The Glorious Evolution

He had been attempting to create a spiritual parasite that acted as a Spiritual Wire, like the ones shown in detective movies... though a far superior version, as it would record anything its host heard, said, or even thought!

At the same time... it had to remain absolutely, unquestionably undetected... Plus, other conditions were just as important.

Levi manifested a dimensional screen beside him, containing a collection of all his created techniques and their details, documented down to the last letter in case he ever wanted to fine-tune them in the future.

He scrolled down to the latest technique, named ’Project Wire’, with In Progress written beside it... After clicking on it, a new window appeared:

RESONANCE LIBRARY:

DRAFT ARCHIVE Construct: Project Wire · Aspect: Parasite -Nine Senses Seed-Access: 25% — 25 Major Component Slots Available. Iterations Logged: 14 · Viable: 1

ATTEMPT 01

Source: Spiritual Energy, Own Reserve Shape: Egg, Dormant Cohesion: User Resonance Emission: Direct Implantation (Skin to Skin)

STATUS: MANIFEST. REJECTED. Egg hatching sends spiritual signals... can be detected.

ATTEMPT 02›

Cohesion: Host’s natural frequency, sampled once at implantation.

STATUS: MANIFEST... DETECTED: 4 hrs.

A mind’s natural frequency is affected by emotions... the host grew angry, and the sample went stale... detected once the matching of the natural frequencies broke apart.

ATTEMPT 03›

Cohesion: Host frequency, continuously re-tuned› Emission: Implanted awake

STATUS: MANIFEST. DETECTED: 0.1 sec.

Cohesion solved... Implantation failed... the host detected a foreign spiritual touch during contact, even though it was brief.

The list went on for another eleven attempts so far... Every time Levi fixed one issue, another appeared, sometimes several, conflicting with the solution.

It was like fixing a software bug during development... Correcting one might fix the entire thing or create dozens of other conflicts somewhere else.

Technique creation was never about constantly adding details and expecting an amazing technique... It was all about maintaining logic under the laws of the universe, and unfortunately, with each detail added, it became harder and harder.

’Attempt 15... I’m currently going down the path of adding frequencies into the mix... It looks the most promising, but at the same time, merging frequencies with spiritual matter is fraught with issues.’ Levi murmured thoughtfully. ’Maybe it’s time I give up on it and take another approach?’

While Levi struggled to think of a solution, the Omnithar Genie reached out to the two tenants, who were lazily playing a peculiar board game that appeared far more complex and challenging than chess.

’Gentlemen... shouldn’t you help him?’ the Omnithar Genie wondered. ’Creating such a complex technique with more than twenty major details requires immense experience... shouldn’t you mentor him through it?’

Ash’Kral and the Titan completely ignored him, their focus remaining on the board... A few moments later, Ash’Kral showed a sinister grin and moved a dragon-like piece across it.

The Titan went silent, knitting his brows tightly as he studied Ash’Kral’s move... Then he saw it, and his lips twitched in irritation.

”You really are the worst.”

”Hehe, thanks.”

Seeing the Titan struggling to think of a countermeasure, Ash’Kral finally responded to the Genie, his tone as lazy as it could get.

’Did he ask for our help?’

’...No.’

’Then be quiet and let him work it out.’ Ash’Kral sneered. ’Levi isn’t like the rest... He finds enjoyment in this despite not looking like it.’

’...Oh.’

Hearing this, the Omnithar Genie refocused on Levi... He immediately noticed what he had missed the first time.

The boy was frowning, his jaw set and unmoving... His fingers tapped a broken rhythm against his knee, each tap representing a failed thought, a discarded idea.

And yet... underneath all of it, buried somewhere the frown never reached... Levi was enjoying himself.

If Levi had eyes... the Omnithar Genie would have noticed it immediately... that unblinking sharpness that had nothing to do with frustration at all.

The look of someone leaning closer to a locked door instead of backing away from it.

The Genie had spent an eternity granting wishes... He knew what mortals looked like when they wanted something.

They looked hungry, excited, and sometimes even desperate... They wanted the thing on the other side of the door, and the door itself was merely an insult standing between them and it.

On the other hand, Levi didn’t look at the door that way... His expression was that of a scholar... one who had just stumbled upon a problem far more interesting than he had expected.

To him, solving the problem wasn’t merely an obstacle standing between him and Project Wire... The problem itself had become part of the reward.

”If frequencies won’t merge with spiritual matter directly... what if they don’t merge at all?” Levi muttered, his mouth curving slightly in intrigue. ”What if the parasite’s eggshell is crafted from the host’s natural frequency to bypass both physical and spiritual detection? Then, when it hatches... the Wire Parasite will be born with the same natural frequency as his subconscious barrier, giving the illusion that it has been part of his entity all along!”

It was a bizarre idea, and yet... Levi decided to go for it. He understood that it was extremely difficult to invade someone’s soul and remain undetected for a prolonged period if he relied solely on spiritual components, unless the difference in spiritual prowess was simply too vast.

Levi’s spiritual prowess might be considered Solarbound Third Stage at the moment; however, he knew that it wasn’t enough to bypass even Simon’s detection, let alone his father’s or the anti-espionage system protecting their mansion.

He knew they possessed one, and even knew the exact Array model, after purchasing House Targon’s file from the Black Slime Syndicate Board.

So, creating this type of Parasite wasn’t just any normal challenge... It might have been one of the hardest he had faced yet in terms of technique creation.

The Omnithar Genie kept watching him fail attempt after attempt, logging each one into the Archive without an ounce of frustration.

At attempt twenty, the entire egg imploded so violently that it tore the skin from his palm, and Levi merely laughed... a short, delighted, entirely unhinged sound before saying, ’Oh... that’s interesting.’

Then, he documented the reaction in the Archive as the foundation for a new technique worth exploring in the future.

After spending a few hours watching him, the Genie finally uttered, ’I understand...’

’Told you.’

Ash’Kral replied without looking up... still focused on the board game, which had reached its climax after going on for hours as well.

’The wishes I’ve granted in relation to techniques...’ the Genie said slowly. ’Over eleven million years... every single one of them came from a mortal asking to skip the very part he is currently enjoying.’

’Not one of them ever wanted the road... They don’t understand that the experiences gained along the road are more valuable than the wish itself.’

’Mm.’ Ash’Kral finally raised his head and smirked. ’Why do you think I picked him? Only a boy like him is fit to be my partner in crime.’

The Titan’s hand stopped above the board.

”Heh.” He chuckled. ”You sound as proud as a dad.”

’Don’t make me slap you.’ Ash’Kral flicked his tails in annoyance and pushed another piece forward. ’Also, that’s mate in three.’

”...You!” The Titan’s grin froze.