Humanity: Evolve

Zhang Long held the grade 2 beast core up to the light. It somewhat resembled an oversized green marble, with a double helix structure sitting snugly inside.

'Is it just me, or does this look like the double helix of DNA?' He pondered, rubbing the surface of the core.

He examined it closely. Before, with the terror bird core Winter's emotions had overwhelmed his. He hadn't really looked at the beast core at all but now he was able to stave off the temptation to immediately use it and study it closer.

'I still have one more, so it doesn't matter. I can look at it more later.'

He glanced at Winter who was staring at the core, with just as much interest as himself, but clearly for a different purpose.

Zhang Long chuckled and tossed the green sphere towards Winter who deftly caught it in it's mouth.

He pulled out his spare eaglefish core, and continued to examine it.

'Could it be that each beast core contains all of a spirit beast's genetic information?' He wondered.

The light refracted off it as he turned it slightly. After a while, he sighed and put it down.

'The mysteries of Pangaea are just too fascinating.'

The dimly lit room suddenly became brighter as Winter absorbed the beast core. Zhang Long only then realised that Winter had only been at grade two for the duration of the beast wave and that the wolf had already promoted once that night.

'I guess meeting Eisel was a blessing in disguise?'

Winter's beast core emerged once again with a bestial howl. Unlike before, a taijitu symbol did not appear, instead there was just a circle of green light.

'Perhaps it's because the eaglefish grade is the same as Winter's.' He muttered.

The process of absorption seemed a lot quicker than before, whether it was because Winter had gotten used to the process or if it was promoting with a higher grade beast core that took longer, Zhang Long didn't know.

The green light was s.u.c.k.e.d into Winter's beast core and began to change it from the inside. Zhang Long could faintly see the wisps of energy revolving around one another before fusing into brighter and larger traces of spiritual energy.

Then, after some time, the green light became yellow. The core itself began to grow larger and then streams of yellow light could be seen flowing out of the core and across Winter's body.

Zhang Long sat on the edge of his seat, notebook at the ready. This was because Winter was about to enter the evolution stage of promotion, he wanted to record every single detail.

As it became cloaked in light, Zhang Long could feel Winter's mind bristling with excitement. Then, all sense of emotion disappeared as it fell into a deep sleep.

The yellow coat of light across Winter's body began to work it's magic against the wolf's body, slowly altering it bit by bit.

It's body slowly became taller and it's body became more lean. The bulging muscles stretched out to become more flexible and aerodynamic.

It's body seemed to become lanky, with long and elegant limbs stretching out from it's body, it's neck becoming longer and nobler.

The bone armour which stuck out of it's facial area became smoother and more delicate- looking more like a decoration than armour. Only the faint glint which came from the bone's milky white surface told Zhang Long that it had become more dense and compact.

Two bones jutted out of Winter's back in an abrupt manner, flesh and bone spiralled outwards as they coiled and fused with one another. Tendons and ligaments lashed out like wh.i.p.s and tied around the flesh and bone like rope.

Feathers grew out rapidly, flaring in a proud manner, as if declaring the presence of a member of some royal family.

Other than that, there were a few minor changes which Zhang Long did well to notice. Winter's ears became smaller and it's bushy tail had become slim.

The yellow light of evolution continued to work wonders for a short while, before being absorbed by Winter's beast core.

It was complete.

Zhang Long now had a grade three spirit beast.

Without delay, he pulled out his scanner and pointed it at Winter's slumbering body.

[Kuangbaolang]

(Berserk Noble Wolf)

Grade: 3/1

S.e.x: Male

Diet: Carnivorous

Talent Class: Physical - Grade 1/3 ~ Physical - Grade 2/1

Method of Attack: Biting, Pecking, Clawing, Kicking, Berserking Tactics +1, Dive Bombing Tactics

Evolution: 0%

(Berserking Tactics +1: Will attack in short bursts of strength, increasing in strength and ferocity with each wound dealt.)

(Dive Bombing Tactics: Speed increases drastically when flying downwards.)

---

Zhang Long stared intensely at the scanner's holographic screen in amazement.

He immediately recorded everything into his notebook, noting the changes as well.

'Species name has stayed the same.

The common name underneath has changed though, from Berserk Terror Wolf to Berserk Noble Wolf.

Each beast talent has increased by a sub grade. The one inherited from the terror bird- the latter one has increased to 2/1.

Berserking Tactics have a plus one behind it. Indicating... An upgrade? Winter has also inherited the eaglefish's Dive Bombing Tactics along with their... Wings?'

He looked over at Winter's resting frame and then back at his scanner. Even though he could feel drool dripping down the side of his mouth, he made no move to wipe it away.

Zhang Long instead sat in a daze.

'That means... I can fly!'

He shook his head hurriedly, not allowing his excitement to get the better of him.

He continued to study the wolf's new body and the scanner.

Then, Zhang Long frowned.

'Winter's body has also gotten slimmer and less bulky... Which means that although it can definitely hit a lot harder than before and fly, it can't take as much damage as before.

This means that Berserking Tactics have basically become obsolete... Wait a minute!

It says that Winter gains a "buff" when he attacks enemies, rather than when it is attacked!

Oh thank the gods of natural selection!' He silently made a prayer to gods who he wasn't sure existed or not.

Nevertheless, the fact that Winter's skill set was shaping up and fitting together like a solved jigsaw puzzle made him euphoric.

'But now I also need to be careful which kinds of beast cores I use to promote Winter with. After all, if I give it some kind of core which belonged to an elephant, I'd be contradicting it's destined evolutionary path which is currently a shock trooper role?'

He nodded to himself.

'Yes, Winter is currently suited for quick manoeuvres along with "hit-and-run" tactics. Appearing in the enemy's blind spot and dealing as much damage as possible before fleeing.'

The spirit beast in question stirred, pawing at the air drunkenly.

It fell the first time it tried to get up, the second time being much more careful.

Winter looked at Zhang Long before turning it's head to look at the wings which had grown out of it's back in shock.

It turned to look at it's master again, jaw dropped open. "What did you do to me!?" It seemed to ask.

Zhang Long laughed, pointing at Winter's wings. The latter still had difficulty adapting to their sudden appearance, the weight in a strange place setting it off balance slightly.

'Winter, you can fly now.' He said.

Winter tried flapping them, which at first seemed to succeed. But then, just as it managed to reach half a metre into the air one of it's wings got caught on it's leg and it fell to the ground in a heap of knotted limbs.

Zhang Long tried hard to stifle the laughter for fear of hurting Winter's emotions, but failed miserably.

He curled on the bed, wheezing like an asthmatic who just went for a ten mile run without his inhaler.

Winter, who was now upside down stared at him with teary eyes. "I never wanted to fly... I want to skulk in the dirt and eat rabbits!"

After an eternity of raucous laughter, Zhang Long wiped his wet eyes and let out a content sigh.

'It's as if someone has forced a bandit to wear the clothes of a noble and then told them to go to a fancy ball... No matter how hard they try, they can't fit in!' He chuckled.

His demeanour gradually became cold again as he checked his notes and scanner once more.

Winter had finally untied itself, standing at two entire metres tall.

'You're taller than me already.' Zhang Long said, rubbing it's head.

He received a purr in response. (Yes! Believe it or not, dogs do purr!)

Winter clambered onto the bed and lay down, wings moving up and down as the wolf idled.

Zhang Long sat back and decided to read for a while, before sleeping.

***

Two days passed, it was now Sunday.

Zhang Long's daily habit had become that of waking up at seven AM, eating until seven thirty and then leaving the Pitcher inn.

He'd stroll about with Winter, proudly displaying it's noble grade three status.

Whilst he'd decided to be more on guard, letting more fools like Eisel come knocking was fine with him.

All it meant was putting another criminal to justice and making a hefty sum for his good deeds. Of course, it was said criminal who payed with all of the spirit stones they owned.

Winter was grade three, the pinnacle that any modern human had reached so far. He would be able to deal with any trouble makers easily.

Unfortunately, nobody had responded to his subtle provocation and he had thus been stuck with his suddenly meagre amount of spirit stones.

Before, 33 spirit stones sounded like a lot...

But now Winter needed 12 to promote a single sub grade.

'Luckily, the promotion costs don't follow the same trend as their power strength, and double instead of triple.'

Just the thought of expending 36 spirit stones to promote Winter a single sub grade made him wince.

Anyway, Zhang Long had become a frequent visitor of the pioneer organisation. Whilst he was planning to stop them in the future, they currently held more resources then he did- knowledge as well.

He often went to read up on different varieties of discovered spirit beasts, all of which sounded outlandish but cool at the same time.

Zhang Long got out of bed and changed hurriedly, pulling on a double-b.r.e.a.s.ted frock coat and a hat on top.

Winter woke at the same time, now accustomed to a daily schedule.

Zhang Long grabbed his quarterstaff, holding it in the middle at treating it as a walking stick.

He spent a few short seconds admiring the worn spirit beast engravings that decorated it's body, as well as the gem on top before walking to the door.

He was hurried because today was the day where he and Alan had decided to meet up. It was the day where their organisation could be founded.

Zhang Long already had a decent name in mind, something that fitted his and Alan's goals perfectly.

He swung the door open, but instead of the hallway's usual brightness, a dark shadow was cast over him.

It was Eisel.

Zhang Long reflexively stepped back, raising his quarterstaff. He didn't activate it in case he set fire to the inn, but he could wield it effectively either way.

Winter growled, wings flaring outwards and it stared at the man in fury.

However, instead of the attack he was expecting-

"Thump!"

The big man knelt down, and then kowtowed.

His forehead smashed against the wooden floor, causing blood to spurt out.

He repeatedly hit his head against the floor, regardless of the mess he made.

The floor even splintered under his ruthless barrage of head-smashes and the splinters pierced into his forehead.

But he continued.

After several minutes of kowtowing, Eisel finally stopped.

An itching feeling spread across his forehead and the wooden splinters were pushed out of his skin.

As he looked up, he saw Zhang Long's eyes glow dimly with blue energy, before turning black like the abyss.

The latter noticed a few heads sticking out and watching with curiosity.

'Come inside, let's talk.'