A system prompt blazed before Jin's eyes.
• [ Lizard King Krothak — Unique++ Boss | Near-Epic Tier ]
Kill Confirmed
Devour Available
Proceed?
"Yes."
• [ Devour Successful ]
Target: Lizard King Krothak
Genetic Absorption Complete
• [ Skill Acquired ]
Rare++ Skill — Tidebreaker Thrust (Upgradable)
Type: Spear-Based Attack
Attribute: Water
• [ Skill Acquired ]
Rare++ Skill — Abyssal Guard (Upgradable)
Type: Defensive Barrier
Attribute: Water
• [ Affinity Update ]
Water Affinity — Low → Mid
• [ Gene Experience Gained ]
+75
• [ Gene Quality Advancement Detected ]
Grade 3 → Grade 4
• [ Gene Quality Status ]
Grade: 4
Purity: Stable
Progress: 5 / 1000
• [ System Notice ]
As Gene Quality increases, experience gained from low-tier monsters and mismatched-class targets is significantly reduced.
Understanding settled in.
"So that's it," Jin murmured quietly.
"That's why it slowed down."
His mind flicked back to his first devour—how violently his gene progress had surged back then.
Back when Grade 1 and 2 gains had felt explosive.
Now, the path forward was steeper.
But—
He looked at the Grade 4 marker again.
In his past life, he hadn't even been eligible to register for NCEE.
Now?
Top 10 didn't sound unrealistic anymore.
Jin closed the system windows.
Ahead, the others were already near the exit, laughing softly, exhaustion finally catching up to them.
He stepped forward to join them as the dungeon began its final collapse.
They emerged from the dungeon just as the final tremors died behind them.
Cold night air washed over the group, carrying the faint scent of damp earth and scorched stone. The entrance collapsed completely a few seconds later, sealing itself as if it had never existed.
For a moment, no one spoke.
Then Zhou Kang stretched his arms with a groan. "I swear, if I see another lizard for the next year, I'm burning it on sight."
Mu Chen snorted softly. "You'll forget in a week."
Yan Feiyu walked a few steps ahead, posture straight despite the exhaustion still lingering in her movements. Old Qiao followed at a measured pace, hands behind his back.
Lan Xue glanced around, then slowed slightly until she was walking beside Jin.
"Hey… Jinlin," she said, tilting her head. "I just realized something."
Jin looked over. "What?"
"I forgot to ask earlier," she continued, smiling. "Where are you from? You're this strong, but none of us had heard your name before today."
Zhou Kang overheard and turned his head. "Yeah, now that you mention it… you kind of came out of nowhere."
Jin didn't seem bothered. "Luminary City," he replied calmly. "Starfall Province, I keep a low profile."
There was a brief pause.
Mu Chen's eyes opened a little. "Starfall?"
Han Rui glanced over as well. "That's… pretty far."
Lan Xue blinked. "Wait, really? Then you're not local at all."
Jin shrugged. "Nope."
Zhou Kang scratched his head. "Huh. We're all from the same place then."
Lan Xue smiled. "Emberfall City," she said. "Fireflame Province."
Yan Feiyu added without turning around, "All of us."
"That explains the fire," Jin said dryly.
Lan Xue laughed. "It kind of does, doesn't it?"
They walked in silence for a few steps, the tension from the dungeon finally giving way to something lighter.
Then Lan Xue glanced at him again, curiosity clearly winning.
"So… since NCEE's coming up," she asked, "which college are you planning to apply to?"
Zhou Kang immediately leaned in. "Yeah, don't tell me you haven't thought about it."
Mu Chen's gaze shifted lazily toward Jin, listening.
Even Yan Feiyu slowed her pace just a fraction.
Jin noticed.
He exhaled once, hands in his pockets.
"I have a few in mind," he said. "But I haven't decided yet."
Lan Xue frowned slightly. "Not even a preference?"
"Not yet," Jin replied. Then, after a beat, added calmly, "Depends on my ranking."
"Honestly? I didn't know much about the top colleges before. I was just planning to apply to one of the local ones."
That surprised a few of them.
"But," Jin continued, "after today… I changed my mind."
Lan Xue's eyes lit up. "Then let me tell you."
She straightened a little, clearly happy to explain.
"At the top is Imperial University. Number one in the country. Best resources, best instructors, strongest students—everything. Almost impossible to get into unless you're a monster."
Zhou Kang nodded. "That place is insane."
"Second is Celestial University," Lan Xue continued. " top-tier. Amazing combat departments."
Yan Feiyu spoke calmly from ahead, "They already scouted me."
Lan Xue nodded quickly. "Feiyu accepted their offer."
Jin glanced at her. That explained a lot.
"Third is Sovereign University," Lan Xue finished.
She looked at Jin expectantly. "Most people aim for those three. We're all trying for Celestial University."
Zhou Kang grinned. "With your strength? As long as you don't mess up NCEE, they'll fight to scout you."
Mu Chen added lazily, "Yeah. You'd be a waste anywhere else."
Lan Xue smiled warmly. "We were hoping… maybe you'd come to Celestial too. It'd be nice if we could all be together."
For a moment, everyone looked at Jin.
Yan Feiyu turned slightly and spoke before he could answer.
"Lan Xue, don't force him."
She glanced at Jin. "Do what you want. It's your path."
There was no pressure in her tone—just sincerity.
Then she added, "By the way, there's another dungeon raid tomorrow. Unique-tier. Will you come?"
Jin hesitated.
Two days left until NCEE, he thought.
Low-tier monsters won't help me anymore.
But mid-tier… maybe.
"…Yeah," he said finally. "I'll come."
Lan Xue smiled. Zhou Kang pumped a fist weakly. "Nice."
As they started loading into the cars, Zhou Kang stopped in front of Jin and scratched the back of his head.
"Hey," he said awkwardly. "About earlier… I was kind of a jerk."
Jin waved it off. "Didn't bother me."
Zhou Kang grinned and handed him a card. "If you ever need anything in Emberfall City—come find me."
Jin accepted it. "Got it."
A few service vehicles arrived to pick them up, headlights cutting through the darkness.
One by one, the others climbed into the cars. Doors closed. Engines started.
The convoy began to move out.
Only Jin and Old Qiao remained near the roadside.
Jin glanced at him. "Old man."
Old Qiao hummed. "Yes?"
"You could've finished the Lizard King yourself," Jin said quietly. "Easily. Why did you make me do it?"
Old Qiao looked at the dark road ahead for a moment, then smiled faintly.
"If I had ended it," he said, "they would have learned nothing except that someone stronger was watching over them."
He turned his eyes to Jin.
"But when you finished it—someone close to their level, someone they fought beside—it lit a fire."
He chuckled softly. "Not fear. Not dependence. Motivation."
Jin stayed silent.
"They saw how far they still have to go," Old Qiao continued. "And they won't want to stay weak after that."
Then he glanced at Jin. "Besides, you did more work in that dungeon than anyone. It wouldn't be right for me to steal the end."
"Consider it," he said lightly, "a gift from an old man."
Lan Xue leaned out of a car window and called, "Old Qiao! We're leaving!"
Old Qiao straightened and gave Jin a nod. "Get some rest. We'll pick you up tomorrow."
Jin smiled. "I'll be ready."
Old Qiao walked toward the car, then paused and looked back once more.
"Good luck," he said.
The car pulled away.
Jin stood alone for a moment, city lights glowing in the distance.
Tomorrow, another dungeon.
Two days until NCEE.
He slipped his hands into his pockets and headed home.