NOVEL NEXT 3.20: Keep going
Henry took a deep breath and got started.
Watchful Guardian (C) - Level 98 achieved!
...
Watchful Guardian (C) - Level 100 achieved!
Mid-fight, he had consumed quite a few Stormgull cores to push himself up to level 100, and he did end up getting a few stat points here and there, especially in Dexterity and Spirit, but he could look at those at a later, especially considering how many more cores he still had in storage. He expected a few more points out of those. For now, he turned his attention to the different disclaimers and prompts that directly concerned his evolution, wondering if this was going to be another class change or if he was finally getting a species' evolution once more. He hadn't gotten one of those at C-rank. Now would be a great time for one.
Congratulations. All your Aspects have been identified as high-tier fused Aspects.
Special evolutions with a merge of the class <Watchful Guardian (C)> are possible. Evolutionary points can be used to improve and empower the offered options as well as their cornerstone skills.
Do you agree to expend all evolutionary points to be earned? Please note that Evolutionary points cannot be carried over past B-rank.
Henry considered that for a second and smiled. It seemed that having spent so much time working on the fusions might have been worth it. But did this mean the class would be gone soon? It hadn't done that much for him aside from the stat points and an occasional empowerment for certain skills through defensive conceptual energies it generated.
Then again, that's not nothing. It was basically like an extra Aspect with plenty of stats points. And now it's gonna merge with the rest?
Henry had thought that would happen in the end-stages of B-rank. At least, that's what Arisia had told him. It seemed that fusing all of his Aspect had prepared him in advance for that stage, and now the frame in his soul that was his class could be done away with.
But did he want to give away all of his Evolutionary points?
Well… do I even need them at this point? I'm capable of fusing my own skills and Aspects. What else could they do? Help with grafting skills away from a class? I can do that as well. And I'm about to lose the class anyway.
Henry eyed his list of abilities. He could do everything himself, but better evolutions and a potential system-assisted boost seemed plenty worth it, especially considering the points were about to become useless soon.
Ah. What the hell. Go for it, he thought as he agreed to the prompts.
Calculating Evolutionary Points…
Triumphed over multiple predators more than 50 levels above your own.
Triumphed over multiple predators more than 100 levels above your own.
Triumphed over multiple B-Rank beings as a C-Rank being.
Succeeded in creating 3 perfect fusion of two Aspect and their cornerstones without System assistance in C-rank
Successfully merged more than 5 skills without System assistance in C-rank
Successfully scried a creature with heavy anti-scrying capabilities
Successfully immobilized an A-rank Windscythe King for 0.679 seconds
Calculating results… 57 Evolutionary Points granted!
That was a little more than he had expected. Henry hoped the offered options would be worth it. A moment latter, they popped into front of him.
Please select one of the following evolutions:
Eidolon Kraken
A psychic phantom cloaked in illusions and deceit. The Eidolon Kraken weaves false networks, bends the weak-willed to its design, and turns the enemy's own minds into weapons against them.
Fractalkin Kraken
A kaleidoscope of flesh, shadows, and illusions. The Fractalkin Kraken splits into mirrored selves, each one real enough to wound and vanish, and as long as any one of them lives, the kraken cannot know death. A perfect predator for sowing confusion and surviving all of its enemies.
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Veilwatch Kraken
A sovereign of foresight and layered thought. The Veilwatch Kraken commands sentient mind-projections that orbit its body like unseen wardens—each one watching, shielding, and striking with autonomous precision. Nothing escapes the gaze of this kraken. No thought, no threat, no lie. With many minds acting as one, the Veilwatch Kraken outthinks, outmaneuvers, and outlasts.
Bloodlord Kraken
A cunning, parasitic evolution that drinks life and magic alike. The Bloodlord Kraken is not a mindless beast—it is a schemer in the dark, charming, warping, and draining all who wander too close.
Red Vow Kraken
A wrathful sentinel forged from betrayal and resolve. The Red Vow Kraken does not forget, does not relent, and does not rest until every injustice has been answered in kind.
Henry read everything once, then twice, then thrice before he finally let himself sway for a moment in the pool.
Shit. These are all kinda good.
Henry took a deep breath, then got started. He had to go through them each, though he could thankfully instantly rule out the Red Vow Kraken option. That one was just too angry, and it was nowhere near as good as everything else.
So… he had just four to look through.
First, Eidolon. Cool name, and it seems like it's a bit of its own thing compared to the others. While the others are upgrades to my existent Aspects, this one's taking my illusions and telepathy a step forward, though the part where it might influence the minds of others rubs me the wrong way. 'Bending the weak-willed to its design' is some villain crap, though it certainly sounds powerful.
Henry moved on to the next option, which, if he was honest, was one of his possible choices.
Fractalkin. This sounds like an upgrade to Dancing Shadows. Might make that easier to use, but it's also working with illusions as well. It might also make the clones just as powerful as I am which would be kinda crazy. And that survivability might have some powerful implications.
It was a strong contender. But it was not at the top of his list. That spot went to Veilwatch, and for that reason, he skipped it to check the Bloodlord option before he'd swing back. Because if Fractalkin and Bloodlord didn't manage to convince him, he was selecting the Veilwatch option.
Bloodlord sounds like a vampire, and it very much seems like that's what it's about. A parasitic evolution that drinks life and magic. It also has that charming keyword thrown in there.
Henry stared at the definition. This really was the vampire option. Which was intriguing, but it didn't make the list.
Chuckling, he finally turned his attention to what he believed was the best and strongest option, and the one that seemed to have incorporated the most out of his Watchful Guardian class.
Veilwatch is clearly working around Thaumaturgy and my Octominds, and it would upgrade them even further. To the point where they can manifest in real life? Or was that a secondary thing? In any case, it's clearly focused on the Octominds, and that's a direction I like.
The possibilities of even more powerful Octominds sounded exciting. Henry had already made his decision, though he gave himself a few seconds to sit with it before he agreed. After all, this might be one of the last selection of evolutions he was offered.
Unless there's more past A-rank.
With a slow exhale, Henry made his selection, and his soul immediately trembled. Energies and magics began swirling around him, visible to the naked eye as they immediately eclipsed those of the Pillar itself. His vision began to vibrate and shake as a cocoon slowly formed around him, and as his vision began to dim, Henry had just one last thought.
Let's have a chat, System.
***
"How's it going, Henry?"
Henry's eyes snapped open, and once again, he was back in the turtle shell, in the first reef he had opened his eyes in. Stretching his awareness inwardly, he sensed nothing, while only a moment ago, he'd been sensing the accumulating magics that were about to make changes to his soul. But no change has been made. In fact…
I don't sense my Aspects.
Henry wasn't alarmed. This just meant he was just talking to the System with his mind only. Within his own mind?
"You're sharp," said the golden octopus facing him, and Henry finally focused on the apparition ahead of him before he glanced down at the eight limbs under him as he responded.
"Thanks. You kinda have to find your own answers when someone isn't that forthcoming with them," he said, looking back at the System ahead of him.
No need to waste time. They could keep the social call for another time.
The golden octopus rubbed two arms together, seemingly nervous as it used a third arm to wipe at its brow. "Whew. I thought you'd be happier to see me. Does that have anything to do with some… new people you talked to?"
Henry shrugged. "You know everything. And their… anger toward you seems perfectly understandable from where I'm standing. So let's keep things short. Any chance I can get some answers this time? Specifically, how I ended up in this world? And why is it that those who cross past A-rank just disappear? It'd go a long way if we could get some answers."
Henry was a little surprised at the heat that had entered his voice, but he didn't back away. The jocking, friendly System had been fun early on, but now that he knew this being was withholding the answer to plenty of important questions, the lightheartedness was rubbing him the wrong way.
Was it toying with them? Was it something else? Because right now, it felt belittling. Patronizing. Maybe the System was innocent. Maybe it was forced to hold such knowledge secret, but some answers would go a long way to earn it some goodwill.
If it cared at all, that is.
The golden being ahead of him peered back at him, and it seemed to sigh before its form began growing translucent.
Henry cursed inwardly. Zerathstra had said it might leave if the A-rank subject was brought up.
"I understand your frustration. And the frustration of others. But unfortunately, there isn't much I can say. There are… rules," the being said, and for a moment, Henry felt bad. But he shoved that away and stuck to his plan. After all, he'd considered this possibility.
"I was not in this world when its rules were written," Henry responded, and the System's disappearance paused as it tilted its head. "Huh. Maybe?"
Henry didn't stop. "I'm not from this world. Isn't that worth a hint? An answer? Work with me. There's something going on. What is it you want from me? From the people of this world? What is going on?"
It seemed to think for a moment, then it shuddered. "Maybe not. Or maybe I can? Hmm… just a hint?" it mumbled. Then its eyes snapped toward Henry, and it nodded, eyes intense. "Keep doing what you're doing. Find the rest of them. The metal orbs. Find that turtle. Both are… connected."
And then it just froze, eyes wide, before it dissolved away into motes, and Henry was suddenly back in his body, just as a monstrous amount of transformative magic slammed into his soul.