The Glorious Evolution

For the first time in a decade, Levi didn’t feel like he was blind...Although he was seeing with his ’ears’, creating a distorted and a bit chaotic view of the world, he appreciated it more than anything else...

”This is only the beginning.” Ash’Kral smirked, ”If you were to master sound and vibrations, you would be perceiving the world a hundred times clearer than an average human.”

When Levi heard this, he couldn’t help but feel enthusiastic about such a promising future. Soon, he stopped eavesdropping on the drunken men and canceled out all the noises, muffling them again.

It was like he could turn himself deaf with a snap of a finger.

This was just as great as using sounds to map out his world, knowing that such a peaceful silence was a wish for many.

”Just one ability was enough to turn me into a superhuman,” Levi commented with a spirited tone, ”I know many Junior Daywalkers possessing six unlocked abilities, and an ultimate one won’t be able to contest against the quality of Echolocation even if they combined them all.”

Levi wasn’t exaggerating at all...He felt like he was fully in control of sounds with a single ability.

This state wasn’t easily obtained since most Daywalkers unlocked low-quality abilities with a single effect.

Such as water bullets, sound blasts, empowered punches...etc.

On the other hand, Echolocation was perfected to the point it gave Levi the illusion that he was a master of sounds...But of course, he knew that wasn’t real.

”Although your sound manipulation works great only with effects related to Echolocation, it gave you a sample of what peak sound manipulation looks like.” Ash’Kral said calmly, ”Now that you have unlocked sound manipulation, it’s up to you to start creating your own techniques.”

Battle Arts were born out of those learned techniques. Each Daywalker had their own way of mastering the evolutionary traits of their partnered nightcrawlers.

Nightcrawlers with evolutionary traits related to elements allowed the seeds to provide their partnered humans with similar control over those traits.

Usually, the main evolutionary trait appeared at the first stage(5%), which implied that Daywalkers could embark on their Battle Arts road from the very beginning.

In the case of Levi, Ash’Kral was a freak of nature that was considered beyond the Unique specialization, which meant Levi could unlock multiple main evolutionary traits!

Each one could come with an element, physical enhancement, or even spiritual empowerment.

At this moment, he unlocked the main evolutionary trait of sound manipulation.

”I understand.” Levi nodded solemnly, ”I am up for the challenge.”

”Good, I have no plans on taking it easy on you.”

****

A few hours later...

Levi received a call from Shia while he was training his Echolocation ability. Ash’Kral told him that he would start teaching him sound manipulation lessons after he was done with the assembly.

After all, there was no point in teaching him something he couldn’t use openly. It made more sense to spend the limited time they had refining what was already in his arsenal, shaping it into a solid fighting style that could give him an edge in the assembly.

Sometime later, Levi hung up and called for his brother. Arthur emerged from his room with panda eyes and a depressed look.

”Brooo...Why is the Ilthorien language so damn complex.” Arthur sighed helplessly as he lay on the couch with tens of holograms still open.

”It’s complex only at the beginning; once you get the hang of its grammar and phonetics, it will be as simple as English.” Levi comforted, using his voice to bounce off his brother’s figure and the living room.

This allowed him to see his brother’s gray silhouette sitting on the couch behind him without needing to turn his head!

It was like he had a 360 sound vision strapped on his head.

”Grammer and phonetics? Isn’t that everything?” Arthur cried, grieving over his future self.

Arthur’s pain could be understood. It was indeed extremely difficult to learn the Ilthorien language. Unfortunately for him, it was a must to know its basics at least to avoid the same choke he had in the forest.

That’s because all Solar Totems required incantations using the Ilthorien language to activate them.

”Stop whining, it’s your fault for missing so much in classes.”

Levi walked to the closet without needing to touch the walls. Each step he took created a path. Then, he pulled out his classic black hoodie and pants.

After he wore them, he put on circular black glasses and told his brother to get dressed as well.

”We’re going out?”

Arthur’s eyes sparkled immediately...He was under house arrest by Levi until he finished the books he was given, leaving only for the gym and errands.

”Shia has got hold of the necessary materials for her evolution.” Levi shared, ”We will meet up near the Experimental Tamara’s Lab in ten minutes.”

”Say less!”

Arthur swiftly went to his room and wore a dark blue tracksuit with black sneakers, appearing like he was going for a run.

While Levi didn’t need his white cane anymore, he still brought it out with him. No one knew of his awakening, and he had no intentions of giving out any weird signs.

After all, if he were found to have signed a contract in an unofficial way, he would be forced to either show the details of his contract or be eradicated.

Ash’Kral had assured Levi that he had the contract laundering in the Assembly under his control. All he had to do was keep a low profile until then.

While Levi didn’t know how exactly Ash’Kral was going to pull it off when his body was inked and the contract was signed, he could only put his trust in him and focus on what he could do.

...

Sometime later...

Arthur was seen driving their dirtbike recklessly, weaving back and forth between the vehicles. After he was brought to the hospital, he requested the authorities to collect his bike, which was left behind in the outpost.

Since he was being investigated and they wanted his full cooperation, the authorities helped him out. If they were to see the way he was driving, they would definitely have regrets.

Meanwhile, Shia, Jamal, and Sergio were standing near a small line of people in front of a reflective glass double door. A massive sign was on top of it that read: Experimental Tamara’s Lab.

The building was three stories high and had external glass windows just like most buildings around it. Although it wasn’t the biggest in the city, it sure was crowded.

Vrrrr! Vrrrr!

Suddenly, everyone’s attention was attracted to the sound of heavy electric revs coming from the back.

When they glanced behind them, everyone’s expressions turned pale at the sight of a speeding dirtbike rushing towards them with seemingly no intention of pulling the brakes!

The queue was cleared out almost instantly as no one dared to stay in the bike’s path besides Shia, Jamal, and Sergio.

As they gazed at the driver’s humongous figure, their eyelids twitched, recognizing him to be Arthur immediately, even though he was wearing a helmet.

Krrrrrrr!!!

Arthur hit the brakes sharply and stopped sideways a mere couple of meters away, not one of them getting fazed.

”What’s up!”

Arthur greeted with a wide grin after removing the helmet, uncaring about the rain of curses falling on him from the people in the queue.

”Arthur, drive safely or you won’t know how you died,” Jamal advised.

”Don’t worry, my driving skills are flawless.”

Arthur bragged while joining their friends with Levi beside him.

”That’s not what he meant.” Levi said sternly, ”I have warned you many times that high-ranked Daywalkers are hiding everywhere, and if you were to piss one off with your driving, they might retaliate.”

”Hmm? You can get killed off driving a bike?” Arthur was speechless. ”Are we living in a jungle?”

”Yes.” Shia said calmly, ”The faster you accept that we are living in a jungle of concrete and glass, the longer you will survive.”

Arthur believed that at most, he would be getting a speeding or reckless driving ticket, not death.

He assumed that even Daywalkers needed to respect the laws within the holy region, and they wouldn’t assault a citizen for something this trivial.

Alas, this was an ideal outcome. In reality, High-ranked Daywalkers were extremely unpredictable, and if they were to be annoyed while they were already in a bad mood, one should expect the worst.

Shia demonstrated the laws of the jungle immediately as she skipped the entire queue, and the guards still opened up the gate for her, uncaring about the protests of those staying in the queue for hours.

She didn’t even bother to reserve a slot; a single phone call was enough to get her the best lab at any time she desired.

”The Morningstar surname sure does wonders,” Arthur exclaimed enviously as he walked with Levi behind them.