∼ Path of Growth ∼

Chapter - 038

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]."

"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? As if it's - 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 had 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 basic choices 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. You will at least see three evolutions determining the paths that you already walk - which would be of imps and similar creatures. As for the two other, that is where it becomes interesting. A fourth option would usually be branching off your current path due to unique circumstances. And lastly, a fifth 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 five choices. four 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.

[Evolution will forcibly take place within one day]

[Evolve now?]

[Yes/No]

∼[Yes]∼

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

[Suitable comprehension acquired]

[Relinquishing manual selection...]

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 five naturally-formed pedestals, as if from cliffs, grasslands, or any other form of terrain, upon which each stood a figure. Of the five, two were shadowed, shrouded from view. It was the foremost of the five that first caught Nyx's attention.

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.

Behind the imp, slightly to its right, was a smaller, black imp. Still larger than Nyx's impling self, but not at large as the red one. Yet, this black one gave off an eerie presence that told of danger more menacing than the normal imp. It was almost as if Nyx even had a hard time focusing on the black demon, like it was blending in with the surroundings despite it being in clear sight.

Third, and even more different, was a thick-limbed imp that looked to be more part rock than flesh. It was like it had platings of grey and blackened rock on certain parts of its body, its skin a grey and rough texture. It wasn't taller than the spindly imp, but quite a bit broader, with a pair of large rocky horns.

All of the demons were quite curious, but before Nyx really had time to inspect the three, one of the shadowed figures suddenly started to become unshrouded, the demon second to last unveiling.

Slightly larger than the red imp, this one was quite odd. Disportionatelly large arms that extended into huge clawed hands, that even when curled into fists, touched the ground. With a muscular frame, leading to a face with a pair of protruding tusks, the demon was a brutish sight of strength.

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