Tales of the Implock - Chapter 038

∼ Evolution ∼

Getting to her feet, Aria walked over. "What did you choose? That looked like an active skill."

"I chose brawler, and that was [Jab]. I actually got three whole class skills from just that. [Jab], [Cross], and [Hook]."

"Yes, three class skills from the start is quite good for a common class. You should also have gotten the trait [Fighting Spirit], correct?"

"How did you know that?" A surprised Eric asked.

"Brawler is a quite common class, though it's not something many people can achieve since it requires a very specific person of a certain skill set with a personality of very specific mindset. And remember, I am an archivist. It was my job to know many things." Aria smiled sheepishly.

"Do you then know about its strengths and weaknesses?" Eric asked after a short deliberation.

"Hm - let us see," Aria muttered, looking quite focused. "From what I recall, it is a very strong class early on against enlightened opponents, but very poor against monstrous enemies, for obvious reasons. But its potential despite being a common class is vast if you can get past the first advancement. For example, The Dog of Lider. In spite of his unflattering title, he is someone who has reached the third advancement from his initial brawler class."

"Third advancement? Then that would mean he's a 3rd-class warrior, level 50 at the very least.." Eric mused, becoming even more disbelieving as he spoke each word.

Aria nodded. "Indeed he was and still is one of the few 3rd-class holders in all of Argon. He became famous for fighting alongside the Iron Wolf during the Elven Invasions, battling right on the frontlines." Aria paused, a bit of wonder entering her voice as she became enamored with the telling of tales as she usually did. "It is even said that he was one of the pivotal few who stood tall at Fort Mauler as the invasion's last push, where the Monarch, The Blade of Light, cut the Elven Autarch from the sky with his last breath and repelled the invaders."

Realizing she was going off on a tangent, she coughed awkwardly. "Never mind, that is a story for some other time."

Eric looked at his fist that bled faintly, a small smile touching on his lips. To both Aria and Nyx's eyes, if it was even possible, Eric stood almost taller at that moment than he already was.

He took in a deep breath, his face one of elation. "Is it supposed to be like this? I feel so... different. The world looks also hm- how do I put it? Is just - more?"

Aria just nodded with a broad smile this time. "This is very normal. Your state of being has advanced after all. Your perception of the world has fundamentally changed, and your mind and body are fully bound to your new class."

As a particular grumble caught Aria and Eric's attention, they finally noticed the irritated impling who was stomping its feet impatiently, glaring daggers at them. Aria's eyes started gleaming unnervingly.

The next moment, Nyx was seated before her like Eric had, her gaze this time almost fanatical in its curiosity and excitement. Almost as if she was more interested in Nyx evolution than Nyx himself. So far, she has been explaining how evolutions worked, and the importance of his choice.

"From what little knowledge has been gathered around monster evolutions as intelligent monsters like that of imps are not of common commodity, you should face three choices at most for being a minor demon - or rather, an untiered monster. The process is very much like what the enlightened go through when picking their first class, though it all changes after that. One determining the path that you already walk - which would be of imps. A second option branching off the path due to unique circumstances. And a third option, only available to the ones with the most extraordinary of circumstances."

She paused to ponder as her gaze of curiosity and excitement was turned back to Nyx.

"With you breaking so many age-old rules, being in the possession of both the evolutionary system and classy system, your dual mana pools, and your abnormal attributes - you may even be presented with all three choices. Two choices at the very least." She was so excited that Nyx even gulped in nervousness, her passionate enthusiasm worrying to the small demon.

Oblivious as to the demon's unease, Aria continued.

"So Nyx, please make sure you think long and hard about the choices you are presented with. It was more important than you can ever realize. Your decision will never be reversible and what you will become will shape you for the future."

She stopped, clearly waiting for his affirmation.

"Nyx... promises," The demon said slowly, the word "promises" feeling strange and unaccustomed to his mouth.

"Then - it is okay Nyx, you can go ahead. For monsters, there is no need for ceremony. But we will protect you while you change."

With his own excitement taking over, he did not hesitate to pull up that prompt that still awaited him in the corner of his mind.

Nyx's consciousness, much like Eric's - faded into the nothingness.

As Nyx came to, the first thing that greeted him were these screens. But as they faded, he was met with a vast, and endless expanse of gray. It was hard to really comprehend the space he was within, but he felt abnormally calm. Neither worry nor panic struck him. It was almost as if his mind simply accepted the reality of where he was.

But it wasn't just an endless grey expanse. Before him were three pedestals, upon which stood three shadowy figures. Suddenly, the middle figure started becoming unveiled by whatever darkness shrouded its appearance, and what stood before Nyx was a very familiar figure.

Frail of frame, with a spindly tail with a tuft of hair at its end, wretched clawed fingers, long pointed ears, a face of impishness, and a nice coat of red. It was an imp, in all its ugly and mischievous glory.

Compared to Nyx, who as an impling was little larger than a house cat, the imp stood three times as large. He remembered this form clearly. It was very similar to the imp that had served the damnable warlock. This imp that stood before him, however, was ever so slightly different. Nyx knew instinctively, this was him as an imp if he were to choose this evolution.

But before Nyx could ever even ponder on what exactly was going on, a second figure was becoming unshrouded, the figure to the left.

Smaller than the imp, but more strong of frame, this creature looked quite different though it still shared many similarities with the imp. Black of skin, with claws that were as much as wicked as they were sharp, it was much more ominous. It looked like death.

Never had the impling seen one like it, and once again, before it could really take the time to think. The third figure was revealed.

Tall, for an imp. Rigid and firm of stature. Embodying pure pride. What stood before Nyx, unlike any demon it had seen before.