Infinite Evolution: My Idle Evolution System

SPURT!

The Stand-in of the Stand-in was instantly slaughtered in similar fashion to the first Stand-in.

And just like that, two 3rd Stage Class 3 Slayers were killed in combat, quickly and without remorse. Both of them were stronger than any S-Rank Hunter—possibly even stronger than SS-Rank Awakeners—yet they died all the same.

Luckily, there were Stand-ins for Stand-ins for Stand-ins!

As deaths were extremely common for anyone assigned to Platoon #42, many precautions were set in place for terrible eventualities. So, even if a dozen Stand-ins died, there would always be more to take their places!

"Ahhh—!!"

"Pl-Please, don't kil—!"

Death after death occurred in the several dozen-man Nightmare Slayer Platoon. Cassius, standing to the far back, apathetically watched all his platoonmates get chopped in half, skewered, mutilated, and/or skinned and devoured.

He wondered if he should interfere, but even as it was, he wasn't doing too well himself. Doing any more than saving his own skin would be difficult.

SHING! SHING!

Lilith was being rapidly spun around, cutting through the thick black skin of several building-sized Rank 2 Nightmares. She easily pierced through them, but as they were slimy fellows, they always managed to slip away in time. This meant multiple alterations were necessary to kill just a single one of the Nightmares.

Though, after a few seconds of chase, dodge, and chase some more, Cassius finally killed his first couple of Nightmares.

BLING!

[You have slain an Early-stage Rank 2 Nightmare (Voidstalker)!]

[Acquired a substantial amount of Nightmare Essence!]

[You have slain an Early-stage Rank 2 Nightmare (Duskscreamer)!]

[Acquired a substantial amount of Nightmare Essence!]

[Your Slayer Rank has advanced from the Beginning of the 7th Stage Apprentice Slayer Rank → Pinnacle of the 7th Stage Apprentice Slayer Rank!]

[The remainder of your acquired Nightmare Essence has been transferred to Storage and will be automatically used as soon as the Host breaks through to the 3rd Class Slayer Rank.]

Cassius kept that piece of information in mind as he continued slaying more of the Rank 2 Nightmares, all of which were roughly equivalent in strength to an S+ Rank Hunter. In other words, they were chump change for the current version of him.

Then again, with how slippery they were, he certainly had some trouble efficiently farming them.

Furthermore, there were many Nightmares stronger than the ones he was fighting. Though all of them were currently embroiled in battle with the couple dozen remaining members of his platoon, they would surely turn their focus on him as soon as the rest were wiped out.

Of the lot, there were a few that made even Cassius's hair stand on end.

{[Tenebris Wraith (Peak Rank 2)]}

[Approximate Battle Power: SS- - Rank]

[Threat Rating: Light Red]

{[Umbravore (Peak Rank 2)]}

[Approximate Battle Power: SS- - Rank]

[Threat Rating: Light Red]

There were many such Nightmares fighting the Slayers of Platoon #42. Moreover, even more were crawling out of large tunneling holes in the Gorge's murky walls. Although only twenty of them were out right now, the whole place would surely be swarming with them soon enough.

"Let's see," Cassius mused. "If I slaughter a line in that direction, I'll be able to escape the Gorge the way I came in, but I won't be able to keep the opening open long enough for all the survivors to make it back out. On the other hand, I could use the opposite tactic and head further into the Gorge."

The answer was a very simple one. It was extremely logical to make this decision.

And yet…

"F*ck it," said Cassius. "I want to see just how far I can venture into this bottomless black ravine before I'm forced to turn back."

With his decision already made, he sprang into the air like a broken coil before putting Lilith around his neck. He lunged forth, using his superb aerial balance to spin around with his domineering katana in hand. He turned into a razor-sharp beyblade and gained as much momentum as possible, stopping right before hitting one of the Peak Rank 2 Nightmares.

The Nightmare—which was originally focused on a Stand-in of a Stand-in—immediately noticed the lethal presence at its back. All of its dozen or so eyes darted toward the presence, their malicious intent overpoweringly strong.

Yet, in that same instant, Cassius—who was frozen in mid-air—had purplish crimson runic lines materialize around him. The runic lines enveloped the area for thousands of meters, attracting the attention of both the other Peak Rank 2 Nightmares and Platoon #42's 3rd Class Slayers. The Apprentice Slayers had all died very quickly when the ambush first happened, leaving only the strongest of Platoon #42 still alive.

"An Apprentice Slayer's actually still kicking!? And what are those cryptic symbols spreading out around him??"

"He's the Newbie who was essentially sent to die by the Ministers of the Royal Court! They say he's the #1 youngster among the Nightmare Slayer lot this year!"

"Who cares!! With his Apprentice Slayer Rank, there's no way he'll make a difference!! Just focus on fending for yourselves until we find a way out of here—"

RUMBLE!!!

A loud rumbling threw all of Platoon #42 off balance as they struggled to regain their footing. One of the 3rd Class Slayers—who had been focusing on the only Apprentice Slayer—widened his eyes in shock at the sight before him.

"Captain, look!" the Slayer shouted, his pointer finger stretched out. "The… The Peak Rank 2 Nightmare that the boy was fighting…"
Experience tales at My Virtual Library Empire

"Huh!?" said the Captain. "What nonsense are you spouting this tim—"

That was when he saw it as well.

Part of the Gorge… now had another smaller gorge carved through one of the walls.

"Such staggering power," the Captain mumbled. "Just what sort of attack is capable of dealing this much damage!?"

*Tap.*

Cassius lithely tapped against the hard ground surface, his steps waking the other members of Platoon #42 to reality. They stared at him slack-jawed, in utter disbelief of the truth.

"This kid," said the Captain. "I know now why the Ministers wanted him dead… With ungodly talent like his, the whole Kingdom could one day be turned upside down…"

*Ding~!*