Clone Ascension

The containment chamber held a massive octopus—

roughly the size of a full-grown hog.

It clung to the wall, shifting positions rapidly,

its body coiling and uncoiling like it was charging up an attack.

Serena stood calmly at the doorway.

“Evan,” she said, “do you know why I want the Deep‑Sea Electric Eel Extract?”

“You’re after the Thunder‑Charged Body skill?” Evan guessed.

It was the eel’s signature ability—

storing electricity, shocking enemies on impact,

and granting natural insulation.

Aunt Yvonne had that skill.

Serena nodded.

“Exactly. I want the electric shock effect on my attacks.”

She barely finished speaking when the octopus launched straight at her face.

Serena slid back two steps, turned her body,

and tapped the creature lightly with one finger.

The effect was immediate.

The octopus hit the floor and writhed violently.

Its skin turned sickly green, blue blood oozed out,

and tiny flames flickered where Serena had touched it.

The massive creature weakened rapidly,

its movements growing sluggish and desperate.

Still, it lashed out with several tentacles.

Serena darted aside, touched it again,

then pulled Evan back to a safe distance.

The second touch made everything worse—

poison, burns, bleeding, tissue decay.

The octopus deteriorated at a terrifying pace,

its body corroding and collapsing in on itself.

Evan finally understood.

Serena wasn’t just “touching” the creature.

She was stacking multiple negative effects with every hit.

He could clearly identify at least three:

poison, burn, bleeding.

So this is her combat style?

A stacking‑debuff build?

A “hit once, suffer forever” build?

No wonder she wanted Thunder‑Charged Body—

another powerful effect to add to her arsenal.

Honestly…

Evan had to admit it was impressive.

Where his own “basic attack equals ultimate skill” came from raw power,

Serena achieved a similar effect through layered status effects.

Eventually, the octopus stopped twitching and died.

Serena lifted her chin proudly.

“Well? Pretty cool, right?”

“Very cool. You’re brilliant, Senior,” Evan said without hesitation.

Serena beamed.

“I studied Evolutionary Science to refine this style.

The foundation is mobility and survivability—

stay safe, then stack as many on‑hit effects as possible.

“Right now, a casual strike from me applies

poison, burn, bleeding, healing reduction, and disease.

And I’m not even done developing it.

“The more skills I learn,

the more effects I can stack.

The stronger I become.”

Evan grinned.

“At this rate, Dongli might gain another Guardian someday.”

Serena laughed happily, feeling understood for once.

“What’s your style called?” Evan asked.

This story has been stolen from NovelFire. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

Serena paused.

“I… haven’t named it yet.”

“What about ‘One Strike, Ten Thousand Effects’?”

Her eyes lit up.

“That’s perfect! Every skill converging into a single blow.”

She looked at Evan with growing fondness.

Evan decided he’d seen enough.

He wasn’t here to shadow her all day—

just to satisfy his curiosity.

She was pretty, polite, capable,

and came from a powerful family.

Nothing wrong with her at all.

But he wasn’t thinking about dating.

He wasn’t even an adult yet.

And Serena didn’t seem aware

that General Storm was trying to set them up.

He walked her back to her office.

“Senior Serena, I’ll let you get back to work.”

Serena blinked.

“Oh, I’m not busy. Come in and sit for a while.”

Evan froze.

That was… not the expected response.

He tried again.

“No need. Since I’m here at the base, I thought I’d look around.”

“Then I’ll go with you,” she said cheerfully.

“You’re a guest. I can be your guide.”

She was polite.

Very polite.

Too polite.

Was she really this oblivious?

Or was she pretending?

Evan couldn’t tell.

Is my charm really that strong?

No… surely not.

Something felt off.

But he couldn’t refuse without being rude—

and her grandmother was a national powerhouse

who held the mutated eel extract he wanted.

So he agreed.

They walked around the base together.

And Serena… talked.

Not nonstop chatter.

Not annoying rambling.

Just… perfect, polite conversation.

Every sentence Evan said,

she responded to.

Every response, she followed with a gentle question.

“Did you eat?”

“Yes, did you?”

“The weather’s nice.”

“It is. Do you prefer sunny or rainy days?”

“That cloud looks like a dog.”

“It does! What do you think the one next to it looks like?”

It was flawless social etiquette.

And absolutely relentless.

The conversation never died.

Not once.

Evan finally understood

why the soldiers avoided her like a plague.

This wasn’t “talkative.”

This was inescapable.

By dinner, Evan’s mouth was dry.

Serena invited him to eat with her.

Soldiers scattered the moment they saw her—

clearing a twenty‑meter radius around them.

Serena didn’t notice.

Or maybe she did, and didn’t care.

Evan sighed internally.

Senior Serena… you really need some boundaries.

No wonder General Storm is worried about your marriage prospects.

Do you even have friends?

After dinner, Evan tried to escape using the classic “bathroom excuse.”

Serena waited outside the restroom.

He nearly cried.

Fine.

He’d endure.

The day was almost over anyway.

Surely she wouldn’t insist on staying with him overnight.

Finally—

at a little past 8 p.m.—

Evan managed to escape by claiming he needed rest.

He now fully understood

why she was called “The Time Devourer.”

He had done absolutely nothing since meeting her.

The entire day had vanished.

Serena herself wasn’t scary.

Her personality wasn’t bad.

But combined with her grandmother’s status…

Terrifying.

Evan shook his head and headed toward the base exit.

General Storm hadn’t returned all day.

He’d come back tomorrow.

Marcus Grant had offered him lodging earlier,

but Evan declined.

Now he needed a hotel.

Just as he reached the gate,

he saw the tall soldier from earlier.

The soldier smiled.

“Captain Grant told me to wait for you.

He arranged lodging inside the base.

I’ll take you there.”

“So he predicted I’d only escape at this hour,” Evan muttered.

“Tell me… is Senior Serena always like this?”

The soldier stifled a laugh.

“We have a saying here:

‘One meeting with Serena, one day gone.’

Sometimes you greet her in the morning…

and suddenly it’s nighttime.”

Evan shuddered.

He had lived it.

The soldier added quietly,

“I heard she originally planned to stay at Dongli University as a lecturer.

President Hale personally sent her here.”

“Really now?”

Evan recalled President Hale’s mischievous smile.

That old fox… he set me up.

Maybe he should return the favor.

Send Serena back to Dongli University

and let Hale deal with her.

The thought made Evan grin.

Marcus Grant had arranged a simple but clean room for him.

Evan washed up, practiced the Swan Dance,

and finally went to bed.

At dawn, he was jolted awake

by a blaring siren.

Outside, Marcus Grant’s voice boomed over the loudspeakers:

“ALL PERSONNEL, ASSEMBLE IMMEDIATELY!”