The so-called evolution point is a mysterious liquid similar to a hormone. It is secreted by the pineal gland and distributed by the brain within conscious thought. Decades ago, the method of greatly increasing physical abilities through intense training by human soldiers was still used by both the Earth Republic and the New Alliance. However, after billions of years of accumulated evolution and the constant emergence of advanced technologies, the pineal gland hormone produced under genetic guidance has given rise to entirely new ways for humans to enhance themselves during intense physical activity.

According to biologists, a dose of hormone naturally produced by the pineal gland—commonly referred to as an evolution point—will directly trigger a corresponding ability to multiply, no matter which part of the body it is invested in. In other words, investing one evolution point in physical ability grants a capacity equivalent to 200% of the pre-evolution level.

However, this is only theoretical research data. In reality, the chance that hormone stimulation will ensure the evolver gains multiplied abilities is at most 3.65%. Take William Grant for example: his vision and hearing range exceed those of normal people by 60% and 40%, respectively. For this, he invested a total of two evolution points, yet the combined result barely adds up to a total value of one hundred.

The appearance of evolution points is extremely rare. The human body must reach a certain critical threshold of overall ability before the pineal gland can produce a very limited amount of hormone. Under normal circumstances, an ordinary person may only have one or two chances to evolve in their entire lifetime. Therefore, the vast majority of people choose to enhance muscle, bone, and other strength systems, or defensive abilities like skin toughness, or cognitive functions such as mental computation. Officers like William Grant, who directly invest two evolution points into vision and hearing, are exceedingly rare.

On this, William Grant has his own explanation.

Unlike melee soldiers or other thermal weapon operators, reconnaissance infantry require the keenest perception of their surroundings. Regardless of whether intelligence can actually be gathered during operations, being able to detect danger even one second earlier means a greater chance of survival.

No one expected the Pan-Union Army patrol to appear from that direction. If not for William Grant's exceptional vision and acute hearing, the entire reconnaissance squad would not even have had the chance to retreat to this valley—they would have been wiped out on the spot by the enemy, who held the advantage in firepower and manpower.

William Grant's face grew increasingly pale, completely devoid of color.

The entire squad was utterly suppressed by the enemy. If they wanted to survive, their only option was to retreat north to the abandoned S12 mining area. Yet the radiation levels in that area... exceeded what humans could endure by several hundred times.

He had once personally witnessed a military medical officer, separated by a protective barrier, subject a strong prairie antelope to excessive radiation exposure—after just over forty minutes, the antelope's skin showed massive ulceration. Muscles sloughed off, bones became brittle, and the once-bright red internal organs turned a cooked, grayish color...

“No... no, I don't want to, I don't want this.”

Despairing, William Grant lay trembling behind a rock, watching the Pan-Union Army armored vehicles draw ever closer. He gripped his assault rifle tightly, turning the muzzle toward his own throat. His right thumb, shaking violently, struggled with extreme difficulty to slowly reach the trigger.

He did not want to be captured, nor did he wish to enter the high-radiation zone and die an ambiguous, inhuman death.

“Bang—”

Suddenly, a howling wind swept overhead, carrying from afar a dull, strange gunshot that clashed with the “tat-tat” rhythm of the New Alliance's heavy machine gun fire.

The Pan-Union Army commander standing beside the armored vehicle stared wide-eyed, his face frozen in an expression of disbelief and terror. A bullet hole had appeared in the center of his brow, from which a thin stream of bright red blood was oozing.

“Bang—”

The harsh gunshot rang out again, striking the machine gunner atop the armored vehicle squarely in the left side of the neck. The powerful bullet blew apart the entire left shoulder and chest, and the body, split in two, toppled sideways like a pile of knocked-over building blocks. The heavy machine gun, which had been spitting fire, fell silent.

“There’s a sniper—it’s one of ours—”

William Grant's eyes narrowed, and the finger that had been on the trigger quickly shifted, gripping the assault rifle firmly once more. He immediately turned sideways, took out his binoculars, and looked in the direction of the gunshot. Behind a bare rock with no trees, a faint wisp of blue smoke was slowly drifting upward.

“The sniping distance is at least over 4,500 meters. This... this is impossible—”

Blood surged rapidly through William Grant's body, rushing to his head in an instant, spurring his brain to operate at an unprecedented speed. Shock, awe, ecstasy, fear... countless complex thoughts flashed by in an instant, only to vanish just as quickly under the dual assault of reason and frenzy.

There was no doubt that the mysterious shooter was on their side. Of this, William Grant was certain.

However, to accomplish this under the current circumstances was simply impossible.