Ultimate Evolution I Became the Master of the World

Henrik didn't bail from the school.

But he was still hella lost. Even though he managed to ditch the creepy school building with Nikolai's help, he was still stuck here.

To dodge the old man, he bolted into a small grove outside the school playground.

The grove wasn't huge.

But in the dark, the few trees here felt like a freakin' jungle, trapping Henrik and the few classmates left. No matter which way they went, they couldn't get out.

"Seriously, what the hell? Why's that old ghost still tailing me? Shouldn't he be after Michael?" Henrik was freaking out. "Michael's gotta be dead. He's dead, so the old ghost picked me. That's gotta be it." "The future's all messed up, so now I'm the one replacing Michael as the ghost's target."

"But I'm not Michael. How the hell am I supposed to survive this ghost?"

Henrik was kicking himself. If he had known, he would've tricked Michael into going first while he hid in the back.

He was too hasty and forgot that Michael wasn't the biggest threat right now; the old man was the real nightmare.

"Henrik, listen, those footsteps are back," someone next to him said, voice shaking.

"Already? One life should've bought us a few minutes," Henrik looked up, gritting his teeth, and glanced at the few people around him.

The remaining classmates avoided his gaze like he was the plague.

Along the way, Henrik had ditched over a dozen classmates, starting with shoving Michael into the bathroom, all to use their lives to stall the ghost.

Some folks didn't want to be bossed around by Henrik and chose to run off, disappearing into the darkness, never seen again.

Now, only a few classmates were left.

It wasn't that they didn't want to run but didn't dare to. Sticking with Henrik had kept them alive so far, and those who left earlier might already be dead.

Henrik, knowing a bit more, had become a tyrant among this group, instilling fear.

"Damn it, these guys have wised up. They won't let me ditch them anymore. If I try, they'll probably bolt immediately," Henrik cursed in his head, sensing the others' wariness and hostility. "Let's go." He shouted.

He didn't force anyone to stay this time but kept calling out and running through the dark grove.

But then, Henrik's phone suddenly rang.

It was a call from David. Henrik hesitated but decided to answer.

He thought, 'David and the others had split up earlier, and there might be some news, so they are calling to fill me in.'

"Henrik, it's me, Michael." Michael's voice came from the other end.

Henrik almost jumped out of his skin, nearly dropping his phone.

"Aren't you dead? Are you a human or a ghost?"

"I'm not dead yet." Michael's voice was icy on the phone.

Henrik was spooked. He had personally shoved Michael into the haunted bathroom, and he hadn't died. No ordinary person could survive that. How did he do it?

"Why are you calling me now?" He forced himself to calm down and asked.

Michael said, "Do you want to live? Do you want to get out of this school alive?"

"You got a way?" Henrik asked, surprised.

"I've become a Ghost Handler. Do you think I have a way?" Michael said.

Henrik said, "Great, get me out of here."

Michael laughed mockingly.

"I didn't mean to do what I did before. I was just trying to survive. As long as you get me out of here, you can do whatever you want," Henrik said urgently, clutching his phone. Michael snapped, "Shut up. If you want me to get you out, you gotta do exactly what I say. Otherwise, get ready to die here." "What do you want?"

"I ran into Nikolai earlier. He said you're not normal. I wanna know what's up with that. Also, someone mentioned you know the future when we were in the classroom. Is that true?" Michael asked. Henrik answered, "Yeah, that's right. I know the future. I got info about everything that's gonna happen."

Then he added, "Get me outta here and I'll spill everything about the future. You won't last long as a Ghost Handler, but I got a way to keep you alive. Follow my method, and you can have the ghost's power without worrying about it taking over your body. It's a method from the International Research Center, still top secret. It'll be out in three months.

"With my info, you'll be unstoppable."

"You're full of it. Nikolai said no one can come from the future, and he mentioned the research center's done similar experiments," Michael continued.

Henrik was floored as he heard the footsteps getting closer and started running faster, panting hard. "I don't have memories of the future. The info I know comes from a piece of parchment. My future self sent it somehow, with everything written on it. It was written by me ten years from now. Michael, save me quick. If I die, you won't get any info."

A parchment with future info?

Michael was stunned.

If people couldn't come back from the future, maybe objects could.

It was possible.

"I want that parchment," Michael demanded.

"No way, it's mine," Henrik shot back.

"You don't have a choice. That ghost is right on your tail. What good is knowing the future if you're dead? Knowing more won't help if you're dead," Michael said. Henrik hesitated.

But the footsteps were getting closer.

"Okay, fine," he said hurriedly. Henrik was exhausted, surrounded by darkness. His phone's light showed he was still in the grove.

He couldn't get out, and he didn't want to die, so he had to compromise.

"Michael, I can give it to you, but how do I know you can actually save me?" Henrik, scared of dying, was still cautious.

Michael said, "I can teach you how to ditch the ghost, but you only get one shot. If you try to trick me again, the deal's off."

"Okay, what do you want me to do?" Henrik asked.

"Go left," Michael instructed.

Henrik gritted his teeth and immediately changed direction, running to the left.

"Now go right," Michael continued.

Henrik followed, feeling a surge of hope.

The footsteps behind him were fading. He was getting away from the ghost.

It was working. Michael really could save him.

"Hand over the parchment," Michael demanded.

Henrik's eyes flickered. "What if you don't save me after I give it to you? Get me out of here. As soon as we're out of the school, I'll give it to you." "So, the deal's off? Fine, watch out, that ghost is catching up again," Michael said.

The call ended.

At the same time, the footsteps behind Henrik picked up, making him tremble all over.

Henrik looked around.

At some point, the few classmates who had been with him were gone. He was the only one left.