A few changes around here
"Wait...evolve!?" I stared at the screen in shock as it hovered in front of me. "Does that mean what I think it means?"
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Evolution
When a monster reaches the level limit, it becomes possible to transcend into a
stronger different form or species.
Would you like to evolve? Yes ---> No
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"YES!!" I couldn't possibly shout the words fast enough! The screen in front of me changed, showing three different names.
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Kobold Archer: A more advanced Kobold that specializes in long-range attacks and speed. Picking off their enemies at a distance.
Special Skills: Far-Sight Vision Lv. 1
Lizardman: An offshoot of the Kobold race possessing a larger figure and more humanoid form. Lizardmen are known for their tough scales and savagery.
Kobold Craftsman: A Kobold that possess an uncanny ability to build things and take them apart. They possess the ability to rarely increase the quality tier of their work.
Special Skills: Random Quality Increase Lv.1
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"OOOOOOOOOOOOH!!!!!"
Right off the bat, I was immediately drawn to the Kobold Craftsman. Although the chance to produce an increased quality work isn't likely, it WILL eventually happen if you keep trying. Imagine it! A full set of "Rare" quality gear! I'm practically drooling thinking about it.
On the other hand, the Kobold Archer does sort of fit my niche a little more. I'm likely to become faster and more precise with a bow. And Far-Sight would make it easier to detect enemies.
Lastly, there's Lizardman. This evolution route doesn't even have any special skills. It seems kind of lackluster compared to the other two. So I should probably pick the other two choi-
"Wait...why DOESN'T the Lizardman have any special skills?" Now that I think about it, it's odd for the evolution choices to be so skewed towards or against an option. If the other two choices get new skills, what does Lizardman have?
If I think about it, the answer is clear. Power. No matter how special a kobold might be, it's still a kobold. If I choose the other two options I'll hit a wall soon enough. Kobold Craftsman has an amazing skill, but it's a non-combat evolution. Kobold Archer sounds pretty capable, but if you think about it, this evolution is really only a shortcut. It'll automatically make me faster, and more skilled with a bow, but I'd eventually reach that skill level anyway if I kept leveling up Archery. The special skills for the kobold forms must be there to make up for a lacking evolution.
"Ho boy..." As much as it hurts my heart to give up "Random Quality Increase" the choice I need to make is painfully obvious. Tapping on the status screen, I selected Lizardman.
"Ungh....ah..."
Immediately my body trembled and convulsed soon after my choice. I could hear popping sounds coming from within. Swelling and stretching past the limits, it was actually painful. My hands throbbed, the fingers shifting to the side as a new one spouted from the palm, turning four fingers into five.
"Hah...ha-ahhh!"
The bones in my legs snapped forward becoming straight, nearly causing me to pass out. My body felt itchy all over as new scales grew in, seemingly overlapping with the old ones. By the time it was all over, I had collapsed on the ground, desperately panting for breath.
"I...I didn't realize...that would hurt." Slowly climbing to my feet, I wobbled for a moment, my legs no longer curved like before. As I managed to stay upright, I felt an odd sensation come over me. A strange feeling of happiness and wonder that wasn't my own. As if I had just escaped a cell that had been holding me all my life, and now my world was bigger. Is this feeling also part of evolution?
"Status."
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STATUS
Name: Marek Antos
Species: Lizardman
Level: 1/30 Progress to level 2: 0%
HP: 50/50 Strength: 42
SP: 15/15 Resistance: 53
Agility: 33 Dexterity: 42
Endurance: 35 Wisdom: 15
Intelligence: 15
Available points: 10
Element: Earth Seed (36%)
Skills: Provoke Lv. 4, Archery Lv. 6, Crafting Lv. 7, Trap Mastery Lv. 3, Blunt Weapons Lv. 1
Abilities: God tongue, Hard scales Lv. 5
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"Whoa..." that was the only thing I could think at the moment. Most of my stats took an enormous leap forward. Something called SP appeared under my health. Spirit Power maybe? Dexterity, Intelligence and Wisdom, the stats which had only increased by only one point every two levels had increased by 50%. My Strength had doubled yet again, this time reaching into the '40s. For some reason, Resistance shot up like crazy, increasing the most. Ah! Hard Scales leveled up. That's the first time its done that. This might be the reason why Resistance increased the most.
All in all, this might have been the right choice. If I picked Kobold Archer or Craftsman, I don't think my stats would have increased by that much. Stats aside, the biggest change was my size. My height had increased from 3 feet to 5.5 feet. No longer as scrawny and becoming a bit thicker. This unfortunately meant I ended up tearing my boar shirt and shorts. I'll have to make new clothes later. Probably a new bow too.
"Still, now isn't the time to stand around. The forest is still potentially dangerous I should get going." Strolling over to the Bristleback corpse, I grabbed it by the head, easily able to carry it with one arm. And heading towards the settlement.
"Sweet, I got 10 extra stat points to use." Evolving is incredible! It's been a long and difficult road to get here, but totally worth it.
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"Monster!"
"Monster!"
"W-WHA?! Shhhhhhh! Guys quiet!"
The settlement guards Riree and Obar yelled as soon as I came into view. Looking at me with fear, they held this spears out in front of them.
"Guys stop! I'm-"
There was a loud series of cries as 11 kobold came running out of the gate pointing spears and bows at me. "Ow! Hey!" I shielded my face with my forearms as they shot arrows at me. The arrows however barely pierced my scales, feeling pinpricks on my arms. My HP barely decreased, but it was still annoying.
"ENOUGH! I'M MAREK!"
They all went quiet at my shout. A few of them lowering their weapons. Koro stepped forward, looking at me strangely. "Marek?"
"That's right, who do you think made that bow of yours?"
The female kobold let out a light gasp, dropping her bow and running over to me. She grabbed my hand, beginning to observe it.
"You...different."
"I evolved."
"Evolved?" She turned her head in confusion.
"I'll explain later, for now, you mind?" I asked gesturing to the kobold silently waiting.
"Ah!" She turned to them. "This true Marek!"
"Wha?"
"Marek?"
"How he big?"
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It didn't take long for everyone in the settlement to appear in the meeting. Most of them were already put on alert by the guards outside shouting. Even the chief was present among us for the explanation.
"Okay, so in short, I've become big because I've killed many powerful enemies. Understand?"
There were a few murmurs among the crowd with everyone nodding their head like they understood. Wow...I didn't expect them to accept this so easily. Kinda thought I'd need about an hour to sort this out.
"So, we get big if we kill many like you?" Koro asked.
"That's..." Well, that's a good question. No one here has the system like I do, but they DO have levels. Meaning if I could get them to a high enough level, in theory, it should happen. "That's...true."
"You make me strong?" Rakuta walked forward, looking at me intently. This caused many others to join him, clamoring around me.
"Me strong too!"
"I want strong!"
"You help?!"
"Alright alright hold on." I raised my hands in front of me. "I'll make all the warriors here strong like me. But..." I pointed a finger at Amon, who hadn't joined Rakuta and the other warriors in asking me. "I'm the new chief if I'm gonna do it."
Amon narrowed his eyes, protectively holding onto his chief cloak.
"Marek." Koro poked me. "Chief always decided by combat, winner be chief."
"Is that so?" I stood up from my squatting position, standing over Amon, nearly double his height. "What do you say? Wanna fight?"
Amon was silent, bitterly looking at me for a moment before silently handing over the wolf pelt.
"Thanks Amon, I'll help you get stronger too if you want." I cleared my throat draping the wolf pelt over my shoulders. Alright, listen up! Things are going to be different around here from now on!"