Chapter 4: The Path to Power

Kael returned to the village with the weight of his first kill still pressing on his mind. The adrenaline had faded, but the memory of the battle with the beast remained vivid. As he walked through the quiet streets, his mind churned with thoughts of his abilities, especially Copy & Evolve. He had already gained the Sharp Senses (Spark) talent from the beast, but that was only the beginning. There was a vast potential hidden in this skill, waiting to be unlocked.

Kael had learned something important from the prompt that had appeared after the fight. Copy & Evolve gave him more than just the ability to absorb talents—it held the power to evolve those talents, to push them beyond their initial limitations. But how? He hadn’t fully understood until now, and as he replayed the scene in his mind, the answer became clearer.

He needed more than just a single copy of a talent. To evolve it, he would have to acquire the same talent twice. That realization struck him hard. He wouldn’t simply grow stronger by taking random talents. To evolve and become truly powerful, he needed to be deliberate in his choices—copying the same talents to enhance their aptitudes.

‘Two of the same talent,’ he thought, his pace slowing as he entered the village square. ‘That’s the key.’

Not only that, but the system had also hinted at something else: if he found a talent or essence with a higher aptitude than his own, he could replace it outright. That was even more valuable. If he could find a beast or person with the same talent but at a higher rank—like Stream or Horizon—he could replace his weaker versions and gain a significant boost in strength.

The possibilities raced through his mind as he made his way home. Copy & Evolve was more powerful than he had initially thought. It didn’t just allow him to absorb talents—it offered a way to ascend far beyond the limits of his Flicker essence aptitude. He could evolve his talents over time, and if he found higher-ranked versions, he could swap them for more powerful aptitudes.

For the first time since his awakening, Kael felt a flicker of hope. His Flicker aptitude might be weak, but he didn’t have to be confined by it. As long as he continued to fight, to copy and evolve talents, he could grow stronger. Far stronger than anyone with a Flicker essence should ever be.

When he arrived home, his mother was waiting for him, concern etched across her face. “Kael, are you alright?” she asked as soon as he stepped through the door. “Roran came by and told us what happened. You killed a beast?”

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Kael nodded, doing his best to appear calm. “Yeah. It was tough, but I managed.”

His father, a gruff man who had worked the fields his whole life, gave him a nod of approval from the corner of the room. “Good lad. You’ve got the strength in you, even if the crystal didn’t show it.”

Kael forced a smile, his mind still far away from the comforts of home. After a few brief conversations with his parents, he excused himself and headed to his small room. He needed time to think, to plan.

Sitting on the edge of his bed, Kael opened the status window once more, watching as the floating words appeared before him. This time, it felt different. He wasn’t just glancing at his abilities—he was analyzing them, trying to understand the mechanics of Copy & Evolve.

[Kael Rithen]

Essence Aptitude: Flicker (Rank 1)

Essence Level: Mote (Rank 1)

Talents:

— Sword Talent (Flicker)

— Endurance Talent (Spark)

— Sharp Senses (Spark)

Unique Skills:

— God Eye (EX)

— Copy & Evolve (EX)

His essence aptitude remained at Flicker, and his essence level was still at Mote. The talents he had copied so far were visible—his weak Sword Talent (Flicker), the slightly better Endurance Talent (Spark), and now the Sharp Senses (Spark) he had acquired from the beast.

‘Sharp Senses,’ he mused. ‘If I can find another creature or person with this talent, I could evolve it. And if I find a higher rank of Sword Talent…’

He clenched his fists, feeling a surge of determination. Copy & Evolve wasn’t just a tool for survival—it was a way to climb the ladder of power. But it wouldn’t be easy. He would need to fight, to constantly seek out beasts or enemies with talents he could take. The risk would be high, but so was the reward.

Kael lay back on his bed, staring up at the ceiling, his mind racing with plans for the future. He knew the next step: he would have to venture deeper into the forest. The beast he had killed was just a low-level creature, but there were stronger beasts out there. Ones with talents and aptitudes that could push him forward, make him stronger.

‘If I can find another beast with Sharp Senses, I can evolve it,’ he thought. ‘And if I find someone with a higher rank in Sword Talent, I can replace my own.’

The thought filled him with anticipation. He was no longer just a boy with a weak essence. He was something more. With every kill, with every battle, he could climb higher, and one day—he would no longer be bound by the limits of Flicker.

But for now, he needed rest. Tomorrow would bring new challenges, new opportunities. And with God Eye and Copy & Evolve at his side, he would seize every one of them.

Kael closed his eyes, the thought of evolving his talents bringing a rare sense of peace. His path was clear. He would rise, no matter what.

And nothing would stop him.

The next morning, Kael woke early, his mind sharp and his body ready. He grabbed his sword and set off toward the forest, determined to push himself further. The memory of his battle with the wolf-like beast still lingered in his mind, but he knew that would pale in comparison to the challenges that awaited deeper in the woods.

As he entered the forest, he focused, using his God Eye to scan the area. He didn’t want to engage anything too strong just yet—his skills were still untested, and he needed to be strategic. But even as he moved cautiously through the trees, his excitement grew.

Every beast he encountered was a potential step toward evolution. Every fight was a chance to grow. He would copy their talents, absorb their strengths, and push beyond the limits of his Flicker essence.

Kael pressed forward, his mind set on one goal: to evolve and grow stronger with every battle. The forest awaited, and so did the power he craved.