The Mortal Evolution

"M-Mr. Guardian Spirit! I was wondering... Would you... Be willing to do a deal with me?"

"A deal, you say?"

"Ah, I-I apologize, I know I am being presumptuous, but..."

"Very well."

"What? Really, are you willing?"

"Just got interested in what a puny creature like you could offer me."

"Ha-ha... Right! That's what I was thinking..."

"What!?"

"Nothing-nothing..."

"This time, it looks like I've really done it."

"What possibly could I offer him? I have no other option than coming out straight."

"Let's just face him head-on."

"Mr. Guardian Spirit, I don't have any fancy thing to offer, even if I had one, I wouldn't offer it since a being of your caliber must not lack such things."

"That's true..."

"So, I thought a lot... and decided, how about I share my knowledge with you?"

"You ignorant bug! Do you think I lack knowledge and need your help to gain some?"

"No-no-no! You misunderstood me!"

"What I possess isn't something average, I am talking about the knowledge and wisdom of a different plane... The First Dimension."

"Surely, even an existence like you won't have the knowledge of this caliber, and since you watched over these balls for myriad years, you possibly didn't have time to go out and live your life."

"Hmm... You have a point."

"Right? And by this deal, your benefit will double; you will get to gain the knowledge of another dimension, and also don't have to watch over these balls."

"So, do you like it?"

"Are you willing to do this deal in exchange for those balls?"

"To tell you the truth, I am also feeling conflicted. It's been so many years since I took over this role, but no one came, and I can't even leave this place."

"That's why, listen to my advice, Mr. Guardian Spirit, and accept this deal."

"Okay-okay, but first, tell me what knowledge would you share with me?"

"I have a lot of knowledge, whatever you like, I would share it with you."

"Is that so, then tell me everything you know!"

"Everything, you say..."

"Ahh... How can someone so greedy be the Guardian Spirit of such items?"

[Detected that the Guardian Spirit wants to gain the Host's knowledge, the System has decided to intervene.]

[Surely, Host wouldn't be so much of a fool to share everything he knows.]

"Yeah-Yeah! H-How can I share everything with this greedy creature, I... I was just thinking of telling him unimportant things."

[Host can't fool System, so please stop making pathetic excuses.]

"How rude..."

[The System has chosen some of the memories of the Host; other than these, the Guardian Spirit won't see anything.]

"Little one, what are you waiting for? Come here..."

"S-Sure..."

Hao-Yun walked over the Guardian Spirit. The Spirit closed its eyes and mumbled something. After he finished, a blue light emitted from its giant hand.

It placed its hand on Hao-Yun's head, pulling every single memory.

The memory of his loneliness, what he learned in his academic years, the memories of his camping time, his old daily routine, the reality of a harsh society, and how many troubles an adult has to go through to keep living on earth.

Experiencing all these memories, the Guardian Spirit felt deep pity for Hao-Yun.

"Sob-sob... Little One, I didn't know you faced so many difficulties in your short life."

"Today, I learned that I am quite blessed. I was born in a rich, powerful family and didn't face many troubles in my life."

"Are you bragging... So annoying..."

"Very well."

"I'm impressed, I deem you worthy of these Ethereal Cores."

"Little Ones, go ahead and take them."

Hao-Yun didn't think twice and rushed to take the 3 Ethereal Cores.

"Once again, thanks, Little one. Because of you, I know the harsh reality of life, and I won't forget it."

Hao-Yun noticed the Guardian Spirit slowly begin fading.

"What's happening to you? Why are you fading?"

"Don't worry, I'm just returning to where I originally came from."

After the Guardian Spirit disappeared completely, Hao Yun received a System prompt:

[Congratulations, Host!]

[Task (Rare): Obtain 3 Ethereal Cores successfully completed.]

[Congratulations on receiving: Random Increase in all stats(Maximum 7), Job Change Crystal x1]

[Detected hidden task 'Convince Guardian Spirit to hand over Ethereal Cores' completed.]

[Congratulations on receiving Extra Rewards:]

Bzzzzzrrrrtt...

8 Different Colored Slips appear in front of Hao-Yun.

[Host is required to pull 2 slips from these 8. Choose wisely.]

"Hmm... let's not think much here and choose my favorite color. Here we go, Red! and Yellow!"

[Congratulations to the Host for receiving Enhancement Crystal (Platinum Grade) x1, Fusion Crystal (Platinum Grade) x1.]

[Initiating Random Increase in all stats(Maximum 7)]

[

Strength: +5

Speed: +2

Vitality: +4

Endurance: +1

Intelligence: +2

Willpower: +3

Charisma: +6

System Affinity: +2

Luck: +3 ]

"Not a single 7... Surely, these types of gacha pulls always squeeze every penny out of a person."

"I didn't understand much, but I received 3 different types of Crystals."

System, can you explain to me how to use them?

[Answering the Host.]

[Job Change Crystal can be used to change or assign a new Job to the Host. There are many types of Jobs prepared by the System. Obtaining one will increase the Host's stats and abilities according to the Job type.]

[Enhancement Crystal can enhance any type of material, gear, or weapon. The Grade of the Crystal will impact the enhancement ability.]

[Fusion Crystal can be fused with any ability, skill, weapon, or gear. After fusion, the said ability or skill would increase in rank. How much the rank increases depends on the Crystal Grade.]

"That said, other than stats increase, I don't find much value in these Crystals."

"I don't have any gear or weapon, much less is it illegal to walk around with weapons on Earth. I'll be arrested in a second."

"And this Job Crystal... What if I received some weird job and my stats and skills get messed up because of it?"

"Speaking of which, those two Crystals are platinum grade, which sounds higher tier, but Job Crystal don't have such a rank. It could be that I end up with a common or weak Job. That would just ruin my only chance."

"No-no, I can't risk it, not until I am confident enough."

[Opening a portal for Host's return.]

Bzzzzttt...

"Let's return to Earth first and rest a bit. I'll think about changing jobs later."

With that in mind, Hao-Yun stepped into the portal, returning to the Earth of the First Dimension.

"Haah... It feels so good to be back, this air, these buildings, the sight of busy humans, it's so damn good.

"Oh, right! I don't have time to roam here, better go home and check what happened in my absence."

"Now that I have powered up, let's test it out a bit."

Zzzoooomm...

Hao-Yun was surprised, even though he had immunized against these things, he still found himself shivering. He was running at the same speed as an average car.

It just took him 10 minutes to reach his apartment from Shinseol-dong Station.

"Man! I still can't believe it."

"It was like someone installed an engine inside me."

(Creeak...)

(Opens the door...)

"Eeeeyaa... My sofa feels so comfortable... This is how a salaryman must feel after returning home. A former lazy part-timer like me couldn't have understood this feeling before."

"Let's watch a bit of news, just to be updated on the current situation."

[Breaking News...]

[Whole Egypt has been wiped out of the Earth.]

"GAAH—PFT!"

"What? Today isn't April Fool's, right? Even if it is saying such things is going too far."

"They shouldn't play with people's emotions."

[According to our sources, no country has been able to make contact with Egypt since this morning. The scheduled flights didn't run, and no international calls connected. So, America sent one of its squads to check the situation. By the time the squad reached Egypt, they were confused and traumatized.]

[Here's a clip shot by one of the squad members.]

Hao-Yun watched in disbelief. The clip shows not a single trace of Egypt, like no one ever lived there, not a single trace of humans. Every single building, houses, and monumental structure are now reduced to dust.

Even the neighbouring Nations don't know when such a thing happened, nobody saw it coming, just like that time of the official high-level meeting in the Korean government office.

"How can such a large-scale attack be taken without anyone noticing it?"

"How can someone be so cruel?"

"Wait a minute... This type of attack can't be done by humans."

"System! Tell me, did you do it?"

****

"I won't stop even if you remain silent!"

"Tell me, System, are you the one behind this?"

[Replying to Host]

[Yes, my main unit neutralized Egypt since it failed in completing its national task.]

"What?"

Once again, Hao-Yun realized the Civilization Advancing System isn't his or humans' ally.

It is an absolute disaster that was deployed by someone intending to destroy Earth in the name of advancing human civilization.

"No-no-no... I can't sit like this!"

"I have to get stronger! Only by becoming strong can I protect myself."

Hao-Yun once again opens his System panel, staring for a long while at his rewards.

"Since I don't have any gear or weapon, I have to make do with things that I currently own."

"Hmm... the Enhancement Crystal can enhance any material, gear, or weapon, while the Fusion crystal can be fused with any ability, skill, gear, or weapon..."

"I don't have any worthy skill or ability at the current moment, but material, right...."

Suddenly, Hao-Yun extracts his rewards from the System. He put the three Crystals on a table.

"Seeing them like this, it reminds me of the three Ethereal Crystals."

"Speaking of which, why did the System take those Crystals? Don't I get to keep them? They vanished before even I realized it."

"Setting that aside, aren't these three Crystals counted as materials, like they look just like a normal Crystal?"

"How about merging them?"

"To get the best result, how about I use this Enhancement Crystal on the Fusion Crystal, then use the Fusion Crystal on the Job Change Crystal?"

"Hmm... That might be a good idea."

Hao-Yun saw a new ray of light, a way to become stronger. He grabbed the Enhancement Crystal from his left hand and tried merging it with the Fusion Crystal in his hand.

[Enhancement successful: Fusion Crystal(Platinum Grade) now upgraded to Fustion Crystal(Mythical Grade)]

"Whoo-ho! I did it!"

"Now, let's try fusing this Fusion Crystal on the Job Change Crystal."

Brrrrkkkkk...

"Too bright... It's too bright! Ahh, My Eyes!"

[Fusion successful: Fusion Crystal(Mythical Grade) now fused with Job Change Crystal]

[Congratulations to the Host for Upgrading Job Change Crystal to Mythical Grade.]

"Mythical Grade? Now that sounds like a real powerhouse."

"System, I'm ready for a Job Change! Use the Job Change Crystal right now."