Evolving into a new species was an... interesting process. I was asleep during the entire thing, but I could still somehow tell that my body was changing drastically.
Unlike my previous evolutions, this one took quite a long time. I could only vaguely recognize myself during this time, as if I'd been detached from my own body.
During my sleep, I had a plethora of dreams. They were all quite different, some sad and some happy, but they always had something in common, and that was that in each one of them I was a snake, big or small.
I had no scientific proof nor did it make much sense, but I was pretty sure that those dreams were the genetic memories regarding the Colossal Serpent race. In them, I somehow learned, or rather, I should say I inherited a couple of completely science-defying abilities.
When I finally woke up, I was surrounded by something hard. It took me a couple minutes to fully awaken and realize where and who I was, but when I did, I got a sense of immense deja-vu.
Just like the day I was reborn, I violently pushed against whatever was encasing me, and after a brief struggle, my prison shattered completely, and I was out.
The difference was all too easy to see. Before, the reef had still looked quite big, but now, it seemed quite a bit smaller.
Although my memories were still a bit cloudy, I also clearly remember that the area I'd chosen for my evolution did not look and feel so small.
I examined my body, and as I suspected, I'd changed quite a bit. Gone was my deep green hue, now, it had been replaced by dark blue scales, although there were still some hints of green here and there.
Furthermore, although it might not be the most accurate measurement, I must have at least be 30 meters long now, if not more.
I spent the next few hours mulling around, recovering from the strange experience that was my evolution. I reviewed all the dreams I went through, as well as played around with my newfound body.
I also reviewed my status, which had suprisingly changed quite a bit.
Due to having evolved and become a full-fledged monster, your status has been changed due to incorrect translation between status and real power.
Status points have been changed into Evolution Progress
Level has been transferred into Evolution Progress.
Skills levels have been replaced with Mastery.
Miscelaneous skills have been removed from status. May still view them if asked.
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[Nameless] [Colossal Serpent (1st Stage)]
Age - 0 years
Evolution Progress - 0%
Mastery - [Serpent's Dance - 0%], [Devour - 0%], [Extreme Constriction - 65%]
... Okay. I was a bit confused at the abrupt change, but I suppose it made sense. While status points made sense when I was small, they became somewhat inaccurate as my body continued to become bigger and stronger while my real status lagged behind.
Still, I was quite excited at the new prospects. First things first, I prodded the system to tell me more about this new stage thing, and although it took a while to finally get it to answer me, I was satisfied nonetheless.
Apparently, there were 4 total stages for a Colossal Serpent, and each one was far stronger than the previous. If I managed to reach the fourth stage and then evolve once again, I could change races once more, but that was for the future.
However, despite the changes, the system was still being inaccurate. During my sleep, I'd inherited a couple quite juicy skills that I was eager to put to the test.
However, I first really, really needed to get something in my stomach. I eyed the suspiciously egg-looking like thing that had encased me during my evolution, and like the good idiot I am, I tried tasting it.
It tasted exactly like last time. Like shit.
Yeah, let's forget that ever happened. I was a bit awkward in my new body, but after a couple minutes of testing, I quickly got the hang of it. My new instincts certainly helped a lot.
I made my way through the reef, taking a rather sinister pleasure at how literally everything fled for their lives at the mere feeling of my presence approaching. Finally, I reached the Killzone, and oh boy were things different now.
Previously, I'd been merely average in the Killzone. My only real advantage had been my ability to actually think properly, but now, well...
I dwarfed literally everything around here. I gleefully watched as most monsters around recoiled at my presence and quickly left me wide berth. Of course, this wasn't the Reef where only cowards lived. There were still a quite a few monsters around here that eyed me with hunger in their eyes.
They wisely still left me alone, though. Satisfied at having asserted my dominance, I began to sniff around for something tasty.
Thanks to my evolution, all my senses had been strenghtened by quite a bit. Hence, it was all too easy to follow a delicious-smelling trail all the way to it's owner, a 10-meter long tuna with extremely sharp and large teeth.
Although the tuna was a bit thicker than me, it wasn't by much. I was now a proper giant, and I took advantage of the fact immediately, abusing my newfound speed and reflexes to easily catch the tuna in my jaws.
My fangs easily sunk into the fish, and my venom immediately got to work subduing the creature. It struggled, trying to flee, but it was pointless. I was far too strong for it.
I didn't even have to use my coils to strangle it. It died after a few minutes between my venom and the death grip I held on it's side.
I quickly swallowed the fish, then, still unsatisfied with just this morsel, I kept up my search.
After a couple hours, I was finally satisfied after having eaten seven other equally large (if not larger) monsters. I must admit, I suprised even myself with just how gluttonous I'd become, but I suppose it was due to my new race and also having just evolved.
I didn't even bother making my way back to the reef, and instead, sought out a nice-looking cave in the Killzone. I quickly murdered and ate it's previous inhabitant, an octopus with mind-controlling power that only worked against itself in my case, and then curled inward as I began to practice one of the abilties I'd inherited during my dreams.