Adrian spent the rest of the day hunting, refusing to stop even after he had gathered enough evolution points to evolve.
The forest slowly shifted from afternoon light into the dim glow of evening, but he did not slow his movements. If anything, he became more active as darkness spread between the trees. The shadows were his ally, and he intended to take full advantage of them. Small mammals, distracted birds, and even a pair of careless reptiles fell prey to his ambushes. He struck efficiently each time, bite, inject venom, retreat. There was no wasted motion, no unnecessary risk.
By the time the sky had fully darkened and the forest had grown quiet, Adrian had accumulated a total of twenty-four evolution points.
That was more than enough.
Only then did he finally turn back toward his shelter.
The familiar jagged rocky outcrop came into view. It wasn't much, but it was secure, and that was what mattered. Adrian slipped inside, his body gliding smoothly across the stone.
Once he was settled, he focused inward and navigated to the evolution store.
A faint translucent interface appeared before his vision.
He selected the species evolution option without hesitation.
Just like last time, another system notification appeared in front of him, the glowing text hovering silently in the air.
[1. Shadow Fang Viper:
This species has begun to become one with darkness. Their venom now carries properties of the dark element, causing any area bitten by this snake to become corrupted and quickly rot. Additionally, this species has the passive ability Shadow Affinity, which halves MP cost when in the dark.]
[2. Iron Scaled Constrictor:
This species boasts impressive size and durability. They also possess a certain level of magic resistance. With the increased size and durability comes a decrease in speed. This species also obtains the ability Iron Barbs. When activated, small sharp barbs protrude from all over its body, damaging anything they touch.]
[3. Umbral Serpent:
This species possesses strong dark attribute magic abilities, including Intermediate Dark Magic. This species is physically weak but boasts a large MP pool far above that of other species at the same level.]
Adrian studied each option carefully.
His eyes lingered briefly on the second option before he instantly ruled it out.
The Iron Scaled Constrictor was undoubtedly powerful. Increased size, greater durability, magic resistance, those were all impressive traits. The Iron Barbs ability could make close combat deadly for opponents who relied on grappling or overpowering him.
But it did not suit him.
Adrian did not win through brute strength. He did not enjoy trading blows or testing durability. His victories came from precision, positioning, and calculated strikes. He preferred to ambush his enemies, weaken them with venom, restrict them with shadow magic, and eliminate them before they could properly retaliate.
He only used constriction on weaker prey to avoid wasting MP. Building his entire evolution around durability and close-quarters combat would undermine the very style that had kept him alive.
No.
The Iron Scaled Constrictor was strong, but it was not his path.
With one option mentally discarded, Adrian focused intently on the remaining two.
Shadow Fang Viper and Umbral Serpent.
One leaned fully into the assassin route, refining what he already did well. The other shifted him toward becoming a mage, less physical, more reliant on magic dominance.
At first, Adrian found himself leaning toward the Umbral Serpent. Intermediate Dark Magic was no small thing. A larger MP pool would allow him to cast more frequently and potentially unlock new spells in the future. With enough magical power, he could overwhelm opponents from a distance rather than risking close encounters.
The idea was tempting.
But as he thought more deeply, doubts began to surface.
As it stood now, he was still relatively weak physically. While the Umbral Serpent evolution might offer slight improvements, it clearly emphasized magical growth over bodily enhancement. Its description even stated that it was physically weak. That was a dangerous trade-off.
Magic was powerful, yes, but it consumed MP. And MP could run out.
If he ever encountered an opponent resistant to dark magic, or if he exhausted his reserves during a prolonged battle, what then?
A fragile body would leave little room for error.
Adrian's gaze shifted to the Shadow Fang Viper option.
At first glance, it appeared more modest. It did not grant Intermediate Dark Magic. It did not promise an enormous MP pool.
But it enhanced what he already relied on, venom and shadow synergy.
Darkness-infused venom that caused corruption and rapid rot.
That was not a minor upgrade.
If even a small bite could begin deteriorating flesh at an accelerated rate, then drawn-out battles would heavily favor him. Combined with his hit-and-run tactics, the effect could be devastating.
And then there was the passive ability.
Shadow Affinity which halved MP cost while in darkness.
Adrian's eyes narrowed slightly as he considered that.
Most of his hunts occurred in low-light environments. He usually operated within thick forest shade. If his MP costs were cut in half under those conditions, it would effectively double his usable magic capacity in his preferred battlefield.
That was not simply useful.
It was nearly broken.
The Umbral Serpent offered raw magical potential, but the Shadow Fang Viper offered efficiency.
Efficiency was power.
Adrian remained silent for several long moments, weighing risk against reward. The Umbral Serpent might grant faster magical growth in the long term, but it came with a significant vulnerability. The Shadow Fang Viper, on the other hand, strengthened both his venom and his magical sustainability without sacrificing physical capability.
Physical strength could not be ignored.
Speed, muscle density, endurance, those were what allowed him to survive the moments when magic failed or when enemies closed the distance unexpectedly.
And unlike a pure mage path, the Shadow Fang Viper maintained balance.
A predator needed balance.
Having reached a conclusion, Adrian felt his hesitation disappear.
He selected the Shadow Fang Viper evolution.
Instantly, agony exploded through his entire body.
It began at his core before radiating outward in violent waves. Every muscle tightened at once. His bones felt as though they were being compressed and reshaped. His scales burned as if submerged in fire.
Adrian opened his mouth to scream, but only strained hisses escaped.
The pain intensified rapidly, overwhelming his senses. His body convulsed uncontrollably as unseen forces rewrote his biology. His venom glands throbbed violently. His muscles tore and reformed. Even his vision flickered in and out as darkness seemed to press against him from every direction.
It was far worse than his previous evolutions.
His consciousness began to fade.
The last thing he registered was the crushing weight of exhaustion before everything went black.
…
Time passed, how much, he did not know.
When Adrian finally regained consciousness, the forest outside was silent.
He lay coiled within his shelter, his body feeling heavier yet stronger at the same time. There was a strange density to his muscles now, as though they contained more power than before.
Slowly, he attempted to stretch.
He extended his body outward, but to his surprise, he reached the opposite wall of his shelter far sooner than expected. He pushed again, only to confirm it.
He had grown.
Noticing this, Adrian immediately opened his status window.
[Status:
Name: Adrian Vale
Species: Shadow Fang Viper
Age: 21 days
Evolution Points: 13
Length: 2.2 meters
Diameter: 9 cm
MP: 20/20
Abilities: Weak Dark Venom, Constrict, Infrared Vision, Chemoreception, Basic Dark Magic, Shadow Affinity]
Adrian examined each line carefully.
His length had increased noticeably, and even his diameter had expanded if only slightly. He could feel it clearly as he shifted his weight, his muscles responded with smooth, controlled strength. There was no stiffness, only power waiting to be directed.
More importantly, Shadow Affinity now appeared among his abilities.
He flexed his body slightly, testing the subtle connection he felt with the darkness around him. The interior of his shelter seemed… closer somehow. More responsive. The shadows felt less like an absence of light and more like an extension of himself.
A faint sense of satisfaction settled within him.
This evolution had been the correct choice.
However, that satisfaction did not last long.
Without warning, a ravaging hunger crashed over him.
It struck hard and fast, twisting his insides and sending a sharp ache through his stomach. His muscles felt drained, as though every ounce of energy had been consumed during the transformation.
This evolution had taken far more out of him than the previous ones.
Adrian tried to suppress the relentless hunger, attempting to remain still and conserve energy. But the sensation did not fade. If anything, it intensified, gnawing at him insistently.
His body demanded fuel.
He exhaled a long, controlled hiss.
"I guess it's time to go for a hunt," he thought.
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Author note: Do you agree with the choice Adrian made? Let me know