Infinite Evolution: My Idle Evolution System

Cassius could, of course, feel those sparkling eyes of Yuna's never leave his side, but he remained unfazed. He swept his gaze over the hundreds of young men and women termed participants. Although they varied in social status and wore clothing of differing quality, their power levels weren't far apart from one another.

Even with most of his abilities limited in this world, he was still very much capable of using the "Magic Eyes" that came as a built-in System Function. This was how he could accurately determine everyone's approximate strength.

[Christopher (Male Human)]

[Realm: Apprentice Slayer (5th Stage)]

[Approximate (Earth) Rank: A++]

[Diana (Female Human)]

[Realm: Apprentice Slayer (5th Stage)]

[Approximate (Earth) Rank: A++]

From what Cassius had learned on his way through the Royal City, there were five known Realms of power among those in the Land of Beginnings. Each one was further split into seven stages, and those Realms were ranked, from lowest to highest, as follows:@@novelbin@@

1- [Apprentice Slayer]

2- [3rd Class Slayer]

3- [2nd Class Slayer]

4- [1st Class Slayer]

5- [Transcendent Slayer] Experience tales at My Virtual Library Empire

Those of the 1st Class Slayer Realm could already become rulers of entire kingdoms once they served their time as Nightmare Slayers and retired. In fact, the current King of the Mistalore Kingdom was a 1st Class Slayer in the 2nd Stage, making him incredibly formidable in the Land of Beginnings.

As for Transcendent Slayers, they were all but urban myths to the people of this world. None had been seen in the last few thousand years—not since the dramatic conclusion of the Battle of Nightmare's End.

That day marked the sudden disappearance of all Transcendent Slayers who had bravely fought to defend the world against the Nine True Nightmares, each of whom was said to be capable of battling Transcendent Slayers head-on.

'Based on the A++ levels of everyone here, I can see that the ranking system of this world goes far beyond the one I come from,' Cassius thought with great interest. 'Furthermore, this also means that my strength and abilities are not necessarily restricted, but that this world has higher-level world laws… or something…'

Having read many cultivation light novels in his past life, he knew the classic higher-world tropes very well. The higher you go, the more gravity pushes down on you. It was the same situation here.

Glancing over at the gorgeous petite woman still staring holes into him with her eyes, Cassius saw another System tag. This time, however, it was a bit more complicated than the others.

[Yuna Mistalore (Female Human/Yokai Hybrid)]

[Realm: Apprentice Slayer (7th Stage)]

[Approximate Rank: S-Rank]

'Not even at the 3rd Class Slayer Realm and yet already an S Neutral Rank Awakener equivalent? How interesting… This Slayer cultivation system is truly fascinating.'

Through books he had glossed over at small streetside stalls, Cassius learned of the Slayer ranks and how Slayers ascended those ranks. As the name implied, the simplest and most straightforward method to advance as a Slayer was to slay Nightmares that slipped through the world net and invaded the Land of Beginnings through space-time portals.

Once one killed a single Nightmare, they would absorb the Nightmare's power and officially become a 1st Stage Apprentice Slayer. From there, further progression would depend both on the number of Nightmares slain and the Nightmare Talent the Slayer possessed.

As an inherent and typically unchangeable aspect of existence, Nightmare Talent was said to depend on the innate killing intent or murderous intent of the Slayer. This rumor was further backed by the extremely high affinity that the Devil race had with the Slayer Path. Even the lowliest among them had the potential to become 3rd Class Slayers—an achievement often impossible for the majority of the human population due to a lack of Nightmare Talent.

'Nightmare Talent… I wonder if I have any…'

Speaking of the devil.

"Welcome to the 313th Annual Nightmare Slayer Admittance Examination!" a clown-faced announcer's voice rang out from an open-air cabin in the Colosseum's far north wing. "Time has just run out for any new participants hoping to join, which means it's now time to begin the Examination! As for what we'll be examining? Well, of course, it'll be your ability to survive…!"

The clown-faced announcer received loud cheers aplenty. Yet, there was no one currently present in the spectator stands. The Examination Trials were private.

"Thank you! Thank you very much, my lovelies!" the announcer said while acting coquettish. "Anyway, let the games begin!"

Right as those words left the clown's mouth, Cassius's vision suddenly turned dark. The same thing happened to Yuna and the other participants standing inside the Colosseum.

FWIP!

When they opened their eyes, they no longer saw the large Colosseum walls. Surrounding them on all sides were now extremely tall trees that extended far beyond the visible skyline. Within the huge canopy of person-sized leaves that obscured most of their vision, there echoed blood-curdling shrieks that sent tingles down their spines.

"Do you know where this place is, Cassius Steele?" came a soft feminine voice belonging to the mysterious 12th Princess.

Cassius shifted his calm gaze toward her. "No, but I assume you do."

Yuna stole his gaze. "This is the Hunter's Jungle."

"Is there a reason for that name?"

"Yes," replied Yuna. "In this jungle located in a sub-dimension to our own, you are either the hunter… or the hunted."

Just then.

"Ahhhh—!!!"

"Robert…!!"

A young woman looked up in horror. Above her, the lifeless corpse of her boyfriend lay limp, pronged by several pitch-black jagged vines. Each of the countless points on the vines were wickedly sharp, and when they lifted Robert's corpse further off the ground, a grating sound echoed. The jagged vines sawed in different directions—carving paths through Robert's body—and created the gruesome sight that followed.

SPLAT!

Just like that, Robert's already empty husk of a body was forcefully ripped apart by the jagged black vines.

The vines—numbering a little over a dozen—quickly multiplied. More and more of them whizzed forward from the numerous tall trees that made up this unknown area.

That was when Cassius and the others saw it—a large face in a tree—and there was one in each of the trees…