Cybernetic Evolution System

"Hey guys, did you all noticed that Jaran hadn't used his Clan's Sacred art or his magic item? So this is fake! The battle had been staged! SOMETHING IS GOING ON IN CLASS THREE THAT WE AREN'T AWARE OF!"

I slowly processed the truth of what I had just witnessed.

Yet, I couldn't believe it.

Several pieces of information stood out from the comments, which I also hadn't missed.

Jaran hadn't used his Clan's Sacred Art, nor fully activated the abilities of his Dove Sealing Sword. If he had done so, then there was a possibility that he would have emerged victorious, and Ezekiel would have been defeated, or the one in that condition.

Yet, the mere thought of that left me feeling incredulous.

Because even I would have a hard time against Jaran if he went all out.

I was sure that I would emerge victorious. However, I won't leave the battle unscathed.

I raised my head to Elma and asked, "Did this happen today?"

"Yes," Elma nodded solemnly.

"What is Jaran's current condition?"

Elma sighed, shaking her head, "I'm not sure. From what I heard, his injuries are stabilising, and treatment would begin soon," she said.

"The swings from Ezekiel had been deliberate, not to cut too deep. So it's certain that he'll make a full recovering and be out after a few days."

I couldn't help but ponder how the Worst One suddenly became this powerful?

Again, I gathered my emotions.

"When he returns I don't think that he would be able to raise his head high again," Elma grimaced, "With Ivory holding the top ranked position, and Milas holding the second, and the Worst One now holding the third after his victory, I don't any of the so-called noble decendants would be able to raise their heads proudly."

I couldn't help but find myself agreeing to her words.

Something was happening within Class Three that we weren't aware of.

Elma clicked her tongue in annoyance.

"To be honest, I'm curious about what's going on in that class. I want to know why none of them can stop them from rising up the rankings."

"However, now that we are certain that the Worst One has been hiding his strength. We now have a clue on the question that's been plaguing us?"

"Ivory might have truly been defeated by the Worst One."

I quickly shook my head and responded, "I still don't think that he had defeated Ivory fairly."

"Why?" Elma replied, confused.

"You haven't faced her, so you won't understand. A rank two trait is something that none of us can win against. "Only another monster like Esther can defeat her."

I felt a tremor in my heart, spreading through every fibre of my skin as I remembered my last battle with her.

Even if they ascended to Rank Two and obtained the trait, Ivory's abilities would have also been enhanced, further widening the gap between them.

In simpler words, with their current abilities, they could only play catch-up.

"Does that mean that we have no way ever to defeat her?" Elma responded, her fists tightened.

I couldn't respond.

I didn't have an answer.

Jaran's defeated at the hands of Ezekiel's left me with one question that troubled me at the moment.

First, Ivory. Now Ezekiel.

Does the Zahara Clan have a hand in this?

Sensing the sudden tension in the atmosphere, I quickly pushed the unsettling thoughts away to the back of my mind.

I regathered my emotions for the umpteenth time.

I clapped my hands together, drawing Elma's attention.

"Since you are still here, why don't you help me clean up?" I said with a smile.

Elma's eyes widened in realisation.

I reached out, grabbed her hand and pulled her back just as she was about to dash towards the door.

Her gaze immediately turned teary. Her voice was filled with indignation, "Why can't we leave this for the cleaners to clean? Why do we have to take care of it by ourselves?"

"Because it's more fun this way."

I dragged her to the scullery to help wash the used baking tools.

***

I returned to my dorm room and stored the pies in the fridge.

After changing into my combat uniform, I re-summoned Felix and quickly went to the dungeon hall.

41, Eliminate Five jumping Fire Sheep: 250 merit points. An additional 50 merit points will be awarded for an additional Jumping Fire Sheep.

45, Collect four Jumping Fire Sheep's fleece: 300 merit points. An additional 75 merit points will be awarded for an additional Jumping Fire Sheep's fleece.

After selecting the tasks, I went into the dungeon.

After emerging from the teleportation platform, I went deep into the dense forest before summoning Felix.

He transformed into his Cybernetic Swift Horned Panther Jet Mode, and we soared towards one of the Jumping Fire Sheep feeding grounds.

Within minutes, we spotted a herd of Jumping Fire Sheep.

They resembled ordinary sheep, except their fleeces were scarlet and burned like crackling flames. They possessed a much leaner and more muscular body with taller and powerful hind legs.

On their foreheads were curling horns resembling molten metal.

There were around 100.

They were in a field of tall, red flowers about 16m (52ft) tall. The flower's heads were twisted downward, and on them were strange fruits.

Steam flickered out from their nostrils occasionally as they leapt towards the head of the strange flower, tearing pieces of its leaves and fruits to chew on them.

The flocks were filled with early to mid-stage Rank One magical beasts.

Killing them wasn't difficult if one was only focused on completing the task of eliminating them.

Completing tasks that required collecting their fleeces was more difficult because it needed a team of two or more individuals to handle.

Because once the fleece was damaged, the task would fail.

So this task didn't only require strength but also strategy.

The standard method would have been to capture one of those fruits hanging down from the flowers to capture their attention, and lead them out one by one from their herds into a secluded location, swiftly eliminate them.

In this manner, both tasks could be completed at the same time.

The tasks were tedious and time-consuming.

If it weren't for the high rewards, no one would have bothered to waste their time selecting it.

However, I didn't need to try out such a tiring method.

"Eliminate fifteen of them," I commanded Felix.

The Jumping Fire Sheep's fleeces gradually lose their effects an hour after they die, so they had to be collected and preserved immediately.

I was here alone, so anything more than that would be a waste of effort.

"Okay, master," Felix responded, "I'll handle them quicker than they could scream for help."

He took a predator's pose as he faced the herd.

Then, charged forward.

"I'll be right back."

His words trailing behind him.

I shouldn't have allowed him to watch more of those videos.

Before the Jumping Fire Sheeps could notice Felix, three sheeps were already beheaded, and lay on the ground dead.

BLEEAATT!!!

The herd began fleeing in all directions.

I noticed something strange.

A few of the Jumping Fire Sheeps charged towards Felix.

They leapt into the air, and with the fiery horn facing downwards, they descended towards Felix.

Felix easily deflected their momentum with a sweeping claw, instantly killing them.

Magical Beasts lived by their instincts. A weaker magical beast would do whatever it took to escape in the presence of a powerful magical beast.

They only attacked when they believed they were on par with the opponent and had a chance of defeating them.

Does that mean that the Fire Jumping Sheep were unable to sense Felix's strength?

Considering Felix's current form was more of a machine than a beast, that was the only possible explanation that I could come up with.

Each jumping Fire Sheep was killed by a sweep of Felix's cybernetic claws.

Due to the unexpected scenario, Felix killed 29 Jumping Fire Sheeps.

Finally realising that their opponent outclassed them in every way, the surviving Jumping Fire Sheeps turned around and leapt towards their fleeing herd in fear.

Having exceeded the required number of kills, Felix didn't chase them. Instead, he began gathering the corpses together.

I walked out of the hiding place within the bushes.

"Good work," I gently rubbed Felix's metallic head.

Felix wriggled under my touch.

I took out my gloves from my storage bag and put them on, then pulled out a pair of shearing scissors.

"Time to get to work."

I bent down to cut out the fleeces.

This was the first time I had done this, but I quickly got the hang of it.

Felix stood guard and observed the surroundings while I worked.

It took me fifteen minutes to completely shave the fleece of one Jumping Fire Sheep.

I quickly placed it in a box for preservation before storing it in my storage bag.

I moved on to the others.

Within an hour, I had preserved the fleeces of four Jumping Fire Sheep.