Chapter 10: Evolution
My throat lets out a scream that’s far louder than anything Mandrake screech can conjure up. The darkness stretches on endlessly. I fall, my stomach revolting, until I feel like I reached the end of the world.
In the darkness, I smash into something. Liquid surrounds me and I flail at the sudden change. I swim and swim, not knowing where up or down is. There’s just pure, utter darkness.
Something pulls at my being again, heaving me upwards as the pressure of the darkness lessens. I breach the surface and a whole new world is revealed to me.
Before I know it, I’m standing on a black mirror that reflects the aurora that I saw after I died the first time. It’s exactly the same and it scares me for a moment. For a split second, I thought that I died again.
But this isn’t death. This is someplace else, something that belongs to me, and only to me. Is this…my soul?
I keep looking around and find nothing different than before. When I look at myself I see that my soul has taken on a different shape. I’m not the human I was before. Now I’m a mandrake in body and soul. Maybe this is why my life back on Earth feels so distant.
I shrug. It is what it is, not that I can change anything about it. Now where are those evolution options?
As a reply a green screen flickers in front of me.
*Congratulations. You have unlocked 10 possible evolutions. Pick one.
The screen flickers out and then new screens appear all around me. Strangely, all of them have colour. While most of them are green, there are a few in different shades. Something else that stands out is that some look to be more solid than others.
I think about what it all could mean. The colour is obviously for the element. But how solid it is? Maybe the rarity of the evolution?
Since we save the best things for last, I pull up the least solid window in front of me.
Mandrake (Common)
+3 HP +2 SP + 1 Constitution + 1 Endurance + 1 Unallocated stat point per level.
Embrace nature and mediocrity
You have walked the path of the mandrake through (I) grade. This evolution improves all aspects of the Lesser mandrake. However, improving all features comes with a downside. The Mandrake isn’t exemplary at anything.
Sheesh. Even the system doesn’t seem to like this evolution option. Are Common evolutions always this bad? No wonder this window is more mist than solid. I look at the other panels of light that float around me. Moving on.
Burning Mandrake (Uncommon)
+2 HP +2 SP +3 MN +1 Constitution +1 Mind +1 Power +1 Unallocated stat point per level.
Let the fire burn within. Let it burn at your fingertips.
You have enough anger to fuel the flames. The Burning mandrake has given up its element for something with more heat. This means that the mandrake cannot photosynthesise anymore. In turn, it needs to live in regions with a higher magical density to sustain itself. This is a significant penalty. This evolution makes up for it by unlocking the Mana resource and the Power stat. By choosing this evolution the monster gains the skill Flame magic (C).
WARNING: Choosing this evolution will make the monster lose all its nature-related skills.
This evolution is interesting. It’s far stronger than the first option, though it comes with some heavy drawbacks. Is that why it is Uncommon? This evolution has a high combat potential and unlocks a new resource and a new stat. Now that just makes me wonder how many types of stats and resources there are.
But to gain that high combat potential you need to give up so much. And going to a region with a high magical density just seems dangerous. From the tidbits I overhead from the neighbour’s kid and my brother, there are strong monsters in zones that have a high magical density.
And if I choose this, nature-aligned monsters will probably dislike me since I’ll singe everything around me. I also really like my root-related skills. I used them in every fight. I don’t think I can go without them anymore.
So, this just has too many drawbacks for me.
What's next?
Hydro Mandrake (Uncommon)
+3 HP +2 SP +2 MN +1 Power +2 Unallocated stat points per level.
Let water become a part of you. Dance in it. Live in it. Let your roots trap and entangle your prey.
You have touched water in its purest form instead of drinking it from the ground. The Hydro mandrake has adapted to a watery environment. This mandrake uses root tendrils to create nets to trap and capture prey. It is feared by beings of lower grades. This evolution unlocks the Mana resource and the Power stat. In turn, it needs a constant supply of water to survive. Although it can move on land, it is a death sentence to the Hydro mandrake.
Warning: Skills may be changed or lost upon choosing this evolution.
This is another interesting one. I touch the panel with my finger and it folds open into a more detailed description listing the changes to my current skills and the changes to my appearance.
This evolution basically turns me into a squid-like creature that kills lower grades by the dozens. All I have to do is chill in the water and create nets to capture my prey. But being restricted to water is a big no. Perhaps I would have chosen this if I was near an ocean.
Next!
Poisonous Mandrake (Uncommon)
+5 HP +3 SP +1 Strength +2 Constitution +1 Endurance +1 Unallocated stat point per level.
Become the poison and the cure-
NO! I will not become something more desired by alchemists. Before I know it those damn humans from that city will be combing through the forest to find me to cure their princess that has been cursed by an ancient witch.
Earthern Mandrake (Rare)
+7 HP +2 SP +4 Constitution +2 Unallocated stat points per level.
Become one with the ground and trees. Become rooted in place like the mandrakes of old.
You have spent time basking in the sun. The Earthern mandrake has decided that it likes to be rooted in place. That doesn’t mean it is defenceless. This evolution adds +5 skill levels to any nature-related skill. Photosynthesis (C) Will be upgraded to Solar assimilation (R).
WARNING: The Agility stat will be permanently removed. All of the stat points allocated to Agility will be redistributed.
This is a strange one. By far this evolution gives the most resources and stats. Then again it also has one, if not the largest drawback. Getting the Agility stat removed is just hell. How would I explore this world if I became rooted in place?
I open the menu further and let out a gasp. Solar assimilation really lives up to its name. I just need to bask in the sun to reach the maximum level, nothing more nothing less. I wouldn’t have to kill anything…
Let’s put this evolution aside for now.
Vampiric Mandrake (Rare)
+4 HP +2 SP +1 Agility +1 Perception +1 Mind +1 Unallocated stat point per level.
Consume the blood of the slain. Feast on it. Grow on it. Become stronger.
This mandrake has had a taste of blood and desires more. The Vampiric mandrake gains experience from drinking the blood of the dead. However, it can’t do without. This evolution grants the skill Blood feast (Un).
Warning: Nature-related skills may be changed or removed entirely.
This one sounds like fun actually. This one can go into the review later pile too.
Golden Mandrake (Elite)
+8 HP +4 SP +1 Constitution +1 Endurance +2 Unallocated stat points per level.
Embrace the medicinal value inside-
Never! I cut the voice of the system off and look at it myself. This evolution would basically turn me into a supercharged, very wanted herb. It’s interesting to see that the system also offers evolutions that lean more towards resources than stats. But the sad thing is that it doesn’t give me anything outside of the tremendous Health boost that would make the potato from plants versus zombies look like a sheet of wet paper.
I look over the choices that I still have. All of them are tempting in their own way. Let's go through them one by one.
Mandrake of Shadow (Elite)
+2 HP +3 SP +1 Agility +1 Perception +1 Mind +1 Unallocated stat point per level.
The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
Become a part of the shadows and strike at their weaknesses.
You have shown your preference to stick to the shadows and blend in with the trees. The Mandrake of shadow waits for the perfect moment to strike and kills an opponent in a single blow. It is never seen and it will never be seen. Photosynthesis (C) will turn into Shadowsyntehis (Un). Be aware that the shadows hold less energy than the light. Sneak (Un) and Hide (Un) will be freely given.
This one is amazing. While it might not give the same amount of stats and resources as the other Elite evolution options, this one is an all-rounder. It has no drawbacks, doesn’t change any of the skills I currently have, and gives some new skills that might be useful in a pinch.
It’s also interesting that this option gives more Stamina than Health. Probably since the skills are more SP intensive and the entire theme of this evolution is to never get hit.
But I don’t want to stick to the shadows. I want to live my life in the open and be strong enough to survive whatever comes at me.
Now second to last. Gods I’m already done with this after going through eight options. I don’t want to imagine going through hundreds if I evolve again.
Leafy Mandrake (Elite)
+6 HP +2 SP +1 Agility +1 Perception +2 Constitution +1 Endurance +1 Mind per level.
Don’t hurt and be not hurt.
You have shown an immense dislike for killing monsters. With this evolution, the mandrake takes the path of the pacifist. You find it more enjoyable to gain experience by photosynthesising instead of taking lives. Photosynthesis (C) will be upgraded to Sunlight capture (Un). The mandrake will gain the skill Extended crown of the mandrake (R). All nature-related skills will gain +2 skill levels.
WARNING: All offensive skills will be removed.
This one seems to be good at first glance. But upon reading the details, the problems with this evolution are revealed. This is yet another evolution that will paint a target on my back.
The first and largest drawback is that all my attack skills will just disappear. And if I somehow manage to damage a monster the same amount of Heath points will be taken away from me.
Sunlight Capture Isn’t that strong but that’s made up by Extended Crown of The Mandrake. That skill will essentially lets me grow more leaves on my crown, increasing the amount of sunlight I can capture. But that too is another target upon my back. Being bigger will make it easier to notice me.
It seems that the system loves to give out strong evolutions that have immense drawbacks but also immense benefits.
Last but not least, the panel that is the most verdant green. It’s also the most solid as if I can reach out and touch the panel itself.
Mandrake of Nature (Epic)
+6 HP +3 SP +1 Strength +2 Constitution +3 Unallocated stat points per level.
Revel in green and nature.
This mandrake has become one with its element, not just in combat but outside of it too. You have lost your leaves and made a promise to never lose them again. This evolution gives a boost of +5 skill levels to Body of Roots (C) and Nature Affinity (C). This evolution gives a boost of +2 skill levels to Mandrake Screech (C) and Photosynthesis.
Warning: By choosing this evolution the monster will permanently be forbidden to pick evolutions and skills that focus on the following elements: Fire, Smoke, Death, Miasma, Magma…
The list continues on and on. Most of the elements that are on the list are opposites of life and nature. Beneath it is another warning.
WARNING: This evolution makes the monster far more susceptible to Fire- and Death related attacks. Resistances against these elements can still be bought or created.
WARNING: ALL RESOURCE POOLS AND STATS WILL BE DECREASED IF THE LEAVES ON THE MANDRAKE’S CROWN ARE DAMAGED OR PLUCKED OFF.
I read it all again. This evolution has the biggest downsides of them all. Where to even start with this one? This is exactly what I want. So far, excluding all the traumatic experiences, I’ve enjoyed being a mandrake. Sure, there’s the threat that humans might find me and will create search parties that roam the forest just to find me, but that hasn’t happened…yet.
This evolution basically strengthens everything I already have. But the warnings are a bit extreme. I’m fine with losing skills and evolution options to fire- and death-related elements. Both might be powerful elements, but they are not for me.
The second warning is a bit more serious. It doesn’t say the percentage right there, but it must be a lot. Though, I can cover that up by gaining resistance skills to the elements. I haven’t encountered monsters that are aligned with either element but it is bound to happen sometime in the future.
And that brings me to the last warning. The system even went far enough to spell it out in all caps. I click on the warning and read the specifics of it. Simply put, my resource pools and stats will be decreased on the percentage-based health of my crown of leaves. So if my crown is damaged by 1 per cent my total Health, Stamina and stats will be decreased by that amount.
This is yet another tremendous target upon my back. But surely there must be skills that offer protection against these things.
The problem is that I only have 17 skill slots. I can only have so many offensive skills, protective skills and utility skills. I don’t even know if I can remove skills from there if I want to.
So, now I need to choose which evolution I want, right?
Let's just scrap all the Common and Uncommon evolutions first. As interesting as some might be, they don’t hold a candle to the higher rarity evolutions.
So that leaves us with Earhtern Mandrake, Vampiric Mandrake, Mandrake of Shadow, Leafy Mandrake, and Mandrake of Nature.
I would go crazy if I picked Earthern Mandrake. So that one can go in the trashcan.
Vampiric Mandrake gives a lot of power for a rare evolution. That makes me think that there are too many downsides to it. And I’m afraid of what the next evolutions will be if I choose it. Before I know it, I will sparkle when I stand in the sun or something like that.
Leafy Mandrake is the next one to go. It’s just too dangerous. As much as I hate fighting, it needs to be done. And who knows, maybe the thrill of it, the adrenaline pumping through my veins…maybe I will like it someday. Already I dislike it less than when I first came to this world.
So that leaves us with Mandrake of Shadow and Mandrake of Nature.
It paints a simple contrast. One belongs in the shadows, the other in the sunlight. One brings more risk, but risk brings along reward, or so it is said. I guess that the choice is simple in the end; I want to live my life to the fullest, and I can’t do that if I force myself to stick to the shadows.
*Mandrake of Nature chosen.
*Lesser mandrake lvl 5/5 (I) -> Mandrake of Nature lvl 0/10 (H)
*Body of Roots (C) lvl 3/20 -> Body of Roots (C) lvl 8/20.
*Nature Affinity (Un) lvl 1/20 -> Nature Affinity (Un) lvl 6/20.
*Mandrake Screech (C) lvl 2/20 -> Mandrake Screech (C) lvl 4/20.
*Photosynthesis (C) lvl 2/20 -> Photosynthesis (C) lvl 4/20.
Now I really want to test my Body of Roots and test out how sharp I can make my claws. Maybe I can make even weirder changes to myself now.
There is a golden light and a new screen appears in front of me.
*Pursua’s Hammer has three offers pick one.
Huh? What is this? Is this also part of the evolution menu? Shouldn’t Sairal have told me about this? The window changes and three lines of text make themselves known to me.
*Offer one: Gain one skill.
*Offer two: Combine two skills.
*Offer three: Upgrade one skill.
Interesting. Does this hammer always offer three things? And is it always there for everyone? I don’t think someone can break the system. From what I know, the system sees everywhere, it knows everywhere and it is everywhere.
I only have a limited amount of skill slots, so it would be best to have more free slots so that I can shore up my weaknesses. Fusing two skills will essentially free up a skill slot so that is the best option to pick.
*Picked offer two.
*Choose two skills to fuse.
Something new rises out of the mirror of darkness that reflects the aurora above me. A simple hardwood table rises out of the darkness. On it sits a grey tray. To the left of it lays a small, golden hammer that hurts my mind when I look at it. Power radiates off it. Even in my soul, I feel the strength of whatever it is suppress me.
Next to me, a new window pops up, displaying all the skills I currently have.
Some of the skills like Identify are greyed out. It seems that they aren’t eligible to fuse with anything. I don’t want to lose Photosynthesis or Manrake Screech. So that leaves me with Body of Roots and Nature Affinity.
I get the impression that I can touch the skills, so I reach into the window with my hand. I come back with two grey coins that seem to be a physical manifestation of my skills.
Looking back at the window, I notice that the skills are missing.
I lay the two coins on the tray and grab the golden hammer. It quivers with energy in my hand, almost as if it wants to forge a new piece of the system. Just who is Pursua? Did they make the system?
I ready the hammer but stop. What if these skills make a bad combination? What if the skills I relied on during all these fights get fused into something worthless?
Upon my hesitation, golden text draws itself into existence above the tray.
Roots of Nature (R) 1/20: You are nature and you are roots. Allows the user to make small changes to their root body and to manipulate the roots in their immediate vicinity.
Warning: This skill uses far more stamina than Body of roots.
Oh my god. So I will get this skill of I fuse these two. This is basically the stronger version of Body of Roots. Instead of being able to slightly change my body, I can make small changes if I fuse these skills. And being able to manipulate roots in my surroundings sounds powerful. The increased Stamina doesn’t matter once I get some more levels under my belt. I need to have this!
I gently lower the hammer on the tray and hit the two grey coins. The entire table begins to shake as the coins light up and meld into each other.
*Body of Roots (C) lvl 8/20 lost.
*Nature Affinity (C) lvl 6/20 lost.
*Roots of Nature (R) lvl 1/20 created.
The light that radiates off the two coins that merge together is painfully beautiful. Colours shine in the metal that I’ve never seen before in either life. The display ends all too soon and I’m left with one slightly larger coin that has a blue tinge to the metal. I grab it in my hands for a closer inspection but as soon as I touch it vanishes.
In shock and fear, I look around wondering if my new skill tumbled out of my hand, into the depths of my soul, only to never be seen again.
I pull up my skill window and see that the skill is listed there. I let out a relieved sigh.
The aurora above me thrums with new energy as I begin to float towards it, much like when I died. But this time I didn’t die. I evolved.
Mandrake of Nature lvl 0/10 (H)
HP: 25/25
SP: 15/15
Strength: 5
Agility: 3
Perception: 3
Constitution: 6
Endurance: 5
Mind: 2
Skills: 4/17 skill slots in use
Photosynthesis (C) lvl 4/20: Stand still in the light of the sun to catch its energy and make it yours. Increases Stamina and Health regeneration slightly.
Mandrake Screech (C) lvl 4/20: A mandrake’s scream is its only method of defence. Damages enemies slightly and has a chance to stun an opponent.
Identify (C) lvl 2/20: See through opponents and enemies alike. Allows the user to see basic information and gives access to the most commonly known knowledge.
Roots of Nature (R) lvl 1/20: You are nature and you are roots. Allows the user to make small changes to their root body and to manipulate the roots in their immediate vicinity.