“That’s interesting,” the centipede wondered. “What do you think, Tarnaragun?”
“We’ll think about it,” said Aerial Killer.
“Then catch a small kiss from me and be reborn as normal,” Karataruna put her head close to mine and cut off half my head with her sharpest jaws. At first, I did not even realize anything, but then darkness came, and I died.
Chapter 54
So good to be alive. The thinking. An unexpected evolution.
Sel Er
I woke up in the Sel Nurs house as before, but this time everything was somewhat different. Taking a deep breath, I finally felt alive. It was so nice that I was lost for words.
I took an emeraltus out of my bag and ate it at once. It tasted much better than all those wolves. If I get killed in battle, to rise as a living dead was certainly a tactical advantage, but I felt much better being alive. Now I can think and develop naturally. I needed to become stronger.
During many battles I understood one thing – I just needed more health points and some kind of defense. So, I need to develop my shell, which I haven’t done at all. Spontaneous evolution doesn’t count.
So, how many experience points do I have to put in? A hundred? Two hundred? More? Hm… a difficult question, but it is vital.
I needed to develop my shell because I was tired of taking a couple of blows and loosing much of my health at once. That is why I instantly threw five hundred points into my shell.
Your shell is evolving. Now you have a Cold-resistant strong armor!
Stats:
Structure +1,
Complexity +1,
Evolution 3 (+2),
Life 2 (+1),
Energy +2,
Health +100.
Effect: Protection against cold + 3%, Strengthening.
120 points of experience gained!
Level up! Current Level: 17.
Wow, so many stats have gone up. Hm… some strange numbers appeared in brackets. Ah, I see. The shell used to add only one point to the “Evolution” stats and now there were three, so the points in brackets indicate the number of points from the previous evolution. Other stats don’t have this, because the shell didn’t add points earlier.
I stretched a little and felt I had grown some. I felt more confident. Well, now I had to develop my hands, since I noticed Skal’s were much better developed, like Mohr’s and those of other mercenaries.
I may be able to manipulate energy better. I want to get them to eight hundred, so I will have to spend some and put eight hundred experience points - four hundred per hand.
Your hands are evolving. Now you have developed hands!
Stats:
Strength 5 (+3),
Life 2 (+1),
Complexity 1 (+1),
Health 50 (+20).
Effect: Tenacious hold.
120 points of experience gained!
120 points of experience gained!
Level up! Current Level: 18.
Level up! Current Level: 19.
Wow! My hands changed greatly and started to resemble those of the two-legged, only I had four clawed fingers. Hm… the rippers must develop their hands somewhat different since I have never seen claws on their fingers.
I concentrated and imagined the energy shield, which appeared at once. Wow! Unbelievable! So, I was thinking I needed better-developed hands to increase the ability of energy manipulation. But how do the centipedes do this, since they don’t have hands?
The ability “Simple manipulation of energy” up! Current level: 6!
Your knowledge is increasing! Knowledge +1.
How pleasant it was to feel your own strength and abilities increasing. Well, what do we have next? I may need to develop my claws since there is never too much mobility.
However, if I get them up to five hundred I will use almost all my experience since I need to put three hundred fifty points in each claw. That is why I decided to stop at three hundred, spending six hundred in all.
Your simple Beetle claws are evolving. Now you have developing Beetle claws!
Stats:
Structure 2 (+1),
Complexity 2 (+1),
Mobility 3 (+2),
Health 30 (+15).
40 points of experience gained!
…
40 points of experience gained!
Level up! Current Level: 20.
...
Level up! Current Level: 23.
A-ha-ha! How nice it is to feel strong, I was so happy! I jumped on my new legs, which lengthened again a little and became stronger. The mobility parameter exceeded twenty units and I immediately felt how much more agile I had become.
But when I tried to take a couple of steps, I could not keep my balance and I fell. It looks like I’ll have to get used to my new abilities. I still had enough experience left to develop something else.
I have an organ of smell. Hmm... if I put three hundred points in there, then I will be able to smell my opponents from a great distance. Or is it better to invest in hearing? Hmm... why is there number 1 in the column opposite the organs of hearing? Okay, first I will improve my sense of smell, and then I will deal with it.
Your sense of smell is evolving! The error of evolutionary development!
Restoration of the previous stage! Recovery Error!
Now you have a damaged organ of smell!
Stats:
Evolution -1,
Structure -1,
Health -50.
Effect: Lack of smell.
Repeated evolution will be available in 24:00:00, 23:59:59, 23:59:58...
Level down! Current Level: 22.
Y-ugh, it hurts. I pressed my hands to my face, which ached greatly. What happened? Where are these mistakes coming from? And another three hundred units of experience squandered.
Apparently, I should not have invested so many points at one time and I needed to evolve gradually. Hmm... but that worked with the shell. I should sort this out.
I tried to put my points in the eyes, but nothing appeared, because of those damned mistakes. Well, I needed to proceed. When I have the chance to evolve again, I will first restore my sense of smell, then I will improve my eyesight and hearing. And at the same time, I will need to invest experience points in my digestive system.
I don’t know what the centipedes will decide, but I really hoped for their help. In the meantime, I needed to somehow enlist the support of the two-legged, but I was sure that they would ask for something in return.
They will not do it for nothing, and I can’t offer them gold as I did with mercenaries, because they would find it trivial. So, I needed to think of a reward, but what?
Chapter 55
The reward. Testing new abilities. A Hard opponent.
I looked into my spatial pocket and began sorting through the options. Well, it was clear, there was nothing of value, at least for the two-legged here. Well, except that shining with life and a strange ring. The things that I took from the slave traders would not work either.
Well, but before offering a ring as a reward, I still needed to identify it, because now I could see no parameters. And who could help me identify this artifact?
Mohr could do it, but I wasn't sure he would. There was only one alternative - to ask the goddess for help. But I do not have the Efilioll’s crystal. However, it’s still worth trying.
Now I need to think about my further actions. With my money, I can hire four mercenary squads, which would be forty to fifty warrior beetles. Each unit has a different number of mercenaries, so I had to figure out the total number.
There were fewer spikers here, but I wasn't absolutely sure that wasn't more of them in their lair, and if you take into account that Narr Nutt has in his possession ripper artifacts and probably something else, it’s a tough situation.
If we manage to enlist the rippers’ support, then we would have a chance, only the centipedes would significantly increase the odds for victory. Was there something else?
<
br /> That’s it, I needed to stock up on explosive balls and lightning energy. And while I’m at it, I needed to check my new strength. Hold on! I completely forgot about something. A healing gene! It was finally available, but I shouldn’t absorb it completely now.
I wonder what I’ll get from the healing effect. Okay, I’ll find out when the debuff disappears, and I can evolve again.
Getting up carefully, I awkwardly headed towards the nearest energetic beings. Gradually getting used to my new claws and hands, I finally came across one of the elementals.
Small Winter Elemental, Level 17
Oh-ho-ho, it looks like these creatures haven’t wasted their time, but evolved. Well, that’ll make things more interesting. Let’s try a slightly different angle than before.
Earlier I fought them with spiker claws, this time I wanted to use energy manipulation. Removing the spiker claws, I headed straight for the enemy.
This one was bigger and much stronger than the previous one, but he was not as good as me. I remembered that despite their level, they were much stronger, so I decided not to take many risks.
I formed two energy shields on my hands at once and got ready for the fight, trying not to show my surprise. Crouching slightly, I jumped on the elemental and struck a powerful blow that knocked him over.
The shield was covered with cracks, so I had to add energy. Surprisingly, this action worked and the shield was restored. The main thing is to watch the amount of energy.
The winter elemental was pretty deft. He jumped up and, with a strange twist of his body, threw two ice bubbles at me. I did not have time to dodge, even despite my increased mobility, so I added energy to the shields and blocked the attack.
The energy structures rang beautifully on impact, and only a couple of cracks appeared. I am definitely getting stronger. Finding a good moment, I forcefully pushed off from the paving stones and jumped towards the elemental.
Both shields plunged into his body, causing substantial damage. However, this was clearly not enough, and I butted him with my head. The attack turned out to be quite powerful, but I will try not to do this anymore since everything was spinning before my eyes.
I wasn't thinking of creating a third shield, which would protect my forehead. The elemental did not lose his head and responded with a strong lunge, but to my surprise, I dodged it with ease.
Ha! Feeling much better finally, and having felt my limbs in a different way, I again found myself standing next to the enemy, and when I hit him with my shield, I decapitating him.
Phew! I got a little nervous after the fight. Well, it’s alright I will get used to my new strength. So, now I can see what he has in his spatial pocket. Ice crystals and… that’s all. So sad.
The ability “Simple manipulation of energy” up! Current Level: 7!
Approaching the enemy’s body, I noticed the cold rushing in my direction, and I saw the message.
Energy absorbed: Cold
Number of available charges: 2
This is interesting. The third type of energy I encountered. I should test it. Okay, I’ll do it later, since it won’t take long to reach the goddess. However, I ran into problems sooner than I expected. And they looked like this.
Autumn tree, level 23
This creature was impressive. I did not know that trees could walk. Spreading branches, strewn with yellow leaves, and its feet-like roots, which moved along the ground like waves gliding across the sea.
The two branches sank a little into the ground, and they looked like the hands of a ripper with long, sharp fingers. And then I looked into the darkness of its eyes and its large maw like an abyss.
The creature let out strange sounds and swiftly headed in my direction. It was a little scary, so I pulled out the spiker claws and prepared for defense.
With two powerful strokes of his hands, the tree launched pieces of bark at me, from which I safely dodged, without even using my shields. And I did the right thing.
I looked back, and the chill ran across my shell. How strong was this monster if its bark stuck into the stone pavement? Well, it doesn’t matter, I’ll deal with it, and besides, the slave traders were a level higher.
It’s a shame I had no explosive balls left, I would have felt safer. Though I can do without them. Running up to the tree, I struck several quick blows to his branches and jumped aside, dodging his counter attacks. I did some damage, so I took a deep breath, imagining how long I would have to fight him.
After some time, I was able to take away almost half of the health points from this piece of wood, but I got hit a couple of times. His blows left several deep scratches on my shell.
My energy shields scattered from a single blow, so I left them only in case I could not dodge. And there were such moments because it turned out the tree was able to move and act quickly. I especially disliked the attack with which he launched a whole bunch of yellow leaves into me. Some of them still stuck in my shell, as if they were metal.
When the tree’s health bar sank down to its last quarter, I began thinking about how to kill him quickly and he grabbed me with his roots. I did not expect this.
This energy spawn began squeezing me, and my health was sharply dropping. Heck! There was nothing left, so I decided to use the cold.
This energy has always spread evenly, so I sent a large cord to the tree, and the cord split into seven threads. The cold rushed at him in an endless stream and immediately froze part of the monster.
The tree made a roar and threw me aside, but it did not help, the cold continued to eagerly bite into his body. But he refused to die and he was still trying to kill me.
Jumping high into the air I formed several energy shields at once in one of my claws and punched the frozen part of his body as hard as I could. There was a crash, and part of the tree shattered.
The enemy’s health bar sank into the red, and the second blow put an end to our battle. His hand, which turned into an ice drop, fell from above and I did not notice it. Immediately, two sharp claws that were covered with ice broke through me, forcing me to growl in pain.
"Grrrr!!!" I clenched my hands from this unbearable pain and somehow managed to pull these claws out.
My blood dripped onto the ground, more precisely, it rushed out of me in streams, and there wasn't much health left. I don't know how I pulled the healing potion out of my spatial pocket and drank it bottoms up.
My health immediately began regenerating, I had to drink another bottle, and after that, I was as good as new. Such a good thing, this potion. Much more effective than rubitus, and tastier
too. The tree did not have much in his spatial pocket, I found only an acorn.
“Spatial Pocket” ability up! Current Level: 14!
An additional cell is available!
An additional cell is available!
The available number of cells: 19.
Sometime later, I finally got to the goddess. Nothing has changed here, but I immediately felt her.
Chapter 56
The ring. The joy of the mountain master. The task for the two-legged.
“What brings you to me, warrior Sel Nur?” the statue asked. “I see you’ve grown stronger. I am pleased to see that you are developing.”
"Goddess, unfortunately, I haven't found any more crystals, but I need to ask you for help,” I said. “Now I’m trying to enlist the support of the two-legged. I need to offer them a reward, but I only have this ring. But I do not know what it is. Can you take a look?”
“Hmm... an interesting object, you took it from the demon,” I heard the surprise in the goddess’s voice. “But I can’t figure out where a demon could get such a thing.”
The ring suddenly flared, changed its shape and began to shine with white light. I was looking at this thing and could not help admiring its beauty. White shining metal seemed to consist of light fibers, elegantly intertwined by an unknown creator.
Angelic weaving
Description: A long time ago this ring was mad
e. The Great Master crafted it from the fibers of the moonlight, for many months carefully weaving them together. His work was noticed by one of the angels, who later died in a fierce battle with one of the Lords of the Infernal Abyss. The lowest ranking demon picked up this ring after the battle and did not know what got into his hands, because the ring disguised itself and remained unknown until the goddess of balance returned its essence.
Skills: “The Shield of Light”
Effects: “Transformation of Objects”, “Angel Regeneration”.
Protection: 100
Requirements: Intellect 300, level 100, Bright soul.
Class: Epic
Note: It is worthwhile to clarify this legend in more detail in order to learn more about this ring and other subjects of the Great Master.
Not much was clear, except the level. And the fact that I couldn’t wear this thing, although it provided strange effects and skills.
“I thank you, goddess,” I said to the two-legged. “This ring will help enlist the support of... people and we will be able to overcome the spikers and find the crystals.”
“There is no need to thank me, not much energy was needed to figure out the essence of the object,” answered the two-legged. “Do you have any more questions for me?”
“No,” I shook my head, although I, of course, had questions, I decided I shouldn't be impudent.
***
“Oh,” the magician sighed. “We have been waiting for too long, and this dwarf with his pickaxe got me.”
“It's okay,” Elena said. “I just have to take the cloak back, and that bug will come.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure.”
“We’ll see,” Hyde grinned.
“Oh,” the magician continued to sigh. “Well, let’s at least calm the dwarf down then.”
“Impossible,” the knight waved his hand. “Look at him. The man, or should I say the dwarf, hit the metal. We couldn’t drag him away from here.”
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