Chapter 58: New Strength!

[Status Panel]

[Name: Ethan Smith

Age: 23

Title: First Mage, Mana Zombie Slayer

Evolution Rank: F

Mage Rank: Second-Circle Mage

Strength: 170

Agility: 170

Vitality: 170

Spirit: 175

Evolution Energy: 0/100

Abilities: Max-Level Comprehension, 10,000× Feedback

Skills: Gun Handling (Grandmaster), Gun Control (Grandmaster), Martial Arts (Grandmaster), Hunting (Master), Medicine (Master), Acrobatics (Expert)

Items: Map of Safety ×1

Spells: Low-Level Body Strengthening, Low-Level Illusion, Mana Compression, External Mana Construct (Mana Blade), Mana Sight, Ice Make]

Completing his breakthrough, his attributes had increased by another fifty points, adding to his already impressive strength.

"According to what I heard, F-rank attributes are anywhere between 1-99, with the value depending on your talents."

"While it’s possible to move on to E-rank with an attribute less than 99, that in turn weakens your foundation and affects the probability of future breakthroughs."

"Most Awakeners in my last life broke through at about 70 attribute points, with geniuses having 80 and 90 and above."

"It’s rumored that only the strongest S-class among them reached 99 at F-rank."

"As for E-rank, the attributes are between 100 and 250."

"With my current stats, I should be somewhere between mid and low E-rank. However, with my spells and skills, even peak E-ranks shouldn’t scare me!"

Talking to himself, Ethan was ecstatic. The first few E-ranks wouldn’t show themselves until several months after the apocalypse, so right now he was invincible.

The only things that could put him in danger were those otherworldly monsters who had invaded Earth at this time, and mutant beasts which mutated as a result of the sudden mana influx.

For monsters like those, attributes couldn’t be used as a reference to define their strength.

"Speaking of monsters, I can’t help but think of that footprint I saw outside."

"Judging from the fact that it wasn’t interrupted, that means it hasn’t attacked yet."

"However, how long will that last? From what I heard in my past life, just like mana zombies, mutant beasts are attracted to strong life and mana."

"This means that even if we wanted it to, there’s no way it would avoid such a large gathering of mana as the Smith family."

"We’re already in a ’we die or it dies’ situation whether we like it or not; the only thing we can hope for now is that the mana didn’t make it intelligent."

"Otherwise, things will be a bit trickier," said Ethan as he stood up from his bed.

He had already wasted enough time in here; now it was time for him to go out and begin to make preparations.

As well as check out all the other Awakeners who had been born when the apocalypse happened a week ago.

For this group of Awakeners, Ethan told himself that he would spare no effort in training them.

"Uhh~ however, before I do that, I need to take a shower."

"Who knew breakthroughs would have such a side effect?"

Standing up, along with his physical transformation, his whole body was covered with black-like sludge, oozing out of his body.

The impurities in his body had been washed out by the sudden influx of mana, which drove his body’s transformation.

A situation that made him once again understand his own state, and the mage system as a whole.

"I see. Just like mana causes mutations in animals and people, creating monsters and mana zombies..."

"The same happens with my circle; however mine isn’t mutation; rather, it’s forcing or creating a directed evolution of the body as a whole!"

"Amazing!"

Taking off his shirt, perhaps as a side effect of using his Max-Level Comprehension consecutively for so many days, even at this moment his brain was giving him non-stop ideas.

However, Ethan didn’t mind it, as he had somewhat grown accustomed to this feeling of hearing ideas all the time.

So much so that he even began to observe his second and first circle inwardly as he prepared to take a bath,

continuously enhancing his two principles of density and energy at the same time.

........

A few minutes go by, and taking a shower didn’t take long.

Luckily, the drainage had already been set and done weeks in advance. Plus, not only did they have access to an underground river,

but there were also several hundred filled tanks in the shelter.

At least for now, there was no need to worry about water or anything of the sort.

"Have I really been gone? But it’s only been a week; why has everything changed so much?"

Leaving his room, Ethan, who was now wearing an all-white suit and tie after showering, was shocked at the sight he was witnessing.

Everywhere around him, people moved in an orderly manner.

Guards patrolled the streets regularly, saluting him from time to time.

On the watchtowers, armed snipers stood ready to shoot anyone who came near the base.

On the ground, he noticed a long line of some elderly people going to collect supplies.

Even to his left, he saw some old men talking and laughing about how they had planted one hundred seeds today.

Such a scene was something he had never witnessed in his past life during the apocalypse.

Back then, even in the most powerful places, all he witnessed was classism, elitism, and despair.

Yet, that was completely the opposite in the Smith family base. Here, everyone had a role, a job, and they seemed proud of it.

Still walking around, he headed towards where Elena was; he wanted to ask her to brief him on everything that had happened this week.

However, to his surprise, it turned out that she had been put in charge of training all the Awakeners in the base.

Thinking of his lunatic, fighting-demon of a sister, he couldn’t help but wonder if they were okay.

"Surely she wouldn’t beat them to death, right?"

"Right?"

Thinking of this, with a look of worry on his face, he headed toward the training grounds.

........

[Smith Shelter, Training Ground]

"Achoo!"

"Damn! Who the hell is talking about me behind my back!"

Wearing a black leather tracksuit and joggers, Elena sneezed as she felt a sudden chill run down her spine