And then the metamorphosis comes.
The change for this power is much less noticeable than powers like Force Blast or Genesis Legion.
There isn't any physical sign at all. But Blaze can feel something change inside him, specifically a part of his left brain.
It feels like there is something moving inside. But it isn't discomfort or hurting at all.
In contrast, it feels good and fulfilling in a way, like someone is massaging the inside of your brain gently, releasing its strain and cramps.
And then it comes back to normal again. Like nothing ever happened. But Blaze can feel that he has changed, minimally inside.
[STATUS]
[Name: Blaze Singer]
[Age: 16]
[Attributes]
Strength - 11
Stamina - 10
Agility - 11
Dexterity - 8
Perception - 10
Endurance - 12
[Power]
Force Blast (B-rank): 0/5000 EXP - Sub Power: Force Shocker.
Genesis Legion (S-rank): 0/100000 EXP - Sub Power: Genesis Absorption; Psyche Split; Legion of One; Genesis Soul.
Beast's Tongue (E-rank): 0/200 EXP
[Equipment: Grappling Hook (C); Tattered Cloak (U); Lantern of the Damned (UR); Destruction Wand (R); Sun Bird (R); Moonlight Karambit (UR); Tattered Mask (UR)]
[Experience points: 420]
Blaze takes a look at his Status window. The current experience amount is not enough to do much.
Force Blast requires another 5000 EXP to upgrade. Genesis Legion needs a whopping amount of 100000 EXP, any idea of upgrading it is thrown out the window.
Beast's Tongue can be upgraded with only 200 EXP. However, Blaze isn't sure if it is a good idea to put experience points into it.
"Before wasting my precious experience. Let's check out the new functions of the System first."
The short trip to the Void has unlocked two more windows in the System. The BEAST window and the STORE window.
The Beast window is an icon of a simplified wolf head, while the Store has an icon of a small wooden shop.
Blaze clicks on the Store first.
[STORE]
[Consumables]
- Matchstick: 10 EXP
- Blood Potion: 200 EXP
- Mind Potion: 200 EXP
[Equipment]
- Grappling Hook (Common): 500 EXP
In the Store, there are only two tabs. One for consumables and one for equipment. And it has only four total items for sale.
Blaze already has the Matchstick and the Grappling Hook, so he knows what they're about. But the Blood Potion and Mind Potion are new.
He clicks on them.
[Blood Potion]
- Type: Consumables
- Item rank: Uncommon
- Description: Blood-red liquid synthesized by an unknown alchemist to heal wounds.
[Mind Potion]
- Type: Consumables
- Item rank: Uncommon
- Description: Blue liquid synthesized by an unknown alchemist to heal the mind.
Blaze feels a little bit tired from all the fighting throughout the night. His body is good because it was enhanced recently by the Genesis Legion, but his mind is really on the brink of falling.
He wastes 200 experience points to buy the Mind Potion. A small, palm-sized glass vial materializes into Blaze's hand.
Inside is a deep blue and slightly thick liquid.
Blaze pulls out the cork on top of the glass vial. A puff of light blue smoke spread out from the mouth and quickly disappeared.
The liquid has a slight sea salt smell to it.
Blaze takes a small sip. All the strains in his brain relax, he feels much clearer and soberer. It's as if he is cured of a hangover.
Thanks to Genesis Legion, his body remains strong, but his mind still needs its rest.
The Mind Potion helps with the mind, but Blaze can feel it's only a temporary substitute, his mentality still needs its proper sleep.
That will be enough for now.
Then he put the Mind Potion in the Inventory. Its use is magical and will come in handy later.
[BEAST]
[Beast Storage: 1/4]
- Unknown Wolf Egg: Estimated time until hatch 357:03
Beast Rank: Unknown (F to S)
[Unhatched egg can absorb pure energy to modify the beast's attributes and hatching time]
[Suitable energy detected: Snake's Core, Half Wolf's Core, Dinosaur's Core]
[Fusing unknown energy to an unhatched egg can have a positive and negative impact on the Beast]
The Beast window is much simpler than the Store with only one active tab. Along with it are some explanations of the hatching process.
Blaze immediately takes out the three Cores. New windows pop up.
[Snake's Core]
- Affinity to Unknown Wolf Egg: 23.76%
- Chance to increase Beast Rank: 0.5%
- Chance to awaken Beast Power: 1.2%
[Half Wolf's Core]
- Affinity to Unknown Wolf Egg: 77.10%
- Chance to increase Beast Rank: 89.33%
- Chance to awaken Beast Power: 97.45%
[Dinosaur's Core]
- Affinity to Unknown Wolf Egg: 52.00%
- Chance to increase Beast Rank: 45.83%
- Chance to awaken Beast Power: 21.42%
Of all the three Cores, the Half Wolf's Core is the most suitable to the egg. It only seems logical since the egg has the Wolf Cub soul inside.
"You're a picky one, aren't you?" Blaze says. "Don't worry now, since you are now mine, I'll treat you properly.
But before that..."
Blaze holds the Half Wolf's Core in his hand, purple energy pours out of his flesh and envelops the Core.
[New Genesis Clone is unlocked!]
- Werewolf Berserker: Genetic traces received from Half Wolf's Core.
The clone can use the Berserk State (C-rank)
The clone skin has a hardened protective layer on it.
The clone's stamina is greater than that of the user (+2).
Price: 2 years lifespan or 1000 EXP
Blaze shakes his head due to the expense of the Clone. 1000 EXP is way too much for him at the moment.
He then absorbs the DNA from the Dinosaur's Core.
[New Genesis Clone is unlocked!]
- Winged Dinosaur: Genetic traces received from Dinosaur's Core.
The clone can use Steel Modification (D-rank)
The clone has wings and the ability to fly.
The clone has no natural defensive properties.
Price: 5 months lifespan or 250 EXP
"What is this power?"
Blaze has never seen the Flying Saurus use Steel Modification before. He has no idea that it has this power.
But then again, he finished it quite fast, and the Flying Saurus may not have the chance to use its power.
The Half Wolf's Core and Dinosaur's Core are visibly one size smaller. The affinity of them to the egg is also lowered down.
[Half Wolf's Core]
- Affinity to Unknown Wolf Egg: 72.50%
- Chance to increase Beast Rank: 81%
- Chance to awaken Beast Power: 90.09%
[Dinosaur's Core]
- Affinity to Unknown Wolf Egg: 45.21%
- Chance to increase Beast Rank: 38.67%
- Chance to awaken Beast Power: 15.72%
"I should leave the Snake's Core and Dinosaur's Core for the Pocket Center later. The egg can have the Half Wolf's Core."
Blaze takes the Half Wolf 's Core and shoves it into the Beast window.
[Unknown Wolf Egg is absorbing the energy from Half's Wolf Core...]
[Congratulations, the guaranteed rank of your Beast has increased!]
[Congratulations, you Beast has awakened a guaranteed Power!]
[Hatching time has decreased!]
[Beast Storage: 1/4]
- Unknown Wolf Egg: Estimated time until hatch 249:23
Beast Rank: D or higher
Beast Power: Direwolf's Bloodlust (D-rank)
The Half Wolf's Core completely disappears. Its energy fills up the hatching bar under the egg icon.
"Almost 100 hours down. If I keep going like this, it can absorb around 3 more Cores before hatching instantly..."
But Blaze has no intention of keep on feeding it. The System has informed us that absorbing pure energy can lead to both good and bad results. Blaze does not want to risk it.
After that, Blaze takes all the useless materials out of the Inventory and stores them in his room. He will tell Kana to look after them later.
Blaze likes to keep the Inventory spacious in case he has some more things to stuff in.
[INVENTORY]
1. [Tattered Mask]
2. [Tattered Cloak]
3. [Destruction Wand]
4. [Sun Bird]
5. [x27 Matchsticks]
6. [Mind Potion: 2/3 full]
7. [Empty]
8. [Empty]
9. [Empty]
[Equipped or Bound Equipment]
1. Lantern of the Damned (Bound)
2. Grappling Hook (Equipped)
3. Moonlight Karambit (Bound)
Bound equipment is directly tied to Blaze and does not need to be put inside the Inventory. The Lantern is bound to his soul, while the Karambit is bound into a symbol on the back of his hand.
They can be called forth at any time. While the Grappling Hook is always staying on his wrist, there's no need to put it in Inventory.
Now, Blaze has 220 experience points left. He can make some clones to aid him in his path or buy some potions.
Or he can upgrade the Beast's Tongue.
Blaze decides to upgrade the E-rank power as he thinks it can be useful later on.
"Upgrade Beast's Tongue."