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Fight. Evolve. Or die...
Chapter 21 Crucible Day 20, Delving the unknown, Part 2

Chapter 21 Crucible Day 20, Delving the unknown, Part 2

Mosh looked on bemused, it was the first creature he had faced that fled when it thought it could not win. Then he grew concerned, which showed a level of intellect and self-preservation that he had not seen before, and no indication that it would not attack when it thought it had an advantage. He resumed his travels, even more cautious than before, switching between his two sensory modes to try and understand every nuance.

The destruction to the walls got worse as he proceeded inwards, which worried him, as surely the damage should have been worse on the edges? As the damage got worse, the corridors dimmed, until only a few patches of light lit it up, patches left at regular intervals up ahead, providing light, but leaving much in shadow. And when using his mana vision, much of the air was now filled with light grey motes, mana that had no taste, but left a residue a residue that faded in and out, there then not there, tasteless but making itself known, the taste of shadow mana. He wasn’t sure how he knew, but he knew, and he wondered what would be hidden within them. He pulled out his mana illumination stone, holding it in his hand, but making it ready in case more light was needed.

A movement in the shadows had him turning his head, but there was nothing there. He thought he saw more movement in the corner of his eyes, but he could not turn his head rapidly enough to see what was there. He gripped his spear and tried to calm his heart which beat rapidly. He swung his spear around quickly, hoping to take whatever was out there by surprise, but it cut through the air, with nothing impeding its movement. He stepped forward nervously, the tip of his fear steady as he controlled his hands and did not allow them to shake. He spun again, hearing what sounded like a child’s laugh behind him, only to feel claws slide along his back, leaving shallow cuts which oozed blood as they dug into his jerkin. With a cry he spun around, his spear swinging at waist level, then rapidly reversing and cutting low across where the creature’s ankles would be. His spear remained clean and unimpeded, he had not been able to cut anything.

He backed towards a wall, switching to mana vision as the shadows just betrayed his eyes, but mana vision was not much better, the motes of shadow swirled around him, impeding what he could sense. Another swirl, another set of cuts through his jerkin and he spun around, swiping all about with his spear and hitting nothing, He channelled mana to his light stone, closing his eyes just as he pulsed it and then rapidly opened them and caught sight of a stick-thin creature with wiry muscles diving into the shadows with a shrill cry as the light erupted, its large eyes which showed no whites blinking shut in alarm at the sudden burst of light. Evidently, the creature had been partly blinded and Mosh could hear it blundering as it sought cover from the light.

Mosh jumped forward aiming for the top of a pile of rubble with his spear ready to thrust as soon as he came into range. His jump was aimed perfectly, but he had not been able to discern how unstable the pile was, and it shivered and wobbled as he landed on it. He looked around quickly, to find his prey, and immediately pushed off, his foot slipping as the rubble collapsed beneath his as he only got part of the force he needed and fell short of his target. The creature looked at him, seeking shadows in the bright light emanating from his stone, sprinting towards a pile of rubble that promised some relief from the light.

Mosh aimed, firing his rock shot skill at the creature. It must have detected something as it twisted just before it hit him, but its dodge was totally effective. The rock missed impacting into the back of its skull, but it cut across the side instead, opening a large gash through which the skull could be seen. The creature screeched as it stumbled, its balance put off from the hit. Mosh charged forward, lunging to extend his reach, rejoicing as the tip of his spear found a mark, cutting into the creature’s foot as it ran. It dropped, shrieking, as it landed on its just cut foot and slipped in its own blood.

Mosh rushed forward, reaching the creature before it could react, stabbing, it over and over, hitting it multiple times in its body until it stopped moving and its large eyes went dull.

Zeil Ganev killed. Body enhancement points earned: 4. Body enhancement points needed to next Tier 16/1000.Mana enhancement points earned: 4 Mana enhancement points needed for next Tier 16/1500. Mind Enhancement points earned: 4. Mind enhancement points needed for next Tier: 12/1000 Evolutionary essence gained: 4, Evolutionary Essence to next Tier 50/50. Evolutionary Potential points gained 4, Evolutionary Potential Points to next tier 16/6600. Evolutions offered: Shadow Skin.

Evolution Tier threshold met. Racial Evolution is available.

Spear skill advanced Tier 0 Level 3

Rock Shot skill advanced Tier 0 Level 2

Mana Sensory Control skill advanced Tier 0 Level 2

Mosh looked at the messages, then down at his skin and compared it to the grey skin of the creature, the Zeil Ganev as the Mana records called it. He considered the evolution but wondered if its light sensitivity was just in the eyes, or if his evolving his skin would create a light sensitivity of his own.

‘Midkar, you there?’

‘Where else would I be foolish child? I am embedded within your mind. I cannot be anywhere but here!’ Midkar sounded his normal sarcastic self, and Mosh flinched but continued with his query.

‘You know anything about this creature? Is it safe to take its skin? It would be really useful for hiding and sneaking!’

‘Its only useful if you become nocturnal. From what I observed, it looks like a Shadow creature, powerful and deadly in Shadows, weak and vulnerable in the light- good thinking with your mana illumination stone!”

Mosh felt strangely good at the compliment from Midkar, he didn’t think he valued the opinion of him at all! ‘Is there any way to take it without gaining its light vulnerability?’

‘Sure, take it and advance it to Tier 10 so you gain an advancement on the evolution, it’s a common option on such evolutions to remove its vulnerabilities. But you will be living in the shadows while you advance it to Tier 10. Not a good trade-off, rather find a creature with chameleon powers or some other hiding enhancement which doesn’t have the severe side effect of this one!’

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‘Thanks!’ Mosh actually meant it, Midkar had been surprisingly helpful without his normal dose of sarcasm and belittlement! He dismissed the kill notification, with not taking the offered evolution and went to the next notification.

Evolution Tier advanced to Tier 1. Due to advancing to Tier 1, first racial evolution offered. Based on the Candidates' accepted evolution the following are offered, only one may be chosen:

Regressed human: Regressed to a more primitive form of human based on the number of physical evolutions and enhancements namely retractable claws, blood bonding and sensory sensitivity. Body Tier advanced by 3 Tiers. Mind Tier reduced by 1 Tier. Soul Tier advanced by 1 Tier. Base chi multiplied by 1.5, Base Psi multiplied by 0.8. Future physical evolutions and enhancements improved, and side effects reduced.

Advanced Human: Standard human evolution. Body, Mind and Mana Tier advanced by 1 Tier.

Enhanced Human: An enhanced Advanced human based on high Soul Tier and Soul Core at Foundation Level. Mind Tier advanced by 1 Tier. Soul tier advanced by 1 Tier, Body Tier advanced by 1 Tier. Base Chi, Psi and Mana multiplied by 1.2. Future Soul and Mind evolutions and enhancements improved, and side effects reduced.

Mana Enhanced Human: Human body infused with mana based on mana-based evolutions, completed mana paths and mana body. Mind Tier advanced by 1 Tier, Body Tier reduced by 1 Tier, Soul Tier advanced by 2 Tiers, Mana Tier advanced by 2 Tiers. Base Psi and Mana multiplied by 1.5. Base Chi multiplied by 0.8. Future mana evolutions and enhancements improved, and side effects reduced.

Base Human Paragon: A move towards perfection of the Human Form. Based on High Evolution Potential at Tier 0. Enhancements in all base indexes. Ancient Bloodline of Paragon present. Body advanced by 2 Tiers, Mind Advanced by 2 Tiers, Mana advanced by 2 Tiers, Soul advanced by 2 Tiers. Base Chi, Psi and mana multiplied by 1.5.

Mosh looked at his options, especially the last one. It seemed too perfect, all advantages, no disadvantages. ‘Umm, Midkar, what is a Paragon? And what is a bloodline?’ He expected an answer, but he received silence.

‘Midkar, do you know, should I take that evolution?’

‘Let me explain, then you will have to decide. It's the best option, but it carries a lot of risks! A Paragon is the perfection of a race. They are superior to others of their race, the quintessential example of them. The problem is that many see them as a threat, as a future tyrant. The base Paragon grows faster and achieves greater things than others. The problem comes in many evolutions from there. Your first racial evolution comes quickly, it’s a pupa coming out of its cocoon, but later phases are much harder to achieve. As a Paragon, there will be those intent on destroying you before you advance to those later stages. They will fear what you will be able to do as a Paragon, which is to influence and control those of your species weaker than yourself which will be almost everyone once you reach that point.’ Midkar stopped talking and chuckled, ‘Strangely, the safest place for you would be in the Crucible since none of your fellow Candidates can attack you in here. Should you take it? Yes, but never let anyone know. Claim you are one of the other evolutions, even just the Advanced human stating you did not want the disadvantages from the others. Never let anyone know. Earth humans may not attack you, but there are humans on other worlds, and they will not be happy to learn of a Paragon!’

Mosh listened, absorbing the information, and noticed an omission from Midkar’s explanation. 'And the bloodline, what is that?’

‘That just means that one of your ancestors was a Paragon. Interesting but not relevant beyond the point that your family has a Paragon in the family tree. If you hadn’t been cut off from the Greater Mileu, you would likely have been royalty or the heads of a clan. Instead, you just have a target painted on you. Never let anyone know you are descended from a Paragon!’

Mosh cringed at what he was hearing, he did not want to know he had enemies based on some distant ancestor he did not even know of, one at least a thousand years in the past. But if he was going to be targeted because of his ancestor, he may as well choose why he was targeted. With a thought to the Mana records, he accepted the Paragon evolution.

Base Human Paragon selected. Body, Mind, Mana and Soul indexes advance by two tiers and all levels reset. Chi, Psi, Mana and Soul values are unlocked and will be displayed.

Mosh read the notification and quickly opened his Mana Record, wanting to see how he had advanced.

Candidate Name: Mosh Barmenash, Paragon Human, Age 18

Evolution Tier: 1 Evolution Advancement Points: 0/150

Body index, Tier 5 0/2100.

Mind index, Tier 5 0/2100.

Mana index Tier 7 0/3600,

Soul Index Tier 10 0/6600, Soul Core: Foundation Achieved, Foundation Purity: Good 1/50

Evolution Potential Tier 10 12/6600,

Shaping Potential Tier 8 0/4500

Core Class: Greater Energy Adept Level: 4 Class Advancement: 0/1500

Class Evolutions: Not Achieved

Chi: 50/50 Psi 50/50 Mana 70/70 Soul 110/110

Enhancements:

BODY: Sensory Sensitivity Tier 3 Basic Level 2

MIND: Mind Detect Tier 3 Level 6

Sensory Deprivation Tier 1 Level 1

MANA: Imbue Mana Tier 4 Basic Level 1

Skills:

Chi based:

Energy Sight Tier 0 Level 1

Mana based:

Mana Flow Tier 0 Level 3

Mana Stealth => MANA Camouflage Tier 2 Level 2

Mana Sensory Control Tier 0 Level 1

Rock Shot Tier 0 Level 2

Soul based:

Soul Cultivation Tier 0 Level 2 Base Core 2

Mana Body Completed

Soul Purification Tier 0 Level 4

Astral Walk Tier 0 Level 1

Body based

Spear Tier 0 Level 3

Evolutions:

Retractable claws Tier 0 Level 1. Side effect: Elongated first joint on fingers and toes.

Blood Bonding Tier 0 Level 1: Side effect: Veins and arteries more prominent, blood is darker.

Enhanced Speed Tier 0 Level 1: Leg muscles enhanced, upper thighs look distorted.

Pets

Silky Two: Species: Ikbar Haras (TigerMouse) first evolution, Bonded

He was happy to see his energy stats quantified, but he saw that any advancement he had made towards evolving his class had disappeared, the points disappearing with the advancement of his indexes from his racial evolution! An acceptable trade off he thought, he would need to push future absorption so he could advance his class. On that thought he turned to the corpse of the recently killed creature, and even cursory glance told him the bad news. In his excitement at the announcements and the advancements, he had forgotten to absorb its energy, and it was already solidified and impossible to extract.