In the end, the night dragged on more than even I anticipated. For several rotations, the tortoise poked its head out of its shell, I harmed it and sucked away its life, it scoured its back with its tail, and then I would wait until it cautiously extended its vulnerable neck again before I struck.
In the downtime, I sat at the edge of the shell and watched blood dribble out of the head-hole.
While absorbing Anima still brought me pleasure, monsters are the same as humans; very quickly, they can become used to anything. Any drug-like euphoria I felt from absorbing its life energy became routine. My instincts barely even reacted to the hits.
Does that mean… the taste of the Anima I usually eat will now be horrid by comparison?
Two incidents separated an endless and bland series of notifications (with a light dusting of violence). First, around midnight, the notification for supporting the body parts came up, as well as a follow-up notification that because I had ignored my body’s natural instinct to rest at night, the Anima costs would be doubled.
Troublesome in theory, but I had a walking Anima bank trembling beneath me. I just made an extra special withdrawal to replenish my energy.
More worryingly, the tortoise at one point began to glow with energy.
Your Skill (Temp) Lesser Mana Detection has grown to Level 10(+14).
Your Skill (Temp) Lesser Mana Detection has grown to Level 10(+15).
Not again-
I flinched back and flailed my arms, expecting to be launched away from the body in a similar manner that Green was humbled during our battle with the Egg-Defender. However, instead, the Mana just condensed along the turtle’s shell.
This… just extra defense? Hum hum, okay, so we wait for longer…
The Blessing increased its defense for ten minutes. During that time, I struck the neck with my serrated foreleg, but I couldn’t even scratch it. I had to wait until the effect of the blessing faded to continue.
Despite the tortoise’s very clear lack of creativity, it did try and gain an advantage in that time. It dug itself deeper into the mud, threw mud on top of itself, and groaned in displeasure.
Such was its note of suffering that I almost felt bad for it.
Well, in the end, I forced myself to think of it as tedious labor. Labor to invest in this life and build up my own strength. Yet tedious enough I began activating Flutter Wings, just to feel slightly alive. I stared listlessly up at the night sky for a while, examining the stars. Then I looked down at the turtle underneath my feet. Ah… when this thing dies… I’m going to cut apart its shell and use it to make the floor of my new home…
Ohoho, yes, these are the sort of relaxed and pleasurable thoughts its possible to feel as a real estate developer…
I gathered value through earning Level Ups, especially in Absorb Anima, Detect Danger, and Lesser Mana Detection. But even I began to grow exasperated at this fellow’s endurance. The sky had begun to turn grey with the approaching dawn and I finally faced the possibility the turtle had some sort of recovery Skill it used when I could feel the turtle beneath me tremble and sigh.
Just like that, it died.
You have slain a Lvl 14 Swirlback Tortoise!
A Notable Achievement: For slaying an enemy five Levels and an Evolution above you, you have earned the Skill (Earned) Foolish Grit.
You have Leveled Up! Health +2, Anima +1. Evolutions are available!
You have Leveled Up! Health +2, Anima +1.
An Interesting Achievement: For gaining a Level when an evolution is available, +2 Health and Mana.
Ah… this is happiness… I did a little jig with my crayfish legs on top of the dead turtle. My tentacles undulated in triumph. I had done it: I had won. Not only had I reached Level 10, but I now had a massive turtle body to cut apart and choose new body parts. I had even caught up to Indigo in Levels. Who knows what an evolution entails… fufufu. Let the process begin!
Discovering evolution options.
Prior to Evolution, Skills will be assessed.
Oh? A list of my Skills after the long and boring night of turtle slaying was shown.
Skills: (Species) Absorb Anima Lvl 22, (Species) Integrate Body Part Lvl 18
(Earned) Inferior Body Manipulation Lvl 17, (Earned) Basic Wisdom Lvl 10(+3), (Earned) Foolish Grit Lvl 1
(Temp) Lesser Mana Detection Lvl 10 (+17), (Temp) Detect Danger Lvl 10(+10), (Temp) Feed Lvl 10, (Temp) Healing Tongue Lvl 1, (Temp) Dig Lvl 4, (Temp) Flutter Wings Lvl 7
Assessment finished. For a single Skill reaching Quantity [27], you have received a Notable Achievement. For two Skills above Quantity [20] you have received two Interesting Achievements. For four Skills reaching Quantity [10], you have received two Mundane Achievements.
I studied the assessment, considering. So it seemed that these achievements that I’d earned intermittently could also be claimed by increasing Skill Levels. But… what benefits did having more achievements bring me?
Calculating base Achievements… you possess 4 Mundane Achievements, 5 Interesting Achievements, and 3 Notable Achievements! Condensing Achievements for Evolution…
3 Mundane Achievements become 1 Interesting Achievement!
6 Interesting Achievements become 2 Notable Achievements!
5 Notable Achievements become a singular Epic Achievement!
Achievements for Evolution: 1 Mundane and 1 Epic.
Ah, apologies, great System. Obviously, achievements are very valuable. Hehe, is it just me, or does the word Epic in the system have a certain glittering orange allure…?
Achievements have been consumed! The more Achievements have been accumulated, the more likely it is that a mutation may occur.
As a (Nascent) Chimera Core, You may evolve into: [1] Lesser Chimera Core, [2] Incomplete Chimera Core, [*3*] Experimental Chimera Core
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As proof the System really had been reading my mind, the number 3 glittered with orange light on my notification. I coughed and maintained my cool disposition. I might definitely want to figure out what I had earned with such a tempting term as ‘Epic Achievement’ but also, I should investigate a bit.
After all, both Green and Indigo selected Incomplete Chimera Core.
Heh… perhaps they simply didn’t obtain as many Achievements as I…
Still, I focused on the evolution options and received a general overview.
Lesser Chimera Core: A newly created being engineered by the genius Necromancer Racain. As a Lesser Chimera Core, the energy it wields is not particularly advantageous, but it is considerably stable. Will obtain several Species Skills upon Evolution. Will obtain access to the Stats: Strength, Constitution, Agility, Intelligence.
Incomplete Chimera Core: A half-finished being engineered by the genius Necromancer Racain. Although the runic sigils animating this Chimera Core have some minor flaws, they can withstand a much larger amount of power than the Lesser varietals. There is a slight danger of these Chimera Cores degenerating, if the monster's energies are allowed to rage freely. Will obtain several Species Skills, as well as a Skill tailored to the individual upon Evolution. Will obtain access to the Stats: Strength, Constitution, Agility, Dexterity, Intelligence, Spirit, and Perception.
Ah, between the first two, an obvious choice. I nodded in understanding. More Stats, as well as a tailored Skill. The part about degeneration is a little worrying… but still. And finally… ah, my orange eden…
Experimental Chimera Core: Although derived from the blueprints of the genius Necromancer Racain, considerable alterations have occurred across the core formation due to repeated exposure to jolts of raw Mana. Energy mutations have caused a deviation in the structure of its core. It is difficult to predict the results. Some Species Skills could possibly be obtained. Some Stats could possibly be obtained. Mana will, at least, definitely increase.
This?
No, perhaps I clicked a more unreliable color. Surely this… cannot be the reward for my Epic Achievement?
…
…
…
After significant investigation… there is no mistake. The only guaranteed result is an increase in Mana?
If I have higher Mana, just how much will I sweat for when I activate my Blessing…
Still, the orange color-
Life is fleeting! All expectation is suffering! Haven’t I learned my lesson?
In the end, if it says it results from an Epic Achievement-
Please, me, be reasonable! Instincts, do you have any input?
It glitters. And it doesn’t mention possible degeneration.
No, Me, just think for a moment-
Why think when you can see ORANGE.
Self, I just want to point out that you have earned no Levels in Basic Wisdom during this process.
I’m sorry? It’s hard to hear you over the ringing bells of Epicness~
In the end, I couldn’t decide if it was foolish or not. But if I was being honest…
…and the difference between how I lived in this life and the last is exactly how willing I am to be honest about what I’m feeling…
I wanted to prove my worth. Even if it didn’t exactly make logical sense, I couldn’t let go of this opportunity to catch up, and even surpass, Green and Indigo with a special evolution option I had earned.
You have chosen to Evolve into an Experimental Chimera Core! The deviations in your core have been allowed to run rampant!
Uh? Surely there is a better way to-
My consciousness blanked out as pain similar to touching the bars of the Mana-charged cage seized me. Suddenly I understood that although my Achievements had given me the capability to follow this evolution, I also needed another push.
…in the form of all the times I had touched the cage and received jolts of raw Mana…
I writhed on top of the shell until my twitching body rolled off the turtle and collapsed into the mud. To my great shame, in my uncontrolled state my Blessing Dribble Invigorating Liquid Activated.
Due to unique actions, your Blessing Dribble Liquid has earned +5 Proficiency!
Really? Now? Sometimes, I really don’t understand-
Further thought became frothy bubbles of pain that popped as soon as they inflated. I twisted, unable to think. Luckily I didn’t need to breathe, because my muscles and ooze twitched, near useless. For a few minutes, I simply struggled to survive before that black oblivion. Horrible flashbacks of my first death, so filled with bitterness and regret, raked across my psyche.
Not like this. Not now. Not when I've finally... When I'm finally moving forward...!
The jolts ripped my small resistance apart, every time I started to feel stable. It felt like a pot had begun to boil in my jelly core and I was struggling to keep the lid latched in place. But because of the heated water, the whole pot began to burn as I pressed my jelly against it to keep it in place-
And then, gradually, the feeling receded.
But every time I wobbled back to my legs, the pain would return. It would be localized to a different sort of location, stemming out from a different body part. Each was agonizing in a different way, as suddenly even the absorbed body parts needed to withstand the trial of misery.
I regretted immensely my choice to have a full ten body parts for the evolution. And when the time came for my Monster Core to be tested-
I blacked out.
Only when the pain flowed out of me did my consciousness blearily return. To a strangely human sensation; the urge to sneeze. I propped myself as my whole body seized, each synchronized body part joining in the body-wide tightening. It started in my lower extremities and worked its way up through my internal organs.
And then I hacked up a small hunk of black crud. Ugh. Evolution flu?
With my form rid of whatever disgusting byproduct my evolution had produced, I crumpled to the ground. I stayed that way until around noon, when finally a new notification arrived.
Evolution complete! You have become an Experimental Chimera Core Lvl 11! You have gained the Skill (Species) Interstitial Body Structure! You have gained the Skill (Species) Contemplate Flesh! You have gained the Skill (Language) Bestial Comprehension!
Your deep attainment in Mana has affected the direction of your evolution! For you, it is someday possible to rewrite the foundational lines of your existence. Perhaps you can even stabilize and complete the core arrays of your allies. You have gained the Skill (Species) Basic Array Knowledge! Mana has become a permanent Stat! Mana +25. Health +10.
All extra Skill Levels have been consumed.
Your Skill (Temp) Lesser Mana Detection has Evolved into Mana Sensitivity! Skill has become (Earned).
Your Skill (Temp) Detect Danger has Evolved into Detection! Skill has become (Earned).
Your Skill Basic Wisdom has Evolved into Monster’s Wisdom!
Level Up gains have shifted (Health +2, Anima +1)—>(Health +5, Mana +3)
Displaying Status…
Name: Tallum Frost (Awakened)
Species: Experimental Chimera Core
Level: 11
Health: 45/45
Anima: 200
Kami Allegiance: (III) To and Fro the River Wanders [Dribble Invigorating Liquid 8/15]
Mana: 53/53
Integrated Body Parts(9/10):
[Hybrid Monster Core- Mana +5]
[Slightly Mushed Left Eye of the Vindictive Static Mongoose- Perception +5]
[Serrated Foreleg of the Patient Venom Mantis- Poise +4 and Attack +3]
[Wings of the Scowling Bluebird Chirper- Poise +2 and Agility+4]
[Sour and Malnourished Stomach of Lonely Crayfish Egg-Defender- Recovery +4 and Constitution +1]
[Beak of Cheerful Bluebird Chirper- Attack +1, Perception +1, Poise +1, and Agility +1]
[Slimy Yet Generous Tongue of the Three-Horned Swamp Frog- Accuracy +2 and Attack +2]
[Four Back Legs of the Prideful Crayfish Snapper- Agility +2]
[Digging Claws of the Buff Crayfish Mucker- Defense +1 and Strength +2]
Stats: (Temp) Perception: 7 (Temp) Poise: 7 (Temp) Recovery: 4
(Temp) Attack: 6 (Temp) Agility: 7 (Temp) Constitution: 1
(Temp) Accuracy: 2 (Temp) Strength: 2 (Temp) Defense: 1
Skills: (Species) Absorb Anima Lvl 22, (Species) Integrate Body Part Lvl 18, (Species) Interstitial Body Structure Lvl 1, (Species) Contemplate Flesh Lvl 1, (Species) Basic Array Knowledge Lvl 1
(Earned) Mana Sensitivity Lvl 1, (Earned) Detection Lvl 10, (Earned) Inferior Body Manipulation Lvl 17, (Earned) Monster’s Wisdom Lvl 1, (Earned) Foolish Grit Lvl 1
(Temp) Feed Lvl 10, (Temp) Healing Tongue Lvl 1, (Temp) Dig Lvl 4, (Temp) Flutter Wings Lvl 7
(Language) Bestial Comprehension Lvl 1