Lord Evolution: Starting With SS-rank Skills

Winterseed II

Over two weeks have passed since the last monster attack, and exactly two weeks since Dragun Winterseed—their savior—left the village.

During these weeks, the villagers have undergone significant developments, especially in the military sector—the soldiers became highly motivated to grow stronger. They were ready to break past their natural strength limits by any means possible, as long as they could protect their loved ones from the lurking dangers around them.

Even the young children who witnessed Dragun Winterseed's heroism became highly motivated and began training earnestly, inspired by his example.

The number of children running around the village and playing decreased noticeably, as they focused on training.

Ren noticed this change because the number of injured kids coming to him daily had drastically decreased.

This was advantageous to Ren, as it gave him ample alone time to practice his herbalist skills and experiments.

He had made major advancements in his skills, identifying more herb mixtures and their reactions to certain ailments and injuries.

Ren was very pleased with his progress. If he could continue further, he might be able to complete the quest his forefathers had pursued for ages: to develop the perfect herbal medicine to cure all conditions!

Ren had never believed he would achieve this in the past due to slow advancements during Fagin's oppressive reign, but now it seemed truly possible.

Yesterday, he finally managed to create the potion he had long desired—the dream mixture.

It was nighttime in Winterseed II, the stars twinkling above.

Standing in his room, Ren stared at the wooden bowl containing the dream mixture, a bright expression on his face.

"According to my grandfather, his great-grandfather and his herbalist friends developed the recipe for this concoction after living in the forest for several years, searching for rare herbs," Ren muttered to himself as he gazed at the mixture.

"They said the dream mixture could grant enough physical strength to take on a demonic beast alone and win! The effect of the newfound power might even become permanent if the purity of the concoction is above 90%!"

"I followed every procedure correctly and used the right herbs in the right amounts. I'm sure this is above 90% purity at least, so I should be getting some good and lasting positive boosts!"

Ren muttered to himself for a few moments before picking up the bowl and gulping down a mouthful of the dream mixture.

It tasted somewhat bitter and sweet at the same time, a peculiar combination.

The liquid slid down his throat and into his stomach.

Three minutes passed in silence.

"I don't feel any reaction yet. Could I have created another concoction instead of the dream..." Ren couldn't finish his sentence as a splitting headache struck him, causing him to fall to the ground.

He quickly fell into unconsciousness.

In the depths of his slumber, a faint whisper echoed in his mind.

"Ren... Ren... come to the forest..." the voice called softly, almost melodically.

His brows furrowed as he tried to make sense of the voice. "Who's there?" he mumbled in his sleep.

"Come to us, Ren... your destiny awaits..." the voice continued, growing clearer and more insistent.

The voice was alluring, tugging at something deep within him. He felt an inexplicable urge to follow it.

After about thirty minutes, he suddenly stood up in a strange manner, almost like a corpse resurrecting in a movie.

He stood and stared at his room's door for a few seconds with pure white eyes. There was no sign of his irises, it was as though they had magically disappeared.

If anyone were here right now, they would definitely be frightened by his new visage—it was terrifying.

"Come... the forest calls..." the voice echoed in his mind.

Ren began to stroll toward the door like a zombie.

He opened it and walked outside.

It was nighttime, and naturally, there was no one outside near the dark houses.

Ren began walking briskly toward the southern area of the village.

He took a quick shortcut, completely avoiding the soldiers guarding the village entrance.

Ren found the tallest tree closest to the huge wall.

He climbed it with surprising agility.

The tree was about the same height as the wall.

Ren suddenly leapt off the tree and flew over the wall, landing on the ground outside with a loud thud.

"Did you hear that just now?" one of the soldiers suddenly asked with a frown.

"No, what did you hear?" another asked.

"Nothing..." the soldier shook his head, it must have been some random noise and not what he thought.

Meanwhile, after landing outside, Ren suddenly started sprinting toward the forest like a madman. It was the very forest that linked Winterseed and Winterseed II together.

Ren was moving at twice his usual peak speed, one could say the dream mixture gave an unnatural boost while still in effect.

"Faster, Ren... we await you..." the voice urged.

Ren began to run faster as the voice's frequency in his head increased.

Out of nowhere, a goblin holding a rabbit it had just hunted down strolled across the clear path running through the forest.

When the goblin spotted Ren, it dropped the rabbit and clutched the wooden club in its hands before running toward Ren to attack him.

It could see that Ren appeared old and extremely weak.

But it was quickly proven wrong when Ren madly grabbed its neck and continued running like a madman toward his destination.

Ren subconsciously strangled the life out of the goblin without stopping.

The goblin cried out for help, but it was too late.

After killing it subconsciously, Ren tossed it aside.

After running for a few hours, Ren stopped in front of a huge tree—the same one where Liara was found!

It was still the dark of the moonless night.

The forest was eerily dark and quiet.

Almost at the same time Ren arrived. Subconscious Liara also arrived.

"Both of you are here.. haha."

An eerily alluring voice sounded out of nowhere.

....

END OF VOLUME 3!