Virus King [Translation]

[Black Light Virus: Initial awakening. Current awakening level: 1%. Evolve again to increase awakening progress by 1%. Requires 5 evolution points to upgrade. Evolution points can also be consumed to unlock other Black Light Virus abilities.]

[Current evolution points: 23.6 (Black Light Virus specific evolution points)]

Novak reviewed his available points. More than 20 had accumulated, though the progress was slower than he had hoped. His ability to devour and evolve during combat wasn't instantaneous, resulting in incomplete absorption of evolution points from his kills. Had he been faster in devouring his enemies, he figured he could have gained dozens more points by now.

"If I could evolve at that speed, mastering the Black Light Virus would be a breeze," he mused.

He shifted his attention back to the three abilities in front of him: Spirit Speed, Wall Running, and Combat Instinct. 

He immediately knew Wall Running was essential. Surrounded by zombies, the ability to fly across walls like an expert in parkour would be invaluable. With this skill, height wouldn't matter. He could scale walls without worrying about the danger of jumping or falling to his death.

He decided to invest his evolution points. As the number of available points dropped significantly, he noticed there wasn't the intense sensation of his body being completely transformed like there was when he first awakened the Black Light Virus.

For a brief moment, Novak wondered if the evolution had even worked. He cautiously extended his hand toward the wall. The black-red tendrils of the Black Light Virus sprouted from his palm, attaching themselves to the surface.

Then, with a sudden push of his strength, Novak propelled his body upward. Instantly, he shot up to the gymnasium ceiling, nearly 20 meters high. Without missing a beat, he twisted in midair and kicked off the wall with his feet. The black-red tendrils attached themselves seamlessly to the surface, allowing him to move effortlessly, as if running on flat ground.

Emaly, watching from below, stared in wide-eyed disbelief at the sight of Novak scaling the wall like a monkey. In her native tongue, she muttered, "My God... Newton would roll in his grave if he saw this!"

Indeed, Newton's laws had nothing on what she was witnessing. 

Novak landed lightly, his body cushioned by the blood-red tendrils. He had complete control, allowing him to land without a hitch. He felt the rush of satisfaction and turned his attention back to the Black Light Virus abilities.

The Wall Running ability had surpassed his expectations. Now, only a handful of evolution points remained. Novak hesitated for a moment. Spirit Speed was extremely tempting—it offered incredible agility, a key element of his combat style. But Combat Instinct might be even more useful. It could further enhance his already honed fighting skills.

He remembered what Zogwort, the god of trading, had warned him about: terrifying creatures were lurking in the secret realm dungeons. Even though Zogwort acknowledged Novak's talent, he had still urged caution. Clearly, a powerful boss-level mutant was hiding somewhere in the university, and Novak had to be ready.

Plan couldn't keep up with the changes.

A small smile played across Novak's lips. He made his decision. After all, the ability to devour enemies meant gaining more evolution points during his journey, so replenishing what he spent wouldn't be too difficult.

Without hesitation, he consumed 10 evolution points on Combat Instinct.

This time, the transformation was far more noticeable. His muscles felt as if they were becoming more flexible, and his perception of time sharpened. The world around him seemed to move in slow motion, and his dynamic vision became crystal clear.

Even more remarkable, he gained control over previously involuntary muscles. Novak discovered that he could move his biceps independently of his other muscles, allowing for better combat efficiency—even when injured. If a bone were broken or a tendon severed, this ability could help him maintain his fighting capabilities.

As Novak marveled at this new-found control, he couldn't help but notice another unexpected side effect of the ability. He looked down at his body and, with a puzzled expression, realized that even muscles he hadn't considered... could move on their own. 

Emaly, still watching him intently, was oblivious to Novak's self-discovery. However, she noticed something else: the irregular movements between his legs. Her face flushed bright red as her eyes widened in shock.

"Wait... can 'that' move on its own too?" she wondered, her gaze darting downward. It almost seemed as if its movement was faster than the toys she kept hidden in her dorm room. A strange, crackling noise accompanied the shifting, further deepening her embarrassment.

Without thinking, Emaly licked her lips nervously. By now, the pungent smell of blood in the gym had become almost unnoticeable to her. But her thoughts were cut short as she realized Novak was now looking directly at her.

Though Emaly was certainly beautiful—one of the more attractive international students at the school—Novak's gaze was distant. He glanced down at himself, feeling the need to test and understand his newfound flexibility through controlled exercises. After all, in the heat of battle, a lack of control could easily cost him his life.

Seeing the intensity in his eyes, Emaly quickly crawled over obediently, sensing what might come next...