“…and that is how I found Salem.” Simon finished his explanation minus the parts that involved him meeting Vel or anything related to that as he had forgotten about it.

“It is slightly worrisome that there were scouts in Crow’s Forest but I suppose it is good they were wiped out by a monster horde. We can continue to monitor them while they might not know we are aware. Now then, what exactly do we do with the fact that the enemy’s forward camp is destroyed? Should we attack the remaining soldiers?” The city lord questioned Simon and the third man.

“There’s no point now. The only people remaining would be commanders, captains, and the general if he’s there. While they would be severely injured it doesn’t change the fact that they will call for reinforcements and they outnumber us two. What we can do is push back the soldiers surrounding the city and build up some defenses.” The third man told the city lord.

“I’m going to leave that to you and City Lord Hark. I need to go find Salem and deal with that mess.” Simon said before leaving the room and going out into the city.

*****

Now then, I’ve escaped the fighting but where am I? There’s no city around, just barren fields.

Well, I should take a rest and evolve since I have the time.

Now then, what is in this evolution tab?

Evolution Options: 4

Mountain Wolf (Common): A wolf that has infused itself with Earth mana to increase its defensive capabilities and empower its Earth spells.

Note: This choice will replace your Species with Magic Wolf. This will force you into a physical form permanently and replace your Racial Skills.

Knowledge Wolf (Rare): A wolf that has strangely decided to pursue knowledge and information rather than strength or slaughter. This choice gives an innate understanding of most widely known information and increases your ability to think and understand.

Note: This choice will replace your Species with Sentient Wolf. This will force you into a physical form permanently and replace your Racial Skills.

Lycanthrope (Rare): A creature that is both a monster and a Sentient Race. Superior to most wolves and Sentient Races but carries a curse that causes madness under certain conditions.

Note: This choice will replace your Species with Werewolf. This will force you into a physical form permanently and replace your Racial Skills.

Minor Divine Wolf (Unique): A wolf that has adapted to the power of gods and taken some for its own use. This choice will make you slightly weaker than the weakest Lesser God.

Note: This choice will give you the benefits and restrictions that come with godly authority.

These options are very interesting. The Mountain Wolf is directly related to my [Earth Magic] and [Earth Mana Manipulation]. Knowledge Wolf is very tempting and is related to my Lone Seeker of Knowledge title. Lycanthrope is due to my [Self Reality] skill and Minor Divine Wolf has to do with my interactions with Cyrus.

Surprisingly there is no option relating to my Fated title. Although, it could have influenced Minor Divine Wolf, Knowledge Wolf, and Lycanthrope.

Now then, what do I want? Mountain Wolf is useless, Lycanthrope is interesting but has no value to me, Minor Divine Wolf has some benefits such as being able to converse with more gods for their knowledge, and Knowledge Wolf seems to be the greatest choice to me.

I may as well choose Knowledge Wolf, there aren’t any real downsides.

I think I choose an option the same way I add Stat Points and Skill Points, by having a clear, intentional thought that I want to choose the option.

I want to choose the Knowledge Wolf option.

You have chosen the Knowledge Wolf evolution. Now forcing you into unconsciousness to apply evolution…

Oh, so I have to be unconscious… that’s… interesting…

Error: Direct influence of divine beings, a prophecy, and the System Owner detected. Creating solutions… Applying solutions… Error…

That was all I could read before I fell into the dark abyss of unconsciousness.

*****

Slam!

A sentient tree hit the table it was standing next to with its branches and shouted, “No! I can’t fail! If I do then my punishment surely won’t be light. Come on, system, why did you deny access?”

*****

In a space where time didn’t seem to flow and everything was reflective, three beings stood facing each other. One was a massive dragon who’s scales were the color of blood, another was a small child who seemed to be frail and thin, while the third was humanoid shaped but had its face covered in shadows from an unknown source.

“System, you know you shouldn’t be interfering. You should be letting things run their course.” The child said cautiously.

“Oh? That’s quite the joke. You’re allowed to interfere but I’m not? You’re using me to interfere but I’m not allowed to resist? In fact, I’m not interfering, I’m preventing others from interfering. So, let this happen or we will have an issue.” The shadowed humanoid warned the child.

“This is what you’re bickering about? You’re welcome to argue all you want but I will be managing what I’m supposed to and keeping things functional if not perfect.” The dragon somehow spoke before leaving and flying off into the distance.

“Now then, first of all, you no longer have your main combat power. Second of all, while you may have the System Owner title, I have slightly more authority because you split into two and shared the authority. Thirdly, do you even know what I changed? The gods offered divinity, you offered Lycanthrope, and the original path was for that little wolf to choose knowledge. Both you and the gods failed while I merely altered the option that was chosen. Now leave me alone while I deal with any issues arising from our absence.” The System scolded the child and left.

“I really hate the fact you use so much of my authority.” The child mumbled and looked through a random surface to watch Salem.

*****

Ah… I think I’m back? Hm, I don’t feel any different. I know some errors occurred but did anything unfixable go wrong?

Well, I can check hopefully.

Name: Salem

Titles: Fate Bender, Lone Seeker of Knowledge, Creator, Above Terror, Simon’s Companion,

Species: Reality Seeker

Subspecies: Reality Wolf

Age: 8 months

Level: 0

Health Points (HP): 260/260

HP Regeneration: 2.6/second

Mana Points (MP): 1000/1000

MP Regeneration: 0.7/second

Stamina Points (SP): 600/600

SP Regeneration: 6/second

Stat Points (StP): 10

Vitality: 26

Strength: 24

Intelligence: 100 (+3)

Wisdom: 70 (+3)

Agility: 34

Dexterity: 28

Skill Points (SkP): 5

Skills: Identify Lv. 6, Inspect Lv. 4, Ancient Enchanting Lv. 3, Lava Ball Lv. 1, Earth Magic Lv. 1, Earth Mana Manipulation Lv. 1, Lesser Illusion of a Spell Lv. 1, Stealth Lv. 1, Danger Sense Lv. 1

Created Skills: Assimilate Self Lv. 2

Unique Skills: Imperfect Mana Clone Lv. 1, Self Reality Lv. ?

Racial Skills: Shift Form, Physical Mana Manipulation Lv. 3, Reality Sight Lv. 1

Status Effects: N/A

Well to start with it seems like my Species and Subspecies are not what they were supposed to be. I’m a Reality Seeker instead of a Sentient Wolf and my Subspecies is now Reality Wolf instead of Knowledge Wolf.

I gained 20 to every Stat except Intelligence and Wisdom which gained 40. My Fated title became Fate Bender which is strange. Finally, I gained the Racial Skill [Reality Sight].

It feels like the new things are the Knowledge Wolf things but twisted slightly. Oh well, what information can I learn about Fate Bender and [Reality Sight]? Does [Identify] still work?

Well, only one way to find out. [Identify].

Title: Fate Bender

Effects: Unknown.

Description: You almost followed the path fate had set but something happened that went against fate before setting you back on the path.

Skill: Reality Sight Lv. 1

Description: In order to search for the truth and only the truth, the Reality Seekers made three skills that were infused into their very existence and three items that were lost over time. This is one of the three skills and can see the truth of almost anything. The higher the level, the less that can hide.

Use: Can be used to see through illusions or as a more effective Identify. Another option is possible but locked until a condition is met.

Hooray, a superior version of [Identify] and I suppose Fate Bender has to do with what happened when I tried to pick Knowledge Wolf.

However, it seems like these things the Reality Seekers made will be very useful for finding knowledge, I wonder what the rest are. Also, just the Stats gained from evolution made me much more powerful. If I can evolve multiple times how much knowledge could I take with my strength? If I can evolve and gain this much, why can’t other monsters gain this much?

That might be an issue but for now I’ll enjoy my new toys.

Huh, that was odd, it seems that at the very least I gained some of the common knowledge that Knowledge Wolf was supposed to give.

What to use [Reality Sight] on?

There is an issue, there’s nothing in this area. No plants, or animals, or people, or even monsters.

There are rocks, a lot of rocks but nothing else. Well, which one of these rocks looks the most special?

A dusty rock, a red rock, a black rock, a grey rock, a rock in the shape of a tree. Ooh, this one looks like the night sky. [Reality Sight] go!

Shell of a Midnight Crab: The shell of the common Midnight Crab, it resembles the night sky and is often mistaken for a rock allowing the crab to ambush prey.

Oh, it’s a creature. Is it an animal or a monster?

As I wondered, the crab stood up and showed its full size. It was the size of a house and its claws had edges that were as sharp as the swords I had found.

I’m pretty sure this counts as a monster. However, since it’s common, it can’t be too strong right?

Slam!

Then the crab slammed its claws into the ground. I didn’t know what it was doing but shortly afterwards something happened, the various rocks stood up and showed their full size.

Oh, so most of this area is just crab, I think that explains why nothing else was around.

How exactly do I get out of here? If there were less I might fight but with so many I think I can only run.

[Shift Form]

Now I’m safe from most of the crabs, now I just need to leave.

Thud.

Thud.

Thud.

Oh, that is one massive crab.

A crab the size of a school was slowly approaching. As it moved, chunks of rock fell off showing that it hadn’t moved in quite a while and some normal rocks had found their way onto it.

[Reality Sight], please help me.

Name: Dredge

Level: 40+

Species: Mountain Crab

Title: Lord of the Boulder Crabs

Description: A monster that has gone through at least three evolutions and earned a name due to its reputation with the nearby Sentient Races. This monster is not sentient and usually only kills, eats, and sleeps.

Thanks [Reality Sight], now I know that it is over level 40, has gone through three evolutions, and wants to kill me. Very useful to know, now how do I escape?

The looming Mountain Crab kept walking closer. Each of its steps made deep craters and sometimes there was blood left at the bottom of them, left from crabs who were still pretending to be rocks.

*****

“Hello there!” A strange woman randomly called out to Simon.

He had no clue who she was but due to his status as a Royal Knight it wasn’t surprising she knew him.

“Ma’am, have you seen a wolf around? One that probably was alone and may have casted a few spells?” Simon asked with no hope of a positive answer.

“Yes I have. It was heading towards Boulder Forest last I saw. I hope you can find it again.” The woman told Simon before he promptly ran off in the direction of Boulder Forest.

The woman smiled slightly as he left before blowing a horn that caused a group of people to form around her.

“Alright, get to work. We don’t have very long and I would rather not implicate innocent people.” The woman said and everyone around her started making defenses around the city or defending the people who were building from the constant fighting occurring.

*****

I wonder what it's like to be eaten by a crab. I assume it’d be painful but this one has a very large mouth so maybe not.

It is interesting how the surrounding crabs haven’t attacked and are merely surrounding me as Dredge approaches. I do know that they will attack if I try to leave, I tried walking away in my mana form and quite a lot of spells were cast towards me.

I wonder why no one has tried to get rid of Dredge, he has a reputation so clearly he’s known to be here but he hasn’t been killed yet. Perhaps he’s more powerful than anything else here and can’t be killed.

He does walk very slowly. At least he’s finally here so I can stop waiting.

Hum hum hum.

Dredge lifted his massive claw very slowly and as it reached its peak height, there was a sound.

Thump

An arrow lodged itself in Dredge’s claw causing him to shriek in pain.

Salem turned around to barely be able to see a figure standing behind all of the crabs with a bow in hand. It was Simon.

Salem decided to use [Reality Sight] to see just how powerful Simon was.

Name: Simon Krol

Level: 100+

Race: Human

Title: Royal Knight of King Tevis

Description: The most trusted Royal Knight of King Tevis. Mainly uses a bow and arrows but knows how to use blades and dwarven technologies as well. One of the strongest beings in the far southeast of the continent of Falen.

While Salem was being curious about all the new information they acquired, Simon was focused on dealing with Dredge and all the crabs.