Chapter 55: -What Do You Think?-

[Kill-Reward: 100 Exp]

[You have gained Skill Exp]

[You have received a bonus of 250 Exp]

[Level Up!]

[You are now Level 8]

[Hit Point Maximum increased to 80]

[Mana Point Maximum increased to 90]

[You have received 6 Stat Points]

[You now have 12 unallocated Stat Points]

[Vyker-Killer Bonus: +1 Strength] Sёarᴄh the ηovelFire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

[Strength: 20 ———> 21]

—————

[Name: Henry Morgan]

[Level: 8 (332/1800 Exp)]

[Race: Human]

[Class: Gunslinger]

[Title: Death's Bane, Gangbanger, Vyker-Killer]

[Hit Points: 20/80]

[Mana Points: 25/90]

[Strength: 21]

[Agility: 15]

[Stamina: 12]

[Perception: 10]

[Skills:

{Marksmanship Lv. 3 <Active Sub Skill: Quick Thinking> <Active Sub Skill: Reload>} {Taming Lv. 1 <Active Sub Skill: Bonding>} {Insight Lv.1}]

[You have 12 unallocated Stat Points]

—————

Henry frowned. Thanks to the notifications —and his Status screen that had appeared without him calling for it—, he was reminded he had had 6 Stat points he should have allocated before getting locked into a battle with a Vyker. He could have even allocated the stat points during the battle.

The only thing that brought him solace and allowed him to not beat himself up too much at such an oversight was the fact that, no matter how he allocated the points, the Shadow would still have been better. He would still have fallen short and his victory would likely still have only been possible with Nyx's help.

'I want— No, I NEED to get stronger. I was too outclassed today,' Henry thought as he raised a hand and touched the wound on his chest. The healing potion had given him Hit points but his wounds were still open.

With a gentle nudge at Nyx's side, Henry galloped to the Shadow Vyker's headless body and got down with his eyes finding the sword Elminster's brand had burned for.

[Evolutionary Quest: Nyx has been updated]

[Ingredient for the Evolutionary Path has been detected…

It only has a minute of viability left. Will you use it?]

[Yes // No]

'Why not?' Henry thought and clicked the 'Yes' tab.

The thought of carving out the heart of his Victim, while not something he made a habit of doing, did not turn Henry squeamish. That said, he was glad that it wasn't needed. He wasn't sure how the rest of the gang would take it.

Even if he wanted to drag the Shadow Vyker's body away to do it in secret, it would still have been weird.

A dull light glowed in the Shadow Vyker's chest and when it dimmed, Henry knew its heart was gone.

[Shadow Heart has been acquired]

[You may now choose…]

'Choose what?' Henry asked, confused. He had expected the process to be straightforward.

Two screens appeared in front of him with his choices;

[Evolutionary Path 1 <As Is>:

-Your tamed Horse will receive the same mutation the Vyker possessed up until its death. It will not be bound with the Vyker's creator and will not suffer a weakening of its mutated abilities.

-It will not be synchronized with the System and thus, will not be subjected to massive Level-Up requirements. I.e The Exp requirements will more or less follow the previous Exp count progression when it was a simple horse.

Note: There will be a limit to its development. It will not be able to advance further than the Shadow Vyker ever could.]

[Evolutionary Path 2 <System Synchronization>:

-The Tamed Beast is synchronized with the System and becomes subjected to its ever-increasing Level-Up requirements. The required Exp could even end up rivaling that of its Master.

-The acquired ingredient will merely be used as a template to synthesize an Evolution Path that breaks the limit of the Vyker's mutation. Thus, allowing the Tamed Beast to improve endlessly by the side of its Master.]

Henry read the information on both screens and his eyes began to move between the two as though contemplating his choice but really, was it even up for thought?

One path promised 'quick' results all leading to an eventual dead end while the other promised 'endless' improvement so of course the choice was obvious.

He clicked on the second screen.

[Are you sure you wish to select Evolutionary Path 2 <System Synchronization>?]

'I'm sure.'

[Commencing Evolution…]

A spot behind Nyx's elbow, —where her heart was— glowed and shone brighter than the glow that had appeared at the Shadow Vyker's chest when the body lost its heart.

Nyx folded her legs and lay down on the ground with her head low as breath blew out of her nose at a steady and calm rhythm.

[Evolution in progress…]

Henry rubbed her back and then her neck. Nyx let out a particularly jerky snort in reaction to Henry's touch but she remained as she was, and let the change happening with her Heart to continue.

"Henry?"

Henry turned his head toward the voice that called his name and saw Triss walking closer to him,

"Are you alright?" She asked and then bit her bottom lip while glancing at the sword wound on his chest.

Henry followed her glance and managed a smile,

"I've been better," he said. The wound was now just a dull ache but there was no need to let the others know that.

"You killed him," Triss said in a matter-of-fact voice.

"That makes three," Dana said from just a few feet away.

"Really?" Henry asked with a raised brow, "I wasn't counting."

Dana let out a scoff,

"Show off," she said but Henry was sure he saw admiration in her eyes before she gestured with her head at Triss,

"She killed one too."

"You did?" Henry asked.

"Yes," Triss said with a nod.

"The fiery bastard didn't think to keep that fire thing up," Dana said, laughing,

"Triss got him right in the head."

"That sounds awesome," Henry said.

The Vykers all had stats that made them a hassle to deal with. Henry had needed Nyx to take down one so it was certainly awesome that Triss had managed to kill one without that help.

Triss blushed at the compliment and then shook her head,

"I was only able to kill him because of you. He was too busy dealing with the acid from your shot to keep up his shield."

"It's still sounds awesome." Henry insisted.

Again, Triss flushed but faster than before, her face recovered and she flashed Henry a smile,

"If you say so. But your battle was far more thrilling. You and Nyx looked brave charging at a Vyker like that," she said before her eyes fell on Nyx who was breathing gently,

"Is she alright?"

"She is," Henry assured.

"Ohh, nice sword!" Dana said suddenly and she moved forward to reach toward the sword laid beside the Shadow Vyker's headless body.

Henry moved faster than her and snatched it up before she could reach it.

"Hey!" Dana said, indignant.

"Sorry," Henry said but he didn't sound sorry, "I'd like to have this."

Dana eyed him for a while before looking away with a scoff,

"You always want the good stuff. Fine. Can't say you didn't earn it."

She walked away after that and Henry's eyes found the others walking all about the courtyard. Observing the dead and looting what they could. He saw Angus helping Devon up. The sight of the Half-orc's bloodied face and battered body delighted Henry more than he cared to admit.

But the courtyard was quiet now. There were many bodies but the storm had passed. The battle was over.

[Quest Completed!]

[Calculating your reward based on the efficiency of your hunt…]

[You have received 500 Exp]

Henry looked at the notification with his brow raised in surprise. With how much Exp he had been getting blessed with throughout the Hunting Quest, he had not expected further rewards but it was certainly welcome.

[Evolution Complete!]

Henry looked at Nyx and saw the glow in her heart was gone. She let out whines as she rose from the ground and scratched it with her hooves while shaking her mane elegantly.

[Nyx's Heart has been upgraded into a Magical one that will now serve as her core.]

[Creature: Horse ———> Shadow Mare]

[Breed: Valearen Racehorse ———> Valearen Night-Mare]

[Due to her evolution, Nyx is now Level 1]

[All Stats have been reset to the default of a Valearon Night-Mare]

Henry stood to his feet while looking through the notifications when he heard a voice in his head,

"-So, what do you think?-"

Henry looked around with his eyes wide in shock,

"Who said that?" He asked, ignoring Triss looking at him, confused.

The voice spoke again,

"-Where are you looking at?-" it asked, "-I'm right here.-"

Henry froze and then slowly looked at the beautiful black horse in front of him,

"Nyx?" He asked.

"-Yes?-" Nyx answered and Henry could have sworn he saw her smile which should have been impossible for a horse,

"-You haven't answered,-" Nyx said as she pranced while remaining at the same spot before gallantly shaking her mane,

"-What do you think?-"