The clearing around the Sap Vein was deceptively serene. The faint amber glow of the sap reflected off the twisted roots, casting soft, shifting light onto the forest floor. Kain crouched low, his breath controlled but shallow. Two Rift Ants stood before him, their glossy black carapaces gleaming faintly with the energy of the sap they had consumed. Each movement of their serrated mandibles was accompanied by a faint hiss as though their very presence burned the air.

  [Rift Ant Scout – Level 3]

  [Rift Ant Scout – Level 4]

  Kain’s eyes narrowed as he studied their movements. These weren’t the insects of his past—mindless drones. These were the predators of the early days, their attacks precise and deliberate, a deadly efficiency driven by the system’s influence.

  Why on earth would they be different? Did something happen to them? Kain knew this was a thought for another time.

  I should have picked Stormcaller, he thought bitterly. A single strike could’ve wiped them both out.

  One ant clacked its mandibles and stepped forward, its legs moving with unsettling fluidity. The other circled, attempting to flank him. Kain’s muscles tensed. He knew this strategy. They would try to box him in, forcing him to fight on their terms. If they succeeded, he wouldn’t stand a chance.

  "Not happening," he muttered, a faint spark of electricity crackling along his arm.

  The first ant lunged, mandibles snapping with a sharp metallic ring. Kain activated [Lightning Dash], his body becoming a blur as he zipped to the side. The ant missed entirely, its momentum carrying it forward and momentarily exposing its flank. Kain swung the steel pole in his hand, aiming for the soft joint behind its leg.

  The strike connected with a dull crack, and the ant stumbled, but the damage was superficial. Its carapace was too thick for his improvised weapon to penetrate fully.

  Damn, he thought. Even their weak points are tough.

  He didn’t have time to dwell. The second ant was on him, its mandibles snapping dangerously close to his face. Kain ducked under the attack and rolled backward, narrowly avoiding the acidic saliva that dripped from its jaws. The substance hissed as it hit the ground, leaving a small smoking crater in the soil.

  Kain’s breath came faster now, but his mind was sharp.

  Speed is my weapon. I can’t let them pin me down.

  He dashed toward the edge of the clearing, forcing the ants to follow. The terrain shifted as he moved—roots rose unevenly from the ground, creating natural obstacles. The ants pursued relentlessly, their coordination faltering slightly in the uneven terrain.

  "Let’s see how you handle separation," Kain said, a grim smile playing on his lips. He darted between two gnarled roots, forcing the ants to split momentarily as they navigated the obstacle.

  The first ant emerged to his left, slightly ahead of its partner. Kain seized the moment. He planted his feet and began charging [Lightning Dash], feeling the electricity build within him. The air around him crackled, his body vibrating with barely contained energy.

  The ant hesitated, its mandibles clicking uncertainly.

  "Too late," Kain growled.

  With a flash, he launched himself forward, a streak of blue light tearing through the clearing. He collided with the ant at full speed, the impact amplified by the surge of electricity. The force sent the creature sprawling, its carapace splitting along its flank as arcs of lightning danced across its body.

  The ant twitched violently, its movements erratic. Kain didn’t hesitate. He drove the sharp edge of the steel pole into the exposed joint of its neck, piercing through to the soft tissue beneath. The ant convulsed once, then fell still.

  The second ant had rounded the obstacle and was charging straight at him, its mandibles wide and dripping with acid.

  I’ve got one shot at this.

  Kain activated [Lightning Dash] again, this time using it to dart sideways at the last moment. The ant’s charge carried it forward, its mandibles snapping shut on empty air. Kain pivoted sharply, swinging the pole at its hind leg. The ant stumbled, its balance momentarily thrown off.

  Kain pressed his advantage, darting in and out of its reach, striking at its joints and exposed segments. Each hit weakened it further, slowing its movements until it could barely defend itself. Finally, with a precise strike to its neck joint, Kain ended the fight.

  Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

  Kain staggered back, his chest heaving as he caught his breath. The clearing was silent again, the faint hum of the Sap Vein the only sound. He glanced at the glowing roots of the ancient tree, their golden light casting eerie shadows across the ground.

  He dropped to one knee, the adrenaline fading enough for him to feel the ache in his muscles. Lightning flickered faintly around his fingertips, a reminder of the power he was only beginning to understand.

  [Level up! You have reached Level 3]

  [Skill: Lightning Dash has multiple upgrade options available]

  The system notification flashed in Kain's vision as he recovered from the exertion of the battle. His body thrummed with newfound power, the Lightning Dao surging through his pathways with increased potency. Three distinct paths of evolution presented themselves to him, each offering a different tactical advantage.

  [Lightning Dash Evolution Options:]

  [Replenishing Surge] - While charging Lightning Dash, generate a reverse current that restores energy proportional to charging time. Extended charging creates an energy surplus that lingers after dash execution.

  [AoE Strike] - Upon striking a target with Lightning Dash, unleash secondary arcs that seek out nearby enemies.

  [Lethal Voltage] - Concentrate lightning into a single devastating strike. Extended charging increases penetration and lethality. Can bypass basic elemental resistances if fully charged.

  Kain weighed each option with tactical precision, his mind rapidly calculating combat scenarios where each evolution would prove most effective. The first option promised sustainability—a crucial advantage for extended engagements. The second offered crowd control capabilities that could turn the tide against swarms of lesser opponents.

  But the third...

  In my previous life, survival often came down to a single decisive strike, he thought, remembering countless encounters where hesitation meant death. The insects never came alone—they came in waves, in colonies. Sustainability means nothing if you can't eliminate priority targets quickly enough.

  The memory of the Rift Ants' coordinated retreat flashed in his mind. Their behavior suggested an intelligence that would only grow more dangerous with time. If they were adapting to his abilities already, he needed something with enough raw power to overwhelm their defenses before they could formulate countermeasures.

  I need to be lethal, not just disruptive, he concluded grimly. This isn't about prolonged combat—it's about eliminating threats before they can become existential.

  [Evolution Selected: Lethal Voltage]

  A surge of electrical energy coursed through his body, making every nerve end sing with power. The Lightning Dao within him resonated with the choice, adapting to this new expression of its fundamental nature. His understanding of electrical manipulation deepened, revealing how to compress and concentrate the energy for maximum penetration.

  [Lightning Dash has evolved to Lethal Voltage]

  [New Ability Parameters: Charging time directly correlates to penetration depth and lethality. Maximum charge creates a focused electromagnetic spear capable of piercing armored targets. Warning: Maximum charge consumes significant energy reserves]

  Kain flexed his fingers, feeling the new potential humming beneath his skin. Blue-white sparks danced between his knuckles as he mentally rehearsed the technique. With proper execution, he could now deliver killing blows to targets that would have previously shrugged off his attacks.

  Stormcaller could've made this easier, he thought, but the hint of a smile tugged at his lips. But Stormstrider let me win.

  The upgraded ability aligned perfectly with his combat philosophy—swift, precise, and overwhelmingly lethal when necessary. In a world where hesitation meant death, Kain had just gained the capacity to ensure his strikes left no room for retaliation.

  His gaze shifted to the corpses of the Rift Ants, their carapaces still smoking from his attack. The next time they faced him, they would discover that adaptation went both ways.

  From somewhere deep in the forest, the faint sound of clicking mandibles echoed, growing louder with each passing moment. More ants were coming.

  Kain clenched his fists, his jaw tightening. "No choice," he muttered, stepping toward the tree. The golden light bathed his face as he reached down and dipped his fingers into the sap.

  Kain stared at the glowing pools of sap around the ancient tree, his breath quickening as distant ant clicks grew closer. The golden light seemed to pulse in rhythm with his heartbeat, each ripple calling to him with promises of power—and danger.

  He'd seen too many hunters die from rushing power gains. But the approaching sounds left him little choice.

  No time to be cautious.

  Kain knelt by the pool, lightning crackling faintly along his arms as he cupped the luminous sap in his hands. It was thick like honey but cold to the touch, sending shivers through his palms. The liquid seemed alive, responding to his touch with subtle movements of its own.

  "Here goes everything," he muttered and drank.

  Fire exploded through his mind. The world twisted, reality fracturing like broken glass. Kain fell to his knees as visions crashed through him:

  Endless waves of insects, their forms twisted and evolved beyond recognition, swarming across barren plains where cities once stood.

  Humanity scattered and broken, with no walls to protect them, no colonies to shelter them.

  The sky darkened by chittering swarms, the ground trembling under countless legs.

  But these weren't his memories. This wasn't the future he knew. In his time, the colonies had stood as bastions against the swarm. Here, he saw a world where humanity had no sanctuary, where the insects had achieved total dominion far earlier than in his timeline.

  The vision shifted again:

  A massive gathering of humans, their faces lined with determination. Above them, a countdown appeared in familiar blue text: [Tournament Begins: 3 Days]

  The sap's effects began to fade, leaving Kain gasping on his hands and knees. His mind raced as the implications became clear. This wasn't just a chance to relive the past—it was an opportunity to completely reshape it.

  The chittering grew louder. Through blurred vision, Kain saw shadows moving at the edge of the clearing. He forced himself to stand, electricity crackling around his fists as understanding crystallized within him.

  This isn't my future. Not yet. And I'll die again before I let those insects take everything.

  The first ant burst into the clearing, its mandibles gleaming in the Sap Vein's light. Kain grinned, feeling new power coursing through his veins.

  Time to change history.