When a powerful wave of pressure pressed Alan into the floor, he was unexpectedly gripped with a soul-deep chill. It started at his feet, and slowly worked its way up to his head. It lingered for just a bit longer than he felt was necessary. The entire process was over within seconds, and left him feeling totally exposed.
Alan wasn't even given a chance to voice his opinion. His entire world exploded in a blaze of agony. Each of his cells began to divide at a phenomenal pace, propelling his body swiftly into a gut-wrenching cycle of death, and rebirth. His mind was unable to endure the strain and shut itself down to fend off lasting damage. While Alan's body was undergoing the process of being remade, the System took advantage of his malleable form. When it sensed the precise moment had arrived, it forced a tiny, colorless gem into the opening of his Spiritual Wellspring, right as it opened up wide enough to accept the offering. The gem immediately began to change color, turning a deep orange that corresponded to Alan's Human half. It swiftly restricted, and contained, one of the opposing wills in his soul. The orange gem containing his Human characteristics dimmed considerably before sinking into the depths of his Spiritual Wellspring. As it sank, Alan's Spiritual Energy became a hazy, neon green. Reflecting the currently dominant Beast-Folk half of his Soul. A prickling, pins and needles feeling woke Alan up. He was just in time to witness the chaotic storm of energy around him pull away. It only took the span of a heartbeat for the astounding ocean of interconnected energies to recede. He was once more left to float in an unending void. Blind. Drifting endlessly. A strange weakness, and the feeling of sharp rocks pressing into the back of his head and neck were the first things Alan felt when he awoke. His first sight was another dense cluster of System notices, blinking annoyingly for his attention. “Fuck my life,” Alan groaned in discomfort. He was barely able to gather up the necessary energy to open his eyes. After far more effort than it should've taken, he managed to get the right one open just enough to get his bearings, and pull up his notifications in an attempt to figure out what had just happened. Though he couldn't help but notice his vision seemed blurry, he wrote it off as a side effect of Evolution, and got to reading. Remarkable! You have successfully embarked upon your individualized Evolutionary Path, and ascended the first step of the Heavenly ladder! You have reached the (F-Stage) of Evolution! Your body has acclimated to the Energy-rich environment of the Multiverse. Remarkable! Due to the Effects of your Soul-Union, your Race (Human) has been modified to [Human (Variant)]! [Human (Variant)]- Though once a force to be reckoned with, The Human Race fell from power when their last true King cast aside peace in favor of commiting countless acts of genocide. Known to be an emotionally unstable, greedy, and warlike race, with the unique ability to use Spell and Technique Scrolls before receiving a Class. A (Variant) Human is a Human being who has assimilated one or more characteristics of another Race. +2 to all [Human (Varient)] Stats. Remarkable! Due to reaching the (F-Stage) You have gained the [Human (Variant)] Racial Trait [Unequaled Adaptability]! [Unequaled Adaptability]- From Scorched Wastelands, to Frozen Tundras, Due to their malleable nature, the Human Race was once known for their ability to thrive in even the most hostile environments. Increases the stability of your core temperature, reducing the effect of weather fluctuations. Reduces the effect of negative environmental influences. Increases your ability to assimilate into new cultures, vastly improving your chances of learning their languages and social queues. This is a Racial Trait shared among all Humans. Remarkable! Due to reaching the (F-Stage) You have gained the [Human (Variant)] Racial Trait [Ace of All Trades]! [Ace of All Trades]- Though created for a singular purpose, and stubborn by nature, the Human Race was known to excel in any field of study in which they applied themselves. Grants the ability to hold multiple professions. Increases the rate of Skill acquisition and Skill Leveling. This is a Racial Trait shared among all Humans. Remarkable! Due to reaching the (F-Stage), you have gained the [Human (Variant)] Racial Ability [Left eye of Maniae]! [Left eye of Maniae] Lvl 1- Within your left eye lies a well of madness and insanity. When activated at current Level, can be used to apply the (Fear) or (Rage) Debuffs to any target within view. You will be provided with new Debuff options every 10 Skill Levels. (Fear) Debuff- Target loses the will to fight for the duration of Debuff. Duration: At current Level, this Debuff only takes effect when wholly focused on a living target. To activate this Debuff, you must first be able to see the targeted enemy in its entirety. Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. (Rage) Debuff- Target enters a Mindless, berserk state for the duration of Debuff. Duration: At current Level, this Debuff only takes effect when wholly focused on a living target. To activate this Debuff, you must first be able to see the targeted enemy in its entirety. Remarkable! Due to the System's personal intervention, your Spiritual Wellspring has assimilated an (E-Stage) Soulgem. The conflicting components of your soul have been stabilized and separated. Because your body now houses two individual, isolated souls, you now possess access to the [Human (Variant)] Race, and the [Beast-Folk (Variant)] Race! [Beast-Folk (Variant)]- As a Race birthed from the progeny of Evolved base monsters, Beast-Folk are considered by some to be the unwanted Children of the System. Because they still possess Beast Cores, they are widely distrusted among the Races of the Multiverse. In the more populous sectors, they have no more rights than any other base monster. Known to be a proud, tribal Race. A (Variant) Beast-Folk is a member of the Beast-Folk Race who has assimilated one or more characteristics of another Race. +2 to all [Beast-Folk (Variant)] Stats. Remarkable! Due to acquiring a new Race, you have gained the [Beast-Folk (Variant)] Racial Trait- [Metabolic Shift]! [Metabolic Shift] Many of the Reptilian variants of Beast-Folk have been known to possess the ability to not only lower their Metabolism to better endure times of famine, but some even possess the ability to raise their metabolism. Provides immunity to most diseases, poisons, and toxins. Increases Recovery rate. Increases pain resistance. Remarkable! Due to acquiring a new Race, you have gained the [Beast-Folk (Variant)] Racial Ability [Left eye of Echidna]! [Left eye of Echidna] Lvl 1- Within your left eye lies a well of trauma and corruption. Once activated, can be used to apply the (Agony) or (Wasting) Debuffs to any target within view. You will be provided with new Debuff options every 10 Skill Levels. (Agony) Debuff- Targets Suffer phantom pain for the duration of Debuff. Duration: At current Level, this Debuff only takes effect when wholly focused on a living target. To activate this Debuff, you must first be able to see the targeted enemy in its entirety. (Wasting) Debuff- Target loses 1 HP per second for the duration of Debuff. Duration: At current Level, this Debuff only takes effect when wholly focused on a living target. To activate this Debuff, you must first be able to see the targeted enemy in its entirety. Remarkable! You have gained the (E-Stage) Racial Transformation Ability [Soulgem Cycle]! [Soulgem Cycle]- Once activated, this ability will allow you to swap between Races. Caution! [Soulgem Cycle] can only be activated once per day. (Current Cooldown: 22 hours) Remarkable! Your Unattuned Low (Copper-Grade) Cultivation Core has Awakened! Your Mana and Stamina pools have been absorbed by your Cultivation Core! Your Health Pool has been absorbed by your Spiritual Wellspring! The once-separated energies have merged, and returned to their true form. This form of Energy is known as Celestial Energy. Your Celestial Energy Pool is now housed within your Cultivation Core, and will be used to power your every ability. Caution! Due to the awakening of your Cultivation Core causing your Energy Pools to merge, your Mana and Stamina Channels and Gates are being rerouted and reformed… Success! Remarkable! Your Mana Channels, Stamina Channels and Mana Gates have been wholly remade into Celestial Tributaries and Deltas! Remarkable! You have been issued the (Hidden System Quest) Ascend the Heavenly Ladder! (0/??) Remarkable! You have been issued the (Hidden System Quest) Stabilize your Celestial Tributaries! (0/??) Remarkable! You have been issued the (Hidden System Quest) Unclog your Celestial Deltas! (0/??) He wasn't sure what to make of the information the notifications provided. If he wasn't mistaken, they were telling him that not only had he Evolved, but he was somehow now the owner of two separate Races. Is this it? Alan wondered, is this all my life is now? An endless loop of passing out, and waking up with piles upon piles of notifications? This is becoming absurd. I can't catch up. I haven't even been able to try out any of my Elemental Manipulation Skills, or use my [Mantle of Retribution], and now I have a whole new Race to worry about!… “Shit! I don't even have a reason not to use my Class Scroll now!“ “Alright, time to get up,” Alan said, but the words sounded gutteral, and harsh. If there was one thing he knew, it the sound of his own voice. And this was not it. Suddenly wary, yet fairly certain that he already knew what was going on, he needed to know for sure. Alan forced himself to sit up, and look down at himself. It was worse than he'd feared. His neck was sore, and seemed to have lost the majority of its range of motion. But when he craned his head from side to side, trying to loosen it up, he caught glimpses of a mottled pattern of aquamarine, green, and yellow scales covering every inch of his strangely muscular body. And due to the System having apparently unequipped his Armor before Evolution, he could see a LOT of scales. Alan's entire body now looked more like something chiseled out of armor plating, than one of flesh and bone. From his broadened shoulders, and sculpted chest, all the way down his toned legs and overly-long, webbed feet. The scales covered everything. He gently patted his face and ran his rough, warm palms back over the sides of his skull. What he felt made him shake his head in disbelief. Part of him wanted to cry. Not only did his features feel slightly distorted, but they were also covered in the same cool-to-the-touch scales. Worst of all, his ears were nothing more than narrow holes on either side of his head. Although the drastic changes were most definitely unsettling, he could deal with the scales. His recent acquisition of a dino-arm had somewhat softened the blow for him. But when he shifted his legs, and noticed that his family jewels were nowhere to be seen, Alan nearly had a heart attack. “Oh no. Oh no, oh no, oh no! What the fuck is this?!“ Alan flew into a panic at the seeming loss of his manhood. He rubbed his clawed, and scaly hands over the shiny, pearl-colored ventral scales layered over his blank crotch, and choked back a horrified sob. He had been neutered. His body was as bare and smooth as a Ken doll. How was he supposed to take a leak? Or do a number two?? But that was far from the worst of it. I never even got to use it! I never got to get laid!! “Fuck this!“ Alan growled out through a mouth that was now full of sharp teeth. “I'm supposed to have kids. Im a man dammit!! I've gotta figure out how to switch back to my Human form. And fast.“ Yet when he tried to activate his new Racial Transformation Ability [Soul Cycle], other than a notice popping up, absolutely nothing happened. Caution! [Soul Cycle] is on Cooldown! (Current Cooldown remaining: 21 Hours, 56 minutes) Alan began hyperventilating, and his head started spinning. When he fell over backwards, he didn't even bother to try stopping himself. Yet he never got to hit the floor. His limp reptilian form dangled backwards, balanced on the top of a long, thick tail. “Oh WHAT THE FUCK!!“ Alan let out a bestial roar that echoed freely around him. “I have a tail. I. Have. A. Tail. I'm a fucking nut-less lizard-man…” It was utterly ridiculous, yet a part of him found it all to be downright absurd. “Rexus is gonna love this... Ha… Ha ha…HAA HAA HAA!!“ Alan shook with laughter. Although the situation was fucked, there was a grim sort of humor to it that he found hard to ignore. Alan suddenly grew silent when he realized that the nagging worries about trying to convince Su'ong to agree with his Evolution had suddenly become a moot point. But now he had an even bigger problem. Although he was still struggling to remain awake, there was no way he could go to sleep at this point. At least not until he was able to convince Su'ong that he was still himself. That he wasn't some monster that had eaten the Alan she knew, and somehow taken on a rough approximation of his form while she Evolved. A part of him assumed that she would be able to sense it was him, simply through the connection now shared through their Souls. But because of the System's meddling, he couldn't afford to take that chance. What if Su'ong got the wrong idea and killed him in his sleep? He didn't think it was likely to play out that way, but he couldn't ignore the possibility. And there were still twenty-two hours remaining until he could activate [Soul Cycle] and reclaim his Human form. What's one more day without sleep… Alan tried to frown, but all that he accomplished was cutting his lip on a mouthful of sharpened teeth.