Peripheral Component Version Update
Anti-Corruption Agent Beta002 hardware in the process of upgrading…
Activating Extraction skill…
Extracting components…
Reviewing previously extracted components for merging…
Results: None
Displaying upgradable options:
Boar
Sepharath
Merge Options:
None
Upgrade hardware options available:
Boar
Sepharath
Select Upgrade to continue.
Liam’s sudden jump and backpedal startled the other group members. They looked at Liam, who seemed to stare at nothing ahead. They could not see the red window screen.
Seeing nothing in Liam’s line of sight they became alert, swiftly jerking their heads left and right. They searched for the perpetrator or perpetrators of their alarm. However, nothing was in sight. Luke tilted his head in confusion. He looked back at Liam and questioned his odd reactions.
“Hey. I don’t see anything. What’s going on? Did you see something else coming again? Is it a bear?!”
Liam realized his blunder, hearing Luke’s questions. He set aside the window screen and asked Ordinance to minimize it. A momentary pause threw the other party members into confusion. Liam debated on whether to reveal the truth about the window screen.
“Oh, there's nothing. I was shocked by Beta consuming the carcass whole.” He decided not to say anything as he was unsure of the strange new red window. Luke exhaled a breath of relief, but his eyebrows scrunched together in a frown.
Luke let out his ire on the ground, stomping his feet as he approached Liam. Liam gulped, feeling the invisible burning dark aura radiating off his friend. Luke knew there was more to Liam’s reaction, but that was not what he was about to unleash his irritation on. He knew Liam kept secrets and didn’t care.
Luke walked right up to Liam’s face. He towered a head and some more over Liam as they stared at each other. Luke’s heated glare pierced through Liam, and Liam looked away, unable to handle Luke’s wrath. Luke raised his hands high above their heads. Liam’s eyes caught the shadow of Luke's arms forebodingly racing up his body. He turned and looked up before quickly flinching and closing his eyes, bracing to be hit.
Luke dropped his hands on Liam’s head but did not hit Liam more than that. He rubbed and grind Liam’s skull with the back of his fingers, ruffling his hair with all of his pent-up frustration.
“Do you know how much I hate the bears on this floor?! You scared me! I thought we were under attacked or worse, surrounded! Tell me next time if you do something like that!”
Liam’s brown hair looked like a hurricane blew through it. Now somewhat relieved of his annoyance at Liam’s odd display, Luke laughed at the chaotic mess he left on Liam’s head.
“Maybe I should cut some of your hair to make you a strap-on beard? What do you think, hairless monkey?”
Liam relaxed, knowing his friend was no longer angry. However, he felt Luke’s jab at his weakness.
“Luke! You damn hairy bear! I’ll make a beard out of your hair!”
The two chased each other around, leaving their footprints on the thin layer of snow. Hansel sighed, relieved there were no enemies close at hand, but also relieved Luke didn’t pummel Liam. Liam was a scrawny young man, even though they had similar circumstances. Luke would leave more than bruises.
“Alright! You knuckleheads! Why can’t you guys ever learn?! We’re in the Tower! Liam! Focus on your summon!”
Hansel grew tired of smashing their heads together and didn’t bother this time. The cat and dog stopped chasing each other around. Hansel reminded Liam of Beta, and he refocused the red screen. He asked Ordinance to enlarge the minimized screen and for more information regarding the Sepharath option.
“Master, that notification screen is from Beta002. As Anti-Corruption agents consume organic lifeforms and begin to evolve, usually System Moderators determine their path of growth to best fit their needs. Selecting the option between boar and Sepharath will begin the integration process. I advise you to be certain before selecting. Once selected, the upgrades are permanent.”
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
Liam expected the selection for the boar, but he was surprised by the Sepharath option. “Does that mean Beta can become a Sepharath?”
“That is partially correct, Master. The option to extract the components of the modified Sepharath species is possible. If selected, however, Beta’s new form wouldn’t be exactly the same in terms of power. Due to lack of materials and the modifications made on the boar, Beta can not replicate an exact Sepharath, but that can be improved upon.”
That was all Liam needed to hear. Who would choose a boar over the creators of the Towers?
Liam immediately pressed the selection for the Sepharath.
Ding!
The red screen disappeared, and another reappeared, notifying Liam the process would take roughly an hour. The red panel vanished after Liam confirmed the prompt.
Beta’s geometric encasing of wires and coils began to rotate and whir like a grinder but in reverse. It slowly regurgitated the boar flesh, ground into a meat paste, clumping around its geometric encasing that sat in a growing puddle of murky blood.
The corners of Darrel’s lips pulled down at the unsightly glob of metal and flesh. His nose twitched, refusing to smell the sharp stench of raw meat and blood. But to no use, the smell went up his nose, and he gagged.
Soon Beta’s mechanical exterior disappeared, replaced by a pulsing glow of a yellow meatball. Ordinance suggested Liam recall his summon, and he followed his summon’s advice.
“Vice Guild Master, the process should take a while. I put Beta away for now so we can continue moving.”
“Uh, oh. Yes.” Hasel replied midways through his thoughts. He’d seen many summons evolve during his time. Many of them were odd and peculiar. But Beta’s ranked amongst the strangest he’s seen. Focusing on Luke, he proceeded to lead the team ahead.
“Alright. Luke, let’s have you check out your second summon from the next beast we run across.”
Luke excitedly smashed his fist into the palm of his other hand. “You got it, Vice Sect Master!” Seeing the smirk on Darrel’s face, Luke was out to prove himself from his last flop with Sardonia. “I’ll wipe that grin off your face, Darrel! Let me show you how it’s done!”
The ease of Darrel’s stance, combined with his depreciative glance looking down upon Luke, lit a flame of desire to prove his worth. Luke led the group in search of his soon-to-be trophy.
Traversing the path down the mountain range of the fourth floor was much easier and faster. On the previous way up the mountain, Luke and Liam searched around for any possible herbs growing around to sell. Going back down, Liam did the same. Luke too looked around, but he only looked for beasts to defeat.
Pacing back and forth, Luke checked around the walls, and the corners of the ledges. He even pulled up boulders to look underneath them. Yet, he did not find any beast or monster in sight.
“Where are they!” Luke demanded. Not too much time passed, and the group slowly tracked down the path. But all Luke was impatient, wanting to prove his worth and kill a beast.
Hansel shook his head, disapproving of his hasty actions. “Luke. Listen to me. Clear your head. You need to be in the best state when fighting your enemies. Do not give them an edge. Control your emotions and act rationally. Understand?”
Hearing his mentor’s words, Luke realized his anxious state. His mind was full of words of him telling himself to win. The damage done to Sardonia also damaged his confidence. He wanted validation.
Taking a deep breath, Luke slowed down. His pace lessened to a snail, and the chaos circling in his head settled. He gained clarity of mind, and like all those who wait, the moment he desired appeared.
“Incoming bear from behind the corner of the slope over there!” Liam pointed and warned.
“Ha! It’s my time to shine! Come forth! Epistle of Earth Dragons! Let’s get some revenge for your sister!”
A split tongue tasted the air from the crack in space before Luke. An enormous head of a snake, armored in thick verdant jade scales, slowly peeked out of the fracture of space in front of Luke. It extended its long neck out, looked around uninterested, and pulled back into the crack.
Liam looked at the crack in space and then looked at Luke. Everyone looked at Luke. Blood rushed to his face and flushed his cheeks a rosy pink before turning beat red as Darrel broke down laughing.
“Hahaha! What’s this?! Is this your new summon, Luke?! It completely ignored you! Now, this summon knows how to deal with you!”
Every corner of Luke’s bright red face twisted with fury, but he could not retort Darrel’s mocking.
“Get out here now, Epistle! Don’t make me drag you out!”
“Sssssoo noooissssy.” Epistle hissed. The sizable snake slithered snail-speed, barely pushing its head out from the crack of space.
“Now!” Luke bellowed, moving to pull out his summon.
“Ssshh! Me knowwsss!” Epistle lazily slithered out of the crack. Its vibrant jade scales glowed in the winter light as it coiled around itself.
Ding!
System function: Analyze
Name: Epistle
Stage: 1
Species: Reptile - Earth Wyrm
Subspecies: Wood Nymph
Stats:
Strength: 8
Agility: 7
Dexterity: 4
Intelligence: 9
Willpower: 4
Aligned Elements:
Earth: 10
Wood: 8
Water: 2
Skills:
Ensnare stage 1
Burrow stage 1
Wood Grow stage 1
Earthquake (locked stage 3)
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Evolution Paths / Ratings:
Earth Dyrad / 6 stars
Earth Dragon / 8 stars
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