Looking over at my mouse, I found him curled up asleep in his nest. I was curious on how my little mouse got the final level, but then I saw the shell of a large spider. Looking at it I realized this was not one of my Tasmanian spiders, but one more akin to a huntsman spider. With a large body and longer legs, these spiders are active hunters instead of waiting in nests. But for this poor unfortunate soul, it ran into a hunter of hunters. It would seem that this spider must have come from the hole in the cavern wall, which with how focused I was on the battle and everything else, isn’t all that surprising.

Either way I decided to pull up my mighty mouse’s status and see how evolution worked. Right before I could actually read any options something else popped up instead.

Evolution Tutorial

The System would like to offer you a quick tutorial on evolution and how it works for you and your monsters

Yes/No

I had almost forgotten about tutorials at this point, seeing how my last one was on my ecosystem skill. Well not like my choice was going to change from the past I selected yes.

It had been a while but I once again was in the grey room. I took a quick glance to see if there was anything new, before focusing on the wall.

Welcome to the evolution guideline tutorial! Thank you for clicking yes and reprieving us of the infinite boredom of watch….

Ahem…I mean thank you for accepting the tutorial to help you learn the basic rules and guidelines of evolution on this planet.

There was definitely more to the system than just a guide, but seeing how it was trying to ignore it, I decide to play along.

On this world, evolution is the way for a creature or being to gain new skills and abilities. It is also the chance for a creature or species to gain sapience and join the other sapient beings of the planet. Evolution is granted when a creature reaches the certain criteria, not just max level. This means that a creature can reach its max level and never evolve. The chance of this happening is based on their evolution chance seen in their status page. While one creature of a species can meet the criteria, it does not mean all creatures will.

This chance not only affects if a creature may evolve, but their options as well. A creature with a high evolution chance may have many options to choose from, giving them a better chance of evolution. But do not confuse chance with quality. A creature with a low chance of evolution may have fewer options, but due to the harder nature, may have better quality in their choices. This of course is not absolute as all creature’s evolution choices are based on their life and actions up to that point.

A creature that just gained levels by doing the absolute minimum will have lower chances to evolve and lesser quality choices. Because of this, dungeon creatures and sapient and semi-sapient creatures tend to have the best chances and choices in evolution. Dungeon creatures tend to face more risk and battles giving them better chances and sometimes better quality choices. Meanwhile sapient and semi-sapient creatures are able to make better sound judgment and choices, allowing them to sculpt their choices. Some sapient creatures are no longer able to evolve, unless put into dire circumstances, and as such are given the right to classes instead. But that is for a later date.

If a creature is able to evolve you, as a dungeon core, will be given the right to choose their next form. You may also give said right to the creature itself, or ask the opinion of the creature in making the choice. You will not be able to see any stats or abilities, unless they are mentioned in the basic description. This is to stop sapient dungeons from picking creatures only based on stats, and allows for more diversity. Since many dungeons, both sapient and non-sapient, build a dungeon on a theme, this allows for the growth of new life on the planet.

Finally your creatures are not the only ones who are able to evolve. Though dungeons technically do not have a max level like most creatures and beings, they are still able to make choices and change themselves in certain ways. Some dungeons have used this ability to actually move away from being a dungeon core and become actual beings themselves. Of course if this action is chosen, they lose the abilities of a dungeon core and certain limitations are placed in order for them not to become too powerful.

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Your chances for evolution and abilities will come at certain level intervals, your first one being at level 10. Some are fixed, like the ability to gain a Voice and Avatar to control. Others will allow you to make choices, from changing your core to a permanent avatar body. Or to just increasing or adding new skills to allow new rules and laws to be placed inside you.

There is truly no limit to what evolution can do, as many of the most powerful creatures and even some gods have been born from it. We look forward to what you will do with your future.

Immediately I was sent back to my core, with several things to think on. For one, the System was most definitely sapient in some form or another. Two, it was watching me and my choices, whether as entertainment or to keep me in check I don’t know. And finally, it would seem evolution was going to be a core aspect to creating my theme.

When the System mentioned dungeons had a theme, my guess was that it was based on where they were or specific monsters. While my theme was based on specific monsters itself, it wasn’t based solely on one species or creature type. My end goal of recreating beings from the legends and mythologies of Earth was dependent on how I grow and evolve my monsters.

I could grow my monsters to be strong and undefeatable, but there were quite a few legendary beings and creatures that were pacifists or based on a certain craft. Some were more versatile, like dragons and their many forms and actions. But others were based on specific conditions, such as Typhon, the Greek monster depicted as the father of monsters. He was the son of two of the Titans in most descriptions, his mother being the Titan Gaia, or literally Mother Earth.

In a way, the fact that only the descriptions were shown was a blessing. Having access to stats would make it much harder to choose, as being confronted with the choice of super strong or fitting my theme would be tough. Yes, I could choose to evolve something into a creature of legend like Ratatoskr, the squirrel of Norse mythology known for running up and down Yggdrasil delivering messages. Or I get the super overpowered squirrel of death and destruction. One fits the theme the other is just strong. I’m not saying my desire was weak, but no need to ask for temptation either,

But since my musing were over, it was time to choose for my little mouse to grow.

Fanged Field Mouse

This creature is able to evolve, would you like to choose the evolution, give choice to the mouse, or both decide.

Seeing the options, I chose number 3. Yes I just said I would make choices on my theme, but at the same time these are creatures of their own free will. I may have created them, but they are the ones whose life is affected by this choice. In the end, I would tell them of my desires for them and leave it to them whether they would follow or not.

Hopi Warrior Mouse

These mice are not born and bred warriors. They are mice who took up the mantle to help and defend those they would see as family and friends. These mice are revered by some for ingenuity and courage. They are intelligent and fearsome foes, not to be underestimated for their size.

Average - Rare

Chances to Evolve - Mid

Fanged Hunter Mouse

Many mice species are known for being small but efficient hunters. This species is the living embodiment of the Hunt, in mouse form. Known for being especially aggressive towards species that would hunt mice in particular, these mice hunt just about anything they can. They live and die for the Hunt, going out not only for food but for the thrill. Though considerably more dangerous than the average mouse species, they are not known for being highly intelligent, due to them constantly seeking for a thrilling hunt.

Average - Uncommon

Chances to Evolve - Low

Avenger Mouse

These are mice that live for revenge. Whether they lost something in tragedy or had it stolen from them, these mice live only to bring pain and suffering to all who they believed wronged them. These mice do not care for life, or any they may hurt in their revenge. They only seek out targets and those they would deem enemies to bring destruction and fear. This species is not known for any nest or clans, as they are only made through the strongest desires of vengeance.

Average – Ultra-Rare

Chances to Evolve - None

The options my little mouse had were relatively spread out. Though the fact that the option for Avenging Mouse existed was terrifying. I knew he mourned the loss of his first mate, but had no idea how badly it had affected him.

As I looked over the options I felt a small mind connect with me, and for the firt time I heard something other than my voice.

“Hello, Mighty Creator.”