Ch.2323. Machine Evolution

As a sub-card, the smoke screen is usually nothing but a burden.

But in a situation like this, it’s truly an enormous help.

That thing has already thoroughly analyzed my attack style and defense methods through its analysis.

That’s just how the machine race works.

As much as it has figured out my patterns and countered them, I need to fight back with a new power.

Those things analyze everything.

Pretending to charge, I threw myself forward, moving across the corpses.

[Parts]

-Create a sub-card?

-Consumes 100 m-points

Without hesitation, I turned one card into a parts sub-card.

[What are you doing?]

It won’t understand.

No, it shouldn’t understand.

While it was saying something, I hurled my injured body forward to obtain the next part.

[Suspicious.]

Yes, that’s exactly what I was waiting for.

When it changed its tone to express suspicion, I used the smoke screen card.

A cautious opponent wouldn’t move rashly. And the moment I turned the third parts card into a sub-card, all conditions were met.

[Exchanging DNA points]

-Exchanging 3,000 points out of 5,300 total DNA points for monster points.

-The moment my monster points reached 3, nothing could stop me anymore.

[You’re up to something!]

The smoke screen wavers and I can feel its footsteps. Hurry!

I frantically opened my status window.

Opening a new possibility.

[Point Shop]

-Special Evolution Route (Machine): 3 monster points (other special evolution routes may be added), 10 parts cards.

-Purchasing special evolution route.

At last, my monster points and 10 parts cards were consumed, and finally it appeared.

[Checking evolution routes]

-Half-human, half-beast (sub-adult): Beast Sura (requires 1,000 evolution points)

-Half-human, half-machine (sub-adult): Machine Sura (requires 1,300 DNA points)

-Half-dragon, half-insect (adult): Insect Dragon Sura (requires 13,000 DNA points)

-You need to collect DNA points to evolve.

I have enough points, more than sufficient. Moving into the nearby mountains, I quickly pulled out my card.

[Purchasing Half-human, half-machine]

After transforming into my basic form, I spent my points. Out of 2,300 points, I burned 1,300 to finally bring about a new evolution.

-Evolving to Half-human, half-machine.

-1,300 DNA points remaining

At that very moment, my red evolution card began to glow.

[Side Evolution]

“Let’s go!”

The main card displayed on my status window began to transform, empowered by the evolution card. I could feel new vitality in my injured body.

I can see it.

The finished product appeared in my vision, as if foretelling how I would change.

My half-insect body grew larger as mechanical parts began to attach themselves.

Armor was being attached to my chest and lower body. Something like a helmet was mounted on my head.

A radar appeared in my field of vision, and one of my hands had transformed into a sword.

My other hand had been modified to fire projectiles.

The appearance was quite similar to RoboCop, but the form inside the machine somewhat resembled a beast.

A being with a half-human, half-beast form that had evolved to be more human-like, with added mechanical parts.

That was me now.

[Main Card]

-Species: Half-human, half-machine Name: Machine Sura Growth Stage: Sub-adult

Traits: Radar (can detect nearby enemies), Data Analysis (parameters increase as you fight)

Strength: C

Agility: C

Resistance: C

Magic Resistance: C

Energy: C

Mana: C

Skills: Plasma Shock Generator, Sword

Evolution: Machine

The stats were quite shocking. All C’s, like a well-disciplined soldier. While the abilities were balanced, they weren’t particularly high, nor did they have any standout strengths.

“They say machines get better as you go along, so…”

Now I needed to check my sub-cards.

[Firepower Enhancement]

-After use, the rank of the Plasma Shock Generator increases.

[Sharp Sword]

-After use, the sword’s attack power increases for 3 minutes.

“Not bad.”

Using the special evolution route to evolve with the hard-to-obtain power of the machine race—

Just then, the radar sounded strongly. As the smoke screen cleared, the cyborg armor was roaring.

“Let me test this new evolution on you.”

The Plasma Shock Generator in my hand began gathering energy.

*

[A monster killing another monster! What are you! Where did the other one go?]

Machines can detect and move toward enemies.

The enraged opponent appears on my radar. This has the advantage of being able to locate enemies even without visual contact.

The Plasma Shock Generator is ready. I aimed at the opponent and concentrated plasma.

A blue energy mass formed before me and was instantly fired.

The strange cyborg, seemingly surprised, tried to block it with a greatsword.

The greatsword shattered, and the opponent was sent flying far away.

“Good power.”

I looked at the plasma cannon in my left hand, then raised my right hand. The hand split sideways, and a blade protruded from within.

Continuing to intercept with the Plasma Shock Generator would be fine, but having confirmed its power, I should try something else too.

Yes, that thing is a test unit.

The radar responds again.

[Radar Measurement]

Simultaneously, the enemy’s form was outlined with dotted lines in my vision.

Lines and dots. They move and approach me.

The radar shows the enemy’s movements in detail, providing tactical information.

This is one of the characteristics of machines.

Timing it right, my sword clashed with the cyborg armor’s torso.

But its stats must be better than mine, as I was pushed back.

The radar indicates another entity approaching.

“This advantage is clear.”

Not outstanding, but very supportive.

As the entity approaches on the radar, my vision turns blue.

The sword I reflexively raised and the cyborg armor’s steel fist began to clash in midair.

Friction occurs and sparks fly. I never thought I’d experience this up close.

Like something out of a movie, we were locked in confrontation.

At that moment, the opponent’s cyborg armor’s leg area was highlighted in red in my vision. What does this mean?

Instinctively striking that spot, the cyborg armor lost balance and fell.

As it fell and I tried to stab it with my sword, it kicked my legs out from under me.

Then something green flew toward me. Was the cyborg armor using ranged attacks?

But what I saw was the corpse of another cyborg. This thing was really making good use of the “friends shield” today.

I noticed it on the radar, but after blocking the armor, the opponent rushed at me.

[I won’t die! How could I have received this body! I was chosen!]

It was trying to mount me and attack somehow.

“Ugh!”

My stats are inferior to the adaptable insect. As I struggled to push it away, suddenly my whole body felt lighter.

“Huh?”

With that, I could easily kick away the rampaging cyborg armor.

It flew away, raising dust as it hit the ground in the distance.

Wait, this is different from before?

[Data Analysis Complete]

-All parameters increased by 1 rank

Amazingly, the second trait had activated.

A trait that increases all parameters as data accumulates through repeated combat with enemies.

Keeping an eye on the radar, I slowly got up.

Every movement of the opponent raising its hand is displayed as dots in my vision.

And I saw its chest glowing red. I understand. That’s where the opponent and I had our exchange.

In other words, that’s currently its vulnerable spot.

I understood immediately. Then I need to end this with one strike.

If we keep fighting, it will analyze me too. It’s time to use a new sub-card.

[Firepower Enhancement]

The blue energy in the plasma cannon began to swirl more intensely.

As I aimed at the approaching opponent, a targeting reticle automatically appeared.

At the moment when the two entities overlapped as they charged, the plasma mass was fired from the shock generator.

It’s fast. In an instant, the blue mass pierced through a tree. What do I mean? Exactly what I said. The cyborg armor collapsed with a hole in its torso, and an explosion occurred where the plasma hit.

[Hybrid Eliminated!]

-Reward: 1 Monster Point, 1,000 DNA Points

“What’s a hybrid?”

While I was still amazed by the power, this unique phrase “hybrid” appeared.

What kind of being was it to be able to speak?

As I moved to examine the corpse, I saw something shocking.

“A human?”

There was clearly a human face attached inside the monster.

A body that had become one with the armor inside the cyborg armor.

“The same thing the Goegyeopdan was doing…”

But as I pondered this, a new dot appeared on my radar.

“Huh? Someone’s approaching…”

It’s not a monster. There are no more monster breaks in this area.

Then there’s only one possibility. The presence of the Guild.

In that moment, fear welled up.

My current form is not that of a normal human.

I turned and ran desperately. Soon, I heard the commotion of impacts behind me.

“Where is it?”

“I sensed a monster’s presence, did it escape?”

“They’re all dead again!”

My heart pounded.

“Search the area! Kill any monsters on sight. Strange things keep happening… Huh? Look at this monster! There’s a person inside!”

Fortunately, the voices grew more distant.

Barely containing my racing heart, I fled while a thousand thoughts raced through my mind.

Mountains without people are the last priority for the Guild.

But they came early? And from what they said, they came early deliberately. To catch something.

Me. After disposing of monsters and disappearing, the Guilds would naturally take interest. They might have allowed it a few times, but they’ve started to find it strange.

“I absolutely can’t go out for a while.”

After taking the longest possible route, I finally arrived at the dormitory at dawn.

*

A silent house. As soon as she arrived home, Eun Se-rin rushed to the room where the baby was sleeping soundly.

The child greeted its mother as soon as she arrived.

“Did my baby wait for mommy?”

The child, with its face half-covered by a veil, moved its hands as soon as it saw her.

Holding the child, Eun Se-rin looked at her phone.

[???: This is different from the plan. What happened? Our creation died! And it’s all over the news.]

“How should I know? You forced this.”

Eun Se-rin’s expression was ice cold. Quite different from the face she showed the child.

At that moment, sensing her mood, the baby began to cry.

“I’m sorry… I’m sorry… Mommy got angry. Right?”

She stroked the baby, but there was also disgust in her touch.

“My child… if I can call it that.”

After briefly wearing a cold expression, she comforted the child again when it was about to cry.

“Yes, mommy’s sorry. I was just thinking about something else. Don’t cry. There, good.”

She gently patted and embraced the child, sharing her warmth.

The child’s cold body created a strange sense of dissonance, but she overcame it with maternal love for now.

At that moment, Eun Se-rin answered an incoming call on her phone.

[Eun Se-rin! Did you properly…]

“Goegyeopdan calling at this time would raise suspicion. Deal with what you’ve done. I told you it was too early, didn’t I?”

[Hey!]

Eun Se-rin immediately hung up. Then she made a call to someone else.

“Hello? I’m sorry for calling so late. Instructor Lee. Yes. It’s been a while. The baby? It’s so beautiful, you wouldn’t believe it. I wish I could return to duty right away and show you. Yes. There’s something I’m curious about. By any chance, is there a student named Do Jong-hyun among the new students this year?”

Eun Se-rin was digging for information about Do Jong-hyun.

“Such a suspicious child, it’s been a while since I’ve seen one besides my husband.”

The mysterious first-year student she met in the mountains. Eun Se-rin was keeping an eye on Do Jong-hyun.