Born in apocalypse

After ten minutes of absorption, the final percentage needed for the core’s full saturation was reached. Alaric and Azarex approached Dhruv, inquiring about their next course of action.

"Master, should we commence our evolution now, or would it be wise to wait for another wave to pass before deciding?" Alaric inquired, seeking Dhruv’s guidance on the matter.

Listening to the question, Dhruv pondered for a moment before responding, "Alaric, you should begin your evolution. We can’t afford to wait for another wave, especially considering that the monsters from the next wave will be of Tier 2. By evolving now, at least the three of us would be at tier 2 together."

Hearing the response, Alaric raised a question, "Why me and not Azarex, my lord?"

"Because, if you were to consume the same amount of time as Vexar did, we would still have Azarex and his undead at our disposal. In addition, as you mentioned earlier, there’s a possibility you might gain the ability to transport living beings into the shadow with you, so after your evolution, Azarex could evolve in the calmness of the shadows " Dhruv explained to Alaric.

"How wise of you, my lord," Alaric replied with a tone of respect.

"Now, let’s not waste any more time. Begin your evolution immediately," Dhruv instructed, prompting Alaric to swiftly initiate the evolution process.

"Y-yes..." Alaric responded, acknowledging the directive.

With those instructions in mind, Alaric swiftly accessed the panel intended for the evolution process and promptly selected the "Yes" button.

As soon as Alaric pressed the "Yes" button, an egg-like cocoon enveloped him from the outside, much like the process Vexar had undergone. However, there was a noticeable distinction— the color of this egg was a mixture of half white and half black.

***

In the realm cloaked in eternal shadow, the very fabric of existence is formed from its inky embrace. The landscape itself, an expanse of fluctuating vagueness, is composed of this eternal twilight. Trees, with their twisting forms, stand as spectral monuments, their very essence woven from shadowstuff.

The sun even radiates a dark glow. In this mysterious realm, light and darkness blend, creating a space where shadows give birth to beauty, and the deep dance of shadows creates a realm that is both eerie and magnificent.

Within this realm, a figure formed entirely from shadow materialized. The being cast a curious gaze around its environment before swiftly diverting its attention to its assigned task, in contrast to a certain someone who seemed to have gotten distracted.

The being that had materialized within this realm was none other than Alaric. Assured of the absence of danger in his surroundings, he promptly accessed the evolution option and opened it.

[ You have reached the maximum core limit of your species.

These are the available species you can evolve into:

Adult Shadowspawn (common)

Shadow guardian (Uncommom)

Shadow assassin (Uncommon)

Umbral mage (Uncommon)

Umbral Sentinel (Rare)]

Without any time wasted, he quickly opened the description of these species...

[Adult Shadowspawn: With this evolution, you would step into the adult form of your species. You are now an adult shadow with better control over its domain.

The skills , and are given along with a bonus of 10 in agility.]

"So, this is the next evolution of my species and the path I would have to choose if there weren’t any other options," Alaric contemplated. Unimpressed by the first option, he proceeded to open the description of the second option to evaluate it further.

[Shadow Guardian: A distinct path among the shadowspawn. This evolution would transform you into the guardian of a chosen being. You’ll safeguard your chosen one from within the shadows, remaining undetectable. The [Shadowguard Cortex] organ will be granted with this evolution.]

The skills , and are given along with a bonus of 15 in stamina.

"Better than the first one, but what exactly is a Shadowguard Cortex?" With question in his mind, Alaric clicked on the [Shadowguard Cortex] to view its description.

[Shadowguard cortex: The Shadowguard Cortex, positioned within your brain, would serve as the control center for your defensive abilities. It would allow you to swiftly analyze incoming threats and react by conjuring defensive shadows or activating protective spells. This organ would enhance your reflexes and decision-making when under attack.]

"Ohhh! A truly useful organ for defense, but unfortunately, there’s no enhancement to my offensive capabilities," Alaric thought with a tinge of disappointment as he read through the descriptions of the next two evolutions.

The other options for evolution seemed promising as well, but Alaric didn’t want to waste time contemplating them when there is an option labeled as "Rare."

"This one should be the best choice considering its rank," he thought with a sense of excitement, and he proceeded to open the description of the rare evolution. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

[Umbral Sentinel: Evolving beyond their Lesser Shadowspawn origins, the Umbral Sentinel emerges as a relentless guardian of twilight realms. Proficient in shadow manipulation and shield magic, they craft a formidable identity.

Their shadow-clad presence conceals them effortlessly, while their newfound ability to manifest armor from shadowstuff enhances their resilience. The organ [ Umbrastone Core] would be provided with this evolution.

The skills , , , and , are given along with a bonus of 30 in agility and magic power.]

With a smile on his face, he quickly opened the description of the Umbrastone Core.

[Umbrastone Core: The Umbrastone Core, nestled within the Umbral Sentinel, harmonizes with their shadow-based abilities. It grants them controlled bursts of power, enhancing their tanking and magical prowess.]

’Truly a nice upgrade.’ Alaric mused as he clicked on the confirm menu of the evolution.

The moment he clicked on the confirm button, an unprecedented occurrence began to happen in the realm of the shadow. The shadow, which was still a moment ago, began to slither in the direction of Alaric. Looking at the phenomenon, Alaric panics, but after thinking for a bit, he allows the shadows to meld with his body.