I had 14 Skills that were ready to be evolved, but to my pleasant, and slightly overwhelmed surprise, evolving a Skill wasn’t as simple as I was expecting it to be. For each Skill, there were three different branching levels of evolutions: 1st-Tier, 2nd-Tier, and 3rd-Tier Evolutions; and within those tiers were multiple evolutions I could choose from. Although from the ones I briefly glanced over, every Skill had varying amounts of evolutions per tier, with each having their own specific Requirements that needed to be met in order to choose the Skill Evolution. Out of the Skills I quickly previewed, Power Shot, Arrow Shower, and Sprint had the relatively simplest combination of Tier Evolutions and Requirements.
“Power Shot is the first Skill I ever learned, but even it has 3 branching choices I need to choose from.” I thought to myself, skimming through the several descriptions for each Tier Evolution. “It really sucks that I have to choose, ‘cause assuming the more Advanced Skills have the same or more branching evolutions, that would mean I would end up missing a lot of amazing Skills in the long run.” I hated the thought of being forced to choose one or the other.
2nd-Tier:
3rd-Tier:
After skimming over Power Shot, I learned that the 1st-Tier Evolutions made it pretty self-explanatory, and that the choices were between either having heavier impactful shots, increased piercing power, or damage that could cause the Bleeding Status. The 2nd and 3rd Tier Evolution were more or less the same, but with slight differences and greater claims in the descriptions. However, there was obviously one Evolution that stood out from the rest, as it didn’t even have a previous 1st or 2nd Tier Evolution.
“Sounds like a pretty straightforward Skill on the surface, but with the damage being tripled against anything weak to those Damage Types, it basically means it always does triple damage to anything that doesn’t have Physical Resistances!” I excitedly noted in awe of such an unbelievably powerful Skill. Figuring I already had my 3rd-Tier Evolution picked, and that it wasn’t connected with the other branches, I knew it didn’t really matter which of the 1st-Tier Evolutions I should choose. Although I still decided to choose practically and picked Piercing Shot, as it was probably the most useful Skill to have as an archer.
“I’m the first one to evolve a Skill? Well, I guess that makes sense since I am the highest level. But these Titles always have some sort of real effect on me besides their bonuses, so what’s this one about pioneering the future supposed to be?” I wondered to myself, reading the next Skill’s descriptions.
2nd-Tier:
3rd-Tier:
“Only 2 choices this time, but as fun as Precision Ordnance might be, there’s no way I’m picking an evolution that turns me into a glorified mortar.” Scoffing at the idea. “It’s beneath my dignity as a student of archery.”
Sprint’s evolutions were a no-brainer, as it literally only had one choice to choose from, making it the simplest out of all the Skills.
2nd-Tier:
3rd-Tier:
“It might be the most straightforward, but those Stat Requirements for the last Evolution are absolutely ridiculous!” I remarked in my head.
“Acceleration costs so much more than a Max Level Sprint does without actually being that much faster, but at least now I have the option to either use Mana or Stamina for its Cost.” Optimistically thinking, “Though it shouldn’t be that big of a problem after I level it up a few times and increase my Intelligence and Endurance Stats.”
Concluding with the simpler Skill Evolutions, I moved on to the more complex Archer Skills next. However, after being presented with a whole bunch of overwhelming choices and tedious Requirements, and having increasingly more doubts on what the right evolution was to pick, I gave up and decided to ignore the Archer Skills for the time being. I instead moved on to the Passive Skills like Dodge and Perception.
2nd-Tier:
3rd-Tier:
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
Dodge’s evolution was easy to pick; I knew I lacked in close-range combat, but given the options of being naturally good at defending, evading, or parring, I’d rather be good at avoiding from any distance opposed to being good at defending or parrying from mostly close up. Plus with there being a 3rd-Tier Trinity Evolution, it honestly didn’t matter which one I picked, as they would all be combined into one Skill eventually.
Perception on the other hand was slightly more difficult to choose, for all three choices had a reasonable argument for me to pick them, and didn’t have a Trinity Evolution. Extrasensory Perception complimented and matched with my Seer Subclass Skills, Heightened Senses overall increased my natural Instincts and senses—doubling them in battle, and Observant would literally make it nearly impossible for me never to be unaware of anything again; though there was also a mysterious 3rd-Tier Evolution that I hadn’t discovered yet—or was kept hidden for whatever reason.
2nd-Tier:
3rd-Tier:
“I don’t think my current Class or a Trinity Archer Class is a Spiritual Class, yet I still somehow meet the Spiritual and Mystical Class Requirements for the Extrasensory Evolutions." Figuring, "It’s probably thanks to me being the Seer.” I then contemplated the three options, thinking “The Heightened Senses Evolutions seems like they would be the best overall choice out of the three options, but their specific requirements for certain Stats to be the highest is brutally restrictive and super limiting in the long run. The Extrasensory Evolutions are probably the second best choice with their inherent supernatural abilities, though I wonder how useful it’ll be when I already see so much being a Seer? Then there’s always being extremely aware of everything with the Observant Evolutions, but I also wonder just how much more I could notice that I didn't already before?” adding, “And on top of all that, there’s also that unknown fourth choice later on…”
I ultimately decided to leave Perception unevovled until I could find a definitive reason to choose one over the others, however there was still one more Passive that helplessly piqued my interest.
2nd-Tier:
3rd-Tier:
“Devil’s Walk? Draconic Footfall? Fairy Steps? What are those supposed to be?” Curiously reading each, I learned: Draconic Footfall made it so that every step you took was as powerful and fearful as that of a dragon’s, Fairy Steps simply allowed one to walk on anything without touching it—even the air itself, and Devil’s Walk created real and irresistible illusions that could even tempt the purest of hearts. “Are these really supposed to be Evolutions? And what’s with their Unknown Requirements?” While I continued to wonder to myself, without having a Beastmaster Class, my first choice was pretty straightforward.
Although after gaining the extra Agility, I realized I practically already met all the Requirements for the 2nd-Tier Evolution. “I just needed a little bit more Agility.” I thought, spending the remaining 40 Available Points I still had into Agility. However, even with the Bonus Stats I naturally gain from the crown, I was just shy of the mark; having only 950 Agility. “Damn, so close. Guess I just need to level a bit more before I can evolve it again then.” I shrugged, not really worrying too much about it and moving onto the final Skill I wanted to look at.
2nd-Tier:
3rd-Tier:
“Fuck me, that’s a lot of evolutions.” I groaned, starting to feel drained from reading all these Menus and descriptions. “Well there’s Resuscitation, the new evolution created earlier, but I can’t believe you actually need to know CPR for one of its Requirements.”
“Wow, it really is a Reviving-Type Skill!” I exclaimed to myself in shock and awe. “This Skill could be extremely useful for saving lives, the only problem is if that long Cast Time gets interrupted…”
While I pondered if that was the Skill I should ultimately be aiming for, I went back to the start and basically disregarded everything past the 1st-Tier, and then contemplated on what to choose first. Cure Wounds had better, and instant-type heals. Inferior Aid had regeneration-type heals, and the bonus of removing some Statuses. And Lesser Restoration had no healing whatsoever, but it did have the ability to remove all basic afflictions. The choice was tough, though from what I already experienced through my previous battles in this world, I knew I was going to need a mixture of both healing and cleansing if I wanted to survive—opposed to only focusing on healing or cleanses.
“That’s it. I’m done with these Evolutions.” Closing the Skills Menu in exhaustion, “If I look at any more Menus, I’ll lose it. I’ll just deal with the rest of them later—when I feel like it.”
“Are you alright, Eyes?” Zebeyeyl questioned in concern, carrying the chest of supplies and approaching me. “Your mind seems to have been elsewhere for a while now?”
“Y-Yeah, I’m alright.” I stammered. “I guess I was just dazed from reading all those words.” He looked at me curiously, so I quickly changed the subject, asking “Master Zebeyeyl, if you’re bringing the supplies over here, does that mean you’re already done with Myeyl’s Trinity Tattoo.”
“Well, unlike someone over here, Myeyl only needed the Combat part of her Tattoo created, so it didn’t take too long. Yet she still somehow adorably fell asleep in that time.” He gestured behind him to Myeyl beautifully laying on her stomach, with a blanket covering her body. “Though you do know that it has been four hours since I started, right?”.
“What?! It’s already been four hours?!” I exclaimed.
“It has. Though there is nothing to worry about, Eyes. I've already sent word to your House that you will be staying here tonight, and they of course understood when they learned the reason.” Zebeyeyl informed me, setting the supplies down in front of me. “Now, are you prepared for what happens next?”
“What do you mean ‘what happens next’?” I reiterated in confusion.
Zebeyeyl took a breath and explained, “When I complete the Trinity Tattoo on your back today, not only will it change and affect you to your very core, but it'll also cause an unprecedented ripple to shake the very land we stand upon when this impossibility is inevitably revealed. And I assure you, Eyes, it will be revealed. So I ask you again, my na?ve young protégé, are you prepared for what happens next?”
Having already accepted all the trouble that continues to be drawn to me, all I could do was answer him with a simple smirk and smug face. For whatever was to happen in the future, it was going to be by my will.
