The summer heat was starting to come through.

"Hooop!" The people on the city wall yelled in unison as they pulled a bucket of water up.

Water was essential in such hot temperatures. They had the option of having their water ability users summon water, but it would be a waste of energy.

Everyone on top of the wall was lively. They could feel their job become easier day by day. The monsters that were initially a huge threat did not seem to be that huge of a deal anymore. This was all due to one group.

The Primo Corp.

No one knew where they got it from but the [Great Human Method] truly changed everything. On top of consuming monster meat, they could also use this technique to become stronger.

By taking in the surrounding mana, they could feel their body becoming more refined day by day. This was reflected in their stats.

At the bottom of the wall, a group of [Users] waved their goodbyes.

On top of using [Users] to protect the city, another group had to be created to deal with the ever present dungeon. If no one was there to clean out the dungeon regularly, minotaurs would leak out and terrorize the surrounding regions.

Huge projects were going underway at the moment.

At the mayor's office.

"You probably thought that my action of giving out the [Great Human Method] to everyone was rash, right?" Winter said calmly.

Opposite of him was the mayor whose face was drained of blood. Their hidden conflict had gone on for long enough. It was about time that this conflict was settled. In the end, it was him that lost.

"The people now have unwavering faith in me. They'll listen to whatever I say. However, there's only one thing left in the way. Do you know what that is?" Winter continued.

"Wh… what do you want me to do?" The mayor said slowly.

"You have a wife. You have children. You have a family."

"Just tell me what I need to do!"

"Although the people's faith in me is unwavering, they still believe in the law. Lawfulness of the city. They wouldn't like it if I suddenly took over, would they…?"

"I'll do it. I'll work for you. I'll work for you." The mayor said softly. His face regained a bit of color. Was it relief? He did not know.

"Good. I like smart people the most," Winter stood up and patted the mayor on the shoulder. "Look forward to it. My empire is just beginning!"

Meanwhile, in a hidden hideout.

Many men were gathered. They were all of different shapes and sizes. There was only one thing in common- the mask and the cloak.

It appeared to be a secret meeting of some sort. Everyone had a mask on that covered at least half their face as well as a dark cloak that covered their figures.

Not only were [Users] in this crowd, there were regular people as well. No, regular would be an understatement. They were former regular people. They were now people that were strong enough to contend against even without the use of abilities.

The room was dark, but it was s.p.a.cious. Everyone had enough s.p.a.ce to themselves. It was strangely quiet. They were all waiting for something.

Ting!

A metal door opened and a figure walked in.

A fairly burly body and an average face with black hair and eyes that were as dark as the night. A cloak could not hide this muscular man's toned body. This man was Shadow.

"h.e.l.lo everyone," Shadow greeted. His voice reverberated throughout the entire hideout. He was the one who invited them all here.

"You've all experienced the wonder of the [Great Human Method]... and you all came because I promised something greater,"

All eyes focused on Shadow's lone figure. He took his hand out of his cloak and mana began to gather.

"I am a man of my words. Feast your eye on this power!"

Mana gathered around Shadow like a tornado. The first part of the [Great Human Method] was [Gathering]. This allowed the user to gather mana into their body. Due to the nature of mana, the body would be naturally refined without having to do much to this mana. However, this process was actually incomplete.

There was a second part to this.

[Harmonization]!

"Do you think this is just from my ability? Wrong. This is the complete [Great Human Method]!"

At this point, everyone was already visibly shook.

"What do you want us to do?" A man finally spoke up. He could no longer suppress his greed. With this, he would be strong. Stronger than [Users]... the ones that didn't have this.

"It's simple," Shadow said. "You just need to follow my orders,"

"..."

"..."

"Of course, it would not be as simple as that. Do you think it's that easy to get this power? Prove your loyalty!"

Shadow's suffocating aura filled the hideout, pressing down on the spirits of all that are present. With this, Shadow's first step of revenge had started. He would gather a force. A strong and loyal force. One would wipe the [Great Human Lab] off the face of the earth!

He could not wait… Every second wasted was another test subject experimented on. Not only was he going to get revenge, he would save those poor souls too!