Murai felt it through his body. Change. Magic. It was flowing like an eternally flowing river across the universe. A gushing flow of mana was coming from the ground, traveling through his feathers, flowing in mysteries to his whole being, and taking roots in his flesh and core. Did he feel that very clearly, or more... vividly? It was a strange feeling that he should've felt before numerous times, as the magic was coming at him like a Blessing sent from the Sky.
It felt different from the mana of human races and its creation was weird.
Mana had the appearance of hazy azure light, with much more vividness when denser. Many strands of glowing matter gushed out of the ground, appearing like waves, strands, lines, and glittering light. It was a blissful feeling as if bathed by the power itself.
Was it coming out of nowhere? Murai doubted that. Everything had its source and rules. Mana had its source, but what about the evolution? What was Panacea?
Someone at the tip of this world was using the River of Manaflow for the sake of turning this planet to their WIll. Mortals took that for blessings; now, Murai was involved in this mess himself. It was realistic to be cautious because of it, as it was strange.
Mana seeped out, creating a cocoon around his body and overworking his senses, soul, and body. Strange sensations followed almost all evolutions, and one might even lose consciousness during this long process that could last for days or even weeks.
Murai almost felt as if his own Will evaporated in this process, feeling as if everything was happening outside of his body. Evolutions were served to him on a golden plate, operating and transforming on its own. The only thing that one could do was clutch one's hopes, and prey the body wouldn't break in this process.
It was as Rain said.
Murai soon realized his mistake of overthinking it. He had this bad habit for a long time.
Feeling the magic of the mana seep into his inside felt like warmth overwhelming his senses that were all over the place. Then, in what felt like dozens of minutes, there was a sudden outburst of agonizing pain. And everything exploded. Waves. His senses.
That went on until a Mana Core formed like a star, forming like waves in the middle of his chest, feeling like a flame and frenzy eye of a storm. Murai felt this condition many times. Mana Cores were essences of magic that one could get going, forming in their bodies so they could be put to use.
But this one felt different, yet also familiar in its general appearance. It was a source, right there within his core that formed mana space. That was what hurt the most. His insides turned and changed, and the rushing power of the mana started to live within him.
Mana penetrated every cell in his body, and like a domino effect, everything followed afterward. Bones, blood, muscles, and even feathers and nerves. Everything was so intense. Then, the following evolution went on, as it wasn't only a core that birthed this evolution.
The world itself viewed the evolution on its page, while those creating and figuring them were Gods themselves, even if it involved mortals under them.
Murai had trouble witnessing everything; his body and feelings felt dull as if he was unable to perceive his life. Normally, one would be long unconscious, but he wasn't.
Mana was just a guiding tool. A certain something that this world carried like a treasure, while evolution wasn't happening because of this mysterious energy. That wouldn't make sense, as the evolution didn't happen because of mana. They were complex branches of bodies, physiques, and Bloodlines of old and new, depicting countless possibilities.
Murai grasped onto his consciousness, unwilling to draw the last line. Someone... works like an asshole God, or is it them? Creator!? Someone beyond? What is this planet? Who created this mess? Murai though, shrouded in the darkness where his vision couldn't see a thing.
what kind of sick fuck could manipulate mana and the world to create this flow of power and data? Evolution? Bloodlines. It is a transformation, but it comes out of the world as we are painting what others paint. Weird. It acts with clarity of a gift that touches the prospect of bodies and lives. Are there some reasons it does it so effectively? Feels like an experiment gone wrong, or perhaps too well? I should've asked Rain more about this.
Overthinking was futile. Murai wasn't sensible enough to think of evolution or this world as something terrible. He just woke up a while ago. He should discover and reach his conclusions at a later date. Like usual. Like an adventure and curse of his lives.
For now, he took this mana for a treasure and his body took it like a hungry beast.
A new source of power was created according to Will of the Battleworld.
[Anatidae Panacea]
[Class D sub-species of the Anatidae species]
[It isn't new, as Panacae is one of the key forms in a lineage of Anatidaes. As a Citizen's choice, it forms a branch that might give you a future of magic and endless potential]
[A change to attributes is due]
[Strength +10]
[Its affinity towards the body functions is increased by 15%]
[Dexterity + 5]
[A change in the body defines the higher affinity and growth. Further increases in Dexterity should prove to be useful for movement, flexibility, speed, and touches between everything]
[Vitality +10]
[A new source of life is an evolution. Panacea is stronger, bigger, faster, and able to use a new source of power]
[Will +5]
[Soul Power needs more initialization processed and time to grow to something bigger. It is too low]
[Soul Power +5]
[A new source of power has been detected]
[Mana]
[A source of magic]
[Mana Pool is created, determined, and ranked at 1000]
[Possible replenishment of Mana Pool: use of rich mana resources, breathing styles, mantras, or training, or replenish it naturally]
[The quality of the Anatidae Panacea grants you the following mana abilities]
[Mana Flow is at the center, depicting the touch of the River of Manaflow. is a flow of undeniable magic and a power that grants nothing but miracles]
[Mana Flow: You can feel the tension of the mana within your body. It is a powerful and magical fue that effectively turns your Mana Core and mana space in a certain flow. It is versatile for the user, body, flesh, or magic, as well as a source of potential trouble]
[It is outside of Battleworld's influence, as it is a power that rages within you. Equipment and many variables might work alongside this. Experimenting with Shaping and Conjuring are required if one wishes to make use of a proper power of Mana Flow]
[Grade: F]
[Leveless ability]
[Increase in Grade increases the Mana Flow, its density, flow, power, and various other aspects. It is advised to think of this as your connection to the broader River]
[It powers mana space and your core. Time and required use of mana will deliver and touch your Mana Core to a Small Success. Waiting, training, Conjuring, and Shaping are instructed to follow]
[Mana Detection has been created]
[Waves of the River of Manaflow are endless and rich, giving clarity to the eyes, senses, and souls]
[Mana Detection: Your soul is highly capable of viewing mana particles, treasures, waves, and their qualities in a limited capacity. Leveling is recommended. Depending on your Will and uses, it can view the world and beings who can also use mana]
[Level 1]
[Grade C]
[Mana Replenishment has been uncovered by the degree of Anatidae, Mana Flow, and your upcoming core and mana space. It is an ordinary ability granted by the touch of mana and your body. It has no redeeming qualities besides being passive]
[Mana Replenishment: A passive ability that replenishes the mana through time, acting like a natural recovery. It has restricted potential in empowering your Mana Core and strengthening your body]
[Level 1: 10 points towards Mana Pool per minute]
[Grade F: Increases in Grades improve its efficiency]
[Mana is energy. It is no longer a condition fit for an animal. You are far from that, Citizen. You are a magical beast, yet a creature of the demonic lineage from an old time. Depending on your Path and your future evolutions, your Fate might change.
Evolution dug deep into the Anatidae possibilities. The Will of the Battleworld gave him much-needed perspective and messages. Thanks to that, it made this whole ordeal forceful, yet much clearer for Murai to focus on staying afloat.
Time moved slowly when evolving. Minutes felt like hours; hours felt like days. As he feared, his body long collapsed to the ground, yet the whole cocoon of power was still shifting around him. And his Will alone was still alive, discerning the dullness like a dot in a black painting. His body didn't endure. It couldn't possibly do it right.
Normally, evolutions go through a creature's awareness, and sleeping it off worked wonders. Waking up weakened might be possible if Vitality and flesh survived the transformation, or if the soul took it well. In rarer cases, one woke up so invigorated, that one could storm the Sky and call himself a king.
Outside of his view, his duckling body was changing from within and outwards. Mana Flow founded its Mana Core and stabilized the creation of mana space. Core looked like a bland revolving cocoon, hovering in his mana space, which was in his heart. It was weak, yet to grow or accustom the flow of the world.
But it could empower him to another level. Murai knew it far too well, which was why his soul was so static, he forgot any issues he had. Massive things always started small. His duck might be that as well, but Murai wasn't taking it for something ridiculous.
Since he wasn't born with the core—as it seemed it was granted to him on a golden plate—he took it for proof that this world was much higher than he assumed.
Magic needed time, effort, and training to elevate it to a new level. It was the usual stuff of magic, yet in numbers and Grades that seemed to be integral. Murai wasn't familiar with this concept, but the way magic worked should be the same as everywhere else. This world just took it for something else, yet the source was the same.
The process of acquiring power, magic, and core seemed to be highly dependent on acts, battles, and accomplishments. Fighting gave blessings, readings, and boosts from the Will of the Battleworld. And one's Bloodlines and body seemed to rely on it, yet still grow on its own. There was no doubt that countless beings in this world followed this interest. Be it Blessed, Gifted, or normal inhabitants of many powers, even a nameless dog might evolve, albeit those would depend on their accomplishments, talent, or luck.
Mana itself was the fuel; Will of the Battleworld was an authority that connected the rest.
It was clear from Rain's words that the world was vast. Murai's species had various opportunities. Almost all of them were outside of his clues, which was why he hoped to change it.
Everyone in this world could take an evolution for something new, similar to following a Path. There might be minor shifts, as they could be a simple stage in one's racial age. A child always grows up, becoming an adolescent, and then an adult. Be it the humans, orcs, elves, and countless species of beasts and demons, this was a world full of power and people.
Murai felt it within his soul. He was excited and glad that he had this sort of sensation. This wouldn't have happened if he had endured the life of a human child. Growing as a human was extremely slow. More so than this duck. Less than 300 days was better than a decade or longer.
Although he had yet to leave the Redglory Forest—which wasn't anything impressive for a forest—he felt good and not stressed. This forest was a relatively low-level zone on the outskirts of Tabula Lake, surrounded by multiple kingdoms and nations.
Time flew by in a matter of long hours. Soon, Murai felt a tingling sensation that formed with his Will. The Vitality of his body was destabilizing for a long time already, making him fearful and hesitant. As he expected, the issue of Vitality was to fuel this process. One would've crumbled if one wasn't ready.
How important was it to keep one's shit together? Small. One should trust the process, as this starting one wasn't in one's hands. The possibility of a mana explosion in his case was high, and having organs scattered from the body didn't seem nice either. It was a brutal reality and a possible way of how high-stakes evolutions worked. His species wasn't a normal one, after all. Murai was yet to be convinced by that.
Starting evolution was special and had the least amount of failure across the board. But the following one? Those were a different story. Unless one had an absolute chance of succeeding in their endurance and Bloodline, it was a gamble.
For him, this starting choice was mandatory to reach Level 1. Many beast species had it like that, as long as their Bloodline was special. Some ordinary animals might not get this at all, as high power and potential were a privilege set by time and past.
As for the following evolutions, they weren't mandatory. Murai could remain in the form of a Panacea for a long time, slowly uncovering the requirement and unlocking branches of his sub-species. That could take years or even decades for some species or races.
It wasn't that terrible. Evolutions were like Paths of the Divides, depicting a progression set in stone and people. Murai was convinced it was basically a copy of Paths from the vaster Skies, though he wasn't complaining.
The progression of abilities was plentiful, and one's Level could take a long to go up. Then, learning magic and figuring out new abilities made evolution less worrisome, as there was always something to do. Because of that, it wasn't wrong to reject evolution in many cases. It was individualistic, and more often than not, most preferred the benefits and how easy evolutions felt—if one forgot the potential dangers.
Getting stronger was lucrative and often addictive. It was an act. A being was the taker of this gift, yet these gifts were tools of those above. It was a weird power dynamic that Murai saw at some points in his living, but this planet overturned it to another level.
Evolution created many meaningful upgrades thanks to its transformative nature. Refusing it sounded like stupidity in his book.
As for the evolutions of later brackets, they were harder to accomplish and requirements were often obscene if one's Bloodline was very potent, or race or species very powerful. Unlocking them was no longer cast within any time limits, but one was constituted to a triplet of unlocked choices before the Will of the Battleworld accepted one's choice.
In that sense, evolutions had a multitude of limitations that Murai found fair. After all, it seemed fairly obvious that someone constructed this system for beasts and people to grow.
The biggest factors of these changes were attributes, unique aspects of specific or unique evolution, or even magic. However, the last one depended on some very important aspects, as mana was stingy and often limited in talents. To get it going, it was up to those called mages. And mainly, not everyone could awaken, grow, handle, or have a core since birth.
There were layers to grow. Almost like everything on living planets in the universe. Great results in some talent, comprehension, fights, or accomplishments in dungeons worked to one's advantage. A gift, action, or Blessing from a God could also imply a change.
There were countless ways and methods to grow and become powerful in this world. Evolution was just one of them, though its terms sought countless desires of powerful beings.
This was a Battleworld. A planet of an old age where battles and grudges between Gods were present, raging in many ways. Be it outside, within, or on the planet itself.
As for the reason why that was the case, or what was the cause for it, not many dared to question it. Especially the mortals.
Murai waited, cringing at the declining Vitality of his body. It was close... too close to his liking, but maybe that's how this was supposed to be like? Murai took pain for a joke; he thought it would be a simple issue. Even Rain said it like that. An easy thing, he said.
“It's just a start. It's not even a big deal!” Murai shouted in his soul space, unwavering as his Will couldn't come back to the real body. At least his soul was unshakable at its core.
In stubbornness and awareness, he reached the limit in 40 hours.
Evolution was completing its last processes, causing Murai's soul to shake when upon a connection to his Will. To his surprise, the Soul Body shook in its core. Then, he felt his physical body inside the bright cocoon. It was alluring, following the official level up from 0 to Level 1. This was the biggest leap a true beginner of this world could ask for.
Much to his surprise, Murai also noticed rather surprising accomplishments after listening to the incoming message.
Levels wasn't a new term for him, but it sure was strange to think of it as a source of his power. It was a number, so what to think of a number in the grand scheme of power? It seemed to lack a certain punch.
It will have to do for now.
[Anatidae Panacae is reached]
[Level thresholds are obliterated through the connection, readings, and following the Bloodline of your past. Your own Will and Soul also play a partial role in this process]
[Level Up +6]
[Your current Level: 5]
[According to the readings of the Will of the Battleworld, we have witnessed it. By our call, the core of your overall abilities and the power of your species are prepared to step into the true Battleworld. You will no longer be protected as a Seedling. Welcome to a Child Stage of your species]
[Attributes have been strengthened, and their power to your body improved, giving them a slight edge. The effects of evolution are long-lasting. Eating is required. Vitality needs its fuel]
[Most of your abilities weren't used to a mandatory extent, or not at all. How disappointing... ALAS! The Anatidae Panacea has powerful lineage abilities, and the further you walk, the more noticeable they are. They might cause you to regret your choice, but it matters little, if any]
[So much for your quick determination and choices, but it is too late to change your bracket. Welcome to a world of magical ducks, Citizen]
[Gain a full awareness of your new body and soul and uncover the abilities of the Anatidae Panacea. Follow the paths of the Anatidae species and uncover many other powers and abilities. When you do, we call and gift the voice and reason]
[Your choice has been made. May the power be with your new life in the following hours when the power will get stabilized]
[Then, the world shall witness a new Anatidae, and Redglory Forest better survives or hides away]
With the end of the long stretch of wordy efforts, Murai reached out to his body.
Soul Body made it rather easy, thanks to his sturdy Will that never lost its edge. Those were taxing 40 hours. It sounded strange, but it seemed his Soul Body grew stronger in this process. It had some correlation to his physical body, so that might be why. Murai forced his consciousness to move and act call. Right. Calling it new wasn't a redundancy. It felt like a new body. Bigger. Stronger. Shiny and new!
The cocoon scattered, revealing Murai's body lying on the ground, shaking and collapsed, but otherwise fine.
Trying to feel his body, trembling stopped and sensation over his flesh and limbs returned.
Hoh? It's surprisingly indistinguishable from before, though a tad bigger and rather... same? I am still a freaking duck. What have I expected again? A dragon? They have wings too, snouts and feet, and long arms... Yea. Forget dragons. Murai thought and tried to move his body with difficulties.
The easiest was opening his eyes. His body felt heavy, which might be caused by a lack of Vitality and general tiredness. He wasn't lively like some evolutions could feel like. He was also numb in feeling his physical changes, yet something felt right. An unnatural amount of power was in his core, waiting.
He might have gotten some attributes, but they felt like droplets falling into a sea. In minutes, sensations started to return. The first thing he felt was hunger. Immense hunger grew in his stomach with loud noises. He couldn't stop.
Where are those bones? Murai asked himself, not seeing them as he couldn't move an inch. His legs didn't work and his neck and wings were all limp. What felt different right from the start was his beak.
It was longer, shaped nicely in a more smoothened and sharp form. Unlike the smaller shape from before, it looked like the thick beak of a bird, but it still resembled the beak of a duck. It was flat at the point of his head, before thinning into a sharp point. The side curve and edge remained, looking like a double edge broadsword, but thicker. It also became proportionate to the rest of his body, and no longer seemed too big.
And it felt heavy. Murai couldn't move his head, so he dismissed his transformation for the time, as he had a task before anything else.
To eat.
“Bones should be close, yet I can't tell shit from the star! I will eat them all! I need to eat.” He quacked in his struggle, and his eyes adjusted to the surroundings. It seemed the eyesight wasn't all that different from before. His inability to move frustrated him, which was then increased by his lack of food.
His higher attributes didn't change his struggles. Expended Vitality meant trouble. The body needed fuel to power itself up first before it would show its merits. The change was obscure. It was like gaining a better engine, yet having no fuel. It was similar to that.
Murai felt his body in the following tries to turn. He fell to the ground, opposite to the bones, so he hadn't seen them.
He recovered the feelings of his legs, wings, and the rest of his body in the following minutes. He crawled by using his beak and neck alone. Slowly, his legs even with their little fingers hardly helped. Murai managed to reach the bones at last. His neck seemed more flexible and thicker, but without standing, he wasn't able to see his body. He didn't care about it. Those bones needed some care first.
“Fuck! FUCK! I didn't think I would be unable to move!” He shouted, uttering sharper-sounding quacking into the cave. Murai didn't care one bit about his voice that didn't change, since his eyesight was glued to the bones. He crawled at them like ancient demons before children, hoping to devour them.
The bones remained as big as before, but perhaps a little smaller because of the cooking of this cave. It was also hard to tell if Murai grew or not, which might suggest the height of this duck species wasn't very high.
He should be above 25-centimeter tall and his overall visage was stronger and fuller than ever. He grew in more ways than his height. The harsh-looking eyes were hungry for food, and his vivid colors of red, brown, and bright brown feathers around his whole body popped off. The feathers were fuller and softer, shining around his head and neck, before becoming darker towards his belly and tail.
This was no duckling. He looked like a proper duck.
He had yet to fully process the following Will of the Battleworld that was coming his way. He had no mind for that.
Eat.
Food.
Bones.
Those words lived in his mind for free and some outside problems didn't matter. The bone proved to be a problem. Murai was unable to crack them like a chi when he drove his beak forward. He failed miserably and growled like a wounded beast. By doing so, he pushed them away instead.
Then, he stopped complaining after a surprising sight. These bones were much thicker than what Devil Fox stored here. And they were oozing bone marrow from their chopped-up parts, dripping down at the right angle.
Murai grabbed the bone with his beak, turning the bone down his throat, and slurping the marrow like a delicacy. He was ecstatic to get some food down his throat. Following this process with dozens of others, the further he slurped and drank or ate, the stronger he felt. His lost vigor returned.
Within a dozen minutes of this feast, he felt brand new.
Stepping up, Murai used his beak as support because his legs were still dull. Glancing down, there was a familiar laughable pair of thin legs. Those hardly changed. Flipping his wings at least felt better; they were wider, fuller, and carried lengthy feathers.
He sighed, realizing his body was up to his work once again. Back to his suffering. Perhaps it was a good time for a victorious cry, yet he felt awkward.
“Feeling alive, am I not? I must thank you, Boar King.“ Murai said, giving a praiseworthy bow to the remaining bones.