Infinite Evolution: My Idle Evolution System

"Lackluster is an understatement," Cassius muttered, staring at his improvised arsenal of wooden brooms and mops spread out on the hospital bed. "But I guess I have no choice but to go and kill monsters with these until I find proper equipment."

He sighed, scratching the back of his head, but then an idea struck him. His expression brightened slightly. "Wait… I can make these better."

With newfound determination, Cassius picked up the brooms and mops, snapping them over his knee one by one. The sound of splintering wood echoed through the quiet room as he broke the items down into manageable pieces. Normally, such a task would have sent jolts of pain up his leg, but with his newly enhanced stats, it barely registered.

One broom. Crack.

Another. Snap.

Then a mop. Shatter.

Within minutes, he had reduced 3 brooms and 1 mop into eight sharp wooden halves. "Not bad," he murmured, holding one of the splintered pieces up to the light.

Next, he stripped the sweeper and mop heads off the remaining items, leaving him with 8 sharp wooden spikes and 2 sturdy staffs. Each spike was about a foot and a half long, jagged, and wickedly pointed, while the staffs were smooth and just shy of his height.

Looking at his makeshift arsenal, Cassius allowed himself a small smile. "I don't have a sword, but I think I've done pretty well for myself."

Still, as he stared at the weapons, doubt began to creep into his mind. "Even with this, taking on monsters will be tough," he admitted, gripping one of the staffs tightly. "Especially since I'm not awakened."

Hunters, even those at the lowest F-Rank, were far stronger than regular humans. Cassius had no illusions about where he stood—his recent growth might have made him stronger, faster, and tougher than before, but he had no way to measure himself against awakened Hunters or the monsters lurking in Gates.

[Remaining Time until E-Rank 'Savage Jungle' Gate Break: 23 minutes 3 seconds]

The countdown flashed ominously in his peripheral vision. There was no time to second-guess himself.

With a sigh, Cassius packed his weapons into the worn backpack he'd been carrying since the truck accident. After a final glance at the room, he slipped out the door, moving with the quiet precision granted by his Agility stat. His footsteps were nearly silent as he descended the hospital's northern staircase, avoiding the main corridors bustling with nurses and doctors.

The cool night air hit him as he exited through a side door on the first floor. The main doors were automatic and heavily monitored, so sneaking out there would have been a surefire way to get caught and dragged back to bed.

"The fresh air feels good," he murmured, glancing up at the luminescent moon hanging high in the night sky. Its soft glow bathed the hospital grounds in silver light, a stark contrast to the growing tension in his chest.

Suddenly, his senses sharpened, a prickling awareness spreading across his skin. He turned his gaze toward the front gates of the hospital, where the air seemed to shimmer with unseen energy.

"The night is a pretty one," he said quietly, his grip tightening on the two wooden staffs in his hands, "but soon, it will be flowing with blood."

The cold gleam in his piercing blue eyes reflected the swirling energy gathering above the gates. He felt it as much as he saw it—waves of pressure that made his heart race and his muscles tense.

BLING!

[Staff (Melee)] - [F-Rank]

|—[Attack: ~3]—|

[Spike (Melee/Ranged)] - [F-Rank]

|—[Attack: ~2]—|

Cassius glanced at the system descriptions for his weapons. The attack values were laughably low, but they were better than nothing. Still, with no special effects attached, he knew he was going in with the bare minimum.

Then, it happened…

OOOM!

The Gate's energy intensified, swirling into a flickering bluish-orange portal that sent gusts of wind spiraling through the area. Pedestrians walking nearby froze in their tracks, their faces draining of color as they realized what was happening.

"Ahh! It's a Gate! A Gate has appeared!!"

"A Sudden Gate?! Why would one of those appear here?! Monsters will escape within the next thirty minutes!"

"Quick, call the Hunters!!"

Panic rippled through the crowd like wildfire. Hospital staff ran out to investigate the commotion, their expressions turning to horror as they took in the flickering portal.

The terror was justified. Everyone, from children to the elderly, knew the implications of a Sudden Gate. Unlike regular Gates, which contained their monsters for a week, Sudden Gates released them in waves, starting within the first thirty minutes. And the waves only grew stronger with time.

The system hadn't been exaggerating when it said everyone in the hospital would be dead by the eight-hour mark.

Unnoticed by the panicking crowd, a lone figure approached the Gate. Cassius's blue eyes glinted with determination as he stepped into the flickering portal.

The sensation of crossing into the Gate was unlike anything he had ever experienced. It was as if his body had been pulled through a whirlpool of energy, leaving him slightly disoriented as he emerged on the other side.

The first thing he noticed was the forest. Vast and verdant, it stretched in every direction, the dense canopy of trees blocking out most of the light. The air was thick with humidity, and unnerving animal calls echoed through the darkness, creating a constant backdrop of noise.

For a moment, Cassius stood frozen, taking in the alien landscape. "So this is an E-Rank Gate…"

The stunning scenery was a fleeting afterthought as the sounds around him shifted. Low growls, rapid rustling, and the unmistakable sound of footsteps—no, paws—crunching against the underbrush.

"They know I'm here," Cassius realized, his body tensing.

The glowing red eyes appeared next. Dozens of them, flickering in the darkness like embers. Blood-curdling screeches followed, each one vibrating with an unnatural intensity.

[Effect Triggered: Fear]

Cassius's heart skipped a beat as the notification flashed. The screeches were laced with a Fear Effect, a psychological assault designed to paralyze prey.

"Shit!" he hissed, gripping his staffs tightly.

The bushes exploded in movement as the glowing eyes darted closer.