[Olivia’s PoV]
It’s been a week since Alisha and Elizabeth began their evolution. Currently we were taking it in turns to watch over the two of them. Picking up Pup, I scratch his head while feeding him some meat. Looking at the cocoon that held Alisha, I knew of this possibility, monsters could evolve and be placed into a state of hibernation. I didn’t know if that was the case for humans, nor Hybrids like them until I saw this scene.
Evolution being at level 20 is something I never knew. Elves would ascend to Wood Elves, at least the ones from my village as Elves had a natural affinity to Wood Magic. Ascension was different, only a small amount of time passed compared to evolution. I don’t know what would happen to me, I had Healing Magic instead of Nature Magic. Taking out the item I received from the quest in the dungeon, I looked it over once more.
[Solace’s Gemstone of Light
A stone that contains the light of healing. You should keep this on your person.
Grade: S+]
Golden in colour, it was a beautiful gem the size of my thumb. I wasn’t sure what to do with this gemstone, I did like looking at it though, especially during the day. Currently it was night, at day it would have a lovely shine to it.
Just as I put the gemstone away, I heard a crack. Looking over at the source, Alisha’s cocoon had a large crack down the middle from the top to bottom. As I watched, more cracks appeared and just as I thought it was going to burst apart, it…crumbled away. Seeing a hand move the remains of the cocoon away, a figure unsteadily stands up from it.
With flowing black hair that had a silvery glow to it, deep blue eyes with a mix of white in them, the figure moved out from the cocoon while brushing herself down. A slender chest, long legs, on her head was a pair of fox ears and a tail came from behind her. Is this Alisha?
Her eyes found me, and I could see power behind that stare. Just as I am about to ask her what happened, a deep bloodthirst emerged from her. Gulping, I stand up quickly and reach for my bow. Sally and Gray had gone to fetch food and water, I was alone here. Just as I'm about to grab my bow, the bloodthirst disappears and Alisha yawns.
“Sorry Olivia, I was just thinking about food, I’m really hungry.”
Keeping my guard up, I watch as she takes a few steps forward towards the fireplace and sits down. She had grown taller, maybe about the same height as Elizabeth. Her clothing was tight on her now, she’d need something new to wear. Carefully putting my bow to the side, I ask her “Is everything okay?” as I check her System information.
[Level 20 Mystic Lunar Fox, Lunar Fist of the Wind, Alisha]
Seeing her race, I knew she had successfully evolved. Sitting down next to her, I asked her about the process and what she went through. Smiling, she was about to explain when there was a thumping sound nearby. Looking over, I see Elizabeth had a light pulsing around her.
[Alisha’s PoV]
Watching Elizabeth, I started getting used to the changes of my body. I had grown a fair bit taller, my arms had longer reach and my legs were longer than I was used to. The other change was the System, checking Olivia’s information showed me more now.
[Olivia, the Aspiring Hero
Level 19 Elf
Beginner Elven Archer
Health: 600/600]
It has changed compared to before. Before level 20 we would get basic information and now we had more information provided to us. Looking at Pup gave me similar information.
[Pup
Level 4 Silverback Pup
Health: 200/200]
Helpful, seeing health was strange though. Usually punching or stabbing a monster enough times would kill it. Wondering if we had to worry about the health of our enemies moving forward, a pulse of mana erupts from Elizabeth.
Looking at her, I saw her evolution must’ve been done, her System information showed a new race.
[Elizabeth
Level 20 Mageblood Human
Health: 1,000/1,000]
Knowing she must’ve naturally awakened her mana, I made it a point to ask her later what her mana realm looked like…actually.
“Olivia, what does your Mana Realm look like?”
“Hm? Like usual, stars in the sky above and a lake of mana.”
Speaking factually, Olivia gives me a strange look. Giggling, I explain to her about my last mana pool and veins.
“Oh, yea those who can’t afford to use the Mana Springs use Pure Mana Crystals. They are usually those who don’t use magic often anyway.”
So both methods were known then. As I’m about to ask if they used a ritual, a final pulse of magic erupted strongly from Elizabeth. Raising a palm, I pushed a wind wall in front of Olivia and I, surprised at how quickly it formed. After the calm settled, Elizabeth slowly opened her eyes, there were no physical changes to her, but I could feel how strong she was, her mana was radiating.
As Elizabeth stands up and stretches, she looks over to us and waves. Coming over and sitting down, she looks at me and does a double take, similar to Olivia. Feeling in a strange mood, I drop the expression on my face and think about eating a lot of food, like I did when I came out of the cocoon. Seeing Olivia pale, I knew I was radiating bloodthirst.
Shaking her head, Elizabeth simply mutters “You’ve learnt a new trick.” Landing a soft chop to my head, Elizabeth laughs and says “It’s good to see you made it through. That was a lot more intense than I thought it would be.”
“Mm, you guys took a week. No wonder you’re so hungry Alisha, you’d have used a lot of energy to grow so much in such a short time.” Looking down at my body, I wasn’t used to seeing how much I had grown.
Standing up, I looked at Elizabeth and asked “Wanna go find some monsters?” Nodding, Elizabeth picks up her sword and hands me her coat “Wear this for now, we’ll get you something bigger later.”
Putting the coat on, I asked Olivia “Who is Alice with?” Pondering for a moment, Olivia says “She went with Gray, she’s been sticking with him recently, I think it’s because he’s starting to get a handle on Shadow Magic.” Thinking about it, there might’ve been a link between Dark and Shadow magic. Thanking Olivia, I go towards the open fields outside of the range of the Orb with Elizabeth.
***
The result was far beyond what I imagined. The monsters here were simply too weak, a punch from me or a cut from Elizabeth was enough to kill them. These monsters weren’t strong enough for me to know how strong I had grown. We never gained experience from anything, and looking over the System, I saw a message I missed earlier.
[You can no longer gain experience from those below level 20.]
“So, that’s why the nobles don’t leave then.” Commenting on this, Elizabeth seems to have a realisation. “With the power difference between level 19 and 20, gaining experience would’ve been a huge risk for them, so instead of gaining experience, they instead just live a life of luxury. Argh.”
Flexing my fingers, I turn to Elizabeth and ask “Do you know how to build houses?” Tilting her head, an action I’ve never seen her do before, she opened her mouth and then let out a “Oh!”
“I haven’t the faintest idea. Maybe we could kidnap some builders from Crater and set them to work!”
Giggling at Elizabeth’s comment, I shake my head. “While that has promise, I’d rather we did it ourselves. A home, built by Hybrids…well, I don’t I’m a Hybrid anymore, but a home built by us for Hybrids would be the way to go. Hybrids we save may not like the idea of living in houses built by humans after all.”
Nodding in thought, Elizabeth crosses her arms and says “You received a Tome of Basic Knowledge from the dungeon right? I guess you’re planning to get the basics on construction?”
“Mm, that or something else to do with building a new town. I think we’ll go in that direction. The alternative is laying waste to Crater and using that as a place to live.”
“I take it you do not wish to go down that route? Even if you do, I’ll support you guys the entire way.” Smiling at Elizabeth’s words, I knew she was serious. At this point, even if it hadn’t been long, I trusted her completely.
“Let’s head back, Gray and Sally should’ve returned by now. What should we do with the monsters we’ve killed?” Shrugging, Elizabeth grabs a few as I mimic her actions. Heading back with the monsters we planned to eat, cooked of course, we returned to the camp to see the other two had returned.
Their reactions didn’t surprise me. Gray looked hopeful…was he bothered by his height that much? Sally on the other hand blinked a lot at first but just stared at me, like she was meeting someone new. Smiling at the two, I greet them and sit down. I was getting used to this new body, but sitting down was still hard.
Alice flew from Gray’s head and landed on mine. No reactions from her, just a peck asking for food. Letting her rest, I shared my experience with the level up to 20 while we prepared food. Elizabeth also shared her experience but strangely she didn’t have a moment of floating somewhere.
After eating, Olivia and Gray sat down for their level 20s. Seeing them close their eyes, I sat and waited. I offered to keep watch over them, however since there wasn’t much to do we were talking about various topics. Lifting Alice off the top of my head, I poke her as she bites at my finger, a way Dark Ravens played.
“Do you think Alice will ever evolve?” Hearing a question from Elizabeth, I shrugged “I hope not, she’s too cute to change”
“Kraa!”
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
Looking proud, Alice sort of pushed her peak up. Poking it, I giggle and say “You heard me. But I will still love you even if you did change.” “Kraa!”
***
After a few hours, Gray experienced a change. The edges of his body started blurring, to the point that it was hard to see him. Straining my eyes, I could see subtle changes being made to his body, it was becoming more toned and slimmer. His race had yet to change, but it might do after he comes out of that state.
On the other hand, Olivia was radiating with a golden glow, making her filled with a grace I couldn’t describe. It is a beautiful scene, her blonde hair matched the glow nearly perfectly. The two had a class already, so nothing should change but their race and level. Bored, I start brainstorming new ideas when the surroundings suddenly darkened, shadows becoming deeper. Narrowing my eyes, I couldn’t see or smell any threats nearby,
As quickly as it had appeared, the surroundings and shadows returned to normal. I knew from Sally’s explanation, when I had entered evolution the stars and moon had brightened for a second, and it was likely Gray was invoking the same. I wondered if this was normal for monsters, since Elizabeth and now Olivia haven’t invoked anything like that.
As if to prove me wrong, a few days after they had begun, Olivia started to crystallise, turning into a gem of sorts. She was radiating a golden glow that pulsed every few minutes. At first we were concerned, but we could still see her information through the System, and while it still hadn’t changed her race or level, we knew she was alive. Leaving it alone, we kept watch.
[Olivia’s PoV]
Warm, it was warm and comfortable here. Like I was home. I was desperate to return home, I hid it from the others, but more than anything I wanted to go home, see my mother, father and sister again. I missed them so much, I don’t know how I ended up here, just that it’s been a month since. Elves never leave home before the age of twenty, I was still only seventeen, assigned to a scouting group.
Ever since I unlocked my True Magic Nature I was shunned by Elves my age, even those older than me saw me as nothing but an anomaly to be avoided. I have never understood why, sure I received Healing Magic and not Nature Magic like all other Elves, but did I have to be pushed away…
My family never pushed me away, never once did they seem disappointed about my Healing Magic, in fact they were excited.
It’s not like I don’t like being here. Alisha, Gray, Sally and Elizabeth. I’ve only known them for a short time, but their stories are fascinating. I want to see the conclusion to their story, even though I said I wouldn’t get involved, surely following along for a bit would be okay.
Looking at my System, I knew I was undergoing a strange change.
[Currently evolving to: Dawnlight Elf]
[Race: Dawnlight Elf.
Grade: S+
A unique evolved Elf that has the power of healing light.
You gain +1 Stat rank to Intelligence.
Your Healing Magic will be mutated to Dawnlight Magic.
You no longer need physical contact to heal. Distance depends on affinity with Dawnlight Magic.
You have a stronger affiliation with Dawnlight Magic.]
So I’ve become a deviant. Which meant instead of simply ascending, I evolved. A deviant Elf is almost always rejected by society, they are seen as a danger, thankfully we are given our freedom but we’ll be exiled. As long as I can see my parents I’m fine with that, I could travel, maybe Alisha and the rest will escape this place.
Closing my eyes, I consider where I think I was. If I was truly in that place, then it’s possible I would never be able to return home. I shouldn’t think like this, I’ll find a way out. I should tell those four about that place, but I can’t. Not yet at least, let them free their brethren first then I’ll tell them.
Feeling the changes to my body slowing, I finally see the System letting me know the process is finishing.
[You are now level 20.]
[Stats have been updated to display Stat points. Stat rank determines growth of Stat Points per level.]
[You can now see Talents.]
[System now provides more information.]
Opening my Status, I saw what had changed.
Status
Olivia, the Aspiring Hero
Race: Dawnlight Elf Level: 20 Experience: 0/100,000 Class: Beginner Elven Archer Class Level: 1 Class Exp: 0/50,000
Stats
Olivia, the Aspiring Hero
Strength: F 50 Agility: F+
80
Intelligence: D- 120 Toughness: F+ 80
Magic
Olivia, the Aspiring Hero
Dawnlight Magic: Hand of Healing Light Rejuvenation
Skills
Olivia, the Aspiring Hero
Piercing Shot
While reading my Status I felt a tug, knowing this meant I was awakening I closed my eyes and felt myself leave my mind.
[Alisha’s PoV]
Laying on my back, I was looking at the Crystallised Tear of the Moon Goddess, previously a beautiful light blue colour, it was now cracked and transparent. It must’ve been used up for my evolution, I had seen the System mention this was used to transform me into a Mystic Lunar Fox.
Looking at the blue sky above me, it was currently day. I felt slightly weaker during the day, the night was comfortable yet the daylight made me want to just lay around and sleep. Alice was sunbathing on my chest so I couldn’t move, not that I wanted to. Sally and Elizabeth were also sitting around looking bored, there wasn’t much we could do till the evolutions were done.
We had made new clothing for me from the fabric Elizabeth had bought. It was a simple shirt, blue in colour, it was a bit oversized but was comfortable. Thankfully I only needed the shirt, we kept the rest of the fabric to the side in case anyone else needed it.
Feeling a bright light emitting from somewhere close by, I thought the sun was just getting closer. Hearing cracking, I turn my head to look at Olivia, nearly blinding myself in the process. Seeing through the brightness, Olivia’s gem-like state was coming undone. As if competing with Olivia, Gray’s side started to darken somehow, shadows grew deeper around us.
“Are they competing?” “Maybe they’re communicating with each other?”
Hearing Sally and Elizabeth talk, I turn my head to look at Gray. It’s a lot harder to see him properly, he was very blurred around the edges and it looked like he could sink into the shadows at any time.
Very quickly the bright light from Olivia stopped, as did the cracking. Gray also became more visible and easier to see. Seeing his outline he hadn’t grown at all, in fact I think he became slimmer, not smaller, just slimmer. Seeing his eyes flicker as they open, I saw his new System information.
[Gray, the Aspiring Hero
Level 20 Vengeful Wraith
Assassin Apprentice
Health: 800/800]
Turning my head, I saw Olivia’s new System information.
[Olivia, the Aspiring Hero
Level 20 Dawnlight Elf
Beginner Elven Archer
Health: 800/800]
Nodding, I knew they were both fine as both stood up nearly at the same time. Olivia’s blonde hair was lighter, and she had a faint golden glow around her that was fading ever so slowly.
“How do you two feel?”
Looking at me, Olivia slightly tilted her head. “Strange, but good.” Looking at Gray, he responded while looking gloomy “...I didn’t grow.” Holding back a giggle at his response, I pick up Alice as I sit up. “As long as you’re okay, that is all that matters.” Seeing him nod, I look back at Sally.
Nodding, she closes her eyes and starts right away, no hesitation at all and begins her level up. We had decided to wait till everyone was done with levelling to 20 before discussing what to do next, so we continued sitting around waiting for Sally, and given that it took all of us a week to finish, Sally would need a week as well.
***
Sally’s evolution was quite uneventful. On the first night, for the briefest moment the moon flashed red. I wondered if only we were seeing these things happen or not. It didn’t look or feel like the evil blood moon that was in Zalus, but rather a warm peaceful one. I couldn’t place a finger on why it felt like that.
After a week, Sally awoke. She had not changed at all, was this because she had accepted her monster side completely before? Looking at her System information, she had completed her evolution just fine.
[Sally, the Aspiring Hero
Level 20 Vampiric Priestess
Health: 8,000/8,000]
Wondering what a Priestess is, I planned to ask Sally later on. Letting her eat to regain her energy, we sat around and started to discuss our next plans.
“So what do we do now?” Asking this, I look around at everyone. I knew Olivia wouldn’t be partaking in this fight, but having her give ideas wouldn’t harm us.
Elizabeth: “We’re not strong enough to just march into Crater and make demands. We don’t know how many nobles are level 20, they might have reached higher levels as well, it’s a risk we can’t take.”
Sally: “Then should we sneak in and take some Hybrids slowly?”
Gray: “I could do that, but the rest of you would stick out and cause a commotion.”
Elizabeth: “The alternative is just fighting the entire city, but we’d have to hope the nobles aren’t actually as strong as we thought.”
Thinking while they talked, I brought up another point. “Even if we were to rescue Hybrids now, we don’t have a way to care for such a large amount of them. Taking a few at a time is best, we also need to learn how to build shelter.”
Olivia: “You could try and rescue those coming from dungeons.”
Frowning, I think about Olivia’s suggestion. Building shelter wouldn’t be a light job, we’d need manpower. Taking all Hybrids from Crater would strain us too much, but if we were to get the ones coming from dungeons, we can easily manage around a hundred or so.
Elizabeth digs out the map she had bought and spreads it on the ground.
“There are three dungeons they would be using, usually four, but I doubt they’ve cleared Cerberus’s Domain. The three in use would be here, here and here.” Pointing at three dungeons, I see why they would use them. Each of the three had a direct path to Crater and judging the distance would take at most two hours to travel between the two.
“We’d need to keep an eye on Hound Hell just in case they did clear the mutated dungeon. Olivia, I know you don’t want to get involved, could you watch that path for us? You don’t need to help or anything, but knowing if the dungeon has returned to normal is enough.”
Nodding, Olivia says “That’s fine. I’ll go there and back.”
“Elizabeth, could you check the situation in Crater? Especially the slums, I want to ensure that nothing has happened to the Hybrids because we escaped.”
“That’s easy. The guards don’t check the entrance to the slums, so as long as I hide my face I’ll be able to check everything out.”
Nodding, I turn to Sally and Gray. “Right, the plan for us will be to…”