"I think it's time I return," I muttered out loud as I turned to look at Blue, who was lying beside me.

After the strange incident where I apparently went berserk, my body went through some pretty significant changes. It was because of these changes that I left the settlement to see what was exactly happening with my current body.

The root cause of all these alterations still remains that mysterious bloodline. However, even amidst all the strange occurrences that have happened to me, likely due to this enigmatic bloodline, I still couldn't catch even a glimpse of the bigger picture. Because of this, I decided to let this matter rest and return to it when more clues emerge.

Not wanting to dwell on this matter any further, I shifted my focus to another important issue: the status update. Yes, the status had updated again for the third time. However, the changes it brought can only be described as quite extreme.

Before the status update appeared, a notification first came, stating that due to some anomalies and the power of certain species on planet "Spe," the evolution phase has been accelerated to keep up, and the tutorial stage has ended.

Just from this, one could tell that nothing in that notification was good news. The first part mentioned that the evolution phase had to be accelerated to match the pace of a race that could barely hold on. It felt like the primordial record was out to destroy, and the entire evolution process was its disguise and cover to have its way.

Of course, this was just an assumption since, without the primordial chronicle, many people might have died, even if it was the cause of the apocalypse in the first place.

Now, if one didn't think the first part of the notification was bad enough, the second part was even worse.

Apparently, what my race referred to as "doomsday" was merely a tutorial for us.

This wasn't even my main concern. What made me find this notification worse was the change it brought to my status board.

'Status'

[Status]

[Name: Ace Blaze]

[Age: 17]

[Race: High Human [Homo sapiens]/?????]

[Job: Alchemist Lord]

[Origin Ability: Transmutation[Evolvable]]

[Level: 28[12.9%][Rank 1]]

[Title: Advanced Alchemist[Active], Alchemist Lord[Active]]

[Tamed Beast: Blue]

[Exchange]

...

Yes, the status board appeared less grand than it did a few days ago, with several sections removed.

The rank, map, contact, and store sections were all gone, or perhaps they're replaced by the new exchange section for coins.

Of all the sections that got removed, the one that affected me the most was the contact function.

If I had known this was going to happen, I would have used whatever valuables I had to contact my family. Whether or not they could do the same was not a consideration since my sole message was to tell them I'll find them and they should stay safe.

Although this was not possible to do now, it did not mean my plans had changed. I would indeed find them, even if I didn't know how I would do it.I think you should take a look at

Apart from the contact system, the other section I knew would affect a lot of people was the store section disappearing.

I'm sure I was not the only one who relied on this section to survive from day one in the apocalypse.

The disappearance of this section was surely going to give rise to a lot of problems, one of which I could already imagine: my race finding a way to come together, perhaps not as one, but in large gatherings because it would be much harder to survive alone in the real world now.

The rank and map section did not even bother me. The former was just a way to identify the strong people in the race and determine who was stronger than others.

The map was something I could navigate as long as I did not venture too far into unfamiliar territory.

As I pondered these things, I channeled the mana in my body to my right hand, and a ball of reddish-gold fire hovered above it.

These were my flames now, after the incident with the emperor. I could feel the intense heat coming from it, but like my other flames, it did not harm or hurt me.

Besides having a larger mana pool and physical enhancements, there was something else.

I hadn't tested my true power yet due to the status update, but I dared to say that maybe I could face rank 2 monsters with more confidence.

With a slightly strange expression on my face, I channeled a portion of the mana in my body to my left hand, and immediately a ball of black flames hovered around it.

Although it appeared like flames, it was, in truth, cold—bone-chilling cold.

The fact that I was now releasing two different energies showed how distinct they were: hot and cold.

There was something peculiar about the dark flames, though.

I could not quite put my finger on it, but it felt chaotic, messy, and somehow malevolent. Yes, it felt evil. I did not know why this word came to my mind, but it was the only term that felt right.

I knew I still needed to test this power, though.

With several thoughts in my mind, I turned to look at my companion and spoke.historical

"Let's go hunt a strong monster, boy."

SCREECH!!!

********

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