Wait until tomorrow

Back at HQ, I am once again guided to Darwin's office by Valeria. I enter and Darwin motions for me to sit opposite him. The leather sofa feels comfortable and I allow myself to relax for a short moment before I snap back to attention.

"Why exactly was I brought here? Navi said something about discussing my evolution but what does that even mean?"

"Well, we have taken to having a session before every employee's evolution. Usually, we can give very accurate information on the possible paths of evolution due to our study of the monsters in dungeons.

"You, however, are a unique case because you heavily mutated right after your birth. We have never observed any of your current evolution choices as specimens of a dungeon. Still, based on their names we can make some deductions based on other monsters with similar evolution choices."

"So you don't know anything but want to make wild guesses that might ruin my evolution?"

"By no means! The choice of your evolution remains solely with you, we will only tell you our conjectures and what we would pick in your situation. What you make of our advice is entirely up to you."

"Go on then."

"Very well. You have three possible paths of evolution. Bone snake, sanguine snake, and camo snake.

"Normally, a white snake evolves into an ivory snake that uses a poison that can harm the bones. Therefore we assume that the bone snake is of similar nature but more advanced. Should you chose it you will likely lose the sanguine traits of your abilities and gain a bone or marrow attacking attribute instead.

"The sanguine snake is the easiest to guess. Right now you are a mixed breed of sorts and this evolution should make you a purebred. The benefits of that will probably be an enhanced improvement speed for your abilities related to the sanguine species.

"Lastly, the camo snake is stealth-based. We know of insects that receive the camo prefix and gained extraordinary stealth abilities. Some were able to become completely invisible, others could blend in with their surroundings and some could even change the terrain to make optimal hiding places."

"I assume the bone snakes abilities would work over a longer span of time, right?"

"If it works similar to the ivory snake then it would indeed need a certain duration to show their effects. However, this would allow you to deal immense damage to groups much stronger than you!"

"Let me guess, this is the evolution you want me to take."

"This path of evolution would be optimal when defending a dungeon. So yes, I am required to advise you to take this path."

"Yeah, no. I'll go with the sanguine snake evolution. I know some things about those abilities and that makes it easier for me."

"You have come to a decision then. I suggest that you get some sleep now and begin your evolution procedure first thing tomorrow morning. Are you fine with using the employee dormitory?"

"Can't we do it today?"

"No, we cannot. You have been in multiple dungeons over several hours and the mental strain of that isn't to be underestimated. If you aren't at your best the evolution won't live up to your full potential."

"Tch, fine. I assume Valeria will be my guide again?"

"No, I think you are old enough to go to bed alone."

Did he really just say that? I want to punch him in the face so bad right now but something in his smile tells me that he wants me to do that. I also can't get a read on this guy's power. Just how strong is he?

I leave Darwin's office and follow Navi's directions. The room I get is small and holds next to nothing besides a bed. Did I piss Darwin off too much?

I lie down on my bed and take another look at my status before it will probably change again tomorrow.

Status Jade Lv. 10 sanguine white snake

Mp 10+9+0

Strength 3+9+2

Constitution 3+9+0

Speed 6+9+2

Magic ability 5+9+0

Skills:

universal humanoid language, universal monster language, dungeon map, thermal detection

Sanguine bite lv. 2; blood-stealing constriction lv. 1; weak sanguine venom lv. 2; enhanced stamina lv. 4; sanguine boost lv. 1; stealth lv.1; energy fang lv.1; hardened scales lv.1

Wow, I more than doubled my power since I was reborn. Some of my skills even leveled up. With both energy fang and hardened scales, my overall combat ability increased by quite a bit. But what's with that way of displaying my stats?

The option of training is the monster equivalent of human enhancement skills expect for the fact that we don'have a limit. Since you have gained some points there without training you probably had those skills and they became latent potential that your body could harness to grow stronger.>

So while a monsters stat growth through level-ups is pathetically low we can make up for it through training? Seems bothersome.

I relax my body and quickly feel myself become sleepy. This is unusual for me as I normally take a long time to fall asleep but that thought barely pops up before sleep fully claims me.

My dreams are strange, drowned in red liquid, and filled with death.