Chapter 006 - Evolution

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Name: Alex Volff

Age: 15

Race: Human

Rank: F*

Credits: 0

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Basic Stats:

- Strength: 19

- Speed: 18

- Agility: 18

- Endurance: 20

- Spirit: 28

- Mana: 0/0

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Skills:

- N/A

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Kill Count: 0

Achievements: 0

Records: 0

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"Hmm.. there are two new stats that were not tested by the UDA, Spirit and Mana. I know everyone doesn't have any Mana before the first evolution, but it's weird that they didn't test Spirit. Or maybe they can't do it. Anyway, my Spirit stats is surprisingly high, which can only mean a good thing," mused Alex after using [Observe] to look at his basic information.

With a thought, the image describing his basic information disappears from the air in front of him. Alex then starts to examine the items he gets as part of his beginner package.

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Beginner Leather Shirt

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A shirt made from the leather of F* rank creatures. Its toughness can withstand attacks from similar ranked creatures without tearing.

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Beginner Trousers

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Trousers made from the leather of F* rank creatures. Its toughness can withstand attacks from similar ranked creatures without tearing.

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Beginner Wooden Sword

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A wooden sword made from the wood of Blacia trees. Suitable to be used as a blunt weapon instead of cutting. It's effective against F* ranked creatures and some F** ranked creatures.

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Skill Book Mystery Box (F-ranked)

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Contains a random F-ranked skill book.

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Evolution Potion (F-ranked)

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A potion that enables genetic evolution for Defenders. This is the lowest grade evolution potion. Its maximum effectiveness is 50% and will decrease with repeated usage. Use this with the evolution capsule. DO NOT DRINK THIS POTION!

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Alex checked everything again and then nodded. All the items in his beginner package match the basic survival information circulated by UDA. His current Mana is 0, which means he cannot use any skill yet. The first thing he needs to do is use the {Evolution Potion} to evolve and be able to use Mana. He picks up the glowing blue vial and walked to the evolution capsule pointed by Fay. He inserts the vial into the slot on the side of the capsule, takes off all his clothes and enters the capsule.

The capsule starts filling with transparent water-like liquid. Alex starts panicking a little when the liquid reaches his head. He reflexively holds his breath for a brief moment even though he already knew that he can breathe normally inside this liquid. After the transparent liquid has covered all the insides of the capsule, it starts mixing with the blue evolution potion. The liquid turns blue and glowing. Alex starts feeling a slight itch all over his body. The itch intensifies and seeps into his body all the way into his bones. After the itch comes slight pain all over his body. It's not to the point of making him scream from pain, but it is a very uncomfortable feeling.

As the blue glow starts dimming, the painful feeling and itchiness start disappearing and replaced with a very comfortable feeling. Alex can feel his body getting stronger and his mind clearing up. He feels his lower dantian (the space in his body about three fingers below the navel) starts warming up. It isn't painful but it brings about a very comfortable warm feeling.

Alex spends 2 hours like that in the evolution capsule. After 2 hours, the liquid in the capsule which has turned transparent again starts draining out. Alex comes out of the capsule feeling refreshed and stronger. His muscles look more toned than before and there is an extra sharpness in his eyes. He uses [Observe] on himself to find out how much his stats changes.

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Name: Alex Volff

Age: 15

Race: Human

Rank: F*

Credits: 0

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Basic Stats:

- Strength: 28

- Speed: 26

- Agility: 27

- Endurance: 30

- Spirit: 42

- Mana: 45/45

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Skills:

- N/A

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Kill Count: 0

Achievements: 0

Records: 0

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His stats have seen big changes. From the basic information circulated by the UDA, he knows that the average normal humans' basic stats are around 10. An increase from just one vial of F-ranked {Evolution Potion} is equal to 5 years of his bitter training. But the most important thing is that now he can use Mana. Which means he can learn how to use skills now.

Skills are important for surviving in the Realm of Defenders. A good skill can get someone out of a tight spot and increase their chance of survival. Skills can be divided into three main categories depending on their use: attack, defend, and support.

Before starting his adventure as a Defender, Alex knows that he has to learn a skill to increase his chance of survival. Alex takes out the F-ranked {Skill Book Mystery Box} and starts opening it.

"Let it be a good attack or defense skill," mumbles Alex as he opens up the box.

Inside the box is a white book with strange writings on its cover. Alex can immediately understand the strange script due to the [Automatic Translation] capabilities of his [Magic Chip]. The script reads {F-ranked Energy Manipulation}.

"Sh**, it's this one," Alex lets out a curse as he read the title.

It's one of the skill books that the UDA deems "useless". It's the most expensive F-ranked support-type skill book. The skill is very complicated and almost impossible to learn. There are other Defenders who have tried to buy and learn this skill but none has succeeded so far. It's now deemed as a waste of credits.

Alex obviously didn't use any credit to get this skill book, but it's still regarded as impossible to learn. Which means he might have to go out on his first adventure in the Realm of Defenders without any skill at all. But, after the initial brief period of feeling dejected, he firms his resolve. He still needs to try and learn this skill.

"I will try to learn this. If there is no progress in 5 days I will have to go out without any skill and starts earning credits to buy another skill book," Alex makes his own resolve.

Alex opens the skill book and reads the introduction.

"F-ranked Energy Manipulation - Support Skill. The world is full of energy. It exists everywhere around us in various forms. It also exists inside of us. To understand energy is to understand oneself. To control energy is to control the world."

Alex keeps reading the content of the book. It teaches someone how to move the Mana from the lower dantian to every part of their body. Mana is energy, so when it permeated his whole body it will make him stronger beyond his basic stats. In theory, this is a good skill, but how much stronger can one get is still a question. And the difficulty in learning this skill made many people gave up on this skill.