บท 95: Chapter 93

I brought my mind to bear on the prodigious task laid before me–understanding the words that were being displayed in the notification from the [System]. After a moment to push through the exhaustion and fatigue, I could finally focus on the words before me.

[Previous Skill: Improved Bloodlust; when the Skill user deems it necessary, they will find themselves enveloped by a cooler, more calculated rage, thus heightening their battle prowess and senses, at the cost of the slight loss of rationality. This drain on sanity is lesser than that of the original [Bloodlust] skill, but the longer the Skill is invoked, the more complete the loss of rationality. This skill can evolve. Conditions: the Skill holder must spend a full and continuous three days with the Skill activated. Any cessation of the Skill's activation will reset the timer. COMPLETE. Evolution to Combatant's Bloodlust complete.]

[Current Skill: Combatant's Bloodlust; when the Skill user deems it necessary, a mental state that veers away from absolute aggression and inclines itself instead towards a greater understanding of combat will envelop the mind. The Skill user will still experience a heightened desire for battle, yet this desire will be tempered by a pragmatic understanding of effective action. This skill can evolve. Conditions: Further evolution of Skills Adversary, Dominance, and Pack Tactics required for further evolution. One additional Skill's acquisition required for further evolution.]

My eyes swam as I tried to understand what I was reading, and these were only the first of the notifications. I wanted to try to understand the rest, but Wisterl was rising to her feet once again, and now, somehow still energetic, she was bouncing in place.

"Now you're ready to start using other abilities in combat, huh? We'll start working on this now. I wasn't really holding back before, but now I'll start relying on the more dangerous options available to me. This is going to be great." Wisterl was about to lunge back at me when Rulac stepped into the den, giving her pause.

"Hey, I know he asked for this, but that's enough. He's still growing, and has probably already stunted himself a little for this. Back off, whether he wants it or not, he's going to get some real rest and really fill his belly." My stomach growled in response, and I realized just how hungry I was. I had eaten now and again during these five days, but I couldn't remember when the last time was. Rulac continued, "Then he'll sleep for at least a day."

Wisterl hissed in reply, and I readied myself to be assaulted, but after taking a brief moment to herself, Wisterl sighed and began to stalk her way out of the den. "Come back sometime. I'm not done with you." Then, she was gone. I let out a pent up breath as the worry of another assault faded from my mind, and I had to forcefully stop myself from sagging back into the wall. I was exhausted, but I wanted my next sleep to be within the wall of my territory. I forced myself to stand from my comfortable squat and began to limply step forward to my den. Rulac fell into slow step next to me. I thought he was exaggerating his long, slow steps, but I couldn't guarantee it, nor did I have the energy to argue with him.

I'd thought it was to be a companionable but silent walk. I was incorrect. "It's been ages since someone went that long with Wisterl. She'll never stop, if you don't make her. I don't know what keeps her going, but..." He shook his head, "It's impressive, whatever it is. You were too, for that matter."

Slowly, I parsed what he said. "You were watching?"

"Most of the time." A smile cracked his face, "You've come a long way. I remember how you acted with Redael that first time. Like a pathetic little prey, just shaking while he came at you." Chuckles punctuated his words as Rulac tried to say what he was getting at. We continued forward a few more steps, the only sounds our scales, feet, and Rulac's quiet laughter. I could realize how exhausted I was by the fact that I somehow didn't feel even a little unhappy with how I was being mocked.

"But now…" Rulac's voice shifted from his usual good humor, taking on a serious tone. "You're formidable. Not yet a match for the Swarm Alpha, but you're no fresh hatchling. You've earned your scars."

I felt a warm glow from the recognition I received, and nodded my thanks to the massive male. He still was at least a foot taller than me, and more than twice my weight. I didn't speak, the thought of speaking alone being exhausting, much less actually having to do it. After waiting, Rulac continued, "Some of your girls came by a couple times to check on you. Think it was twice a day? Couple of them are real pretty, which one's yours?"

The abrupt change in subject took me by surprise and I simply cocked my head to the side and looked at Rulac. "What? I don't wanna take your girl, it's bad form."

I sighed. I simply couldn't be bothered to deal with him in my exhaustion, and just kept staggering forward. Every step sent shocks of pain to every inch of me, every muscle ached in ways I'd never imagined, and the pattern of shallow cuts and scratches that covered my whole body was constantly agitated by my movement and the shifting of my scales. My body's pains and my mind's cloudiness combined to create a wholly apathetic me. I knew I should be able to evolve now, and that was all I cared about for now. Just go back to the den, eat until I was ready to explode, and begin evolution.

"You don't want to share do you? Makes sense. Plenty of you young ones are like that. Nothing wrong about it. You'll see, though. Variety is beauty unto itself." Rulac kept talking, but I didn't pay him any mind, and, eventually, finally, I stumbled into my den. I idly noted him giving a farewell, but I didn't care. I found my way to the nearest food, and tore into it without my usual excitement. Bite. Rip. Swallow. Bite. Rip. Swallow. And so on, until I was full. Without more than a nod to Sybil, who looked at me with some emotion I couldn't understand, I finally was back to my quarters. My room.

I slumped to the ground and remained conscious only long enough to accept the evolution option presented before me:

[Status updated. Evolutionary progress: Young Sonic Magicblood Brood Alpha Khatif. Requirements: Evolution of Bloodlust Skill to Combatant's Bloodlust (Completed), Evolution of Sonilphon (Completed), Evolution unlocked.]

[Evolution commenced. Evolution typically requires a basic restructuring of your body. You will fall unconscious as the reconstruction takes place. Evolution to: Young Sonic Magicblood Brood Alpha Khatif from your current physiology will take place over the duration of 36 hours. Evolution will provide a marked bonus to your stats, as well as certain obvious physiological changes. Note: the evolution into a wholly different species requires vast changes to the basic physiological structure, thus the extensive length of time required for evolution.]