The Mortal Evolution

"Seriously? This squishy thing is a gem?"

"Why would a precious gem be lying on the ground like a normal stone?"

"Why do I even care? Let's pick them up and put them in the System."

[Current progress: 5/100]

[Current progress: 9/100]

[Current progress: 16/100]

[Current progress: 20/100]

[First Objective Complete. The Host can move to another Dimensional Nexus world.]

"Whoa! I did it!"

"I completed 1/5th of this long Task so easily."

"But, this does tell me that I should be aware. Since this is another planet, Earth's common sense won't work here."

"Let's take some of these Echoite as souvenirs, some for Joo-na, and some for Researchers."

Hao-Yun begins putting the squishy and soft stones into his bag until it is overloaded.

"Hah... I guess this amount should be enough. Now the only thing left is to move to another Planet."

Meanwhile, in the camp, A squad, formed of strong individuals who can move in heightened gravity, returns from their expedition.

Their leader, a young and slender girl, Lee Minji, reports to Squad Leader Jin. 

"Leader Jin, we have found a cave with some strangely shaped shiny stones. There was a pack of small Monsters, different from what Mr. Hao-Yun and his team brought."

"However, it looks like they aren't malnourished..."

"What?"

"Actually, when we encountered them, we assumed they were no different from those large ones. But it turned out we were wrong. Those Monsters don't require any prey, they feed on those shiny stones from the cave and spit acid from their mouths."

"In the end, we had no choice but to retreat."

"Well done, retreating was the best choice. We can't afford to lose any more people."

"For the time being, let's stop going in that direction. When we are strong enough, we will go for a revenge attack."

"Everyone!!"

"Listen to me, I found something exceptionally unnatural!"

Hao-Yun was shouting from a distance. The excitement on his face could be easily noticed. After all, he completed his first objective and even found something that could be useful to humans.

Squad Leader Jin, who had a favorable impression of him, called the Researchers beforehand; he had a hunch they were going to make quite some progress.

"What did you find this time?"

"You won't believe what I found, Squad Leader Jin!"

"The area we are staying in doesn't have anything, so I tried going a bit further."

"And what did you find?"

"Heh-Heh, look, this is what I found!"

"What's this? A rock?"

"Try holding it for a bit."

"Whoa, it's so soft and squishy."

"Yeah, it is very strange, it looks like a rock, but it's super squishy and soft. I found it after going 25km North."

"You went north again?"

"Yeah, thanks to it, I found this thing."

"Researchers, look into what this thing is."

"Sure, Squad Leader, just give us a few hours."

"Was there only a few of them?"

"No, there were actually tons of them just lying on the ground."

"But, that isn't the important part."

"Finding stone isn't an important part?"

"Yeah, because there's something more important."

"The Moment I reached that place, I thought, how about walking a bit more, so I walked nearly 5 kilometers and found a strange forest-like area, but its color was blue and white."

"What? A Blue and White Forest?"

"Yeah, if you don't believe me, go 30 km north and see it yourself, those strange trees are blue in color and have white leaves."

"If what you're saying is true, then it's a great discovery!"

"Rest for today, Hao-Yun, we will go visit that place tomorrow."

"Sure..."

"By the way, where are my groupmates?"

"T-they are..."

"They can't join you anymore..."

"Why? Did I offend them somehow? Did something happen?"

"No... Actually, they died this morning because they failed to complete their Task."

"What? So sudden! Min-jun, Ji-hoon, Hyun-woo, Tae-hyun, Joon-seo. They... They didn't mention anything about their Task."

"Well, that's how things are! We will build a memorial for them and also engrave their deeds on it so that everyone can remember them."

"Hao-Yun, you should rest now."

Hao-Yun was very depressed. He formed a bond with them in just a day, but it was snapped into 2 pieces. He couldn't sleep for the whole night and wondered if he was a jinx for those around him.

A New day comes, and Hao-Yun has moved on a bit. He eats his breakfast and gets ready for departure.

"Squad Leader Jin, are you ready?"

"Hmm... This time we will take Lee Minji's team and a researcher with us."

"Sure..."

"Lee Minji, make sure to protect the Researcher Seok Hyun in case of something."

"Understood, sir!"

"Well then, let us depart."

Hao-Yun leads the group to that place. However, after walking around 15 kilometers, even the Squad Leader and Minji's team were feeling tired, and they took turns to support Seok Hyun one by one, since he didn't have that much strength.

It was absolutely astonishing for them. They couldn't understand how Hao-Yun was walking like he was taking a stroll in the park. Is he that powerful? Or it might be that his agility and stamina are his highest traits.

Thoughts continually consumed their minds, and in the blink of an eye, they finally reached the place.

"Put me down!" Seok Hyun said.

He stared at the area for a long time.

"Is this the place where you found those stones?"

"Yes, Squad Leader Jin."

"Looks like you were right, Comrade Hao-Yun."

"Miss Lee Minji, in my speculation, this place is just an entry point; the real thing should be next to it."

"I agree, Mr. Hao-Yun," said Seok Hyun.

"From my observation, we're staying in a place that's similar to a desert on Earth, ahead it should be different terrains."

"We might find something great."

As Seok Hyun completes his observation, Hao-Yun takes them to the forest looking area he found yesterday.

"What the hell is that...?"

"Didn't I say so? This is too strange."

"Indeed, Mr. Hao-Yun, there's no doubt you are our star explorer of Orbis-9."

"Mr. Seok Hyun, what are you trying to do?"

"Hmm, Squad Leader Jin, can you pluck some leaves of this tree?"

"Sure..."

"Wait! Wear these gloves first; they might be harmful."

(Pluck...) (Pluck...) (Pluck...)

"Is that enough, Seok Hyun?"

"Yeah, that should be enough!"

"Hao-Yun, you are indeed incredible. You should be the real Squad Leader."

"No-No... Squad Leader Jin, I'm not worthy of it..."

"No, you are more than enough worthy!"

"Don't be so serious... Besides, I'm planning to leave after we return."

"What? What are you saying?"

"Yes, I decided it last night. Now that you have found the location of this forest, you can easily continue your expedition."

"If I remained here, I couldn't help but keep thinking about my groupmates. Our bond was just a few hours old, but it was deep enough to rival a decade-long bond."

Sob-sob...

Sob-sob...

"Hmm... very well."

"I allow you to leave, Hao-Yun."

"Really, thanks a lot!"

"But I can't allow you to leave this mission itself."

"What do you mean by this?"

Among all the Squads, the Leader of Squad No. 13 is my close friend. They have also lost some of their members."

"So, I'll talk with him and have you join his Squad."

"What!! Is that for Real? It can't be a coincidence, right?"

"Exactly what am I? A Jinx or a God of luck?"

"Someone! Tell me what my real identity is!!"