Mummy Evolution

[Successfully evolved to Tier 2 "MID" level in the Tomb Raider pathway]

Sett felt a surge of power. His strength jumped from 5.94 metric tons to 6.53, and his speed increased from 170 to 187. Every time someone advanced within a Tier, their power increased by about 10%, though it could vary slightly.

Advancing from Tier 0 to Tier 1 was a huge leap—it pushed a creature's body to its theoretical maximum strength for their species.

For humans, that theoretical, potential limit was 1 metric ton.

So, a Tier 1 Low-level Tomb Raider from the human species would start with around that level of strength.

But for stronger creatures, like a Tyrannosaurus rex, that theoretical maximum was much higher.

At Tier 1 Low, a T. rex would already have about 40–50 metric tons of strength. And every time it advanced, that 10% boost would apply to its massive power.

A normal human could never compete with that raw strength, even if they became a Tomb Raider.

As a Tomb Raider progressed through Tier 1—Low, Mid, High, Grand, and Sacred—they gained five 10% boosts based on their starting Tier 1 strength. By Tier 1 Sacred, a human's strength would reach about 1.5 metric tons, while a T. rex would reach around 75 metric tons.

Then came another major factor—major Tier breakthroughs.

Eating a Tier 2 Tomb Heart gave a permanent 35% increase in strength. For a human at Tier 1 Sacred, that would boost them from 1.5 tons to roughly 2 metric tons. But for a T. rex? 75 tons would jump to over 100 tons. The stronger the base, the greater the boost.

Upon reaching Tier 2, strength progression changed. Instead of gaining 10% of their original base strength upon every minor breakthrough, Tomb Raiders would now get 10% of their new strength each time they advanced—meaning their power grew exponentially.

But the real game-changer was the Tier 3 Tomb Heart.

Eating one for the first time multiplied a person's current strength by tenfold.

2 tons would become 20 tons.

3 tons would become 30 tons.

Sett wanted to be his strongest possible self when he eats a Tier 3 Tomb Heart.

As he thought of that, the remaining Tomb Hearts from the hyena began to work its wonders.

[Tier 2 Tomb Raider: 6/9 Tomb Hearts]

["Mid" Tier 2 Tomb Raider evolution requirements met]

A wave of energy rushed through Sett. His exhaustion disappeared, and his strength increased by another 10%.

[Successfully evolved to Tier 2 "MID" level in the Tomb Walker pathway]

A pale screen of light flickered beside him.

—

[Updated Physical Attributes]

Approximate Strength: 7.18 Metric Tons

Durability: Equal to a body made of Diamond (No change)

Speed: 205.7 km/h (128 mph) at max

Resilience: Mummies don't need sleep (No change)

Regeneration: Can passively heal minor wounds like small cuts in mere seconds (No change)

—

Half an hour later.

It was already dark and night was cold amidst storms.

The desert stretched endlessly before Sett and Shining Gold, a chaotic swirl of sand and wind that whispered death with every gust. The storm had calmed slightly, enough for them to catch their breath after the last fight, but the air still carried an electric tension.

Sett's bare feet sank into the shifting dunes, his golden eyes scanning the horizon for their next target. Beside him, Gold adjusted his shimmering armor, the golden plates glinting faintly under the fractured moonlight.

By now, Gold understood what Sett was doing.

Sett seemed to be able to heal using the power of corpses, so he was storing powerful corpses in his Storage Ability.

Having figured that out, Gold knew that they would only return after Sett had his fill. And even though it was a weird fact, they were quite formidable when they worked together. So, Gold didn't find killing these beasts a big hurdle.

In fact, he liked it.

It soothed his traumas from seeing that anaconda the other day.

"There," Gold said, pointing toward a ripple in the sand about fifty meters ahead. His Axiom of Metal—Heartbeat of Metal—pulsed through the ground, sensing the faint metallic echo of blood beneath the surface. "It's big. Tier 2 Grand. Stronger than the Lion, but not as fast as that damn Hyena."

Sett squinted, his vision cutting through the haze. The sand parted slightly, revealing the first glimpse of their prey.

A massive shape began to emerge, slow and deliberate, as if the desert itself were birthing it. First came the curved, obsidian-black horns—two of them, wickedly sharp and spiraling upward like the towers of some ancient ruin. Then the head, broad and armored with thick, bony plates that gleamed like polished stone.

Its eyes glowed a dull crimson, locked onto them with cold, unyielding focus.

A Desert Rhino.

Tier 2 Grand.

Sett's mind raced through its stats.

This was going to be a dangerous battle.

—

[Desert Rhino/Time Fragment]

Approximate Strength: 27 Metric Tons

Durability: Equal to Graphene

Speed: 100 km/h (62 mph) at max

Resilience: Gets tired after moving constantly for a few hours

Regeneration: Slow but steady—deep gashes close over hours

—

This thing was a juggernaut. Its raw power outclassed Sett's and its durability meant their attacks would barely scratch it unless they used their best abilities. But it was slow—slow enough for Sett's speed and Gold's agility to exploit.

A fair fight, if they played it smart.

"Alright," Sett said, cracking his knuckles. "I'll draw it in. You flank it with that sword of yours. Aim for the eyes or the joints—anywhere that's vital."

Gold nodded, his Sword of Gold materializing in his hand with a faint hum.

"Got it. Let's crack this bastard open."

The Rhino snorted, a plume of dust erupting from its nostrils as it pawed the ground. The sand trembled beneath its weight—easily three tons of muscle and bone. It lowered its head, horns angled forward, and charged. The earth shook with each thunderous step, a living battering ram barreling toward them.

Sett grinned, his body tensing. He was about to dart forward when—

CRASH!

The sand exploded behind the Rhino, a monstrous force ripping through the dune like a tidal wave. A shadow—long, sinuous, and impossibly fast—shot out of the ground. Before Sett or Gold could react, a gaping maw lined with jagged, inward-curving fangs engulfed the Rhino whole. The beast's crimson eyes widened in shock, its charge halted mid-stride as it vanished into the abyss of that mouth.

A wet, sickening crunch echoed through the desert, followed by a grotesque gurgle. The sand settled, revealing the new predator.

An Anaconda.

Tier 2 Sacred.