Chapter Forty Two - Evolution Requirements

Chapter Forty Two - Evolution Requirements

Cadence Lee (as Hewka) POV:

So it turns out that just as physics still kicks ass even in a world with a system and magic, biology also still applies. It is a bit bent out of shape compared to what I used to know, but it isnt gone. Which is why, despite having the racial ability [Breathes through her Skin], I could still drown.

Admittedly, I didnt drown easily. The ability did still work, but I think my current body needed more oxygen than the water around me could provide. Maybe if there was more oxygen in the water I wouldnt need to breathe at all. Or maybe not, I could be just too large and energetic for that ability to fulfill my oxygen needs.

I probably would never know and I had more important things to focus on right now, like my magical battle against Ylma.

A half naked Ylma - who had taken off some of her clothes to avoid getting them wet and was just wearing a slightly longer tunic and a manic smile - was standing in the shallows of the lake we had hiked to. The issue for me, I thought as I sat under the water and glared at her, was how to use the water to block the firebolt she would throw at me as soon as I surfaced. As part of the plan to unlock the Greater Lake Wyvern Evolution, I needed to use water to fight - but I didnt know how to use water magic yet.

Ylma had given me a brief lesson, but then said that it would be better for me to gain the Skill in combat instead of from a lecture. The lectures would come, but a combat unlock could help gain new future Evolutions and Classes. So here I was, mostly using [Aerokinesis] and Air Magic to blast the air out of my lungs hard enough to throw water at her. I had yet to block a firebolt doing that and even though she was holding back a ton, Ylmas fire hurt.

Plus, I had learned that behind that snobbish noble exterior was a complicated young woman. And by a complicated young woman I mean to say that she is a pyromaniac and a sadist. Possibly even a sadomasochist given how much she was shouting at me to hit her.

Wait. I had agreed to this, am I a masochist!? No, no, I dont actually enjoy this. I am just doing it because it needs to be done for my Evolution.

Stop hiding and come out Hewka! Ylma shouted with a wicked smile, I promise Ill tone this one down!

Liar. My Perception might be relatively low, but I can see the crazy gleam in your eye, Ylma! You are just happy to have a punching bag to use your spells on!

Yet, I did have to surface. Not just because I did eventually need to breathe - although I could sit underwater for a very long time - but because this was the whole reason we were here. I needed to spend significant time underwater, fight underwater, fight with water, be hurt in water, rest and heal in water to unlock the Greater Lake Wyvern Evolution. That was why Ray and Tamlin were just sitting on a nearby rock and watching the torture session that Ylma called training instead of helping me - although Tamlin was wise enough to only be watching me and not Ylma. Smart kid.

Well, there was no use delaying any more

I tensed my legs against the lake bottom and spread my wings sluggishly through the water, using them to shove the water down and throw me to the waters surface. I tried to insert my mana into the water even as I opened my mouth to exhale the compressed air I was holding when I reached the optimal depth, causing a geyser of water to erupt in Ylmas direction.

I burst out of the water just in time to see Ylmas fire evaporate the water I sent her way and another firebolt pierce the steam and slam into my stomach.

[You have been burned! You have lost 10hp!]

Ow. Cant she hold back more!? That will take hours to heal! She would have shot me again if I hadnt dived back into the water. Firebolts landed on the surface of the lake behind me as I dived underwater. Swimming was difficult, but I managed. I had to manage because that was one of the Skills I was hoping to train today.

Oh no, Im not letting you run and make me wait this time! Ylma shouted as she cackled, You wont Level if you dont really put effort into this Hewka!

The pressure from the explosion that followed buffeted me underwater; Ylma hadnt held back with that one! Would her mana even be able to keep up with her expenditure? More importantly, is she trying to kill me!?

Oh Podi, please dont let me be sent back to you by a sadomasochistic pyromaniac who got too into training, I prayed silently, yet fervently. I promise I wont call you a pervert anymore! ...well, I wont for at least one life - but no more, because you know what youve done!

[Dodge has Leveled up! Dodge is now Level 5!]

[Swimming has Leveled up! Swimming is now Level 6!]

Woohoo? That was the first time Dodge had Leveled up and the second time Swimming had Leveled up today. Yet somehow, it didnt feel quite as good to gain a Level when I was hiding underwater from a one woman artillery barrage. Another wave of pressure shook the depths of the lake as Ylma continued to laugh. This time I was able to use the water around me to alleviate it slightly.

[You have learned the Skill: Water Magic! Water Magic is now Level 1!]

Hahaha! Now I shall have my revenge!

*15 Minutes Later*

Thank you for healing me, I whimpered to Chaurl, who was kneeling next to my smoking form, restoring it to some form of normality with the power of his God.

She is thanking you, Ray translated for me, looking far more amused than concerned. I have to confess that feeling that sudden burst of confidence from her only to see her slapped down so quickly was kind of hilarious though.Updated from novelb(i)n.c(o)m

How was I supposed to know that the sadomasochistic pyromaniac psycho would barbeque me if I Right, because she is a sadomasochistic pyromaniac psycho, of course.

It did take you a while to notice that Ylma likes fire a bit too much Hewka, Ray, who could feel the direction of my thoughts, said and started laughing. I thought you had noticed during our last request or I would have given you a warning.

Are you still planning to continue this training, Hewka? Chaurl asked mildly, you dont have to do this, you know.

Well yeah, I dont have to do any of this and it sure as hell isnt pleasant. It hurts and it hurts a lot! However, Ive felt a lot worse pain and I want what I get from this a lot more than I am worried about pain. I need to become stronger, I dont want to die so easily this life! And when I do die I want to rake in those points; there is no way Ill give up!

When I say as much - minus the part about Incarnation - to Chaurl, he grins and his magic flares.

Well said, he watches as my healing speeds up. And it looks like Lord Jakkus approves of your ambition as well.

I will take that as a good thing - so long as Chaurl doesnt fall over screaming, anyway. I dont really expect him to though. I dont know much about the Gods, but Chaurl was more than happy to tell me about Jakkus when I asked through Ray, who promptly left me to his lecture and went off to do something else.

Class: [Hunter]Class Level: 27Health: 454/454 Mana: 54/54 Stamina: 100/100

Statistics:

Str: 148 End: 172 Vit: 141 Agi: 197 Dex: 111

Per: 168 Acy: 111 Wil: 118 Cha: 107 Mgc: 108

Lck: 163

Abilities:

[Prey Sense](class) [Hunters Rest](class)

[Breathes through her Skin](racial) [Poison Spice](class)

[Blood Trail](class) [Endless Hunt](racial)

[Toxic Skin](racial) [Toxin Control: Minor](racial)

[Regeneration: Minor](lesser)(racial) [Scale Armor: Minor](racial)

[Envenomed Bite: Hatchling Komadus Lizard](racial) [Infravision](racial)

[Salutivore](racial) [Strong Stomach](racial)

[Aerokinesis](racial) [Gale Wyvern Hide](racial)

[Lesser Wyvern Hide](racial) [Poison Resistance: Major](racial)

[Disease Resistance: Minor](racial) [Better First Impression]

[Healthy Thoughts] [First Words]

[Killing Blow]

Skills:

Acrobatics: 1 Acting: 3 Air Magic: 4

Ambush: 4 Analysis: 3 Cartography: 2

Charge: 5 Cleaning: 4 Climbing: 3

Composing: 2 Construction: 3 Cooking: 4

Charm: 3 Crafting: 5 Dancing: 6

Dagger: 1 Digging: 7 Dodge: 7

Drawing: 2 Earth Magic: 1 Etiquette: 3

Fire Magic: 1 Flight: 3 Gardening: 1

Intimidate: 2 Jumping: 6 Leatherworking: 2

Mana Manipulation: 7 Manasense: 10 Meditation: 9

Poetry: 1 Pottery: 2 Reading: 4

Singing: 6 Spear: 3 Sprinting: 6

Swimming: 6 Stealth: 7 Taunt: 1

Teamwork: 3 Throwing: 4 Tracking: 5

Trap Making: 7 Unarmed Combat: 1 Water Magic: 2

Weaving: 2 Writing: 8