FangBro hesitated.

  He understood exactly what Evan meant—End the stream now and leave.

  But his livestream was on fire.A Saint?tier battle was once?in?a?lifetime content.If he walked away now, who knew when he’d get another chance like this?

  He didn’t want to give it up.

  Evan cleared his throat.

  “FangBro, I forgot to mention… I’m seventeen. A minor. And legally, any online purchases made by a minor can be refunded.”

  FangBro froze.

  Then slapped his chest so hard it echoed.

  “Big bro, say no more. Let’s go eat. My treat!”

  Before leaving, he propped his phone on a stand, adjusted the angle, and left it streaming on autopilot.

  “Alright chat, I’m grabbing dinner with my big bro. You guys enjoy the view.”

  He couldn’t bear to lose the heat, so he left the whole setup behind.It wasn’t worth much anyway.

  “Where we eating, big bro?”

  “Monka City. Anywhere’s fine. You lead.”

  “Got it!”

  FangBro grabbed Evan’s arm.An orange glow wrapped around them—And the next moment, they slipped into the earth like it was water.

  Evan felt his body dissolve into the soil, the world rushing past him in streaks of brown and black.By the time he blinked, they were already at the foot of the mountain.

  Sunlight hit his face.Fresh air filled his lungs.

  After crawling through dirt tunnels for so long, it felt like heaven.

  Earth?phase movement—Not as fast as Quentin’s shadow?shift, but still an incredible escape skill.

  Though Evan suspected this wasn’t FangBro’s true trump card.This alone wouldn’t let him survive a Saint?tier pursuit.

  FangBro was panting, face pale.Bringing someone along clearly pushed him to his limit.

  “Big bro… give me a minute. Then we’ll phase straight into the city.”

  “Sure.” Evan nodded.The less chance of running into the Lion Legion or the Zhao family, the better.

  They sat beneath a large tree, both exhausted.

  A few minutes later—

  Evan’s eyes snapped open.

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  A spark of joy flashed across his face.

  The half bowl of tree marrow he’d drunk earlier had finally finished digesting.All the life energy it produced had flowed into the Regenerator Core in his brain.

  And now—

  The core was changing.

  Before, the Regenerator Core was just a last?ditch survival tool.Dormant unless he was dying.

  But now it floated in his mind, constantly releasing thin streams of life energy that seeped into his body.

  His stamina was recovering rapidly.

  The Regenerator Core…Had gained a passive recovery effect.

  And that wasn’t all.

  Skills were part of an evolver’s biology—Written into their genes, like instinct.If he focused, he could sense every detail of a skill’s function.

  The Regenerator Core was part of the Regenerator skill.

  Evan closed his eyes and focused.

  And instantly understood.

  His Regenerator skill had evolved.

  The upgraded Regenerator Core now restored:

  Stamina

  Mental energy

  Evolution energy

  And the healing effect had expanded—It could now repair mental injuries, not just physical ones.

  In simple terms:

  Before → only HP regenNow → HP regen + MP regen + Sanity regen

  A full?package upgrade.

  Evan grinned.

  He’d thought the tree marrow didn’t do much for him.Turns out it had pushed his Regenerator skill to a whole new tier.

  He’d never heard of anything like this happening.Regenerator was already an S?rank skill.

  What was it now?Beyond S?rank?

  Counting Evolution’s Grace, he now had two skills above S?rank.

  Though even upgraded, Regenerator still couldn’t compare to Evolution’s Grace.

  He’d have to ask Wendy Lewis about this later.If anyone understood evolution theory, it was her.

  This whole trip into the Blackrock Mountains had been forced—Zhang Fantie had driven him in like a hunted animal.

  He never expected to get dragged into a Saint?tier conflict…Or survive it.

  Looking back, it was terrifying.

  Without “Johnny,” he’d be dead ten times over.

  But now, at least for the moment, he was safe.

  And when he counted his gains—

  He might be the biggest winner of all.

  Regenerator skill upgraded

  A mysterious Tier?4 extract in hand

  A few drops of tree marrow stored away

  But this trip also cost him something.

  Wendy Lewis and Yvonne Hart had fallen into Amida’s hands.

  Evan wasn’t worried about their safety—Wendy’s knowledge alone guaranteed she’d be treated well anywhere.

  But they’d lose their freedom.Returning to the Eastern Dawn Kingdom would be nearly impossible.

  He checked his phone.

  No calls.No messages.

  Their communication was clearly restricted.

  Evan rubbed his temples.

  They were dragged into this because of him.

  He couldn’t ignore it.

  They had treated him with nothing but kindness:

  Gave him a priceless Undying Salamander extract

  Helped him obtain legal identity

  Taught him Swan Dance

  Taught him evolution theory

  Stayed with him even when the Zhao family and Lion Legion hunted him

  Wendy was his sister on paper.Yvonne was the mother he chose.

  He had to help them.

  Evan stood and paced around the tree.

  He always walked when he needed to think.

  The last time he thought this hard was planning his escape from Rockhold Prison.

  After a long while, he still had no perfect plan.

  But one thing was clear—

  He couldn’t save them alone.

  He needed help.

  But whose help?

  Evan turned his head slowly…

  And stared at FangBro.

  FangBro shivered.

  Sometimes evolution gives you power.

  Sometimes it gives you responsibility.

  And sometimes… it gives you a problem you can’t solve alone.