Chapter 296: Skilless
’I still get options solely based on physical prowess even though I always reject them... well then again I continue to use a spear and hand-to-hand combat during the fight,’ Dhruv thought as he looked at the name of the second option.
With some expectation, he clicked on it.
...
[Warrior Ascendant: On the verge of ascendance, the Warrior Ascendant focuses solely on physical prowess and combat skills. The Warrior Ascendant masters weaponry and battlefield tactics to excel in pure martial combat.
Taking this evolution will grant you enhanced strength and agility, innate knowledge of superior spear techniques, advanced combat tactics, and masterful weapon proficiency.
+70 in Strength, +40 in Stamina, and +30 in Agility along with the organ [Enhanced Muscle Fibers] will be provided as a reward for taking this evolution.]
’Well... it’s not bad,’ Dhruv thought, evaluating the options.
He didn’t want to discriminate against the options just because it was from a warrior category, but being honest, he couldn’t help but not feel any appeal from the option.
It wasn’t that the option wasn’t good; it was just that it was lacking in rewards. There were no skills given, and instead, it was mentioned that one would have the knowledge of things.
Dhruv wasn’t sure if that knowledge was really a reward, like giving him knowledge directly to his mind, or something like he could eventually achieve level with this evolution.
If it was the former then it would be great... but if the latter were to be true he will be pissed. What hit the last nail was the organ:
[Enhanced Muscle Fibers - Muscles reinforced with a denser structure, providing significant strength and endurance, boosting physical combat capabilities and resilience.]
The organ wasn’t something great either. Dhruv was sure that he could get something better himself after making his fibers mutable and reach it to tier II.
’Sigh! All in all, this is okayish... Not great, but not bad either,’ Dhruv thought as he moved to the next option.
...
[Starlit Steel Vanguard: Specializing in advanced metal magic, the Starlit Steel Vanguard channels metal energy to fortify its body and surroundings, creating impenetrable defenses and delivering powerful strikes. Even as a mage, the Starlit Steel Vanguard will be at the forefront of the battle.
The bearer of this evolution will have knowledge of advanced metal manipulation and understand the weak points in defenses. They also have increased durability and strength compared to other mage classes.
+80 in Magical Power, +30 in Stamina, and +25 in Strength along with the organ [Steel Heart] will be provided as a reward for taking this evolution.]
...
Dhruv was quite pleased with reading the description of the option, but as he read further, a frown appeared on his face.
’Huh! Even this option doesn’t grant any skills...’ he thought, looking at the option.
He was about to read further when something clicked inside his mind. Trying to make sure what he was thinking was right, he closed the description and began opening the description of every other option.
The frown deepened as the worst came true.
’S-Shitt? No other option provides skill as well. All of them have the same thing about knowledge,’ Dhruv thought as gears within his mind began to run, trying to come up with an answer.
’Why is that... Is it that one can’t directly get skills from tier IV?’ This was the only answer he could come up with.
As he thought, the dots began to connect.
’Huh! This must be the case. There is no repetition of evolution options I’ve gotten in tier III evolution. And the progenitor had appeared only because it also didn’t provide any skills.’
’It makes sense. But why can’t one get any skills during tier IV evolution?’Although he thought this, Dhruv wasn’t sure if only he could not get the skills or if others would face the same treatment.
Knowing that he would confirm everything when the guardians evolved, Dhruv didn’t think for long and clicked on the second option.
Reading the description once again, he came up with an evaluation.
’Well, if I take into consideration that no other option will provide skills as well... then this option isn’t bad either. It is only slightly better than the warrior one, though,’ Dhruv thought.
Dhruv was about to move on to the next option but stopped as the organ that was given as the reward seemed pretty good.
[Steel Heart - The Steel Heart pumps fortified blood infused with metal mana, increasing metal mana efficiency and physical strength, which provides a natural metallic armored skin layer, boosting defense and endurance.]
’Now this is what I call a great reward. Not only will this organ boost my power as a magician, but it will also help me with defense and endurance. Isn’t that like hitting two birds with one stone?’ Dhruv couldn’t help but smile.
As he understood the function of the organ, a question suddenly popped up in his head,
’Ahhhh! How could I forget I already have a heart mutation? So what will happen if I select this option? Will my heart mutation be replaced, or will the quality of both be assimilated into one?’
As much as Dhruv wanted the latter to be true, he had a feeling that the former would be the case. After all, if that weren’t the case, then monsters could continue to rack up powerful mutations one after another before tiering them up.
Nodding his head, Dhruv seemed satisfied with the option. He wasn’t just satisfied with this one; after knowing that no other option provided skills, the value of Warrior Ascendant seemed to increase a bit as well.
Although both of these were great, he was expecting even more from the next ones... after all, they were the Epic ones.
...
[Flame Enchanter (Epic): A master of fire magic, the Flame Enchanter uses their affinity to empower their spells and weapons with intense heat and destructive flames. The Flame Enchanter is known for leaving nothing but ashes in their path.
Flame Enchanters have incredible control over fire manipulation. They know flame-enhanced techniques and advanced pyromancy while also having great fire resistance.
+110 in Magic Power, +45 in Stamina, and +35 in Agility along with the organ [Ignition Core] and [Lave Lungs] will be provided as a reward for taking this evolution. the evolutionary energy needed to buy fire related organ will be halved.]
