Chapter Three: Twilight Gene

There were six known Evolution Paths, and every evolver awakened through one of them: Endurance, Speed, Sight, Sound, Strength, and Blood.

The first test measured his physical strength and a portion of his endurance by placing an immense burden on the body through gravitational force. Now, the second test measured speed. Having passed the first test with flying colours, Valen refused to falter here because of a few beams of light.

Although he knew equal growth across all stats was impossible, since no one had ever evolved through every path, he still didn’t want to score poorly. After all, there were records of people evolving through dual paths.

His father, for example, had evolved through three. Valen tilted his head, and a beam grazed past his cheek.

He twisted as three more beams tore through the space his torso had occupied.

With fluid movements, he evaded the rays as they steadily increased in number. At the same time, he noticed something crucial. His current speed far surpassed what it had been before evolution.

’Could I be of the speed path?’

Just as the thought settled in his mind, the moment he blinked and adjusted his stance, everything around him seemed to slow.

The once-instantaneous rays now left faint trails in the air, like light dragging through water.

Valen’s eyes dilated in shock.

’Is this... my sight improving? Could I possess the Sight path instead?’

It was not just sight. His processing capabilities had improved too. He could see, predict, and react— sometimes before the beam reached him just, or while it was some distance away.

---

The System spoke: [Increasing projectile velocity... 2x... 5x... 10x]

---

The rays became blurry, and even with his enhanced sight and processing, Valen felt pressure.

One beam grazed his shoulder, and a sharp sting hit him.

"Tch." He clicked his tongue and surged into motion once more, refusing to let another strike him.

He didn’t know how much time had passed before the rays abruptly vanished and were replaced with a screen.

---

System: [Speed — 2x standard (Level 0.07%)] [Reflex — Exceeds Peak Threshold] [Beginning Test Three: Neural & Sensory Processing] [Initiating Cognitive Load Test...]

---

’So the Sight and Sound Path tests are combined into one?’

Sadly, he wasn’t given the time to think further.

Darkness swallowed the room as every light shut off, leaving behind an eerie silence.

Without warning, noise erupted. Then came voices — thousands of them — which were either screaming or whispering, crying or roaring. These sounds flooded his ears all at once, nearly overwhelming him.

At the same time, images and flashes of movement appeared in his vision. Beasts were lunging, blades were swinging, explosions on massive scales... and many more he couldn’t describe.

Like the voices surrounding him, the images were layered atop one another, chaotic and overwhelming.

A normal person would have broken instantly, and he was already nearing his limits. Blood trickled from his ears, his eyes turning bloodshot.

’What’s the goal of this test? How... do I pass it?’

Even thoughts were beginning to slow.

Valen clenched his fists. As time passed and it became more unbearable, inspiration struck him.

Instead of trying to process everything, he filtered, separated, and prioritized the noise based on the images.

When an image flashed and revealed a sword without a wielder striking down, he would prioritise the screaming voice.

The moment he did that, both the sound and image vanished permanently, as though he had fulfilled some hidden condition.

Excitement filled his heart, but in his mind, the noise split into layers while the images aligned.

The chaos around him slowly organized itself, and his mind became like a machine.

One by one, he had cleared everything, causing light to dominate the room once more.

For a long moment, Valen simply stood there, trying to gather himself.

’That was close.’ He breathed out a sigh of relief after resting for a while. Then another blue screen popped before his eyes.

---

System: [Sight — 2x standard (Level 0.07%)] [Sound — 2x standard (Level 0.07%)] [Adaptability — Exceeds Peak Threshold] Proceeding to the next phase. [Test Four: Endurance and Recovery Rate.]

---

A nearby wall slid open, and a robotic arm extended from it in a flash, plunging a syringe filled with white liquid into his right arm.

A flood of trophic energy abruptly went rampant within his body.

His vision blurred slightly, veins popping from his forehead as he tried enduring the almost impossible pain.

---

System: [Circulate trophic energy.]

---

Valen gritted his teeth. He couldn’t deny that the energy inside him felt immense.

It was far beyond what his current level should allow. Due to this, it rampaged through his body unhindered.

’If this continues, I might be seriously injured.’ He thought, his mind clearing up. Every ounce of focus he had was dragged inward as he guided the energy.

He had some experience in this, but with such overwhelming force, he figured that merely guiding the energy wouldn’t fit the bill.

Hence, he forced it to compress and gradually began to push it out of his body. Although he could use it to strengthen himself, the sheer weight of the energy would destroy him if he tried. His internal organs would rupture long before his body adapted.

Each attempt felt like wrestling a raging beast barehanded. But little by little, the chaos subsided.

Then it stopped completely.

’Thankfully, I only suffered some internal shaking instead of serious injuries.’

Valen tasted blood in his mouth but forced himself not to spit it out. Then he felt the blood in his body begin rushing faster, accompanied by a cool sensation spreading through him. The strain on his muscles gradually faded away.

Another screen popped up.

---

[Endurance — 2x standard (Level 0.07%)] [Blood flow — 2x standard (Level 0.07%)]

---

An unknown time later, Valen felt like he was back to peak condition.

’T-this... blood path?!’

Shock coloured his face. He couldn’t understand. Just what kind of path did he possess if he excelled in so many areas?

’Does this mean I’m going to be like Dad? Triple Paths... or even more?’

While astonishment and confusion filled him, a green light descended from the ceiling and enveloped his body.

---

System: [Analysing genetic structure...]

[Compiling Results...]

[Irregularity detected.]

[Re-evaluating Subject...]

[Matching with database. Similar evolution path detected.]

[Evolution Path: Twilight Gene]

[Description: You gain 2x the strength, 2x the speed, 2x the sight, and 2x of all other paths with every evolution and level-up.]

[Your body has been absorbing energy for three years, causing the evolution to be slow. But you’ve gained a boon, allowing you to evolve through the rarest path in history.]

[Every level-up increases your potential, so you have a high likelihood of attaining a potential beyond peak-grade. Side effect: Difficulty in evolution.]

---

Valen’s heart leapt with joy. All paths! He had evolved through a completely unknown Evolution Path.

Humanity had only classified six paths, yet he possessed a seventh — one that carried the strengths of all six without their weaknesses.

The only drawback would have to be his difficulty in evolving to higher ranks. But his increase in potential with each level-up more than made up for this.

If he could reach Level 100, wouldn’t that mean he might have a slight chance of attaining the legendary Rank 6 Sage? Joy rushed through him, revitalising his entire being.

Then another thought struck him. The System had mentioned matching his genetic structure with a similar record in its database.

Did that mean someone else had once possessed the Twilight Gene? Before he could think further, another blue screen appeared before him, and the System’s voice echoed out once again.

This time, however, it didn’t seem confined to the room. It sounded as though it were reverberating throughout the entire city.

---

White-Star City region system announcement: [Congratulations to Valen for being the first person in White-Star City to attain an SSS-grade rating during the evolution path assessment. Reward: 1000 points, Personalised Equipment of a Chosen Class, and 50 Purple Coins.]

White-Star City region system announcement: [Congratulations to Valen for being the first person in White-Star City to attain an SSS-grade rating during the evolution path assessment. Reward: 1000 points, Personalised Equipment of a Chosen Class, and 50 Purple Coins.]

White-Star City region system announcement: [Congratulations to Valen for being the first person in White-Star City to attain an SSS-grade rating during the evolution path assessment. Reward: 1000 points, Personalised Equipment of a Chosen Class, and 50 Purple Coins.]

The system notification repeated thrice in Valen’s ears.

---

A few minutes earlier.

The door adjacent to Valen’s room slid open, and Edward stepped out of it with confidence brimming from his eyes. He had attained an A-grade rating from the system.

Unlike the potential rating, which measured future growth and bodily limits, the A-grade evaluated his performance during the Evolution Path Assessment itself.

For example, during the gravitational test, one person might survive the 10x gravity while standing upright, while another survived only by collapsing onto the floor. The difference between them would naturally affect the final evaluation.

So obtaining an A-grade rating was already impressive.

Immediately, he became the centre of attention as everyone glanced at him.

"Edward, how was it? What rating did you get? You mustn’t be complacent as you’re challenging the once-known world’s prodigy." A dark-skinned athletic youth hurried over anxiously.

"Maurice, you’re overthinking it. Valen’s talented, sure, but stop acting like he’s unbeatable. Everyone can be defeated." Another voice came from the side as a burly teenager arrived beside Edward.

Maurice rolled his eyes while saying, "Jerome, your obsession with fighting stronger opponents is going to get you killed one day in the Astral Veil."

"Maybe. But that doesn’t make me wrong." Jerome grinned, unaffected by Maurice’s earlier statement.

"Although I agree with your words, Jerome’s right. Valen isn’t invincible... because I’ll defeat him someday."

Another voice joined them as an emaciated teenager approached while licking his lips.

Jerome cast the emaciated teenager a cold smile. "Defeat him? Sure, with your blood evolution path, you’re quite the cockroach. But that’s all there is to it, Conrad. With my dual path of strength and speed, I’ll crush you anytime."

Edward smiled helplessly at their argument. With a snap of his fingers, a blue screen appeared before everyone.

---

[Name: Edward Skysword. Overall Rating: A-grade]

[Minor Breakdown: Strength — Standard (Level 0.01%)

Speed — 2x Standard (Level 0.01%)

Endurance — Standard (Level 0.01%)

Sight — Standard (Level 0.01%)

Sound — Standard (Level 0.01%)

Blood flow — Standard (Level 0.01%)]

---

"So, you’re of the speed path. Not bad. We’ll have a race sometime. I want to defeat you." Jerome’s eyes blazed with fighting spirit.

Conrad licked his lips while saying, "As expected of you, Edward. Everything else stayed at standard. Even with my high-grade body, I only got a Normal rating in Strength. Still, all four of us possess high-grade potential. There’s no telling who’ll reach the greatest heights."

"Unless Valen somehow gets an S-grade rating, he won’t surpass you, Edward. And how long has it been since anyone achieved that? I trust his potential, but S-grade feels unrealistic. At best, he’ll tie with you." Maurice sighed softly.

Conrad chuckled. "I almost feel sorry for him now."

Jerome’s lips twitched. "I just hope he doesn’t lose too badly. Otherwise, defeating him later won’t feel satisfying."

"You guys are exaggerating." Edward shook his head with a faint smile. "No matter what, Valen was once known as the world’s greatest prodigy. He won’t fall that easily."

Although he said that, everyone could still hear the satisfaction laced in his voice.

Just as the group continued chatting casually, their silver watches suddenly buzzed.

Blue screens appeared throughout the testing hall as the Humanity System’s announcement echoed in their ears as well as across all of White-Star City.

---

White-Star City region system announcement: [Congratulations to Valen for being the first person in White-Star City to attain an SSS-grade rating during the evolution path assessment. Reward: 1000 points, Personalised Equipment of a Chosen Class, and 50 Purple Coins.]

White-Star City region system announcement: [Congratulations to Valen for being the first person in White-Star City to attain an SSS-grade rating during the evolution path assessment. Reward: 1000 points, Personalised Equipment of a Chosen Class, and 50 Purple Coins.]

White-Star City region system announcement: [Congratulations to Valen for being the first person in White-Star City to attain an SSS-grade rating during the evolution path assessment. Reward: 1000 points, Personalised Equipment of a Chosen Class, and 50 Purple Coins.]

**************

Author’s Note: The first milestone of three Chapters has been reached. Thanks for reading so far, and consider donating a few Power Stones to support the story.