Super Gene Chapter 1: Supergene

Beside a stony creek nestled in a valley, a young man clad in black gripped a beetle with a metallic luster, a creature appearing like a strange hybrid between a crab and a Hercules beetle.

With a dagger firmly in his other hand, the youth swiftly severed the creature's struggling claws, exposing the tender white meat within.

Ignoring any hesitation, he sucked the meat from the legs as if enjoying a crab, swallowing the tougher portions of flesh almost immediately.

"Black beetle killed. No beast soul gained. Consume the black beetle’s flesh for a random chance to gain zero to ten geno points."

"Black beetle flesh consumed. Zero geno points gained."

A mysterious voice echoed inside Han Sen’s mind, accompanied by a flickering display of data.

Han Sen: Not evolved.

Status: None.

Lifespan: 200 years.

Requirement for evolution: 100 geno points.

Geno points acquired: 79.

Beast souls obtained: none.

"I have failed to gain even a single geno point from over thirty beetles consecutively. I must have reached the limit for evolving through this specific species. Zero points! When will I ever break through the first evolution and earn a status?" Han Sen sighed in frustration.

Over a century ago, human science and technology soared to unprecedented heights, finally mastering the secrets of space teleportation. Startlingly, their initial tests revealed that they were neither transported through time nor to distant planets. Instead, the teleportation channel opened a gateway to an entirely different, unknown world.

It was a realm beyond human comprehension. Within its borders, human technology became entirely obsolete: a modern machine gun was far less effective than a simple steel blade. Missiles and nuclear armaments failed to detonate, becoming little more than heaps of scrap metal, and all electronic devices ceased operation.

This world was teeming with terrifying creatures. Humanity, previously dominant thanks to their technology and intellect, found themselves pushed to the lowest rung of the food chain.

However, survivors soon discovered that consuming the flesh of the weaker creatures triggered inexplicable, rapid physical evolution. Even more exhilarating, these changes extended their lifespans, offering monumental hope to the entire human race.

Throughout the following century, increasing numbers of people ventured into this realm, now dubbed "God’s Sanctuary." They adapted to its brutal laws, hunting its monsters to trigger their own evolution. The theory suggested that since physical evolution correlated with longevity, those who could continue to evolve might eventually attain immortality.

In this land, technology was useless. The only allies for humanity were primitive combat skills, leading to a resurgence of ancient martial arts that had nearly vanished in modern times.

Various martial arts schools blossomed, and after a century of refinement, several prominent styles emerged to guide humanity.

Beyond martial arts, God’s Sanctuary offered another profound boon: the beast soul. After slaying a creature, a survivor might obtain its beast soul. These manifestations appeared in diverse forms—some could be summoned into battle, while others transformed into armor or weapons.

Certain rare beast souls even allowed humans to shapeshift, granting them the power of monstrous predators, majestic birds, or insects that burrowed through the earth.

Yet, neither martial arts nor beast souls were easily accessible to Han Sen.

Even in modern society, the fruits of advanced technology remained reserved for the elite. Upon finishing his compulsory education at sixteen, Han Sen entered God’s Sanctuary with nothing but the most basic, fundamental martial arts knowledge provided by public schools.

As for beast souls, their cost was so exorbitant that even the most affordable ones were beyond his grasp.

Lacking top-tier martial arts, beast souls, or even high-grade alloy weapons, Han Sen struggled to survive by occasionally killing low-level prey. His progress was agonizingly slow.

The more common meat he consumed, the less effective it became for his development. After three months in God’s Sanctuary, he had yet to complete a single physical evolution.

Han Sen had attempted to hunt tougher targets, but even the weakest creature—the copper-toothed beast—had nearly claimed his life, forcing him to spend a month recovering before he dared return.

He had exhausted the local supply of ordinary creatures; if he failed to challenge more formidable foes, he would remain stunted forever. Just as he prepared to confront a copper-toothed beast, a ripple in the creek caught his attention.

Initially assuming it was another black beetle, he suddenly spotted a distinctive golden glint upon the shell.

He watched as the creature emerged from the water. It was clearly a black beetle, yet as large as a basketball, its frame shimmering like a golden sculpture with eyes like crystal gems. It hardly seemed like a living thing at all.

"Why is this creature so different?" Han Sen focused intently on the golden beetle.

Having hunted countless black beetles, he knew their habits intimately. Their eyesight was abysmal, though their hearing remained keen. As long as he stayed completely still, he could remain unnoticed even at close range.

To his surprise, the strange, golden specimen crawled directly toward him.

He seized the chance immediately. Grabbing the shell with one hand, he swiftly drove his dagger into its exposed joints. Six precise, rhythmic strikes severed all six legs.

As the golden beetle flipped over in distress, Han Sen plunged his blade into a white mark on its abdomen and twisted. The creature instantly fell still.

"Sacred-blood creature black beetle killed. Beast soul of sacred-blood black beetle gained. Consume the flesh of the sacred-blood black beetle to gain 0 to 10 geno points randomly."