Chapter 43: Choices

Chapter 43: Choices

The bear profile told me that the matriarch was originally a Greater Bear and then further evolved into a Greater Earthshaker Bear. I could assume that if I picked another mutation evolution, I'd get something extra appended to my race. The 'Greater' evolution seemed awful if I compared it to the options I had available for my first evolution, and if I had to summarize it, it just made her 'more bear' like adding two bears together. I wondered if that was what happened if you failed to meet any other evolution conditions.

I didn't see any poison resistance trait or skill in her profile, but she had [Enhanced Vitality 6], so either that or her race levels were the source of her resistance to my paralysis. She had [Digging LV 5] and lived in a cave, so maybe that was enough to trigger the evolution condition. Speaking of evolutions, I assumed the Badger received its evolution from its habit of eating poisonous slime. I wondered what new evolution options I'd have.

Earthshaker gave her the traits [Mana Circulation], [Earthen Carapace], and the skill [Earth Magic]. I now had two skill points, and magic sounded like a good choice with my currently stupid amount of mana.

"Bullshit... First Wind and now Earth. Do I even have an affinity?" I mumbled to myself.

I was brought back to reality when Caz approached me and patted me on the back.

"Good job." She said with a grin, "Don't know what you did. But that bear is super dead."

I nodded and looked around. A large group of goblins were carrying back the two other bear carcasses to the village while another pair were transporting the remaining cub. It also seemed like Krutz and Garz had already left. Nobody was approaching the bear's corpse, which was still leaking black blood.

"Did you get a lot of experience from that fight?" I asked.

"I got two class levels. I don't think anyone expected the matriarch to have evolved again." Caz answered, and I had to hide my frustration.

"So, what are you planning on spending your skill points on?"

"I have enough to increase [Power Shot] now."

We chatted a bit, and I even got Caz to share the skill description. It felt like the ranged equivalent of [Sever Strike], and I wasn't sure if I wanted to buy it, but at least I had another option available. I hoped it would be compatible with [Slime Shot], but I wasn't willing to risk it until I had a more stable source of skill points. I told Caz I was going to harvest the bear and I'd return later. She nodded and left with a wave.

Engulfing it in slime resulted in a quick harvest. Other than the rocky carapace that [Dissection] ranted about, the claws were the only other thing worthwhile that wasn't ruined.

I slowly walked back to the cave, giving myself some time to think. Garz had been distant since the battle with the humans, and it felt like Krutz was intentionally hiding something. He seemed almost reluctant to show me any skills and left without saying anything. Only gaining a single level from a double-evolved monster while meeting the condition for [Apex Hunter], however, was my greatest source of distrust.

I had not thought of a trait to purchase by the time I got home, and I quietly went through my practice routine. Nobody came to visit, so I proceeded with my horrible before-bed routine.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

I was relieved to finally get a level in it, which meant I had another extra safety net. Although I didn't dare risk trying it out now, what if the added use wasn't immediate and I died right now? That would be a difficult conversation to have with Gramps. I crawled into my hole and went to bed.

"I always wondered what actually using it would do. I need to get myself a storage bag."

"If I find one, I'll be sure to give it to you."

The outfit was similar to my goblin outfit but with large amounts of bear pelt rather than the scarce patches. The iconic part was the cloak included a hood this time, although Yuzz needed to make holes in it for the elf ears to poke through.

I used her room to change back to a goblin and set up a new outfit. Then I swapped to an elf and back to a goblin, with full outfit swaps between each transformation.

"I think I love this skill," I told Yuzz and gave her another hug, this time goblin-sized.

I thanked her and gave her three of the harvested badgers as thanks for her work and for giving me her skill. Shortly after I left, I ran into Garz, who told me Krutz was looking for me. I nodded and followed along. Garz did not look well and ignored all my attempts at small talk.

When I saw Krutz, however, he greeted me with a friendly smile and welcomed me into his hut. Worthy. At this point, it was clear that was the equipped effect of [Apex Hunter].

'Wait... When I spoke with him after the badgers, I don't think he triggered my emblem.' I thought, 'Which means after one fight, he's now above or equal to me... That does not feel right.'

"So Syl, are you ready to finally get your class?" Krutz responded with a smile.

"You unlocked the ability?" I questioned, hiding my suspicion with a winning smile.

"Yes, I have. I'm sure you're very excited. It will only take a moment. You will receive a notification like a party request. When you accept it, it will allow me to guide you into selecting a class." He explained and held out his hand.

I wanted to believe him. Everything had been friendly before now. I took his hand, which initiated a black glow between our grasp, and Krutz gave a reassuring smile.

"Make sure you accept it. Otherwise, you won't get a class." He repeated, and then a prompt appeared.

Do you accept?>

My memory immediately flashes back to Sylthaeryn. This felt similar, yet different. With her, it felt like a partnership between us, while this felt entirely one-sided. I had only one answer.

'NO!'