Evan had already studied the Undying Salamander Extract long before this moment.

  Undying Salamander Extract

  Tier: 2 — S?grade

  Possible Skills: Toxic Skin, Tail Whip, Regenerator

  There were three potential skills.

  Toxic Skin coated the user’s body in a potent neurotoxin—an evolved form of tetrodotoxin.

  A single touch could paralyze and kill.

  Tail Whip was a brute?force attack skill.

  Humans lacked tails, so the skill adapted—using the legs as the striking limb.

  But the third skill…

  Regenerator.

  That was the dream.

  The reason the Undying Salamander was classified as S?grade.

  One of the most broken Tier?2 skills in existence.

  Regenerator

  Regenerator:

  Grants powerful regenerative ability.

  Rapidly heals any physical injury.

  Allows the user to form a Regeneration Core anywhere inside the body.

  When the core ruptures, the stored life energy instantly restores the entire body to peak condition.

  In simple terms, the skill had two components:

  Passive Effect — Enhanced Regeneration

  As long as the user wasn’t dead, they could recover.

  Lost limbs, deep wounds—everything could regrow.

  Active Effect — Regeneration Core

  The user could condense a core of pure life energy anywhere inside the body.

  Once formed, the core couldn’t move unless destroyed.

  When it ruptured—whether intentionally or from damage—it instantly healed all injuries.

  The downside?

  The cooldown was enormous.

  Forming a new core took a long time.

  But the upside?

  It was basically an extra life.

  And compared to his existing Tier?1 S?grade skills, this Tier?2 S?grade skill was on a completely different level.

  Evan wanted it badly—but he wasn’t sure he’d get it.

  If he couldn’t choose, it would be a random draw.

  If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  And he hated gambling.

  The Absorption

  Compared to the last time he absorbed a higher?tier extract, this process was smooth.

  No pain.

  No danger.

  Just a steady flow of evolution energy merging into his body.

  When the final trace of energy dissolved into him, the familiar sensation washed over him—

  His consciousness slipped into a blank white space.

  Exactly like when he absorbed the Scorpionstone Extract.

  Which meant—

  He could choose again.

  A grin tugged at his lips.

  This ability…

  It was as powerful as Evolution’s Grace itself.

  Combined, the two were absurd.

  He focused on the three clusters of orange mist floating before him.

  These were far larger than the ones he’d seen during his previous evolution—denser, brighter, almost solid.

  One cluster radiated overwhelming vitality.

  Regenerator.

  There was no hesitation.

  He dove straight into it.

  His consciousness snapped back into his body.

  He opened his eyes.

  The New Skill

  “How is it?” Wendy Lewis asked immediately.

  She could tell he’d succeeded—she just wanted to know which skill he’d gained.

  Evan grinned.

  “Got lucky. I got Regenerator.”

  Wendy’s eyes widened.

  “Really?!”

  Her smile bloomed—genuine joy for him.

  Evan could feel it too—every cell in his body thrumming with life.

  “Yeah.” He nodded. “Sis, where should I place the Regeneration Core?”

  Wendy brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, thinking.

  Her mind was a library of evolutionary science.

  After a moment, she answered:

  “Humans and salamanders are built differently.

  Even with Regenerator, the brain and heart are still fatal weak points for humans.”

  Evan nodded. He’d suspected as much.

  “So if my heart or head gets destroyed, I die instantly.”

  “Exactly. You can intentionally rupture the core, but sometimes danger comes too fast.

  If someone blows your head off, you won’t have time to react.”

  She continued:

  “That’s why I recommend placing the core in your brain—not your heart.”

  Evan blinked.

  “Why the brain?”

  Wendy explained patiently:

  “The brain is more important.

  If your head is destroyed, you lose consciousness instantly.

  If your heart is destroyed, you might still have a moment of awareness—enough to manually rupture the core.”

  She leaned closer.

  “And think about decapitation.

  If your head is severed, your last flicker of consciousness can shatter the core inside your skull, letting you regenerate your entire body.

  But if the core is in your heart and your head is gone… you’re dead.”

  Evan nodded slowly.

  It made perfect sense.

  He was a very reasonable man—he took good advice when he heard it.

  He chose the brain.

  The Core Forms

  Normally, forming a Regeneration Core would take about a month.

  But the Undying Salamander Extract still held vast reserves of life energy.

  He could form one immediately.

  A moment later—

  A tiny, fingernail?sized white core appeared inside his brain.

  It existed somewhere between physical and ethereal, causing no discomfort.

  Instead, Evan felt something else—

  Security.

  A deep, steady sense of safety he’d never felt before.

  He had a second life now.

  And he intended to use it well.

  Some evolutions give you strength.

  Some give you hope.

  Regenerator gives you something far rarer — a future.

  If you had one extra life, what would you dare to do?