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The Abyssal Enigma
Chapter 11: Silver Lining

Chapter 11: Silver Lining

Well, it seems like I’ve hit rock bottom, quite literally. I am surrounded by monsters that can apparently kill me with a sneeze, I am far away from any exit, and the only clue I have as to my location is a beacon that currently points straight up for a very long distance.

“Maybe I can try climbing up the shaft I fell from?” I thought, as I took a swing at the wall, only to watch my claws bounce off it.

Huh? Why is the wall so tough? And now that I think of it, why is it so smooth now?! Appraisal!

[Froststone Wall]

“Hmm. This froststone stuff seems to be much stronger than obsidian, so I can’t really dig into it with my claws to climb up. Maybe I’ll be able to with another evolution. At least I’ve reached the maximum level for [Abyssal Drake]. Any hope I have to escape will be through this.”

I took one last look at my stats before I decided to evolve.

[Abyssal Drakeling]

Name: N/A

[Level 15]

EXP: 34635/MAX

HP: 256/400

SP: 150/150

MP: 50/50

Vitality: 40

Strength: 30

Dexterity: 40

Intelligence: 15

Wisdom: 10

Racial Traits:

[Claw Strike]

[Night Vision]

[Regeneration]

Skills:

[Appraisal Lv. 5]

[Tail Strike Lv. 1]

[Sneak Lv. 2]

[Ambush Lv. 2]

[Poison Resistance Lv. 7]

[Spark of Ambition Lv. 2]

[Corrosion Resistance Lv. 1]

[Paralysis Resistance Lv. 2]

[Mental Resistance Lv. 1]

[Pain Resistance Lv. 1]

Titles:

[Sapient Monster]

[Predator’s Bane]

[Survivor]

[Avenger]

[Indomitable Will]

I’ve come far, and now its time to take advantage of the situation!

Do you wish to trigger your evolution now?

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[Yes/No]

Yes!

Select an Evolution:

[Abyssal Drake]

Rank D creature. As the base evolved form of an Abyssal Drakeling, it is more powerful in every aspect. With a larger body, tougher scales, keener senses, and frightening regeneration, the Abyssal Drake is a force to be reckoned with. Ironically enough, the existence of this evolution is debated, as it has never been observed.

“Huh. That’s strange. No one has ever seen an Abyssal Drake before?” I wondered.

Perhaps its because Abyssal Drakelings that live long enough to obtain an evolution would not settle for the base evolution, and I am not going to be an exception. Next!

[Abyssal Carnotaurus]

Rank D creature. A powerful berserker reptile from the dinosaur evolution tree. Its raw power is powerful enough to contend even with C rank monsters, but that comes at the expense of its intelligence. These monsters have gone extinct because of their extreme aggression towards all, including monsters that far eclipse it in power.

(Warning: This evolution will remove the title [Sapient Monster] and reduce intelligence to 3 and wisdom to 0.)

“What the hell is this?! Why would I ever trade my brain with muscle?!”

It’s my one advantage against everything else here, and I would still be outmuscled by everything in the third layer! Even remaining as an Abyssal Drakeling is preferable to this thing! Next!

[Abyssal Wyvern]

Rank D creature. Trading strength and vitality for mobility, the second base evolution of an Abyssal Drakeling allows it to glide through the air. For flight to be possible, weight needs to be reduced, so the Abyssal Wyvern is smaller and lighter than the Abyssal Drakeling. In addition, it can only gain altitude through the use of thermals, which it can find with the aid of its heat vision. With an instinctive ability to cast wind magic on its wings to aid it in gliding further, the Abyssal Wyvern is on the path to evolutions with more powerful instinctive magic, including flight.

My eyes went straight to the word ‘flight’.

“Flying, flying, FLYING!” I screamed internally, the excitement unbearable!

I can even cast magic like the wind mage who threw me over the edge! Then I started to consider my current situation. Not only would I have to give up my ability to take and give powerful attacks; I would also be doing so to obtain a flight-based evolution in the middle of a claustrophobic dungeon! So, with great reluctance, I moved on to my other options.

[Man-Eater Drake]

Secret evolution unlock requirement:

* Is a Drakeling.

* Killed at least 3 sapient beings.

* Possesses a fear or hatred of at least one race of sapient beings.

* Possesses the skill [Spark of Ambition].

* Possesses the title [Survivor].

Rank D creature. This monster is widely known and feared by nearly all sapient beings, as it possesses both the ability and the disposition to attack them. Having slaughtered many villages throughout history, the mere sighting of it is often enough to send warriors from across the land rushing to slay it – both to gain the wealth and fame from the act and to prevent it from evolving to an even more dangerous menace, as it is known to do so with enough victims.

(Warning: This evolution will automatically make nearly all sapient beings hostile to you. You will gain powerful bonuses to slaying mortals and to gaining experience, with a chance to obtain an evolution to a Demon Lord race and, eventually, an Evil God.)

Yikes. What’s with all these insane and dangerous evolutions?! Sure, I don’t like the creatures that sent me to the bottom of the abyss, but even so, I am not willing to be hunted down by all of them! I already have a God’s attention on me. Will she just ignore me taking something like this?

“That said, the implications of this description are immense. It seems that one can become an Evil God with enough evolutions. Does that also apply to regular Gods, like the Goddess of Fortune? Were they all once mortal creatures?”

Shaking my head at these thoughts, I moved on to see the last class I have left.

[Draco Sapiens]

Secret evolution unlock requirement:

* Is a Drakeling.

* Is a sapient monster and values it deeply.

* Possesses [Indomitable Will].

* Has used intelligence to take down higher ranked creatures.

* Killed over a hundred higher ranked creatures.

* Made contact with a god.

Rank D creature. Sapient race. As bipedal creature with an opposable thumb, it is capable of tool use. It is also capable of using language and obtaining a class. This race possesses a powerful vitality and can live for many centuries, but, like all members of the dragon evolution tree, possesses a low fertility and reproduction rates. Members of this race are typically powerful, talented with magic, eccentric, and adventurous. Draco Sapiens usually possess a powerful independence instinct, enough to overpower all other instincts.

I don’t know how long I was staring at the class in front of me. This is the first time I see an evolution option with this color, and it is clearly capitalizing on my intelligence. It even grants me the ability to use these languages and tools. Immediately, I recall the creatures that I fought. They were the same race, but appraisal had different names for them. Perhaps these powers they demonstrated could be mine with this evolution. Regardless, the strictness of the conditions along with that complicated description show that this class is incredibly powerful.

“The other evolutions don’t have what it takes to get me out of the third layer anyway, so I suppose I never had a choice to begin with.” I commented, as I confirmed my selected evolution.