Chapter 26: Evolve! Evolve Again!
Ren stepped into his dorm room and immediately noticed something strange; emptiness.
There was no Lia. No footsteps. No sight of her meditating on the bed while surrounded by piles of manuals and half-eaten fruit.
No scent of her ridiculously strong peppermint tea. Ren's eyes narrowed slightly as he scanned the room like an investigator.
His mind flicked through the possibilities. Knowing Lia and her workaholic tendencies, she was most likely at the reinforcement room working on her physical stats, or in one of the simulation chambers grinding battle experience.
That girl treated rest the way old people treated demons—pure evil and best avoided. He let out a breath, casually dropped his bag on the table, and shrugged it off.
"She's probably off trying to break through to adept stage through hard work," he muttered, amused. His tone was light, but truth be told, he admired it.
First things first; shower.
Ten minutes later, Ren stepped out of the hot steam feeling like a brand-new human. The fatigue from walking through half the rune lane had melted off him like butter on a hot pan.
He threw on some loose clothes, opened a self-heating meal box from the bedside table, and dug into a meal that would've made five-star chefs weep.
Spicy honey-glazed beast ribs, golden rice infused with spiritual essence, and a creamy side dish that somehow tasted like roasted marshmallows and dreams.
"God," Ren whispered with a full mouth, "the food in this world is insane." He leaned back in his chair, patting his stomach like an old man.