Genesis Code: The Genetic Awakening-Chapter 42: Fight, Rinse and Repeat (1)

Before moving forward, Caleb decided to absorb the mana from the cores he had collected.

He didn’t have any spells yet, but simply having mana coursing through his system came with its own advantages.

"System, are all the cores cleansed?"

[Affirmative]

"Good," he muttered, retrieving all of them. Caleb had amassed a total of 267 cores, most of which were from the beetle monsters.

Despite his efforts, the mana in his core hadn’t shown much growth since absorbing his first monster core.

[0.067% → 0.069%]

"Just a 0.002% increase," he noted with mild disappointment. He wasn’t too surprised, though, knowing that normal mana recovery only returned the core to its previous state after depletion.

Picking up a core, Caleb began the absorption process. Like before, it only took seconds to drain it completely.

’Is it just me, or is the absorption process that fast?’ Caleb frowned, sceptical. Based on the memories he inherited from the late Caleb, this wasn’t normal.

Initially, he had attributed the speed to his core being stronger and having a larger capacity. But now, he was starting to second-guess that assumption.

"System, is the absorption process always supposed to be this fast?"

[Depends on the being.] The system’s response was as concise as ever. [Stronger beings with larger capacities have a higher affinity for mana.]

"Mm, makes sense," Caleb muttered, continuing to absorb the cores.

Given his impressive absorption speed, he decided to try absorbing multiple cores at once. He observed in real-time as the percentage gauge of his mana core steadily climbed.

Mana flowed through his arms and surged toward his core, spiralling into it as the energy was absorbed. The process induced a euphoric sensation that made it hard to concentrate.

’Feels like I’m getting stoned,’ Caleb thought with a quiet chuckle but kept his focus on the task.

Several minutes later, he had absorbed all the cores and stood up, flexing his fists as the mana coursed through his body.

[Mana Core: 27.56% full]

The value might have seemed small, but Caleb’s core was far from ordinary. Its total mana capacity was greater than what some powerful beings possessed.

’Let’s give this a test run, shall we?’ Caleb thought with a confident grin, tapping into his newly gained skill.

His blue eyes momentarily turned iridescent before they began to glow, illuminating the space around him.

In an instant, the light in his eyes flashed faster than the blink of an eye, turning his surroundings into a dazzling white.

’No discomfort to me and...’ Caleb glanced at his mana gauge. ’... only 0.16% of my mana was used.’

The results were more than satisfactory, and a grin spread across his face.

"Now then, time to clear this floor."

He slipped his mask back on, checked his clothes, and ensured his weapons were ready. Once everything was in order, he bolted toward the cavern space, heading straight for the tunnelled paths ahead.

......

Caleb sprinted through the tunnels at high speed, quickly closing in on the inhabitable space of the Shadow Gremlins.

Thanks to his knowledge of the area, he didn’t need to wander aimlessly through the maze-like tunnels.

He knew exactly where to go, and so far, he hadn’t encountered any Lichen Stalkers.

’They might be up ahead, near the vortex to the next floor,’ Caleb thought as he abruptly came to a stop.

The space ahead was significantly darker than the areas he had passed through. Just around the next turn, a few dozen meters away, was a horde of Shadow Gremlins.

Using his domain sense, Caleb scanned them carefully, noting their grotesque features. They were as hideous as the system had described.

Their tanned skin looked more like weathered brown leather, and their bald heads only added to their unnerving appearance. Their fingers ended in razor-sharp claws—if those could even be called fingers.

The monsters were busy with their own activities—some engaged in what Caleb assumed were conversations, their screeches and grunts grating on his nerves, while others were feasting.

’So, the other monsters serve as their food,’ Caleb observed with a disgusted frown. ’Guess I was lucky not to run into them earlier.’

The tunnels were vast, a network so expansive that Caleb had only traversed a specific path. The chances of encountering every horde along the way weren’t particularly high.

’These creatures thrive in darkness and are incredibly agile. Blinding and disorienting them should give me plenty of time to wipe them out.’

Caleb quickly counted 54 of the Shadow Gremlins. While he could have chosen to stun them and run, he wanted their cores.

A sharp glint flickered in his eyes as he drew his blades. Taking a deep breath, he launched himself straight into the horde.

The Gremlins immediately noticed him, snarling and screeching as they prepared to attack.

Some scurried up the walls, while others charged directly at him, their wide, vicious grins revealing rows of sharp, jagged teeth.

Unfortunately for them, Caleb wasn’t here to play games.

With a single thought, his eyes lit up, glowing bright white. The sudden flash of light startled and disoriented the Gremlins.

Their chaotic movements became clumsy, and those clinging to the walls lost their grip, tumbling to the ground.

Seizing the opportunity, Caleb moved like a blur, cutting through them with precision. He circled the horde, taking them down one by one in swift, lethal strikes.

Within minutes, the entire group of Shadow Gremlins lay dead. Caleb stood amidst the carnage, his hands bloodied and his clothes stained from the battle.

"Haa... I’ll need a change of clothes," he muttered, exhaling deeply as he began gathering their cores.

A glance at the corner of his HUD revealed the time. "A little over four hours have passed," he noted.

It felt much longer. While the creatures weren’t particularly strong, the fight had demanded his focus and mental sharpness, leaving him slightly drained.

"And I’m getting hungry too," Caleb said as his stomach growled in agreement.

Thankfully, the knights had provided him with some rations before he entered the dungeon.

After harvesting and storing the cores, Caleb retrieved a bit of his water to rinse himself off and then changed into a fresh set of clothes.

"System, are the cores the only useful thing on monsters?" he asked, pulling out a ration and taking a bite. freewёbnoνel.com

[Negative. Many dungeon monsters are valuable for crafting artefacts, gear, and weapons. However, their utility depends on their level and quality.]

’Mm, that’s reasonable,’ Caleb thought, glancing at the lifeless Gremlins around him. ’These ones definitely don’t qualify.’