Chapter 8 - 7

Once again, I was inside the void. With my sense of self-gone, I stared into that endless nothingness as two different memories flashed before my eyes. After what seemed to be an eternity, the memories of my past two lives merged. At that moment, my sense of self returned and I felt like… I was finally… free… An intense feeling of freedom welled up within me… It was as if… I was finally liberated from the constraints that have been binding me forever…

It felt surreal. And now that I have both the memories of being human and a wolf, I could say with certainty that I am an entirely new being. I am not that twisted Familia Head, nor that naïve young wolf. I am… me… A new existence that just happened to have the memories of two different lives… I am… an entirely new life…

As all that realization dawned on me, I heard a voice coming from the void.

[Awakening process complete]

[Individual (Unnamed) Fully Awakened]

[Received Title: Awakened One]

[Acquired Skills: Potential Boost, Assess, Presence of Mind]

[All conditions satisfied]

[Received Title: The RunAway]

[Acquired Skill: Swiftness, Haste]

[Individual (Unnamed) Leveled up to 9]

[Individual (Unnamed) Leveled up to 10]

[Required level reached]

[Evolution is now possible]

[Evolution Path Available: Dire Wolf]

[Processing Evolution to Dire Wolf…]

[Effect of the skill Potential Boost was invoked]

[Evolution was altered]

[Evolution Race was changed from Dire Wolf to Dire Wolf Variant]

[Starting Evolution…]

[…]

[…]

[…]

***

[Evolution Complete]

That mechanical voice woke me up from my slumber but compared to the other times I slept, this felt different. It was as if together with my consciousness, all of my other senses have also shut down. I could even feel all my senses starting to become active as my drowsiness subsides. Then when I became fully awake, I heard the mechanical voice once again.

[Congratulations. Individual (Unnamed) has now evolved from Dire Wolf Cub to Dire Wolf Variant]

'Oh yeah. Apparently, I am now fully awakened. And looks like instead of evolving into Dire Wolf, I've evolved into a Dire Wolf Variant. Maybe that awakening thing has something to do with me getting BOTH my memories back?' As I tried to remember all that happened after I fell asleep, another announcement resounds directly in my head.

'Oh sweet! Looks like that useless skill evolved along with me! I hope it isn't useless now.'

[Additionally, Inherent Skill Scratching Claws was also acquired]

'What the heck is with that weak-sounding name?! Did I just gain another useless skill?! Come on, man! I thought evolution was supposed to make me stronger!!'

[All basic traits of the individual (Unnamed) were also increased. And with the effect of Potential Boost, the increase on basic traits was doubled resulting in the alteration of the race from Dire Wolf to Dire Wolf Variant]

'Wait, did I just hear something amazing?!'

[As another effect of Potential Boost, all on hand skills before evolution have all ranked up]

'Woah!! I think I just gained an amazing skill! Hooray for awakening!! Hooray for evolution!!' As I rejoiced internally, I hastily summoned my status screen and gazed at all the new information that was displayed.

[Name: (Unnamed)]

[Race: Dire Wolf Variant]

[Status: Healthy]

[Titles: Awakened One, The RunAway]

[Skills: Rabid Fangs (Rank D), Call of The Moon (Rank C), Night Vision (Rank A), Enhance Smell (Rank A), Enhance Hearing (Rank S), Recovery (Rank A), Detect Malice (Rank B), Scratching Claws (Rank D), Potential Boost (Rank D), Assess (Rank D), Presence of Mind (Rank D), Swiftness (Rank D), Haste (Rank D)]

'Now we're talking! This is nice, I got a new bunch of skills along with two titles! Looks like by gaining a title, I would also get some skills along with it. Well, that's neat. Anyway, I need to dig deeper into this. Especially the effects of these new skills.'

And so, I began looking at the effects and details of all the newly displayed information.

[Race: Dire Wolf Variant]

[A rare rank D monster and is the First Evolutionary State of the Wolf Species. Compared to a Dire Wolf, Dire Wolf Variant has higher basic traits. And like a Dire Wolf, its level ranges from 10 to 20 which upon reaching level 20 would be able to evolve into a Great Wolf Variant.]

'So basically, I am more powerful compared to my fellow Dire Wolves peers. Not bad. Looks like being a rare monster is not just for show… Okay, now time to look at this Title thing.'

[Awakened One]

'So, this title has got nothing to do with my memories…? And what's up with that recognized by the world thing? That's too vague!'

[The RunAway]

[Only individuals who have managed to successfully escape from enemies who were more powerful than them would be able to gain this title. Upon gaining this title, the individual would acquire the skills Swiftness, and Haste.]

'Uhm… Is this title mocking me…? It's definitely mocking me, isn't it…? Okay, just to be clear. Escaping from foes that are stronger than me is not easy. If anything, I should be praised for pulling it off since, under normal circ.u.mstances, that encounter would mean certain death… And it isn't called escape, it's called TACTICAL RETREAT okay!!'

It was definitely childish, but I complained to the title to my heart's content. Well, I wouldn't be able to calm down if I didn't so… Anyway, after I calmed down, I continue reading the skill's effects next.

[Rabid Fangs (Rank D)]

[Passive]

[Racial Skill]

[Every injury done by the fangs inflicts small Mental Damage that could be stocked up and cause Madness. If Madness wasn't cleansed, it would eventually lead to death]

'Woah! I can't believe it. This skill will definitely be my main offensive skill now. It only does small Mental Damage, but if used properly it could be really deadly. Also, that active effect of enhancing my fangs is now gone probably because my fangs are now sharp and strong enough to inflict injuries. Nice!'

[Scratching Claws (Rank D)]

[Inherent Skill]

[Passive]

[Claws can inflict shallow wounds on soft objects and scratches on tough objects]

'Okay. So, it's basically the same as that trashy skill I had before but only a passive one. Got it, got it… Now time to see the effects of those three skills I acquired through the Awakened One title.'

[Potential Boost (Rank D)]

[Rare]

[Passive]

[Gain an additional bonus when reaching every 10 levels. For monsters, this skill had a chance to alter the evolutionary process which could result in the birth of a rare monster. Additionally, this skill could unlock the Special Evolution Path for monsters]

[Assess (Rank D)]

[Display the information of the target object or individual, but the displayed information can be affected by other factors. The factors being: Difference in power, magic items/artifacts, and spells]

[Presence of Mind (Rank D)]

[Passive]

[Gain a little bit of resistance against mental attacks and statuses]

'Wow! These three are all pretty useful skills! Especially that Potential Boost. Looks like I would also be able to access that Special Evolution Path or something. Presence of Mind is also a handy skill to have since I can fight on even grounds against an enemy that uses mental attacks or inflicts mental status. And that Assess, I'm pretty sure that is somehow the same as the Status Screen, the only difference is that I can use it to others other than myself. But I wonder why Assess and Presence of Mind are not considered a Rare Skill? Maybe because there are other ways to acquire them besides gaining the Awakened One title…? Still, all of it was good stuff so let's not worry about that for now.'

Honestly, I was so excited to try that Assess skill, but I resist that urge and continue to check my other skills. The last two skills are both from that loathsome title… 'Sigh, just please be useful as an atonement for mocking me…'

[Swiftness (Rank D)]

[Passive]

[Increase all basic traits related to agility]

[Haste (Rank D)]

[Slightly increase the movement speed at a constant rate as long as the skill is active]

'So basically, it was all about speed. Well, not bad. The only complaint I have is that it looks like these skills were both pretty common given that not one of these was rare. I bet anyone who acquired these skills through the title RunAway was mocked as cowards. Seriously, I think it wasn't worth it.'

After looking through all my skills, I thought back to my dream. Well, maybe it was more accurate to say my memories. 'So, that was how I ended up here huh? It really doesn't make it clear why I suddenly remembered my past life as a human, but maybe I hit my head during the fall and that caused my memory to resurface…? It's not too far-fetched, but I couldn't be so sure… There's also that thing with my little sister that was taken by those three humans…'

From what I could remember, those three have no intention to harm us. The only problem was… 'I wonder what is up with that armored human? I am certain that I haven't felt any malicious intent coming from him that time, but why did I feel so repulsed by that aura? It was as if my entire being was rejecting his existence.'

While I was falling deeper and deeper in my sea of thoughts, I was suddenly brought back up to reality when my Detect Malice informed me of multiple hostile presences. After waking up from my daze, I stood up and looked towards where those presences were coming from. And in there, I saw five Giant Frogs near the carcass of the Giant Frog I killed before. Clearly, those five noticed the dead body of their kin because they were all looking around cautiously.

'Well, I'm really itching to test out my newfound strength and skills, so I guess this would be a good practice. Besides, I'm really hungry, and frogs would be a really good breakfast.' With that thought in mind, I charged at the nearest frog.