system quests, but it seems it depends on the situation I’m in."

He smirked. "Well then, let’s see what this special reward will be." freeweɓnovel.cѳm

The Mist Lynxes he had eliminated all carried high-level cores. That brought his current tally to sixteen. Eighty-four more to go...

Caleb straightened, slipping the collected cores into his storage. While doing so, he had already instructed the system to make a copy of the Mist Lynx genome, isolating the genes and associated sequences Jess would need.

With that task complete, he bolted forward, cutting through the lingering mist and weaving past the scattered obstacles in his path.

Within seconds, he emerged from the mist-filled section of the 11th floor. While similar regions existed elsewhere, he didn’t waste time exploring them.

The system’s directive was clear: collect 100 high-level cores. It didn’t specify that he had to gather them all on this floor.

Using his domain sense, Caleb pinpointed the serpents’ habitat. His scan revealed six large serpents gathered in one area. To the west of their location, another group of three serpents lounged.

The creatures rested lazily in a dense forest, where tall trees with thick canopies and sturdy branches supported their weight.

’The mask should be enough to protect me from those spores,’ he thought, a faint grin tugging at his lips.

It didn’t surprise Caleb to notice the growth of Lichen Stalkers camouflaged as ordinary vegetation within the same area.

Unlike the serpents, the stalkers were capable of producing a far greater volume of spores. Combine that with the paralytic effects of the serpents, and the space became a living nightmare—an endless loop of hallucinations and paralysis.

’Dying without even knowing what killed you...’ A shiver ran down his spine at the thought. But he shook it off. ’Nah... it’s doable.’

His recently developed Mana Burst skill should be enough to repel any wayward spores targeting him.

And despite his line of thinking, everything he had achieved till this point came from caution and well-simulated battles.

’All I need to do is recharge... and I can still use the cores I just collected to fuel myself if needed,’ he reasoned, a small smirk playing on his lips.

Caleb spent the next few minutes restoring his mana to its full capacity. Once his confidence and energy were back to 100%, he bolted toward the Bramble Serpents’ lair, every step sharper and more focused than the last.

..........

Sunspire City

A few days after Jess dealt with Jetro, a royal announcement spread throughout the kingdom, reaching the ears of every citizen.

The message was directed at the powerful adventurers scattered across the land, sparking waves of excitement and speculation.

Those with sharper minds quickly pieced together the underlying problem: the kingdom was in a bind and needed outside help.

’The kingdom requires the expertise of adventurers to clear a particularly troublesome dungeon,’ Jess mused as she reviewed the announcement. ’With their forces tied up at the borders, they can only do so much about internal threats. That’s why they’re turning to us.’

But there was something about the situation that didn’t sit right with her. ’What could be troubling them to such an extent?’

The announcement left her with more questions than answers. While it was clear the issue revolved around a dungeon, she couldn’t help but wonder: ’What makes this one so different from the others? There’s something they’re not telling us.’

Despite her doubts, Jess decided to join the call. She had her own reasons. ’I’m at a dead end right now, and heading to the capital could give me new leads. With so many people gathering, there’s bound to be useful information.’

Of course, the kingdom wasn’t accepting just anyone. While the announcement promised great rewards, only the strongest and most capable adventurers would be chosen.

Weaklings wouldn’t stand a chance; the kingdom couldn’t afford casualties before the mission even began.

To select the best, the kingdom proposed a tournament—an event where adventurers would prove their combat skills and demonstrate their ability to navigate difficult situations.

Time was of the essence. The kingdom planned to conclude the tournament within weeks. Any delays could spell disaster, not just for the capital but for countless innocent lives.

With many adventurers heading to the capital, the responsibility of managing local dungeons fell squarely on the nobles overseeing their territories.

It was up to them to ensure that the threats in their regions didn’t escalate while the kingdom prepared for the larger crisis.

Jess, along with other adventurers eager to join the tournament, wasted no time travelling to the capital to register their names. The stakes were high, and every moment counted.

Meanwhile, Oliver and his men were focused entirely on a different matter: uncovering the truth behind Jetro’s death.

As part of an organization with countless enemies, losing members during missions was an accepted risk. But what they couldn’t tolerate was someone targeting their own outside of active operations.

Jetro hadn’t just been another subordinate—he was one of Oliver’s best. Doing nothing about his death would send a dangerous message, one that Oliver couldn’t afford.

To his men, it would make him appear weak; to their enemies, it would signal opportunity.

Oliver already had a few leads to follow. ’But I won’t make the same mistakes,’ he vowed, his fists clenching as the weight of the situation pressed on him. ’I’ll tackle every angle of this issue carefully.’

His thoughts darkened as he considered the possibility of powerful figures being involved. ’Even if nobles are behind this... they’ll pay dearly for it. They’ll shed a pound of flesh if they must.’