Evolution Begins

'System! Give me the estimated time my evolution will take.' Roy demanded with a calm expression, yet his eyes were red with anger.

{Info}

Evolution time is based on complexity. Typically lower evolutions take 5~10 minutes.

'Perfect.' Roy decided on a plan, and called Solus over to him.

"Solus, protect me when I fall asleep soon." Roy told her as he pat her head.

*Whimper*

Solus whimpered as she nodded her head. Her sense of smell much more sensitive, causing her issues here near the cave entrance.

'Now we just need to wait for the guard shift.' Roy thought, gripping his hatchet even tighter.

Not long after, two more goblins came out of the cave, presumably to switch with the last two. Yet when they exited the others were nowhere to be seen.

"Giluk?" Asked one of the goblins while scratching it's head.

"Gin-" Started the other, before it quickly lost it's head.

Shock filled the eyes of the other goblin. Yet it didn't have time to scream as it too, was decapitated fiercely.

[Goblin killed]

[33 EXP Received]

[Goblin killed]

[30 EXP Received]

[Enough Experience has been accrued]

[Apprentice Tamer Level up 7->8]

[Enough Experience has been accrued]

[Inbellis Level up 7->8]

'Good, now let's see... 20 more experience for my species level. Two more goblins should do, but I don't want to wait till next rotation, since it will be suspicious that the last two aren't returning.'

At this thought, Roy looked around and picked up a rock. Lightly throwing it into the cave, he alerted the nearby goblins. He ended up attracting three goblins, who came to investigate.

"Solus, help me out." Roy whispered. Solus walked up behind him and readied her claws.

"Gwee..."

"Gunlen"

Two of the goblins were talking to each other, while the third one was silently observing. Roy, taking note of the caution in this third goblin, decided to end that one first.

*Swush!*

"Gheek!"

Roy stared surprised, as the hatchet had only gone through half of this goblin's neck! He quickly kicked it to dislodge his hatchet before launching an attack on the other two goblins as soon as possible. As he went for one, the other was attacked directly by Solus.

Soon, the two goblins were down, and Roy had received new notifications.

[Goblin killed]

[39 EXP Received]

[Goblin killed]

[30 EXP Received]

[Enough Experience has been accrued]

[Level up 9->10]

[Achievement: Lesser Strength]

[Required experience accrued]

[Lesser Orc Roy Palmer Evolving]

{Evolutionary Choices}

...

[Goblin killed]

[42 EXP Received]

"Solus it's time! Hide the bodies and guard me quick!" Roy said in a hushed yell as he moved the bodies and heads to the bushes near the cave.

After he finished hiding them, Roy handed Inbellis to Solus and went near a thick tree where it was easier to hide.

Solus hid in a bush near him to stand guard, so Roy relaxed a little and told the system to show him his choices.

{Evolutionary Choices}

Orc

Lesser Mangalica Orc

Lesser Meishan Orc

Lesser Babirusa Orc

'What the hell... The only non lesser choice is a normal orc? Is that because I need to be that in order to pick higher races? If I choose one of the Lesser races, will it let me bypass the normal Orc evolution? System show me details of the lesser orc options.' Roy thought as he began to read the information provided by his tutorial skill.

[Lesser Mangalica Orc]

Notes:

Furball Orc

Body is covered in a thick fur that gifts it a higher defense than normal orcs.

As a lesser being, the hair doesn't provide as much defense. Next evolution can become a Mangalica Orc directly, gaining thick defensive fur.

+10 Base defense

+1 Str per level

[Lesser Meishan Orc]

Notes:

Triclops Orc

It has a third eye on its forehead, and when it opens it gives the orc an increased reaction time, weakness detection and thought processing.

As a lesser being, the bonus the eye gives, is slight. Next evolution can become a Meishan Orc directly, gaining increased reaction time.

[Skill: Weakness Detection]

+1 Agi per level

[Lesser Babirusa Orc]

Notes:

Keratin Orc

It has an increased keratin production. Gaining tusks on evolution, if properly maintained they can be a dangerous weapon.

As a lesser being, the tusks are small and not that sharp. Next evolution can become a Babirusa Orc directly, as well as gain horns and spikes.

[Skill: Keratin Growth]

+1 Str per level

'Hmm, unfortunately I can't choose the first two, as the defense is pretty worthless since I have clothing that gives more, and Babirusa can make natural armor too. The third eye doesn't provide direct combat assistance, which I desperately need right now since I already know where to attack them. It feels like it's made more for ranged weapon users.

Keratin Growth sounds pretty versatile, I can use it for so much more than just tusks, it's just a protective protein, so I can use it on my skin and nails too. I don't know if it would be as much as the furball orc defense wise at the start, but it's much more useful. I might even be able to give myself an exoskeleton later on!'

Thinking of the possibility of a cool exoskeleton covering his body with clawed fingers, tusks, horns and spikes, Roy immediately selected Lesser Babirusa.

Soon after, a cocoon wrapped around him as his body felt a warm embrace. Roy drifted to sleep unknowingly as the process began.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

'Where the hell are my minions? I sent two to relieve the others, yet none returned?' Nabik, the leader of this troop thought, wondering where they had gone to.

"You! Get over here" Nabik yelled at one of the goblins that were currently chopping up the dead male Kobolds.

"Y-Yes s-s-s-sir? H-How may this feeble one assist you?" The goblin meekly replied.

Seeing the reaction of the goblin pleased Nabik, and with a slight smile he responded. "Take 4 others and find out what happened to the guards that didn't return here.

"Y-yes sir!" The goblin replied, running off to get its buddies.

'I swear if they are slacking on the job, I'll throw them into the food pile as well.' Nabik complained.

"As soon as we finish the preparations, I can finally return to the king! I'm sure he will be pleased with these sows..." Nabik softly spoke as he started menacingly at the Kobold women.

He quickly returned his gaze, noticing the goblins leaving the cave. "Damn weaklings. Using the king's resources yet loafing around."