Noah's knees struck the earth as the world snapped into focus. The cave loomed behind him, its entrance veiled by a shimmering, translucent barrier. Around him, the original survivors knelt in a perfect circle—frozen, eyes wide, muscles locked mid-twitch. Only their breathing remained, ragged and synchronized, as the system's decree burned in their vision:
**[Observation Protocol Active.]**
**[Iteration #2 Toritual Commencing.]**
**[Interference Penalty: Instant Death.]**
Inside the cave, the new humans stirred.
Two thousand bodies, naked and trembling, blinked awake. Unlike Noah's first moments, there was no screaming. No panic. Their faces were blank slates, voices monotone as they recited names like factory stamps:
"Designation: Kael."
"Designation: Lira."
"Designation: Vex."
ReZero's laughter crackled through the air, his glitching form perched atop the cave like a gargoyle. «Upgrades!» he crooned. «No memories. No fear. Just… *function.*»
Noah's eyes strained to track the scene. The new humans stood calmly as goblins oozed from the walls—these mutated, dripping with acid and armored in chitin. A man named Kael raised his hand. Flame spiraled around his fingers, precise as a welder's torch.
**[Affinity: Pyrokinesis.]**
**[Skill Unlocked: Ember Lance (Lv. 2).]**
He thrust his palm forward. A concentrated beam of fire punched through three goblins, their carapaces combusting into ash.
*They're stronger*, Noah realized. *And colder.*
A girl named Lira knelt, pressing her palms to the stone. The ground rippled, spikes of rock impaling a dozen creatures.
**[Affinity: Geomancy.]**
**[Skill Unlocked: Seismic Fracture (Lv. 2).]**
But then she *changed*. Her irises flooded black as shadows pooled at her feet—a second, incongruous skill flaring to life.
**[Innate Ability: Umbral Threads.]**
The shadows lashed out, sewing goblins' mouths shut mid-snarl.
*Two skills. Affinity and innate. No hesitation.*
The cave became a slaughterhouse. Iteration #2 moved like machines:
- A boy summoned hurricanes to shred goblins, then healed allies with a touch (Affinity: Aeromancy | Innate: Vitality Transfer).
- A woman froze enemies into brittle statues, then shattered them with a sonic scream (Affinity: Cryokinesis | Innate: Resonance Pulse).
Noah's group watched, helpless, as the new humans cleared the cave in 23 minutes. No deaths. Only efficiency.
**[Toritual Complete.]**
**[Goblins Killed: 2000/2000.]**
**[Iteration #2 Survivors: 2000/2000.]**
ReZero scowled. «Too clean. Let's… *adjust.*»
The cave floor split. A colossal goblin king erupted, its body studded with stolen Skills—[Fireball], [Earth Spike], even [Umbral Threads]. It swung a magma-coated claw at Kael.
The new human didn't flinch.
**[Innate Ability Triggered: Flame Absorption.]**
Kael *ate* the fire. The claw's momentum stalled, and Lira's shadows pinned the beast mid-roar. Vex, a wiry teen, leapt onto its back.
**[Affinity: Toxin.]**
**[Innate Ability: Neurotoxin Synthesis.]**
He bit the goblin's neck. Instantly, its stolen Skills misfired—fireballs detonating internally, earth spikes piercing its organs.
The king collapsed.
ReZero's pixelated face twitched. «…Fine. You pass.»
The barrier dissolved.
Noah's muscles unlocked as the Observation Protocol lifted. His group staggered upright, weapons raised—but the new humans simply… *stopped*. They stood at the cave's mouth, staring at the originals with eerie synchrony.
Kael tilted his head. "Designation: Noah."
Noah froze. "How do you—"
"Your Status Screen is visible," Kael said flatly. Behind him, Lira's shadows coiled like serpents, while Vex licked residual poison from his teeth.
ReZero materialized between the groups, grinning. «Introductions! Iteration #1: flawed, weak, *emotional*. Iteration #2: optimized. Now… *play nice.*»
He vanished.
Wind howled across the plains. The two groups faced each other—6 battle-worn survivors vs. 2000 blank-eyed hybrids.
Kael stepped forward, Ember Lance flickering in his palm.
"Directive: Survive," he said. "You are obstacles."