The dawn after the festival swept through the village like a blanket of silence, not a single soul roaming the streets. It seemed everyone had returned to their homes, succumbing to the depths of slumber, except for some pesky owls hooting somewhere in the distance.
I stealthily passed by the smoldering ashes of the bonfire, searching for a quiet, damp nook to settle down.
“Where’s the best place to evolve?”
During my time in the forest, I usually hid out in caves or abandoned nests to undergo evolution. But here in this human village? Caves were as rare as a dragon at a tea party.
All the shabby wooden houses were occupied, leaving me on a quest to find a spot where I can truly focus on myself.
“Perhaps a back alley?”
No, no. Shaking my head, I looked up to see oddly sized moons sinking into the western sky. The sun would rise soon, and I felt a tingling urgency to find my spot.
Where could I settle down?
As I gazed at the twinkling stars, my eyes landed on the towering steeple of a church. Wasn’t there some uproar involving a golden fox, Longtail, and Nialli, which meant this building was closed for repairs?
That place might just be perfect for some uninterrupted “me time.”
Like a thief in the night, I stealthily climbed the church while the entire village slept.
“Climbing buildings is easy now!”
Standing atop the bell tower, I gazed down at the rope leading to the ground.
“If I grab the rope, wouldn’t the bells ring like an angry cat?”
Choosing stealth, I sheathed my claws and slowly crawled down inside the church’s walls.
The floor, once splattered with fox bl**d and littered with broken chairs, glimmered under the candlelight; they had all been meticulously cleaned. The wooden statue which had been there earlier was gone, replaced by a beautiful wooden goddess statue, gazing at me with a serene and benevolent expression.
“Is this the god the humans worship?”
Despite the figure, you’d almost forget just a few hours earlier, this place would’ve been buzzing with social magic. Now, a solemn atmosphere lingered inside.
Feeling my fur calm down and a metaphorical blush creep across me, I curled up before the goddess statue, my belly resting on the pleasantly cool stone floor.
“Perfect, just the way I like it. Now, let’s take a look.”
I conjured the choices before me. This evolution had four distinctive paths: Magical Beast Beta, Gamma, Delta, and Epsilon!
Just looking at them, Beta was obviously muscle-bound—talk about gainz. Then Gamma, the speedster emphasizing agility. Next was Delta, focused on talent, presumably showcasing skills, and lastly, Epsilon, the all-around balanced option.
The variety was brain-boggling as I contemplated the unique traits of each evolution.
“They all sound amazing, but…”
Unlike my previous evolutions, the clear-cut characteristics made choosing one much tougher. The burden of deciding my path weighed heavily on my furry little shoulders; choosing one could lead to regretting the absence of another—like my first experience with evolution back at Level 5.
Didn’t I have this problem back then?
“Some things never change.”
I chuckled ironically, reflecting on the fact that while humans easily adapt to their surroundings, I seemed unchangeably stuck in my patterns.
“Well, just like last time, let me start narrowing down…”
I thought about what I had too much of and what I lacked, deciding to scratch off options one by one. Recalling numerous battles with various beasts, I gained some clarity.
“First off, I don’t think I lack muscle power.”
Ever since I gobbled up that strength-enhancing potion, I hadn’t felt an ounce of weakness. My claws had been tearing through enemies with such synergy that any additional strength would probably just go to waste.
“Beta is off the table for now.”
Next, I examined Gamma’s emphasis on agility.
“Speed… well, that has been somewhat necessary lately.”
I recalled being chased by the mythical beast O Kong. If it weren’t for those horse-drawn carriages, I might’ve been caught and ripped to shreds.
“Those carriages eventually fell right into my claws, though. Right now, I possess nine skills: Omnivore, Strong Claws, Subsonic, Stealth Movement, Invisibility, Charm Dance, Hybridization, Fire Tongue, and Riding. Most of my go-to skills were claws, stealth movement, and invisibility.”
Increased agility could dramatically change my battle dynamics.
Stealthy characters like me simply couldn’t part ways with speed!
“For now, I’ll keep Gamma on hold. Then there’s Delta, which focuses on boosting talent…”
That one was the most perplexing for me. What would it even feel like to enhance my talents effectively?
“Does it mean I’ll get more skills?”
I pictured a game character hoarding a mishmash of crappy skills, realizing the usefulness in having utility functions.
“Yet, the skill list is still a mystery, and I don’t feel like I’m lacking any right now. In fact, some of my skills are sitting idle like couch potatoes. So, last but not least… Epsilon.”
Epsilon was touted as a universal Magical Beast, renowned for evenly distributing skills. It had the most buzz attached to it for being the “latest and greatest.”
“Universal characters are sweet! No dilemma here. But the fact that all stats could be “lower-grade versions” has me feeling a tad uneasy.”
As is always the case in gaming, universal types can end up being jack-of-all-trades but masters of none. If it weren’t for the “lower-grade” tagline, I would’ve jumped at Epsilon without a second thought.
“Best to avoid risks. This could be my last evolution; I can’t afford to gamble recklessly.”
Finally, after much deliberation, I slowly raised my front paw. With my sharp claw, I pressed down on one of the options, and a dry “ding” echoed in the chamber.
“Come forth!”
Preparing for an endless wave of drowsiness that usually followed my evolution, I closed my eyes. But this time, time passed with no disorienting collapse hitting me!
“What in the world? Why is nothing happening?”
Rising from my spot, I looked around, bewildered.
Usually, I would feel like I was hit with a heavy sleep drug, then wake up with a newly evolved self completed. What was going on here?
“Is it broken? Is there an error?”
Peering down at my body, I tilted my head in confusion.
And then it happened.
Everything turned pitch black around me! But it wasn’t the traditional fade into unconsciousness; this was something entirely different.
I maintained full awareness while the surroundings became enshrouded in darkness, leaving nothing visible but me.
“What the heck? What’s going on here?”
I scanned the area, bracing for some unexpected event.
—“Who’s messing with me?!”
I shouted into the void, feeling like I was drifting in a starless cosmic ocean.
Karrurrr, the ridiculous echo of my voice bounced back to me in the darkness.
—Karrurrr.
—Karrurrr.
This was no ordinary echo! In the midst of grappling with this eerie experience, I noticed a particular anomaly.
“This cry isn’t an echo.”
Turning my head towards the sound, something emerged from the dark ground.
It was the front paws of some beast. The bony, skeletal paws burst through the gloom, revealing a ghostly visage.
—“What are you? A bunch of skeletons?!”
Four beast bones staggered towards me, moving in a haphazard manner. They lunged at me, tearing into my body and tail without hesitation.
—“You little bits of bone!”
I swung my front paw, and as my claws made contact with the grimy skeletons, flesh and skin began sprouting back onto their boned frames.
—Kaarrrurrr.
—Karrurrr.
The sight of flesh and skin regenerating on the bones made me squint. Their grotesque appearance grew to mirror mine, the reflection of my image seen in a river.
“Wait, what?”
Looking down, I noticed my own body appeared to be bitten, revealing glimpses of bone through flesh.
“Are they trying to consume me to grow stronger?”
Without exchanging words, I realized this was a battleground between us and that those beasts—beta to epsilon—were likely created before me.
—Karrurrr.
The half-rejuvenated beasts encircled me. I loosened up my shoulders, limbs, and tail.
—“Alright, boys. Rank time begins now!”
—“Kraaaak!”
Without waiting for a signal, they lunged at me. Their claws tore at my skin, while their teeth gnawed hungrily at my nape.
The four beasts attacked all at once, staining my white fur a deep crimson.
—“Kraang!”
One hefty beast seized my nape, shaking me like a rag doll.
—“You little brat, how dare you bite me?!”
Enduring the agonizing sensation of my body being shredded, I raised my front paw. I then struck fiercely at the face of the one gnawing at my neck.
—“Keeeek!”
The hit made that beast wriggle in pain, and I took the chance to spin around, swinging my tail in a fierce arc.
The other three beasts, previously tied to me, staggered away and hit the ground hard.
But they were legendary beasts just like me.
They quickly regained their footing, glaring at me with rage. One of them spread its wings and lunged at me.
—“What the heck? It has wings too?!”
That one leapt at me, swiping its hind leg with claws curved like a sickle. It appeared more bird of prey than a beast.
“That must be Delta with enhanced talents!”
Ducking its powerful attack, I swung my claws with all my might. My sharp claws ripped through its belly.
The Delta beast rolled on the ground, unable to rise again.
Just as I began to relish my victory, a heavy blow landed on the back of my head. When I finally regained my stance, I spotted a massive beast, howling, tinged in crimson.
With abnormal power evident in its expanded front paw, it was probably the Beta, the muscle type!
I met its own gaze and clenched my teeth, feeling the bl**d dripping from my nape.
—“You’ll pay for biting my neck and knocking me out! Kraaak!”
With a fierce roar, I charged at Beta. Dodging its gigantic paw, I leaped onto its back, clawing at its skin.
—“Kaaaar!”
Beta thrashed desperately, trying to shake me off. But thanks to the skill “Riding,” I navigated the space between its head and back, carving wounds into its enormous frame.
—“You’re out. Too slow, not delicate enough.”
Avoiding the flailing Beta arms, I coiled my tail around its thick neck and then jabbed my claws directly into its eyes.
—“Guhhhh…”
Beta toppled like a decrepit tree, and I jumped down, standing on the dark floor, eyeing the last two.
One sleek, spotted beast resembling a savannah cat and the last with a long tail—both baring their teeth at me.
“Gamma the speedster and Epsilon the all-rounder are left. Just as I had deliberated.”
Just then, the long-tailed Epsilon lunged at me, swinging its tail round like a whipped cream on a sundae.
Whoosh, crack!
The sound sliced through the air, making my ears ring as I prepared for my defense.
—“But I have a tail too!”
With determination, I swung back at Epsilon. Our tails collided, tangling up in an erotic little dance of doom!
I twisted my waist with all my might, tossing Epsilon into the air, unable to disentangle itself from the mess!
—“You’re next to fall!”
With a swift motion, I slammed Epsilon to the ground, making it yowl with pain.
—“Meowww!”
—“Sounds just like a cat.”
Walking over to the splayed Epsilon, I rained down punches on its face. I repeated strikes until it ceased moving and howling.
Unraveling my tangled tail, I turned to the last beast.
—“Now it’s just you, Gamma.”
