Chapter 126: Conjurer

?Black blood trickled from the corner of its mouth, running down its serrated mandibles before dripping onto the floor.

Its chest throbbed with agony, and the point where Cassian’s shadow circle had struck felt as though it had been slammed by a heavy warhammer.

’?What the hell was that?!’

?Its eight eyes narrowed into sharp slits.

?’Backlash? What backlash?! That bastard didn’t conceal his presence with a dangerous, self-destructive technique, nor did he kill my guards with a forbidden skill!’

?Its mandibles clicked together rapidly.

?’This kid is a bona fide monster!’

?The realization struck deeper than the physical pain.

?It had initially dismissed Cassian as a mere Tier II Lord, assuming his infiltration was the result of a lucky, one-time trick. But the terrifying force behind that single strike had thoroughly shattered its confidence.

?A Tier II Lord shouldn’t possess that kind of absurd power. Someone capable of delivering such a blow while looking utterly unbothered was anything but ordinary.

?Nevertheless, the Arachnid gradually forced itself to regain its composure.

?’Calm down. I just let my guard down earlier. That’s all.’

?Its earlier arrogance had caused it to severely underestimate its opponent. It had charged forward blindly without assessing Cassian’s capabilities, allowing itself to be caught off guard by that strange burst of speed.

?It wouldn’t make that mistake twice.

?As a First Order Elite Evolver, its strength wasn’t limited to brute force. Every Evolver developed along a specialized evolutionary path, awakening unique traits that reflected their biological nature.

?And its specific path made direct confrontation exceptionally lethal.

’?I’m going all out this time. Let’s see how you deal with my true power.’

?Across the room, Cassian studied the creature with a hint of mild surprise.

?’It survived that?’

?He had expected the shadow circle to inflict critical damage, yet the creature had endured the impact without losing consciousness. Its body was clearly sturdier than that of a standard Evolver.

?Still, its durability wasn’t what caught his attention.

?Cassian activated [Soul Gaze].

?In an instant, his perception shifted.

?Beneath the Arachnid’s silver mana, he detected something hidden. Thin, ethereal threads extended from its body, virtually invisible to the naked eye.

They shimmered faintly as they spread through the air, clinging to the shattered wall and stretching across the floor.

?Cassian followed their paths.

?The threads were impossibly fine, yet their mana density was remarkably high. Even at a glance, he could tell they weren’t ordinary strands of energy.

?He recalled the moment his attack had struck.

?For a fraction of a second, a dense barrier had materialized at the point of impact, dispersing a massive portion of the force before the Arachnid was sent flying.

?Those threads had cushioned the blow.

?Understanding dawned in Cassian’s eyes. "So, you’re a Conjurer."

?The Arachnid’s body stiffened instantly.

?Its eight eyes widened before narrowing into furious, venomous slits.

’He figured it out already?!’

?An Evolver’s evolutionary path was their most guarded secret in battle. Exposing it allowed an opponent to deduce their strengths, exploit their weaknesses, and formulate immediate countermeasures.

?That was why experienced combatants kept their true nature hidden until the decisive strike. Their evolutionary paths were meant to be hidden trump cards.

?Yet Cassian had exposed his after a single exchange.

?’Damn it! I have to strike now!’

?The Arachnid thrust both arms outward.

?Silver mana erupted from its frame, surging through the chamber in a flood of countless razor-thin strands.

The ethereal threads multiplied exponentially, blanketing the floor, walls, and ceiling until a dense, suffocating web enclosed Cassian.

?Every strand gleamed with a lethal, razor-sharp edge.

?The surrounding steel groaned as the threads tightened, slicing deep, clean grooves into the reinforced surfaces. Within seconds, the entire chamber was transformed into a crisscrossing lattice of silver filaments, leaving virtually no room to maneuver.

?The Arachnid’s mandibles spread into a vicious, triumphant grin.

?"[Silk Dominion]!"

?The moment the words echoed, the threads vibrated violently.

?A piercing, metallic hum filled the chamber as the countless strands shifted in unison, turning the surrounding space into a death trap of razor-sharp silk.

?Any movement would trigger a fatal cutting strike. Any attempt to evade would drag Cassian directly into a web of absolute slicing force.

?"Let’s see you dodge this!"

Upon awakening as an Evolver, an individual developed abilities that aligned with one of four primary evolutionary paths.

Although specific powers varied from person to person, most Evolvers could be classified according to the fundamental nature of their abilities.

?The first was the Enhancer Path.

?Enhancers specialized in improving existing properties, whether their own physical attributes or external objects.

They could strengthen their bodies, accelerate their reflexes, reinforce their defenses, or amplify the destructive power of their weapons.

Advanced Enhancers could even push mundane materials far beyond their natural limits, turning ordinary objects into lethal instruments.

?The second was the Control Path.

?Control-type Evolvers manipulated external forces and substances. Their powers ranged from controlling elemental phenomena and kinetic forces to influencing complex forms of energy.

The rarest among them could even interfere with abstract concepts, transcending conventional physical manipulation.

?The third was the Specialist Path.

?Specialists possessed powers that defied standard classification. Their abilities did not conform to the established principles of enhancement, control, or creation, manifesting instead in irregular, unpredictable forms.

Some developed highly conditional powers, while others awakened traits so unusual that comprehending their true nature challenged even veteran Evolvers.

?Finally, there was the Conjurer Path.

?Unlike Enhancers, who strengthened what already existed, or Control-types, who manipulated their environment, Conjurers specialized in creation.

They could manifest physical objects, forge constructs from raw mana, or produce specialized materials with unique properties.

The most formidable among them could generate complex structures or autonomous entities that persisted long after creation.

?Naturally, these distinctions were not always absolute; certain abilities exhibited characteristics spanning multiple categories.

However, most Evolvers possessed a dominant path that dictated their primary combat style.

?The Arachnid Cassian had just sent flying belonged to the fourth category.

?A Conjurer.

?And the countless silver threads spanning the room were the direct manifestation of its evolutionary ability.