Mutant awakening: My evolution knows no bounds

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"These bastards were definitely Grade 2s," Vic mused aloud, still catching his breath. "Guess we were paranoid about the academy sending us to a high-grade realm with tougher..."

Before he could finish, Angelica's panicked voice pierced the air. "VIC, BEHIND YOU!" Her cry came too late.

Vic and Silas spun around just as a hulking shadow detached itself from the darkness. Its massive claws were already swinging downward, aimed straight at Vic's head. In that heart-stopping moment, Vic knew there was no time for him to react.

But Silas was faster.

Without hesitation, Silas summoned his scythe. It appeared in his right hand with a sharp metallic hum, and he gripped it tightly, swinging the blade with deadly precision.

CLANG!

A deafening clash echoed as the scythe collided with the creature's claws, deflecting them mere inches away from Vic's head. The force sent sparks flying into the air, the claws screeching against Silas's weapon.

"Move!" Silas shouted, leaping backward as Vic scrambled to create some distance between himself and the beast.

The creature growled, a low, menacing sound that reverberated through the cavern. Silas stood his ground, his eyes narrowing as he took in the full sight of the mutant. It resembled the wolves they had just fought, but this one was different. It stood on two legs, its form more humanoid, towering over them. Its gleaming steel claws were the size of katana blades, lethal and deadly.

[Name: Steel Wolf King]

[Grade: 3]

A notification blinked in front of Silas, confirming what he had already suspected. 'Grade 3, just like I thought,' he reflected internally, his focus unwavering.

Vic let out a nervous chuckle, still reeling from his near-death experience. "Man, thanks! That was way too close for comfort," he said, his gaze shifting to the towering creature in front of them. "But this thing... it's way stronger than those others. What the hell is it?"

"Yeah, it's a Grade 3," Silas responded coolly, never taking his eyes off the beast.

"What?! Grade 3?!" Vic blurted out, his voice laced with disbelief.

Ivy's voice trembled with fear. "What do you mean, Grade 3? This is supposed to be a Grade 2 realm. We're only supposed to be dealing with Grade 1s and 2s!"

"Looks like the academy sent us somewhere a little more challenging than advertised," Silas replied with a calm, almost detached tone, stepping forward slowly. His scythe gleamed menacingly in the red light of the cavern.

"What are you doing, Griswold?" Vic asked, watching Silas with wide eyes.

"You guys hang back. I'll handle this overgrown wolf pup," Silas said coldly, summoning his mutant armor. In the blink of an eye, his body was encased in black, angular plates of armor, each piece fitting seamlessly with the next. His face was obscured, and the scythe in his hand seemed to pulse with a sinister energy.

Vic stared at him, a sudden realization dawning.

'That scythe… that armor… why does it feel like I've seen this before?' he wondered, his mind racing.

"Isn't that the same scythe the Ghost Ranger uses?" Angelica murmured, her voice barely audible over the tension in the air.

Vic's eyes widened. "That's it! I've seen it before! Silas... Silas is the Ghost Ranger!"

Silas ignored their chatter, his attention fully on the Steel Wolf King. The creature was watching him too, its metallic body tense and ready for a fight. It snarled, baring its steel fangs.

Without warning, the Steel Wolf King lunged, its claws coming down in a deadly arc toward Silas. He raised his scythe to meet the attack.

CLANG!

The sound of metal against metal rang out again as Silas blocked the strike. But the wolf wasn't done. Its other claw was already swinging toward him from the side. Silas spun to his right, raising his scythe just in time to intercept the second attack. The force of the blow sent him skidding backward across the rocky ground.

Silas barely had a moment to recover before the wolf was on him again, its claws flashing in a blur of deadly strikes. But Silas moved like water, weaving through the onslaught with grace and precision. Each time the wolf swung its claws, Silas danced around it, his scythe moving like an extension of his body.

Seeing an opening, Silas swung his scythe in a wide arc, aiming for the creature's side.

CLANG!

The blade hit the wolf's metallic hide with a resounding crash. Silas's eyes narrowed as he saw only a slight crack appear where his scythe had struck. 'What the... its entire body is metal. My strike barely did any damage.'

But Silas wasn't one to give up easily.

'If I keep hitting the same spot, maybe I can crack it open.'

The Steel Wolf King howled in fury, its eyes glowing with rage. It lashed out with its claws, but Silas was already moving. He sidestepped the attack and swung his scythe again, aiming for the same spot.

CLANG!

This time, the crack deepened, and the wolf let out a pained growl.

Not giving it a chance to recover, Silas activated his skill.

[Active skill: Lightning Dash has been activated]

The world seemed to slow down as Silas's body surged forward in a blur of speed. The wolf's movements became sluggish, its claws frozen mid-swing. Silas gripped his scythe with both hands and brought it down with all his might on the crack he had made earlier.

The blade sliced through the wolf's metallic hide, and a spray of dark purple blood erupted from the wound. The Steel Wolf King let out a deafening howl of pain, stumbling backward, trying to distance itself.

But Silas wasn't about to let it escape. His body blurred once more as he activated his skill again, closing the distance in an instant. With a powerful leap, Silas launched himself into the air, his scythe raised high above his head.

SLASH!

The blade came down in a swift, clean strike, severing the wolf's head from its body. Silas landed gracefully on one knee, his scythe dripping with dark purple blood. The Steel Wolf King's massive body collapsed to the ground with a thunderous crash, its head rolling a few feet away.

[Congratulations, you have slain the Steel Wolf King]

Silas rose to his feet slowly, his breathing steady. He turned to face his companions, who stood several meters away, staring in stunned silence.

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