With his current strength, the clone could face opponents of the same rank with relative ease. Even if they were at the peak of F-Rank, he could still handle them. But when it came to E-Rank enemies, that was a completely different story.
By nature, beasts tended to be stronger than humans at the same rank. This was because most of them hunted and fought every day. Their survival instincts were sharper, and their combat experience was far greater.
It could sometimes be true for humans as well, but it was rare. Unless someone had trained intensely since childhood, they could not hope to reach the same level later in life, at least not so quickly.
That said, if Evan could have joined the fight himself, the two of them together could have handled the bear with some effort. But doing it alone was risky, a bit too risky for Evan's liking. If he could avoid unnecessary risks, he would.
And that was exactly what he had done.
The rabbit the bear had eaten had been placed there deliberately by the clone, one of several that had been caught and released in the bear's hunting grounds, left there until one inevitably got picked off.
Hidden inside it was a strong poison extracted from the F-Rank forest anacondas the clone had hunted in the days prior.
While not lethal to an E-Rank, it was enough to weaken it significantly, since one of its effects was partial paralysis. The dose had been carefully measured and concealed inside the rabbit's body so the beast wouldn't detect it until it was already too late. And judging by how things had unfolded, the plan had worked.
With a sharp burst of speed, Shadow closed the distance on the thrashing bear as it howled and convulsed in pain.
Taking advantage of the beast's distraction, the clone struck swiftly with the black sword materialized in his hand, aiming for the creature's thighs.
ROAR!
The moment Shadow approached, the bear sensed him, but it was already too late to dodge.
The blade sliced through the muscles of its legs.
Evan had not aimed for the head or other vital areas. Those places were easier to defend and, more importantly, heavily protected by the thick armored layers of the bear's hide.
If he wanted to kill it, he had to do it in a way that prevented the beast from defending itself.
And for that, he chose to limit its mobility.
Dark red, thick blood splattered onto the ground, staining the forest grass.
The bear staggered.
For a moment its massive body trembled. Then its hind legs suddenly collapsed beneath its weight. Torn muscles hung like shredded strands of flesh, while the poison had already begun spreading through its circulatory system, slowing the response of its nerves.
ROAR!
The roar was no longer filled with rage.
It was filled with panic.
Shadow didn't back off.
Its black blade hummed in its hand as if alive, a dark edge that seemed to swallow the light around it. There was no hesitation in its movements, no emotion in its gaze.
The bear attempted one last desperate attack. Digging its front paws into the ground, it launched itself forward using only the strength of its upper body.
Its claws tore through the air where Shadow had stood a moment earlier.
Too slow.
The poison was already taking effect.
The beast's pupils dilated, its breathing became irregular. Movements that had once been explosive were now heavy and sluggish.
Shadow slipped to the side like a shadow carried by the wind.
A second strike.
The black blade traced an arc and struck beneath the shoulder, piercing between the ribs where the defense was weakest.
The bear collapsed onto its side, the ground trembling from the impact.
It was still alive, breathing heavily as it struggled to cling to life.
With desperate effort it tried to stand, but its hind legs no longer responded. The poison had completely numbed the nerves.
Shadow walked forward slowly.
No rush.
He raised the shadow sword above the beast's head, his eyes cold and devoid of compassion.
Seeing the blade, the bear roared desperately, perhaps in rage, perhaps in despair.
Then the sword fell.
With a single clean strike, the black blade cut through flesh and bone, severing the beast's neck.
[Ding! Your clone has killed an E-Rank (Early Stage) Ironhide Bear!]
[You gained +90 ESS]
Needless to say, the ESS gain was substantial for both of them. If Evan had obtained 90 ESS, then his clone must have received at least 210 ESS.
[Ding! Your clone has absorbed the life energy of an E-Rank beast!]
[Ding! Advancement mission completed!]
[Your clone has met all the requirements to rank up!]
[Initializing advancement process...]
The moment these notifications echoed in Evan's mind, he felt a change occur within his clone.
When he focused his senses, he noticed that the clone had melted into a nearby shadow.
Inside his Soul Sea, the avatar of his clone began reacting intensely. A swirling black energy started to emerge from its feet, quickly wrapping around it like a cocoon.
Evan stopped what he was doing and lost himself for a moment in the scene unfolding within his Soul Sea.
In front of the cocoon, a system screen appeared displaying a loading bar.
[Evolution in progress...]
[10%] [15%] [24%]
...
[99%]
The progress bar seemed to take an eternity, yet barely ten seconds had passed before it finally reached 100%.
[Congratulations. Your clone has successfully evolved.]
The moment that notification rang out, the cocoon, which had been relatively still until now, began to pulse faintly. An almost imperceptible violet glow appeared, then vanished. Then it returned, a little more intense, then again.
It pulsed with growing intensity, each beat stronger than the last, until the rhythm accelerated, and soon the cocoon began to tremble as visible cracks spread across its entire surface.
Then it burst.
A dark violet energy burst outward in all directions, expanding to a radius of five meters from where the cocoon had been.
For a moment, everything froze, as if time itself had stopped.
Then, as if time had suddenly reversed, the energy rushed back toward the center. A brilliant violet flash appeared before vanishing just as quickly.
When visibility returned within the Soul Space, Evan saw that the cocoon had disappeared.
So had his clone.
In its place stood a slightly taller humanoid figure, about 1.80 meters tall.
It was draped in a worn hooded cloak, with short hair like Evan's that rippled as if stirred by an invisible breeze. It no longer wore the ragged clothes from before, but what appeared to be a kind of adventurer's outfit made of old leather. At its waist hung a belt, a dagger on one side, a sword on the other. It wore leather gloves with metal knuckles.
Its face looked more human than before. No longer torn, more complete, slightly gaunt, as if it hadn't eaten much, but healthier than it had been. Still dark, as if made of living shadow, but more defined now. Its eyes sharper, no longer hollow voids leaking light, but actual eyes, with faintly glowing violet pupils.
It was a version of him. But at the same time, something a little different. Something stronger.
As the evolution completed, the clone's status screen appeared before it once again.
---
[Name: Shadow]
[Rank: F -> E]
[ESS: 1,5%]
[Title: Grave Binder]
[Bloodline: God of Death]
[Skills]: 4
[Description]: Once a newborn creature of death, now a Grave Binder. A creature of death, just beginning its path of evolution with steady steps.
---