47 Harder Better Faster Stronger

[Choose Evolution:]

[1. Grey Scales --> Menacing Scales, Sand Scales,]

[2. Venomous Fangs --> Improved Venomous Fangs, Random]

[3. Colorful Movement Sensing Eyes --> Far Colorful Movement Sensing Eyes, Soul Eyes]

[4. Danger Smelling Tongue --> Detailed Danger Smelling Tongue, Random]

[5. Vibration Sensing Ears --> Random, Deep Vibration Sensing Ears]

[6. Get ??? or ???]

[Note: More specific evolution paths will be unlocked in the future!]

'Wow, so many good options, but only one I can take, and this time there are much fewer Random choices than last time, and what is up with number 6?'

Weighting the options carefully I decided to go with the number 6. Why? Well, first thing, I will get something added to me. It could be something good or something bad, but I feel lucky today, so why not, and second, the other options don´t sound too appealing to me. I better wait till there is something that is op and unique. I don´t want to become some random ass snake if I want to have a long life.

But there is still the question, do I get the first ??? or the second ???... I know it is random or something, and I will never know what the option was, but still, it is important. One of the two could be something really epic, like wings or a laser-shooting eye, and the other something useless like an additional tail, or even disadvantageous like a leg.

Taking a few seconds to think about I finally decided on the second option. So, pressing it the all so familiar blue panel appeared in front of me.

*Ding*

[Beginning evolution!]

Not even finishing reading it a wave of pain and dizziness washed over me. I tried to stay conscious, but I physically couldn´t do it. Never in my life have I thought that I would get unconscious every second day.

(Normal perspective)

Slumping down on the ground a black liquid seeped out of the Rass´ body as the sound of bones cracking echoed through the forest. All the time, while Raas oozed a black liquid out of every inch of his body, the giant scorpion just stared at the grey snake while also keeping one or two eyes on the surrounding.

Slowly but surely his body expanded ever so slightly while his soft scales hardened while still staying flexible and a diamond pattern appeared throughout his whole body. Even his head changed, as it became less round and rougher. His length grew and grew and finally stopped at 4 meters, while he also got visibly thicker and didn´t look skinny anymore as his muscles expanded.

His body now shimmered slightly in the light and gave off a sturdy and pricy aura. One of the most noticeable changes are his eyes, his emerald green reptile eyes are now being covered in a transparent crystal layer, while his pupils became even more eye-catching than before. They now look like two big emeralds that are behind a showcase.

The whole evolution only lasted for half an hour, much shorter than his previous. The behemoth clacked its mandibles in excitement and joy as it saw the changes Raas was going through.

The black ooze that was secreted gave off a very nasty smell that kept almost all the monsters in the area away, but there are always exceptions, like the steal platted dung beetles, the toxic slugs, and the stinking flys.

But thanks to the metal scorpion they were easily disposed of and killed.

(Raas´ perspective)

My vision slowly returned to me as the soreness of my body assaulted me. It wasn´t uncommon for me now to wake up with pain in every part of my body, but this time I felt like an old man that did a marathon without rest... my whole back, especially my spine hurt like hell, well it isn´t very helpful if your spine is almost all of your bones in your body, and my muscles feel sore as if I had an intense workout non-stop for a day.

The first thing I did was stretching my body, which was a big mistake, as every bone in my body cracked and every fiber in my muscles protested with pain. The second thing I did was to hold back my vomit, as an unimaginable stench reached my tongue, and only then did I notice the black goo all over me and around me. The whole place looked like a biohazard with dead insects littering the area.

Checking my new body out I realized that I looked more menacing, as I should have, 'Oh damn, that is a pretty cool pattern on my scales, and I did get longer again and wider again! Hell yes, I don´t look like a boring everyday snake anymore! I am not all about my looks, especially when I am a snake, but who doesn't want to look cool or epic, and now with this diamond pattern that has a slightly yellow tinge to it, I look fabulous.' thought I as I admired the changes all over my body, but then a sudden thought hit me, 'I couldn´t have possibly got so many different changes, so the question is what did I get that changed my whole body to such a degree? Gaining length and width is normal after an evolution, but the changes in my scales were odd, as I gained something and not evolved my scales...'

My answer soon got answered as the system jumped me with a row of notifications.

*Ding*

[Evolution complete!]

[You gained a 'Crystal Core Shield'!]

[Due to the nature of the option you chose a full body purification was needed!]

[Your body is now sturdier and has adapted to integrate the crystal core shield!]

[93 stat points that have been accumulated by the title "Limit breaker" were used to change the scales, bones muscles, teeth, and eyes in your body!]

[Due to the changes you unlocked the skill "Harden"!]

'93 points for all this?'

...

'Worth it! I mean 93 points are a LOT, but for the increase in defense, what I desperately needed, and a skill that boosts my defense, what I didn´t have till now, was really worth it.'

Glancing over my status once again, I couldn´t help but feel happy. Two new skills in only one day and a massive power-up.

*Sizzle*

"TSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!"

A loud hissing loud sounded as a large amount of liquid poured down on me. Feeling a slight tingling on my skin from the liquid I inspected my body, and luckily no damage was done to me.

Shacking my head to get the liquid off of me as I looked up.

My good mood was washed away like the black goo on me when I spotted the familiar killer machine looming over me,

'Why are you still here!?' screamed I in shock.

I thought that it would have just walked away or something, but I didn´t understand why it stayed here and just watched me evolve.

'Maybe it got interested in my status and protected me during my evolution? But why?'

Not finding any answers to my questions I just gave the metal tower a small nod. I didn´t expect a reply, but it snapped its mandible together and wiggled its tail slightly up and down.

I smiled at the cute gesture and dipped my head once again before turning around and slithering away. I couldn´t stay any longer, after all, I had a person to find, but before I could even slither 10 meters I was scooped up and placed on its metal back.

I was slightly taken aback by its move but didn´t dare to struggle. The scorpion then began to walk through the forest while knocking down every tree in its path. I tried to slither down its back and escape, but it only sprouted some metal claws on its back and picked me back up again.

I was confused and scared by its behavior and where it was bringing me. It could have only let me live to let me evolve and feed me to its kids or something.

As more and more dark thoughts sprung into my mind, we entered a giant underground cave.

'Shit, my suspicions were correct!'

My heart rate increased as we went deeper and deeper into the cave. The walls were covered in roots and moos and the air is moist but surprisingly fresh.

I tried to bite and slam my tail with all my might against the scorpions back, but it did more damage to me than it. No, I didn´t do any damage, not even a scratch or a dent, but that didn´t stop me. Continuing trying to escape from its grasps I was being pinned down by two mechanical arms that grew out off its back.

Wiggling and struggling for 10 minutes I gave up. It was hopeless anyway.

Trying to convince myself, that it wouldn´t kidnap me just to kill or feed me to its children I stayed calm... or as calm as you could be when you are being strapped on a giant metallic scorpion monster that could crush you anytime it wanted to.

It took another 15 minutes till I finally saw the light at the end of the tunnel.

Walking into the light a new environment greeted my eyes, which is completely different from the first two floors.

Instead of a dense forest or a vast grass plain, abnormally large dead trees and grey stone structures held the ceiling up, while the sound of the milky white rivers echoed through the silence.

As far as the eye could see, dead plants, dead trees, and even the soil looked dead with no signs of any kind of life.

'Where the hell did it bring me to...' was my only thought as it continued marching through the wasteland.