Available Skill Evolutions: 14
[Archer’s Dash Lv.10(Max) Evolvable] [Archer’s Stride Lv.Max Evolvable] [Arrow Shower Lv.10(Max) Evolvable] [Charged Arrow Lv.10(Max) Evolvable] [Dodge Lv.10(Max) Evolvable] [Element Arrow Lv.10(Max) Evolvable] [First Aid Lv.10(Max) Evolvable] [Leaping Shot Lv.10(Max) Evolvable] [Perception Lv.10(Max) Evolvable] [Power Shot Lv.10(Max) Evolvable] [Rapid Shot Lv.10(Max) Evolvable] [Spread Shot Lv.10(Max) Evolvable] [Sprint Lv.10(Max) Evolvable] [Twin Arrow Lv.10(Max) Evolvable]
I had 14 Skills that were ready to be evolved, but to my pleasant, and slightly overwhelmed surprise, evolving a Skill wasn’t as simple as I was expecting it to be. For each Skill, there were three different branching levels of evolutions: 1st-Tier, 2nd-Tier, and 3rd-Tier Evolutions; and within those tiers were multiple evolutions I could choose from. Although from the ones I briefly glanced over, every Skill had varying amounts of evolutions per tier, with each having their own specific Requirements that needed to be met in order to choose the Skill Evolution. Out of the Skills I quickly previewed, Power Shot, Arrow Shower, and Sprint had the relatively simplest combination of Tier Evolutions and Requirements.
“Power Shot is the first Skill I ever learned, but even it has 3 branching choices I need to choose from.” I thought to myself, skimming through the several descriptions for each Tier Evolution. “It really sucks that I have to choose, ‘cause assuming the more Advanced Skills have the same or more branching evolutions, that would mean I would end up missing a lot of amazing Skills in the long run.” I hated the thought of being forced to choose one or the other.
Skill Evolution
[Power Shot]
1st-Tier:
[Crushing Shot]- Evolvable (Req. 400 Strength, and Max Level ‘Power Shot’) [Piercing Shot]- Evolvable (Req. 375 Strength, and Max Level ‘Power Shot’) [Slashing Shot]- Evolvable (Req. 350 Strength, and Max Level ‘Power Shot’)
2nd-Tier:
[Ballistic Shot]- Not Evolvable (Req. 800 Strength, Max Level ‘Impact Shot’, and 40,000 Objects/Structures Destroyed) [Puncturing Shot]- Not Evolvable (Req. 750 Strength, Max Level ‘Piercing Shot’, and 50,000 Armours/Hides/Scales Pierced) [Serration Shot]- Not Evolvable (Req. 700 Strength, Max Level ‘Slashing Shot’, and 30,000 Flesh Slashed)
3rd-Tier:
[Sieging Projectile]- Not Evolvable (Req. 3,200 Strength, Max Level ‘Ballistic Shot’, a Long-Range Class, and 200,000 Structures Destroyed) [Hollowing Impalement]- Not Evolvable (Req. 3,000 Strength, Max Level ‘Puncturing Shot’, a Mid-Range Class, and 250,000 Creatures Punctured) [Carving Laceration]- Not Evolvable (Req. 2,800 Strength, Max Level ‘Serration Shot’, a Close-Range Class, and 150,000 Muscles/Tendons Serrated)
[Trinity Devastation]- Not Evolvable (Req. 3,333 Strength, 3,333 Vitality, a Trinity Archer Class, and ‘Trinity Force’)
After skimming over Power Shot, I learned that the 1st-Tier Evolutions made it pretty self-explanatory, and that the choices were between either having heavier impactful shots, increased piercing power, or damage that could cause the Bleeding Status. The 2nd and 3rd Tier Evolution were more or less the same, but with slight differences and greater claims in the descriptions. However, there was obviously one Evolution that stood out from the rest, as it didn’t even have a previous 1st or 2nd Tier Evolution.
Trinity Devastation: A destructive attack that possesses all 3 Physical Damage Type Properties (Blunt, Piercing, and Slashing). Deals triple damage against anything Weak to Blunt, Piercing, or Slashing Damage. Cost 3,333 Stamina. Damage based on Strength and Skill Level.
[Evolve]
Requirements:
1. Strength must be at least 3,333
2. Vitality must be at least 3,333
3. Must be a Trinity Archer Class
4. Must have the Skill ‘Trinity Force’
“Sounds like a pretty straightforward Skill on the surface, but with the damage being tripled against anything weak to those Damage Types, it basically means it always does triple damage to anything that doesn’t have Physical Resistances!” I excitedly noted in awe of such an unbelievably powerful Skill. Figuring I already had my 3rd-Tier Evolution picked, and that it wasn’t connected with the other branches, I knew it didn’t really matter which of the 1st-Tier Evolutions I should choose. Although I still decided to choose practically and picked Piercing Shot, as it was probably the most useful Skill to have as an archer.
Congratulations, the Skill ‘Power Shot’ has now been evolved into the ‘Piercing Shot’ Skill!
You have learned the Skill: [Piercing Shot]. You have gained the Title: [The First Skill Evolution].
Piercing Shot: A forceful attack that rapidly spins to increase in piercing power. Deals double damage against Armour. Cost 200 Stamina. Damage based on Strength and Skill Level.
The First Skill Evolutionist: Being the first Player to evolve a Skill, you have proven a desire and an ability to strive for greater heights, entitling you with the right to pioneer the future into change and be at its forefront. +50% Skill Experience Gain.
“I’m the first one to evolve a Skill? Well, I guess that makes sense since I am the highest level. But these Titles always have some sort of real effect on me besides their bonuses, so what’s this one about pioneering the future supposed to be?” I wondered to myself, reading the next Skill’s descriptions.
Skill Evolution
[Arrow Shower]
1st-Tier:
[Fall Of Arrows]- Evolvable (Req. 350 Magic, and Max Level ‘Arrow Shower’) [Rain Of Arrows]- Evolvable (Req. 400 Magic, and Max Level ‘Arrow Shower’)
2nd-Tier:
[Arrow Bombardment]- Not Evolvable (Req. 700 Magic, Max Level ‘Hail of Arrows’, and ‘Artillery Arrow’) [Arrow Storm]- Not Evolvable (Req. 800 Magic, Max Level ‘Rain Of Arrows’, and ‘Duplicating Arrow’)
3rd-Tier:
[Precision Ordnance]- Not Evolvable (Req. 2,750 Intelligence, 3,000 Magic, 2,500 Sense, and Max Level ‘Arrow Bombardment’) [Blackened-Sky Onslaught]- Not Evolvable (Req. 3,333 Magic, Max Level ‘Arrow Storm’, a Trinity Archer Class, and 100,000,000 Arrows Shot)
“Only 2 choices this time, but as fun as Precision Ordnance might be, there’s no way I’m picking an evolution that turns me into a glorified mortar.” Scoffing at the idea. “It’s beneath my dignity as a student of archery.”
Congratulations, the Skill ‘Arrow Shower’ has now been evolved into the ‘Rain Of Arrows’ Skill!
You have learned the Skill: [Rain Of Arrows].
Rain Of Arrows: Shooting a high arcing arrow, a constant hail of 37 arrows begin to fall for 10 seconds in a 23 meters area beneath it. Cost 500 Mana. Damage based on Magic and Skill Level, Number of arrows increases by 7 and Area of Effect increases by 3 meters per Skill Level.
Sprint’s evolutions were a no-brainer, as it literally only had one choice to choose from, making it the simplest out of all the Skills.
Skill Evolution
[Sprint]
1st-Tier:
[Acceleration]- Evolvable (Req. 500 Agility, and Max Level ‘Sprint’)
2nd-Tier:
[Machspeed Acceleration]- Not Evolvable (Req. 1,500 Agility, 1,500 Strength, and Max Level 'Acceleration’)
3rd-Tier:
[Godspeed]- Not Evolvable (Req. 5,000 All Physical Stats, 4,000 Sense, Max Level ‘Machspeed Acceleration’, and the ‘Makings Of A God’ Title)
“It might be the most straightforward, but those Stat Requirements for the last Evolution are absolutely ridiculous!” I remarked in my head.
Congratulations, the Skill ‘Sprint’ has now been evolved into the ‘Acceleration’ Skill!
You have learned the Skill: [Acceleration].
Acceleration: Magically or Physically amplify the movement speed of your body. Agility is multiplied by 2.1 for the Active Duration of the Skill. Cost 30% of Mana or Stamina per second. Agility Multiplier increases by 0.1 per Skill Level, Mana/Stamina Cost decreased by Intelligence/Endurance.
“Acceleration costs so much more than a Max Level Sprint does without actually being that much faster, but at least now I have the option to either use Mana or Stamina for its Cost.” Optimistically thinking, “Though it shouldn’t be that big of a problem after I level it up a few times and increase my Intelligence and Endurance Stats.”
Concluding with the simpler Skill Evolutions, I moved on to the more complex Archer Skills next. However, after being presented with a whole bunch of overwhelming choices and tedious Requirements, and having increasingly more doubts on what the right evolution was to pick, I gave up and decided to ignore the Archer Skills for the time being. I instead moved on to the Passive Skills like Dodge and Perception.
Skill Evolution
[Dodge]
1st-Tier:
[Defense]- Evolvable (Req. 250 Intelligence, and Max Level ‘Dodge’) [Evasion]- Evolvable (Req. 250 Agility, and Max Level ‘Dodge’) [Parry]- Evolvable (Req. 250 Sense, and Max Level ‘Dodge)
2nd-Tier:
[Blocking Defense]- Not Evolvable (Req. 500 Intelligence, Max Level ‘Defense’, and 50,000 Attacks Defended) [Avoiding Evasion]- Not Evolvable (Req. 500 Agility, Max Level ‘Evasion’, and 50,000 Attacks Evaded) [Countering Parry]- Not Evolvable (Req. 500 Sense, Max Level ‘Parry’, and 50,000 Attacks Parried)
3rd-Tier:
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[Defensive Minded]- Not Evolvable (Req. 2,400 Intelligence, 2,000 Agility, Max Level ‘Blocking Defense’, and 250,000 Attacks Blocked) [Evasive Minded]- Not Evolvable (Req. 2,400 Agility, 2,000 Sense, Max Level ‘Avoiding Evasion’, and 250,000 Attacks Avoided) [Offensive Minded]- Not Evolvable (Req. 2,400 Sense, 2,000 Intelligence, Max Level ‘Countering Parry’, and 250,000 Attacks Countered)
[Trinity Minded]- Not Evolvable (Req. Max Level ‘Archer’s Triality’, 1,111,111 Attacks Avoided, 1,111,111 Attacks Blocked, and 1,111,111 Attacks Countered)
Dodge’s evolution was easy to pick; I knew I lacked in close-range combat, but given the options of being naturally good at defending, evading, or parring, I’d rather be good at avoiding from any distance opposed to being good at defending or parrying from mostly close up. Plus with there being a 3rd-Tier Trinity Evolution, it honestly didn’t matter which one I picked, as they would all be combined into one Skill eventually.
Congratulations, the Skill ‘Dodge’ has now been evolved into the ‘Evasion’ Skill! You have learned the Skill: [Evasion].
Evasion: Instinctively know how to avoid in ways that cause the least amount of damage taken, or in ways that avoid from being damaged entirely. Skill level based on Agility and Sense.
Perception on the other hand was slightly more difficult to choose, for all three choices had a reasonable argument for me to pick them, and didn’t have a Trinity Evolution. Extrasensory Perception complimented and matched with my Seer Subclass Skills, Heightened Senses overall increased my natural Instincts and senses—doubling them in battle, and Observant would literally make it nearly impossible for me never to be unaware of anything again; though there was also a mysterious 3rd-Tier Evolution that I hadn’t discovered yet—or was kept hidden for whatever reason.
Skill Evolution
[Perception]
1st-Tier:
[Extrasensory Perception]- Not Evolvable (Req. Max Level ‘Perception’, and a Spiritual Class) [Heightened Senses]- Not Evolvable (Req. Highest Stat Sense, Max Level ‘Perception’) [Observant]- Evolvable (Req. 300 Sense, and Max Level ‘Perception’)
2nd-Tier:
[Supernatural Intuition]- Not Evolvable (Req. 500 Magic, Max Level 'Extrasensory Perception’, and a Spiritual Class) [Enhanced Senses]- Not Evolvable (Req. Highest Stat Sense by 100, 2nd Highest Stat Agility by 50, and Max Level ‘Heightened Senses’) [Mindful Observer]- Not Evolvable (Req. 400 Intelligence, 600 Sense, and Max Level ‘Observant’)
3rd-Tier:
[Transcendental Awareness]- Not Evolvable (Req. 2,500 Magic, Max Level ‘Supernatural Intuition’, a Mystical Class, and Contact with the Ethereal Plane) [Maximized Senses]- Not Evolvable (Req. Highest Stat Sense by 1,000, 2nd Highest Stat Agility by 500, 3rd Highest Stat Magic by 250, and Max Level ‘Enhanced Senses’) [Vigilant Watcher]- Not Evolvable (Req. 2,000 Intelligence, 3,000 Sense, Max Level ‘Mindful Observer’, and Max Level ‘Truesight’)
[???]- Not Evolvable (Req. Unknown...)
“I don’t think my current Class or a Trinity Archer Class is a Spiritual Class, yet I still somehow meet the Spiritual and Mystical Class Requirements for the Extrasensory Evolutions." Figuring, "It’s probably thanks to me being the Seer.” I then contemplated the three options, thinking “The Heightened Senses Evolutions seems like they would be the best overall choice out of the three options, but their specific requirements for certain Stats to be the highest is brutally restrictive and super limiting in the long run. The Extrasensory Evolutions are probably the second best choice with their inherent supernatural abilities, though I wonder how useful it’ll be when I already see so much being a Seer? Then there’s always being extremely aware of everything with the Observant Evolutions, but I also wonder just how much more I could notice that I didn't already before?” adding, “And on top of all that, there’s also that unknown fourth choice later on…”
I ultimately decided to leave Perception unevovled until I could find a definitive reason to choose one over the others, however there was still one more Passive that helplessly piqued my interest.
Skill Evolution
[Archer’s Stride]
1st-Tier:
[Beast’s Pace]- Not Evolvable (Req. Max Level ‘Archer’s Stride’, and a Beastmaster Class) [Dual-Style Stride]- Evolvable (Req. Max Level ‘Archer’s Stride’, and Two Archery Styles)
2nd-Tier:
[Tri-Style Stride]- Not Evolvable (Req. 999 Agility, Max Level ‘Dual-Style Stride’, and Three Archery Styles)
3rd-Tier:
[Beastking’s Pace]- Not Evolvable (Req. 2,500 Agility, 3,000 Endurance, Max Level ‘Beast’s Pace’, and a Spiritual Beastmaster Class) [Stride Of The Trinity]- Not Evolvable (Req. 3,333 Agility, Max Level ‘Tri-Style Stride’, ‘Trinity Force’, and a Trinity Archer Class)
[Devil’s Walk]- Not Evolvable (Req. Max Level ‘Devil’s Charm’, the ‘Devilborn’ Title, Unknown, and the Fascination/Influence of 1,000,000 Creatures) [Draconic Footfall]- Not Evolvable (Req. Max Level ‘Draconic Presence’, the ‘Dragonborn’ Title, Unknown, and the Fear/Reverence of 1,000,000 Creatures) [Fairy Steps]- Not Evolvable (Req. Max Level ‘Visage Of The Fey’, the ‘Feyborn’ Title, Unknown, and the Reverence/Fascination of 1,000,000 Creatures)
“Devil’s Walk? Draconic Footfall? Fairy Steps? What are those supposed to be?” Curiously reading each, I learned: Draconic Footfall made it so that every step you took was as powerful and fearful as that of a dragon’s, Fairy Steps simply allowed one to walk on anything without touching it—even the air itself, and Devil’s Walk created real and irresistible illusions that could even tempt the purest of hearts. “Are these really supposed to be Evolutions? And what’s with their Unknown Requirements?” While I continued to wonder to myself, without having a Beastmaster Class, my first choice was pretty straightforward.
Congratulations, the Skill ‘Archer’s Stride’ has now been evolved into the ‘Dual-Style Stride’ Skill!
You have learned the Skill: Dual-Style Stride]
You have gained an additional 50 Agility due to the Skill Effect of ‘Dual-Style Stride’.
Dual-Style Stride: The long strides of two Styles may be different from one another, but you naturally find a way to incorporate them together and move faster regardless. Gain 2 Agility per Level.
Although after gaining the extra Agility, I realized I practically already met all the Requirements for the 2nd-Tier Evolution. “I just needed a little bit more Agility.” I thought, spending the remaining 40 Available Points I still had into Agility. However, even with the Bonus Stats I naturally gain from the crown, I was just shy of the mark; having only 950 Agility. “Damn, so close. Guess I just need to level a bit more before I can evolve it again then.” I shrugged, not really worrying too much about it and moving onto the final Skill I wanted to look at.
Skill Evolution
[First Aid]
1st-Tier:
[Cure Wounds]- Evolvable (Req. Max Level ‘First Aid’, and 100,000 Total Health Healed) [Inferior Aid]- Evolvable (Req. Max Level ‘First Aid’, and 50,000 Total Health Healed) [Lesser Restoration]- Not Evolvable (Req. Max Level ‘First Aid’, and 100,000 Ailments Cured)
2nd-Tier:
[Mass Cure Wounds]- Not Evolvable (Req. 600 Magic, Max Level ‘Cure Wounds’, and 1,000,000 Total Health Healed) [Superior Aid]- Not Evolvable (Req. 500 Magic, Max Level ‘Inferior Aid’, and 500,000 Total Health Healed) [Greater Restoration]- Not Evolvable (Req. 700 Magic, Max Level ‘Lesser Restoration’, and 1,000,000 Afflictions Cured)
[Natureskin]- Not Evolvable (Req. 500 Magic, 700 Vitality, and a Nature Guardian Class) [Beast Heal]- Not Evolvable (Req. 450 Magic, Max Level ‘First Aid’, and a Beastmaster Class)
3rd-Tier:
[Restoring Circle]- Not Evolvable (Req. 3,000 Magic, Max Level ‘Mass Cure Wounds’, 25,000,000 Own Health Healed, and 75,000,000 Auxiliary Health Healed) [Prime Aid]- Not Evolvable (Req. 2,500 Magic, Max Level ‘Superior Aid’, 35,000,000 Own Health Healed, and 15,000,000 Auxiliary Health Healed) [Omni Restoration]- Not Evolvable (Req. 2,500 Intelligence, 3,500 Magic, Max Level ‘Greater Restoration’, and 10,000,000 Afflictions Cured) [Remedy Of Nature]- Not Evolvable (Req. 2,500 Magic, Max Level ‘Natureskin’, a Blessed Nature Guardian Class, and the ‘Protector Of Nature’ Title) [Elemental Recovery]- Not Evolvable (Req. 5,000 Magic, All Elemental Affinities, All Elemental Resistances, and an Elemental Class) [Beastking Healing Spirit]- Not Evolvable (Req. 2,250 Magic, Max Level ‘Beast Heal’, a Spiritual Beastmaster Class, and the ‘A Friend To All’ Title)
[Resuscitation]- Not Evolvable (Req. 4,000 Intelligence, 3,500 Magic, Full Understanding of CPR, and 100,000 Creatures Saved from the Brink of Death)
“Fuck me, that’s a lot of evolutions.” I groaned, starting to feel drained from reading all these Menus and descriptions. “Well there’s Resuscitation, the new evolution created earlier, but I can’t believe you actually need to know CPR for one of its Requirements.”
Resuscitation: Physically performing the otherworldly technique of cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and steadily infusing Magic into a recently dead creature returns them back to life. Does not work on deaths resulting from Old Age or Decapitation. Halting the Cast Time cancels the Skill and uses up the Cost. Cost 3,500 Mana. Cast Time: 2 Minutes. Cast Time decreased based on Skill Level.
“Wow, it really is a Reviving-Type Skill!” I exclaimed to myself in shock and awe. “This Skill could be extremely useful for saving lives, the only problem is if that long Cast Time gets interrupted…”
While I pondered if that was the Skill I should ultimately be aiming for, I went back to the start and basically disregarded everything past the 1st-Tier, and then contemplated on what to choose first. Cure Wounds had better, and instant-type heals. Inferior Aid had regeneration-type heals, and the bonus of removing some Statuses. And Lesser Restoration had no healing whatsoever, but it did have the ability to remove all basic afflictions. The choice was tough, though from what I already experienced through my previous battles in this world, I knew I was going to need a mixture of both healing and cleansing if I wanted to survive—opposed to only focusing on healing or cleanses.
Congratulations, the Skill ‘First Aid’ has now been evolved into the ‘Inferior Aid’ Skill!
Inferior Aid: Touch and heal a target for 3% of their Health per second, for 4 seconds. Removes the ‘Bleeding’ and ‘Poisoned’ Status. Cost 300 Mana. Healing increased by Skill Level.
“That’s it. I’m done with these Evolutions.” Closing the Skills Menu in exhaustion, “If I look at any more Menus, I’ll lose it. I’ll just deal with the rest of them later—when I feel like it.”
“Are you alright, Eyes?” Zebeyeyl questioned in concern, carrying the chest of supplies and approaching me. “Your mind seems to have been elsewhere for a while now?”
“Y-Yeah, I’m alright.” I stammered. “I guess I was just dazed from reading all those words.” He looked at me curiously, so I quickly changed the subject, asking “Master Zebeyeyl, if you’re bringing the supplies over here, does that mean you’re already done with Myeyl’s Trinity Tattoo.”
“Well, unlike someone over here, Myeyl only needed the Combat part of her Tattoo created, so it didn’t take too long. Yet she still somehow adorably fell asleep in that time.” He gestured behind him to Myeyl beautifully laying on her stomach, with a blanket covering her body. “Though you do know that it has been four hours since I started, right?”.
“What?! It’s already been four hours?!” I exclaimed.
“It has. Though there is nothing to worry about, Eyes. I've already sent word to your House that you will be staying here tonight, and they of course understood when they learned the reason.” Zebeyeyl informed me, setting the supplies down in front of me. “Now, are you prepared for what happens next?”
“What do you mean ‘what happens next’?” I reiterated in confusion.
Zebeyeyl took a breath and explained, “When I complete the Trinity Tattoo on your back today, not only will it change and affect you to your very core, but it'll also cause an unprecedented ripple to shake the very land we stand upon when this impossibility is inevitably revealed. And I assure you, Eyes, it will be revealed. So I ask you again, my naïve young protégé, are you prepared for what happens next?”
Having already accepted all the trouble that continues to be drawn to me, all I could do was answer him with a simple smirk and smug face. For whatever was to happen in the future, it was going to be by my will.