Clone Ascension

“It is a bit early,” President Hale admitted with a nod.

“But General Storm has been anxious for years. She started worrying about her granddaughter’s marriage long before the girl even graduated.”

“So early? How old is her granddaughter?” Evan asked.

President Hale thought for a moment, counting on his fingers.

“She graduated from Dongli University not long ago… twenty‑three or twenty‑four, I believe.”

“That’s still young. Why the rush? Don’t tell me she’s… very conservative‑looking?”

“No,” President Hale shook his head.

“That girl is beautiful—looks just like General Storm did in her youth.”

Beautiful and young.

Then why was General Elias Storm so desperate to marry her off early?

Was she afraid the girl wouldn’t find a husband?

Or was she trying to get rid of her as soon as possible?

Evan’s instincts told him something was off.

President Hale suddenly smiled even brighter, as if recalling something amusing.

“Don’t overthink it. Meet her and you’ll understand. Serena is a good girl—pretty, gentle, polite. Who knows, maybe you two will get along.”

Evan eyed President Hale’s wrinkled, grinning face.

This old man is definitely up to something. He wants to watch me suffer.

But he still had to go.

Not for the blind date—

but for the Tier‑3 extract even higher‑quality than the Deep‑Sea Electric Eel Extract.

General Storm had struck right at his weakness.

He couldn’t refuse.

He was already curious what that extract would be.

Leaving the president’s office, Evan and Wendy returned to the villa.

Wendy went to the kitchen to cook.

Evan placed a Tomorrow Flower petal under his tongue and began practicing the Swan Dance to speed up digestion.

As he danced, he pondered when to head to the Dawnsea Naval Base.

“Maybe I’ll wait a couple of days. I’m not in a hurry to absorb the next extract anyway.

And come to think of it, since the semester started, I haven’t attended a single class.

I should at least show my face.”

He paused.

“Also, since General Storm’s granddaughter graduated from Dongli University, some seniors or professors must know her. I’ll ask around tomorrow.”

⭐ The Next Day — Evolution Class 01‑2

When Evan walked into the classroom, the students—including Hannah Keane—stared at him in shock.

He actually came to class.

It had been nearly half a month since the semester began, and Evan hadn’t attended a single lecture.

He even skipped military training.

Evan scanned the room.

Aside from Hannah, most faces were unfamiliar.

He didn’t even know where he was supposed to sit.

Seeing the empty seat beside Hannah, he simply sat down.

“Senior Evan, where have you been these days?” Hannah asked curiously.

She knew he wasn’t actually her senior, but the title had stuck.

“Oh, I went out hunting beasts,” Evan replied.

“Those kids we rescued from the Evolution Church—are they back at the welfare home? How are they doing?”

“They’re doing great,” Hannah said with a smile.

“Mia keeps mentioning you. Are you free this weekend? Mrs. Green wants to invite you and Professor Lewis over to thank you properly.”

Evan smiled.

“I might be traveling in a couple of days. When I’m back, I’ll visit them.”

“Traveling again? That means more leave.”

Evan also felt he’d been taking too many leaves.

He planned to explain things to his counselor later…

Not that the counselor would dare refuse—

after all, the Guardian of Dongli herself had summoned him.

Soon, a male teacher with black‑rimmed glasses entered the classroom.

He began roll call, reading names one by one.

Evan waited for his name.

But the teacher finished the list, set it down, and Evan still hadn’t heard “Evan Cole.”

What? Did they kick me out of the class?

The teacher scanned the room, spotted Evan beside Hannah, and paused for two seconds.

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“Oh, Evan is here today. Nice to meet you—I’m Mr. Raymond Clark, your Advanced Mathematics instructor.”

“Hello, Mr. Clark.”

Evan leaned toward Hannah and whispered,

“We have to learn advanced math?”

“Of course. Math is the foundation of all disciplines.”

Evan realized he had already failed one course.

He muddled through the lecture.

After class, Counselor Jonathan Hayes arrived, equally shocked to see Evan—he had nearly forgotten this “legend” was in his class.

Evan approached him.

“Mr. Hayes, I might need another long leave.”

Jonathan Hayes was used to it by now, but still asked,

“What’s the reason this time?”

“General Elias Storm wants me at the Dawnsea Naval Base. She said she has something for me.”

Mr. Hayes nodded stiffly.

“I’ll approve seven days first. If you need more, tell me.”

If the Guardian of Dongli summoned someone, what could he possibly say?

Cooperate—nothing else.

“Thank you, Mr. Hayes.” Evan paused.

“By the way, do you know General Storm’s granddaughter? I heard she studied here.”

“General Storm’s granddaughter… you mean Serena Storm?”

Mr. Hayes’s expression suddenly turned strange.

“So you do know her. What’s special about her? Why did your face change when I mentioned her?”

“She…” Mr. Hayes hesitated.

“She’s very good. Pretty, smart, polite. No issues at all.”

“Then she must’ve had many admirers.”

“At first, yes. Later… not so much.”

Evan immediately sensed something wrong.

A girl like Serena—excellent, beautiful, with a powerful family—

should have suitors lined up around the university.

Even if she weren’t excellent, even if she were plain or mediocre,

her family background alone would attract countless admirers.

Yet Mr. Hayes’s reaction said otherwise.

But he refused to say more.

Evan didn’t linger in class.

He left quickly.

One class was enough to tell him he wasn’t suited for wasting time in classrooms.

He wanted to study evolution science—

animal biology, botany, geography—

that made sense.

But advanced math?

Foreign languages?

Moral philosophy?

He needed another path to graduation.

“Not a big problem.

If I perform well at the Six Nations University Exchange Tournament,

even if I fail a few courses, the school won’t dare say anything.

If I reach Saint‑tier while still enrolled,

they’ll chase me down to hand me a diploma.”

⭐ The Following Two Days

Evan stayed home, diligently practicing the Swan Dance.

He, Yvonne, and FangBro formed their “dance trio” again—

all three needed to digest extracts,

so they spent every day in the villa courtyard

popping medicine and dancing.

They were one person short of forming the “Four Little Swans.”

When Wendy returned in the evenings,

she joined them as well.

She had recently absorbed an extract and needed digestion time too.

Among the four, she was the only one who actually looked like a swan—

the other three resembled large geese following behind her.

Wendy remained busy, leaving early and returning late.

She had finished handing over her previous research projects

and finalized her collaboration with LifePharm.

Now she was occupied with several new topics.

After Dongli authorities destroyed an Evolution Church underground lab,

they recovered a large amount of data related to human mutation.

Wendy was now helping analyze and organize the material.

She was also deeply interested in Bloodline Crystals

and the fourth evolution of Dung‑Eaters,

but had no time to pursue those yet.

“By the way, Evan,” Wendy said suddenly,

“about the hypothesis you mentioned last time—I’m gathering data to verify it.

But ultimate‑mutation beasts are extremely rare.

Dongli’s database has limited samples.

I’ve already requested access to data from other nations.”

Evan groaned.

“My dear sister, please stop calling me ‘Little Evan.’

It makes me feel like I’ve gone into… questionable industries.

Just call me Evan or your little brother.”

Wendy was referring to ultimate mutations—

beasts like the Mutated Giant Crocodile and Mutated Upright Ape,

whose mutations were overwhelmingly powerful.

Evan had noticed that ultimate‑mutation beasts

lost all secondary innate skills

and retained only their strongest one.

But with too few examples,

it remained a hypothesis.

Evan didn’t care much.

Ultimate‑mutation beasts were too rare.

Even if proven, the discovery had limited value.

Seeing his lack of interest, Wendy smirked.

“For research‑track students,

if you produce enough research output during your studies,

you can skip graduation exams

and directly qualify for postgraduate or even doctoral recommendation.”

That finally caught Evan’s attention.

He didn’t care about postgraduate studies—

but skipping graduation exams sounded great.

Wendy continued:

“Also, every published research output earns national contribution points

and increases your access level in the national treasury.”

“That’s good.”

Evan’s eyes lit up.

He had plenty of contribution points,

but his access level was too low—

many high‑tier items were locked.

“And major research output receives rewards from the Sovereign Nations.

Some were given Tier‑4 S‑grade extracts,

others received high‑tier relics.

The former president of Dongli University

was awarded a Tier‑5 relic before he passed away.”

“Research is that profitable?” Evan was stunned.

“In that case, maybe I should stop going to class

and just work in your lab as your assistant.”

He knew he wasn’t cut out for research—

but Wendy was.

Following her around,

he could at least earn contribution points,

boost his treasury access level,

and maybe even snag a few high‑tier rewards.