Atlas's hexlimbs skittered over the jagged stone, the soft sound of their faint tapping nearly swallowed by the oppressive silence of the cave. The air grew colder the deeper they went, heavy with moisture and something he didn't understand. His senses remained on edge, eyes flickering between the shadowy edges of the cave walls, every ripple in the dark making him feel like something unseen was sitting just beyond his vision.

The eerie whispers hadn't eased up. If anything, they'd only grown more furious—faint voices pressing at the edges of his consciousness, the words too distant to make out but filled with a strange desperation he couldn't answer, and didn't know if he should. His stomach churned. It wasn't just the whispers that bothered him; it was the feeling that the cave itself was watching.

Beside him, Shine picked up the pace, her hexlimbs darting over the terrain with fluid but uneasy grace. She was silent, her earlier banter absent, as if the weight of the surroundings pressed on her as heavily as it did him.

[There,] she whispered through the [Mindweave].

In the distance, barely visible through the dim glow of the cave's natural light, something was moving.

It was a Spiris. A variant of their kind, but it was no different from them.

They were smaller than Atlas, and slightly larger than Shine, yet faced a creature many times their size. The figure leapt and darted with a tiring ferocity, engaged in a fierce battle with a large, lizard-beaver like creature. The thing's tail had been bitten off, a ragged stump slick with old blood. It thrashed and lunged, its jaws snapping at the smaller Spiris, who dodged its attacks with precision.

Atlas blinked, a strange vision flashing in his mind. A tunnel. Dug deep into the cave wall, disappearing into the dark. The word [BLOCK] rang through his mind like a bell, brief and commanding.

He shook his head, the vision fading as quickly as it came. "Did you—?" he started, but Shine was already moving.

Without a word, she vaulted toward the side of the cavern, her hexlimbs stabbing into the stone as she moved, positioning herself with an obvious purpose. She stayed back from the fight, her limbs stabbing the ground at intervals. Atlas couldn't quite make out what she was doing, but the focus in her movement was palpable.

Deciding to help this new brother of his, Atlas surged forward, his hexlimbs propelling him toward the massive creature. The air smelled damp, musty, the familiar scent of earth mixed with the bitter tang of a creature's blood. The whispering voices pressed harder now, as though the cave itself was urging him forward.

'Focus' he told himself. The thing was bigger and stronger than him, but it had weak points to, everything did.

"Alright, you overgrown beaver," Atlas growled under his breath, "time to see if you can handle this."

He leapt, hexlimbs poised, aiming for the exposed part of the beast just above its shoulders. The sharp, metallic tips pierced flesh with a slurring squelch, embedding deep into the creature's body. Immediately, Atlas pumped as much venom as he could into it.

The effect was instantaneous. The lizard let roared, its body shuddering in pain as it flailed. It spun toward him, its yellowed eyes locking onto Atlas with a mix of rage and agony.

"Well, this is going great," Atlas muttered as he yanked his limbs free and jumped to the side, just barely avoiding the creature's snapping jaws.

The beast's tail-less body thrashed in fury, but slower. The venom was doing its work. But it wasn't enough. Not yet. Its thick scales protected most of its vital organs, and despite the poison now coursing through its veins, it was still strong.

Blanc—Atlas realized the name instinctively—wasn't letting the opportunity slip by. The smaller Spiris darted in from the opposite side, using his speed to slash at the lizard's neck with his hexlimbs. Each strike sliced through, drawing blood, but the cuts weren't deep enough to finish the job.

Atlas kept moving, circling the beast to keep its focus on him. Blanc, for his part, was relentless, each strike calculated to weaken the creature or at least make it pay for its movements.

A stray thought flitted through Atlas's mind: 'How the hell did it get this deep into the cave?' His eyes darted to the tunnel Shine was covering, her hexlimbs now weaving something across the entrance. He still wasn't sure what she was doing, but whatever it was, she seemed intent on keeping the beast from retreating.

'A web?'

The lizard-beaver lunged again, its massive jaws coming centimeters from his hexlimbs. Atlas dodged to the side, slipping on the cave floor, his body scraping the stone. His breath came in sharp bursts, heart pounding in his chest as his [Mana Core] pumped energy to the rest of his body.

And then the shadows moved.

Atlas blinked, his mind reeling. For a split second, the edges of the cave seemed to pulse—dark shapes twisting and writhing just beyond his focus, in his peripheral. His hexlimbs twitched unknowingly. The whispers were louder now, pressing into his skull with a suffocating might.

"Damn it, not now," he grunted, shaking his head to clear the smog.

The beast roared again, its focus torn between Atlas and Blanc. Blood oozed from the dozens of shallow cuts along its neck, its body trembling as the venom finally started to take hold. But it wasn't slowing down fast enough.

Atlas's muscles screamed with exertion as he launched himself at the creature's side again, this time driving his hexlimbs into the base of its skull. He twisted, forcing as much venom into the wound as possible.

The lizard screeched, the sound reverberating through the cave with a deafening intensity. Atlas felt it in his bones, a guttural noise that made the cave walls seem to tremble.

Blanc took the opportunity, lunging forward and sinking his hexlimbs into the beast's throat. The strike was deep this time, severing muscle and tissue with a sickening crunch.

The creature staggered, its massive body swaying as it tried to retaliate, but it was too late. Atlas withdrew his limbs and darted backward as the beast collapsed, blood pooling beneath its limp form.

For a moment, the only sound was their labored breathing, echoing off the cave walls.

Atlas stood frozen, staring down at the creature. Relief flooded his chest, but the whispers still hadn't stopped. If anything, they were louder now—an urgent, ceaseless drone that made his skin crawl.

He glanced at Blanc, who was wiping the blood off his hexlimbs with a calm efficiency, but said nothing. It was hard to tell if the other Spiris felt it too.

Shine appeared from the side of the tunnel, her hexlimbs retracting as she returned to their side. "The tunnel's blocked," she said simply, though her voice carried an edge of tension. "Nothing should be getting in or out of there."

Atlas nodded, his muscles aching from the exertion. The eerie silence of the cave returned, broken only by the occasional drip of water from the stone ceiling. The oppressive weight in the air hadn't left. If anything, it felt heavier now, as if the very cave itself was watching their every move.

Shadows still squirmed at the edges of his vision, and the whispers pressed harder into his skull. He couldn't make out the words, but the desperation was unmistakable.

He exhaled slowly, feeling the adrenaline drain from his body. "That was… something."

They stood there, surrounded by the carnage, all of them catching their breath. But even in the brief moment of peace, Atlas couldn't shake the feeling that the worst was yet to come.

Just as he moved to speak, the familiar chimes of the Systems notifications rang in his mind. For a moment, it ceased the whispers. For a moment.

[SYSTEM NOTIFICATIONS]

[You have survived a [Moderate] battle.]

Combat Rating: [Moderate]

The Level 12 Lactodontis Castore has been slain. (Your tactics, combined with your teammates, overcame the threat through strategic use of venom and coordinated attacks.)

[You have grown.]

Your level [2] has risen to [3], and you have gained [2] Skill Points, congratulations!

You have absorbed [100] Essence, and [15] Bio-Morphon.

Your instincts sharpen, and your strength grows from this battle. Progress toward your next level has been made.

[You have obtained a common drop:]

[Lactodontis Castore Fang] x1

Codex Entry Updated:

Lactodontis Castore - Entry #003 has been added to the [Beastiary].

System Observation:

[An external force is watching you from an unknown location. An ancient presence has noticed your actions and your unique nature. Further interaction seems likely. This is all that I can do for you, leave as quickly as possible.]

Looking through the notifications, Atlas was happy, before seeing the final line. If this wasn't "bigger" Cortana, he didn't know who it was, but the warning was obvious. His expression dulled and his eyes refocused, he could tinker with the System later. For now, they needed to move, or at least plan their next moves.

"We should leave. You, you're Blanc right? I'm not sure how, I just know. Have you already eaten your egg? If not, hurry up, we don't have time," Atlas said, quickly taking command. Something was urging him on and he just prayed it wasn't the whispers themselves. For all he knew, he was doing just as they told him without even knowing, something that sounded exactly like the powers of an Old Dominator.

He wasn't very commanding in his past life, in fact, he never really wished to be in a leading position, but he felt much calmer taking fate in his own hands, than leaving it to others.

With a calm nod, Blanc responded, [What do you mean you don't know how, I told you... Yes I've eaten most of our Elder's gift, only a few fragments remain. I'm saving those for the journey home. I'm not sure why we're here, but I figured there'd be others. If you have already ingested your eggs, I am willing to share on our way.] Blanc said, seeming far more reliable than Shine had ever been.

"Huh? Oh, wow, well yeah, great thinking. If you don't mind though... Why are you so... different?" Atlas asked, unable to hide the curiosity in his voice.

[Different? Different in what way?]

"You don't think you're the god of all that crawls and flies? Maybe, think you're the reincarnation of a celestial emperor? Nothing?"

To this, Atlas could swear he saw his brother blush as if in realization, and a trace of shame, [I don't know what you're talking about. I am me, I am Blanc, brother of two, Dakhrai of the [Silent Guard], and protector of Spiris.]

Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.

"Uhuh, well, that's fine. Just a little surprised I guess. What's a Dakhrai, err scratch that, tell me later. Do you have the egg shells with you? Where are they?" Atlas asked, seeing nothing of them near Blanc.

[You don't know the meaning of Dakhrai? Truly? Are you ill? Were you born defective? My egg shells are in the storage space, of course, aren't yours?] Blanc asked, his facing showing a look of realization as he eyed Atlas with pity.

Atlas had seen this look before, from Shine, when she called him a defective simpleton. He wasn't having it from his younger brother too.

"I'm not defective. There's a lot I can't explain right now, we're tight on time, but I don't have all of the bloodline memories you do, it seems they've been replaced with many other memories, that don't relate to the Spiris. I can explain it later. How comfortable are you with your form, have any issues with it?"

Atlas spoke as fast as he could, he had no idea what was happening, when it'd get worse, or what was coming. But he felt he had to move as fast as possible, anywhere, anywhere else but here.

[I see. I will seek you out for explanation later, and issues? Why would I have issues with my form? This is how I am, what is there to find issue with?] Blanc asked seemingly relaxed.

"Damn, you really adapt fast bro. Are there more like you? In Velathra, I mean. I could get used to such level-headedness," he said, trying to calm himself down through lighter topic.

[There should be millions of us. Why do you ask such things, what does our forms have to do with you?]

"A lot, actually. I'm the root cause of it being so different, in a way at least, I'm not going to keep that from you. So if you'd been disappointed, I won't shy away from it, I'll try to figure it out when we get to Velathra, if I can."

[I see. It seems you and I are due for a conversation, elder brother.]

"Just Atlas, the names Atlas. And yeah, we can talk all you want later, but first I need to ask you something important. Do you hear anything strange?"

To this question, Blanc's seemingly calm expression warped completely. If before he seemed monotone and straight-faced, now he looked like a devil fighting an internal battle, [Damn. So it wasn't just figment of the mind. I'm guessing this means both of you hear these strange callings as well. If that is so, I will be honest, I'm not sure how much more of this I can take. It took me everything to convince myself I was just hearing things, but now, unable to deny it, this is much harder to ignore.]

Shine chimed in as well, [Brothers we should leave as quickly as possible, while I'm not sure if this cave has anything to do with it, there's a chance it may cease if we leave, right? Besides, I really don't want to stick around if this somehow gets worse and be surrounded in our worst states.] she said, an urgency to her tone. She was scared, hell, they all were. This was beyond their understanding and even their respective Systems were solemnly telling them to beat it.

"Right. That sounds like a pain. Before that, give me a second and we'll run by your egg towards the entrance without stopping. Blanc, can you show Shine how to put the fragments in this storage space you mentioned?" Atlas asked, turning towards the System on his shoulder, the same one that hadn't wiped the grim expression from it's face since it first heard of these strange whispers.

"System, tell me everything you know, as fast as you can, and don't miss a damn thing, or I swear to you I will never forgive you. You and I can have a heart to heart later, if we survive this shit, but right now, I need to know what we've got. Please."

[... Host, as much as you want me to know more, I vow to the Great Gates that I am not lying to you, I truly don't know what's happening. I have, though, sent all the data I've gathered on the situation to the Great Mistress. My report was marked at the highest level of importance, I do not doubt the mistress is already aware and trying to figure it out. Wh—]

"Not that. We can try to figure that out later, bigger Cortana already told me to scram. Besides, you already said there's no way we can handle it right? I'm not asking about that, tell me everything you can do for me. Give me the quick version."

[I can't warn you of creatures unless they do not posses intellect of a certain level. If they do, they too have access to the System and are thus just as important as you are. I can however store your belongings in the storage space your Elders created for your race through the System. Think of it like an [Item Box] yet also a vault, it will grow with you over time. As for assistance... I don't have much that can be directly realized. I can guide you in your use of Skill Points and Stat Points with my honest and well calculated conclusions for the best result, I can guide you towards paths of growth and development, I can even point you in the directions you want to go, but I cannot give you everything on a silver platter. Host, while it might sound like I can't do much in your eyes, you are wrong, believe me. You just need to understand how to make use of what I can do right now to gain far more than you think. Additionally, all Systems start with the level of restrictions I am facing, if not slightly more than me. But as you grow in strength and importance to [Sellene] these restrictions are removed. This is the way of our world, everything must be earned. Finally, I can answer many more of your questions than earlier, within limits. It seems an elder of the [REDACTED] have given permission, which is... surprising.]

"Damn.. That's a whole lot, and yet also nothing... but, I get it. You're facing things too, huh?"

[Yes, host. Please understand. I am doing the best that I can, and will always do so.]

"Fuck... Ok. For now, do I need to do anything to store stuff? Can you store this lizard? What about my egg, you can take that right? Finally, answer me two things. What is the natural cycle of growth on Sellene? Don't tell me you can't answer, that'd be ridiculous. I'm not asking for specifics. Tell me, what is the natural cycle of a being wanting to get stronger using the System to do so? I don't know your purpose, and frankly, I don't want to. I just need to know if this is anything like the novels I read or not. Finally, after that, tell me what you suggest I do with my Essence." Atlas said, his hands jittering at his sides. It took everything in him not to seem scared, but he couldn't hold it much longer, he wanted to run and his body was screaming at him to do so, yet he needed answers before he regretted it.

[Please give me a moment, host. With the raised [Authority] granted, I will not disappoint you.]

Atlas's hands trembled at his sides, the adrenaline from the battle still coursing through his veins. Or maybe it was just adrenaline wrought by fear, he couldn't say for sure. The cave felt too quiet now, and yet too loud at the same time. It felt alive yet unhelpfully dead. He could feel something… watching. The pressure gnawed at him, observing his every movement.

"I need answers," he muttered, his eyes darting to the System that hovered before him. "Now."

[To save time, I have condensed the allowed explanation greatly, host. Please remain calm.]

"You ever heard that's the absolute worst thing to say to someone you want to calm down?" Atlas muttered, somewhat annoyed, it seemed what they said was true, never tell someone to calm down unless you hope for the opposite.

[ [Authorized] - Core Elements of Growth: Levels, Stat Points, Skill Points, and Mutations.]

The text was clean and sterile, but each line Atlas read seemed to add weight to his thoughts, like the complexity of what he'd just stepped into was finally becoming real.

1. Leveling Up:

The primary method of progression on [Sellene] involves gaining experience through combat, challenges, and achievements. There are additional methods relevant for another time. These are what lead to Level increases.

Each level brings you closer to the culminative moment of your evolutionary tier, a cap that allows you to evolve your entire body, enhance your abilities, and even select mutations from among options. This grants direct and immediate control to all inhabitants of [Sellene] over the path they take, and their eventual evolution.

'Great, just like those novels, well, at least a few of them.' he thought, his mind flashing back to the dozens of stories he'd read in his old life. It felt familiar, almost comforting, except for the fact that he couldn't understand why everything had to go so wrong so fast, right out of the gates. Why couldn't he have spawned in a starter-village? Why couldn't he just laze about learning artifact crafting. It was getting annoying.

His eyes flickered to the shadows. The darkness pulsed—maybe just a trick of his mind. Still, he wouldn't ignore anything right now.

2. Essence

Essence can be converted into Stat Points. These Stat Points can then be allocated to Strength, Vitality, Intelligence, and other attributes to enhance physical and mental performance.

That's what I need. More strength. More endurance. If I'd been just a bit faster, that fight would've been over quicker, Atlas thought, clenching his fists, his hexlimbs twitching in response.

3. Skill Points:

Skill Points can be used to unlock new skills or enhance existing ones during a process called promotion. These abilities evolve with use, but applying Skill Points accelerates and streamlines their progression.

The choice to use skill points to enhance a skill can essentially be equated to granting you temporary access to the System's processing power, allowing for control over the affects, smaller chance of negative repercussions, and more.

Unlock requirements for new abilities will be displayed when met.

Atlas nodded, the gears in his mind turning. He'd need to be smart about where he allocated his points—couldn't afford to waste any, at least not for now. He had no idea if he could earn points through elixirs or other sources, but he thought he might, if his egg was any evidence. Pushing these thoughts from his mind, flicking his eyes towards his two siblings seeming to be in some kind of staring contest, Atlas continued.

Mutations and Bio-Morphosis:

Your mutation system allows for unique growth restricted to other lifeforms of your arch-categorization. By consuming the Essence and Bio-Morphon Energy of creatures, you trigger mutational growth, unlocking evolutionary adaptations.

This energy, derived from living beings and rare materials, fuels Mutations, allowing your form to evolve.

Essence: Core life energy collected from defeated foes or consumed materials.

Bio-Morphon Energy: Refined life-force, enabling powerful mutations. Your body repurposes this energy to mutate and adapt.

As you evolve, mutations will offer new abilities or physical enhancements, based on the energy absorbed.

Atlas stopped reading for a moment, processing the words. Mutations. His stomach twisted in knots at the phrase, but it was more so in excitement. If this was really what he hoped it was, he'd finally be pretty giddy.

So, I can literally evolve? So it wasn't just figure of speech, holy shit... this is real, it's not just saying it lightly, they're actually talking about mutation and lifeform evolution, he thought, his mind drifting to the concept. Every battle would shape him, every foe defeated would add to his growth. Bio-Morphon Energy... this was the real difference between the choices Cortana offered him and others on Sellene. The Spiris didn't just grow stronger; they changed.

The whispers were starting to feel sharper now, like they were crawling into his mind, making his hexlimbs twitch involuntarily. He tried to focus on the System, to keep himself grounded in the present.

[Summary of Natural Growth Cycle]

The panel shifted slightly, providing a concise breakdown:

Level Advancement:

Gain experience, increase levels, and allocate stat points from converting Essence. Skill Points grant new abilities or improvements.

Mutations, however, are fueled by the consumption of Bio-Morphon from foes or materials.

Mutational Growth:

While other types of races focus on stat increases or skills, some even having classes or additional benefits, yours has access to the mutation cycle. By absorbing Essence and Bio-Morphon Energy, your form can mutate outside of your evolutions, offering powerful new abilities and enhanced physical traits.

Evolution Choices:

All races, with few exceptions, living on [Sellene] will evolve once they reach the level limit (a preparatory level that is the limit of their strength in that tier) of their evolutionary tier, known simply in your status as [Tier], this includes the Astera Spiris, and yourself. These are considered some of the most important moments and choices any living being on the planet makes, you will be no different. Thus, even with the additional strength brought by your mutation system, if not more so because of it, you must also focus on leveling up to evolve and properly dictate your path to power with your own hands.

Atlas exhaled, the tension still knotting his muscles. Choices. He was going to have to choose how to evolve. Every decision was going to change him.

The whispers surged again, this time more distinct, pulling at the edge of his awareness. He flinched, shaking his head as if to clear the noise.

"Shit," he muttered. "I need to get out of here. But... I need to know more."

[Additional Notes]

Storage Function:

You can store non-living items such as the Lizarrek and your egg within your dimensional space. The storage system will grow as you evolve, expanding in capacity with each significant mutation.

'That's a relief.' At least he wouldn't have to leave the corpse behind. He could already feel his hexlimbs aching from the earlier battle, so taking it with them by hand was not an option.

Stat Allocation Advice:

The System recommends waiting until your situation stabilizes before converting Essence and allocating Stat Points. This is not due to the chances of stress impacting your decisions, although such a situation may arise, but due to it not being clear what the host wishes to achieve in the future. What do you want to become, are you even sure yet?

Atlas's hands twitched, fighting the urge to throw points into his stats. His body was screaming at him, begging for strength.

Swallowing his rising ambitions, Atlas calmed, "Alright... I'll wait." For now.

The panel blinked off, leaving him in silence—except for the subtle shifting of his two siblings. They were done, it seemed, and more than ready to leave.

"Thanks, System. I won't forget this... You two, let's beat it. We've got a lot of ground to cover, and no time for stopping. Once we get out of here... if thing's are as we hope, and the whispers fuck off, we can make camp and plan for the journey. If not, well, I have no clue."

[Ok.]

[I'll take up the rear.]

Nodding to his two siblings, both seeming much more reliable than Atlas had hoped for, he started running, the Lizarrek was already gone, obviously taken into one of their storages, which didn't matter, he could ask for some later.

For now, it was time to run like the looney tunes rabbit after a few too many times pissing of Wile E. Coyote.