Clone Ascension

Bloodsoil Forest was not part of Linhaven Continent.

It lay to the northeast of the Dongli Federation, right along the border between Dongli and the Dominion of Linhaven.

Legend said that hundreds of years ago, during the Evolution War,

the area had been nothing but barren wasteland—

until a brutal battle between humans and beasts erupted there.

The slaughter was unimaginable.

Bodies covered the ground.

Blood soaked every inch of soil.

Decades later, the land became unnaturally fertile.

Plants grew wildly,

and a dense forest soon formed.

Thus, people named it:

Bloodsoil Forest.

The place Evan needed to go—

the possible location of the Gravity Demon,

the Thousand‑Hero Mound—

was deep inside Bloodsoil Forest.

It was said that over a thousand evolvers

who died in that ancient war

were buried there.

Naturally, it became a favorite treasure‑hunting site

for adventurers.

Going alone would be dangerous.

But if he could join the Combat Department’s military training trip,

he would have Dongli University’s elites escorting him both ways.

Much safer.

I need to find a way to join the Combat Department’s training group…

Evan thought for a moment.

He didn’t bother President Winston Hale with such a small matter.

Instead, he called Director Warren Pierce,

head of the Combat Department.

It didn’t take much persuasion.

Warren Pierce quickly agreed.

After all—

with Evan’s strength,

having him stand on the school field doing drills

was a complete waste of talent.

Letting him train in Bloodsoil Forest

made far more sense.

After that, Evan informed his own counselor.

The counselor, proud of Evan’s first‑place victory,

agreed immediately.

Perfect.

The plan was set.

Now he needed to prepare for hunting the Gravity Demon.

He immediately contacted FangBro.

To hunt a creature thousands of meters underground,

FangBro’s abilities were indispensable.

And if they were attacked by the Filthsoil Organization

outside Dongli territory,

having FangBro around would greatly increase their safety.

FangBro, who lived for chaos and excitement,

agreed instantly.

“Boss, I should finish digesting my extract in a few days.

Then I can attempt my third evolution.

Once I reach Butterfly‑tier,

with me supporting you,

the Gravity Demon will be nothing but a warm‑up!”

“Good.

Hurry up.

We leave the morning after tomorrow.”

With manpower and timing secured,

Evan only needed to wait.

…

That evening, Evan accompanied Aunt Yvonne in the yard as she danced.

He couldn’t resist teasing her:

“Mom Yvonne, you’d better hurry up.

Don’t wait until I reach Saint‑tier

and you still haven’t finished digesting your extract.

What would I even need you for then?”

Yvonne shot him a cold glare.

“You brat… itching for a beating again?”

Evan grinned—

and the moment the doorbell rang,

he bolted.

Yvonne watched him flee

and felt a strange pressure in her chest.

Stolen from NovelFire, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

In less than two months,

Evan had evolved from a mortal

to Cocoon‑tier.

His speed…

It really did make her feel pressured.

“I can’t let that brat be right…

No.

I need to work harder.

I’m not sleeping tonight!”

Meanwhile, Evan opened the door.

It was the delivery arranged by President Winston Hale.

He thanked the courier

and received the Deep‑Sea Thunder Eel Extract.

Holding the Tier‑3 S‑grade extract,

Evan understood:

If he absorbed it now,

hunting the Gravity Demon would be easier.

After his second evolution,

he hadn’t absorbed any extract yet.

He had no Tier‑3 offensive skills at all.

This extract would give him a direct power boost.

Just then, Professor Wendy Lewis returned from work.

Seeing Evan, she smiled softly.

“I watched the freshman assessment video today.

You performed well.”

Evan proudly shook the extract in his hand.

“Sis, help me judge—

is this Deep‑Sea Thunder Eel Extract good for me?”

Wendy thought for a moment.

“It’s decent.

But not top‑tier.”

“Alright.

Then I won’t absorb it.”

He didn’t even ask why.

He trusted her judgment completely.

…

Evan finished preparing for the trip.

On the morning of January 17,

he and FangBro left home.

“Be careful out there,”

Wendy reminded him softly,

placing a lunchbox in his hands.

“This is breakfast.

Eat it on the way.”

After saying goodbye to Wendy and Yvonne,

the two headed to the school gate.

The freshmen were already lined up.

When Evan appeared in military‑training uniform,

whispers erupted.

Many girls blushed with excitement.

If the instructors weren’t present,

the formation would’ve collapsed instantly.

This year’s training was personally led by Director Warren Pierce.

Even though they were only going to the outskirts of Bloodsoil Forest,

accidents could happen.

A veteran Butterfly‑tier evolver like him

was necessary for safety.

Among the energetic freshmen,

FangBro’s older face looked hilariously out of place.

But technically, he was a new student—

and a Combat Department one at that—

so his presence was legitimate.

Soon, several buses arrived.

Students boarded in order.

Evan and FangBro sat together.

The buses headed toward Eastplain Airport.

As they ate the breakfast Wendy prepared,

students gathered around them—

not for the food,

but to see the legendary freshman up close.

A girl shyly offered Evan a snack.

“Do you want this?”

It happened to be something he liked.

He accepted it with a nod.

“Thanks.”

Once the first girl made a move,

others followed—

offering snacks like feeding a zoo animal.

FangBro watched with envy.

Did I enroll in the wrong university…?

By the time Evan finished breakfast,

they had arrived at the airport.

Dongli University had chartered two planes—

enough for all Combat Department freshmen.

Although the university admitted thousands of new students each year,

only six to seven hundred entered the Combat Department.

Most were Research Department students.

Because Bloodsoil Forest was far away,

traveling by bus would take too long.

So every year,

Combat Department freshmen flew there.

After boarding,

Evan immediately fell asleep,

completely ignoring the curious stares around him.

FangBro used the time to digest his extract.

When Evan woke up,

the plane was landing.

They had arrived at Fenshire City,

on the northeastern border of the Dongli Federation.

After disembarking,

they took buses to Fenshire Gate—

the frontier fortress separating Dongli

from the beast‑dominated wilderness.

Outside Linhaven Continent,

“the wilds” referred to everything

beyond human‑controlled zones.

Humans were no longer the rulers of Blue Star.

Aside from three major human territories

and scattered settlements,

the rest of the world belonged to beasts and spirit plants.

Fenshire Gate was Dongli’s shield—

a massive wall guarded year‑round by the military.

The garrison had already prepared lodging

for Dongli University’s students and staff.

By the time Evan and the others arrived,

it was already past 4 p.m.

After settling into their six‑person dorms,

Director Warren Pierce gathered everyone

and gave a briefing:

obey instructors

no wandering off

tomorrow they would officially enter the wilds

they would camp outdoors from tomorrow night onward

Evan wasn’t interested in any of that.

He came here for one reason:

The Gravity Demon.

That night, he lay in bed,

studying the map of Bloodsoil Forest

and pinpointing the location of the Thousand‑Hero Mound.

It wasn’t in the outer region.

He wasn’t sure whether the training group

would go deep enough.

If not,

he and FangBro would need to slip away.

But he preferred to wait

until FangBro completed his third evolution.

FangBro had snuck out tonight—

probably practicing Swan Dance somewhere.

He claimed he would finish digesting his extract

within a day or two.

…

Morning came.

A loud bell woke the freshmen.

After washing up and eating breakfast,

they gathered behind the massive metal gates

of Fenshire Gate.

The gates slowly opened.

The freshmen marched out in formation.

Evan stepped into the wilderness

for the first time in his life.

Behind them,

a squad of over twenty elite soldiers

followed as instructors and protectors.

The gates closed behind them.

Hundreds of freshmen stared ahead—

eyes full of curiosity—

as they entered a world

beyond human civilization.