Unholy Player-Chapter 100: Power Ranking (Part 3) [BONUS]

"Now, Mr. Adyr, lastly, we’ll be checking your durability against harmful substances," Corven’s voice came through once more.

"Sure, go ahead," Adyr replied.

He looked slightly worn from the previous tests, but his recovery was already underway. At this point, his body had surpassed the threshold of normal biology, and minor tissue damage and fatigue repaired themselves with just a moment of stillness.

"This one will take less time compared to the others," Corven continued. "I’ll begin filling the room with various gas compounds, gradually increasing their intensity. The sequence will start with a mild eye irritant and end with a high-level neurotoxin. I’ll monitor your vitals directly and adjust the dosage accordingly, so there’s no need for direct communication unless something feels wrong on your end. Just signal us if you detect a critical reaction."

After receiving a nod of confirmation from Adyr, the test began.

He noticed four vents open in each corner of the room. A faint red mist began to spread—Capsin Fog, the eye-irritant gas.

The flow continued for several moments. Once the concentration reached a measurable threshold, Adyr’s eyes finally reacted—slight watering, a sting that barely registered. Corven immediately cut the feed. A secondary system kicked in, clearing the air through powerful vents, scrubbing the chamber clean.

Corven noted the response, then advanced to the next stage.

Gas by gas, the procedure repeated. Chlorava Mist, Neurodrift, Myoplex-7—each one more aggressive than the last. With each level, Corven observed how Adyr’s body fought back—his vitals remained stable, reflexes sharp, and recovery near-instant.

Finally, the sixth and final gas—Blackvane—was deployed. Even in trace amounts, it was potent enough to collapse a human in seconds. But Adyr withstood it longer than any subject they’d ever recorded.

Once the final cycle completed and the room was fully purged, Corven spoke into the microphone again.

"Mr. Adyr, all done. Thank you for your patience."

Corven sat back, scanning the data on his console. The results were... difficult to believe. Again.

Adyr’s resistance to toxins had far exceeded their expectations. The room was silent for a moment before one of the researchers finally spoke.

"His body’s already approaching first-generation mutant levels."

That earned a few stiff nods. Of course, first-generation mutants varied wildly—some were incredibly powerful and resilient, while others suffered deformities, unstable genetics, or short lifespans. But among them, the most durable were legendary not for their strength, but for their survivability.

Those few had lived in radiation zones, chemical deadlands—places meant to kill. Their bodies hadn’t just adapted; they had evolved immunity. They had become toxin-proof, bearing organs that filtered out death itself.

And now... Adyr was inching toward that same domain.

After a soft beep, the door slid open, and Corven entered with calm steps. "Mr. Adyr, how are you feeling?"

"I’m good. Ready for the next test," Adyr replied with a faint smile. The previous one hadn’t worn him out. The gas levels had been far from pushing his limits, so his body hadn’t been under any real stress.

"Good. Before that, let me give you the score for your durability," Corven said with a chuckle, glancing at his notes. "Overall score, Mr. Adyr, 54. Congratulations. That makes you the most physically durable player in Shelter City 9."

"Thanks," Adyr replied plainly. He didn’t ask about the scores of others—like Victor, who had ranked first overall—because he already knew he wouldn’t get an answer. And more importantly, he didn’t need one.

But he asked another thing. "How are STF members’ scores usually?"

Corven smiled and answered. "Their durability scores usually range between 30 and 70."

So I’m considered average among them, Adyr thought.

But of course, reaching this level had only taken him a few days—this was just the beginning of his progression.

"Before we move on to the next test, let me explain the scoring system. It’s pretty simple, actually. Just like now, you’ll receive a score for each individual test, and at the end, the total will be factored into your overall power ranking."

Corven paused, then added, "There are three tests in total. With durability done, two remain—one for muscular strength, and the other for reflexes and overall speed."

Adyr brought the power ranking list to mind and recalled Victor’s total score—135 points. That meant he needed 82 more to claim the top spot.

Of course, simply reaching first place wouldn’t be enough. If it came to it, he’d have to use everything at his disposal.

Soon, Adyr followed behind Corven, passing through a long corridor. A larger research team trailed after them this time, each carrying notebooks, their eyes sharp and focused.

It was clear the number of observers had grown.

While Adyr kept walking, he spotted a familiar face approaching from the opposite direction.

"Adyr? I thought I’d be the only one here," Victor said, his blond ponytail swaying as he walked up. Then his light brown eyes landed on the group of researchers following behind, and he raised a brow.

"Why are you walking around like a duck with her ducklings?"

Some of the research team visibly frowned at the comment, but none of them said anything.

"Well, they’re observing my physical test," Adyr said with a chuckle.

At the same time, Adyr’s eyes quickly scanned Victor, processing every detail.

So he is one of the evolvers, as expected.

There weren’t any drastic visible changes. His hair had a glossier sheen, his skin appeared firmer—subtle enhancements that could easily be missed. But upon closer inspection, his eye color had shifted slightly—from a soft light brown to a faint reddish hue.

More notably, beneath his eyes, there was a barely visible distortion. The veins leading toward his ocular region looked slightly more pronounced, as if they’d thickened or adjusted to carry increased blood flow or energy intake.

Adyr didn’t know what he had evolved with—he didn’t have access to the Spark catalog. But judging by the subtle changes, he strongly suspected Victor had acquired a trait related to his eyes.

"Real? You’re finally registering on the Power Ranking?" Victor said, genuinely shocked, grabbing Adyr’s arm and tugging him forward.

"Let’s go! Which one’s next? Strength? Have you already finished durability? What was your score? I got 32 pretty amazing, right?" He rattled off, his words tumbling out with excitement.

But his energy was quickly cut short by Corven’s voice.

"Mr. Victor, you can’t observe another player’s physical test. I’m sorry."

"What? Why? There’s a small army of you here, isn’t there?" Victor raised an eyebrow. "What, do I need to wear a white cloak like yours?"

"No. We’re researchers. You’re a player. And players aren’t allowed to access each other’s private test data," Corven replied calmly.

Victor looked like he was about to argue, trying to think of a way to talk his way in—until Adyr stepped in.

"It’s okay. He has my permission," Adyr said, then turned to Corven. "That enough?"

Victor watching him and witnessing his power firsthand actually worked in Adyr’s favor. He needed Victor close for what came next, and this would save him the trouble of seeking him out later.

"If you’re giving consent, then I have no objections," Corven said with a nod.

"Haha, good. Now let’s go—show me what you’ve got!" Victor grinned, grabbing Adyr’s arm again and dragging him forward.

He was eager to see how far his best friend had come.