Chapter 3 - Evolution System

Soon after accepting the prompt, a display with information appeared. 

Though Tara was not an avid video game player, she found that the system resembled the games her sister loved.

The design was intentional, and the so-called Progenitor of Evolutions shortly revealed it.

[Greetings Earthling, as told, I am the great Progenitor of Evolution, an immortal that has whisked you away from death.]

Not lacking in having a god-complex, Tara thought. 

Deciding to skip the lines of text of the immortal praising himself, she finally reached what she was searching for. 

[Now, seeing you are reading this, you have passed the first test. Congratulations on not having an untimely death. You already passed many of your predecessors. Yet I'm sure you're already thinking, what is this Magnificent Immortal's goal?]

Well, yes, it hit the nail on the head there, genius though more like 'Magnificent Arsehole'.

[Haha. I'm sure you're already thinking, how can someone so imperfect as me help someone so perfect like you? Well, that's simple; the problem is despite my glorious power, I am at a point of stagnation. Millions of years have gone by since I last progressed. I have spent most of that time searching for solutions, and it was all for nought until I stumbled on your primitive planet.]

Less of the origin story: Can you explain why this is relevant? Tara thought. 

[Now, to see a world utterly devoid of Qi was something. Your world is by no means unique, and there are more 'null worlds' as we call them, though yours was by far the most successful. Humans are not an uncommon species in the universe; your kind is plentiful, yet the innovations and creativity of Earth have opened my eyes. A digital platform where mortals try to explain immortality, it was the most hilarious sight I witnessed. At first, I just read through your 'cultivation stories' and experienced your games merely for amusement. Yet the more I browsed these tales, the more I saw ingenuity. Of course, there was plenty of stupidity, but focusing on your good points, you mere mortals influenced my domain.]

Reading the last line of text, she found a pause that the Progenitor of Evolutions likely intended to use for dramatic effect. 

[Now, your primitive brains likely do not understand the gravity of this, but for a mortal to influence a progenitor domain is viewed as a myth. I have been alive for billions of years. As an immortal progenitor of my domain, I instantly grasp every innovation and spark of creation that another has through this domain. I have never gained insight from your world before because since you belong to a null world, you are cut off entirely from domains and cultivation.]

Already beginning to grasp where this was going, she continued. 

[I first attempted to terraform your world into one that held Qi, yet this soon failed. I realised a formation sapping the Qi from your world was present, and despite my power, it was beyond me. I knew another progenitor must be involved, so I went and found the strongest one. At first, he dismissed me, doubting my greatness, but eventually, he was interested when I described your world. With him present to officiate it, he went and saw your world for himself, yet in his great wisdom, he changed his mind on terraforming your planet. Yet, the solution he came up with was one you're all familiar with. Now, you're probably thinking, why am I telling you all this?] 

Tara, who had long grown bored of the monologue, nodded her lizard-like head. 

[Well, in the stupidly low chance you become an immortal. As by the accords, I extracted your souls against your will completely ethically.]

Even as an {Iron Salamander} now, she rolled her eyes. 

Now that she has discovered the ridiculous reason she was reborn as a salamander, she explains the system. 

[You are probably aware of the interface in your mind by now. In a moment of brilliance, I have taken inspiration from your world, and it turns out that throwing a bunch of earthlings without any context into a magical beast body is a disaster. Of course, some managed to make something of themselves, but this was short-lived; that was when, after a flash of insight, I came up with the idea to integrate a levelling system focused on innovating for my domain. I call it the 'Evolution System' since a seed of my domain has been implanted into your souls. None of you candidates are unique, and each has a similar system once born.]

Realising there were others such as her in this mess, she shook her head in annoyance at this egomaniac immortal. 

However, she still read further to get a better understanding. 

[Now, this 'system' is a mere construct of my own making. To be selected, your soul is unique and suited to my domain; it means you have the potential to have a talent in the domain of evolution, as only mortals with an affinity could a seed of mine be transplanted. Think of this 'system' like an AI with programmed responses; it only has specific functions, and once this message ends, don't expect to be able to ask about everything. The 'system' will enable you to influence your race traits and cultivation and cause mutations hidden away in your genomes. These things are under my domain; though you may get used to the system's ability to 'power level' early on, this path will fail. The 'system' is constantly evolving with you; at the moment, it has opened up the domain of evolution to you very early as most cultivators don't unlock a domain until later on, yet progressing to later stages and improving yourself will eventually require your insight, and this is where you will be most valuable.]

She then noticed a final paragraph at the end of the introduction. 

[And remember, remain stagnant at your peril. You can despise me, be full of hatred with me grabbing you out of your peaceful little world, but you're not on Earth anymore. Failing to progress means constantly surviving against those who want to crush you. Only strength can give you the life you desire, as there is no such thing as peace in this world. There have been many like you who have failed to adapt, believing their so-called fellow 'humans' would emphasise. Not one is still alive; the system has dulled your stupid emotions, but this will wear off eventually, so remember, the world doesn't stay still for you.] 

With the system message ending with such an excerpt, only one thought filled Tara's mind. 

What an absolute dick.