Evolution

Suddenly, a familiar voice echoed in my mind, startling me:

"Alpha System activated. Task completed. Reward: 50 evolution points."

My heart skipped a beat. Evolution points? Before I could fully process this information, I felt a surge of energy course through my serpentine body.

The life points from all the fish I had devoured were accumulating, and I could feel my strength increasing with every passing second.

Despite the temptation to hunt for more prey, something inside me—perhaps a remnant of my former human rationality—urged me to stop.

"That's enough for now," I thought. "I need to understand what's happening."

I swam towards a nearby rock formation, curling up in a small cave to focus. The system's voice spoke again:

"Evolution function unlocked. Multiple branches available."

Before my eyes, a translucent holographic screen appeared. It displayed a complex evolution tree, with branches extending in all directions: claws, sound, perception, wings, fins, and even some labeled as "supernatural abilities." My mind spun at the possibilities.

However, not all options were available. Some were grayed out, with labels indicating "Prerequisites not met" or "More points required." With my current 50 points, I could only choose between three options:

1. Claw Evolution (40 points)

2. Sound Evolution (10 points)

3. Perception Evolution (30 points)

Each option came with a brief description. Claws promised to be "powerful and versatile, useful on land, sea, and air."

Sound offered the ability to "emit sounds, with potential for speech and sonic attacks in later stages."

Perception would enhance my "ability to detect and understand the environment, useful both now and in the future."

I felt like a kid in a candy store, but with the added pressure of knowing that my survival depended on this choice.

Claws would be incredibly useful in combat, especially if I encountered predators. On the other hand, enhanced perception could help me avoid dangers before they became real threats.

As I debated internally, the system surprised me with a new message:

[By devouring creatures, there is a chance to acquire their talents. The talents obtained depend on the species of the consumed creature. These talents can be used for upgrades, but this feature will unlock in the third stage.]

"Third stage? What does that mean?" I asked mentally, but the system remained silent. I sighed inwardly, resigning myself to figure these things out on my own.

I opened my eyes, observing the vast ocean around me. The currents pushed me gently, but I decided to swim against them, slowly ascending toward the surface. As I rose, I made my decision.

"I choose claw evolution," I declared mentally. Immediately, I felt a sharp pain course through my body. It wasn't as intense as the system's initial activation, but it still made me shudder.

I watched, fascinated, as my two front limbs began to form, each with five fingers ending in sharp, retractable black claws.

With the 10 points remaining, I decided to take a chance on sound evolution. "Even if I can't talk yet, at least I'll be able to make basic sounds. Better than nothing," I reasoned.

The process was equally painful, but shorter. I felt my throat and vocal cords transforming, adapting to my new form.

When it was all over, I floated near the surface, marveling at my new appearance. I extended my new limbs, watching as the claws extended and retracted at will. They were beautiful, black as obsidian. When retracted, they were barely noticeable, giving me a surprise advantage in case of attack.

Excitement washed over me. I felt more powerful, more complete. In a burst of euphoria, I tried to shout for joy... and what emerged from my throat took me completely by surprise.

A deep, guttural roar echoed through the water.

The roar reverberated through the ocean, vibrating with an intensity that left me stunned. In the distance, about a hundred meters away, I saw a small boat. The crew seemed to have heard my roar because I saw them running frantically across the deck, clearly alarmed.

…

On the deck of a small pirate ship, the morning's tranquility was shattered by a terrified scream.

"Captain! Captain!" shouted a bearded crewman, his voice cracking with fear. "There's a monster in the water!"

The captain emerged from his cabin, cursing under his breath. His red beard billowed, and a deep scar crossed his weathered face. "What the hell are you squawking about, chicken? Did you see your own reflection in the water?"

But when the captain followed the crewman's trembling gaze, his blood ran cold.

In the distance, rising from the water like a nightmare made real, a long, dark head emerged. The creature's eyes, completely black, locked onto the ship, gleaming with a murderous intent that sent a chill down the captain's spine.

"By all the Kaidos!" the captain exclaimed, his face visibly paling. "Turn around! Turn back, damn it! Turn back right now!"

A murmur of confusion spread among the crew.

The same bearded crewman who had raised the alarm dared to question the order. "But Captain, you're Firebeard, with a bounty of 50,000,000 Berries. Are we really going to run from a mere sea monster?"

The captain's response was swift and harsh. His hand cracked across the crewman's cheek with a sharp sound. "Idiot! Do you want to get us all killed?" Without another word, the captain retreated to his cabin, leaving behind a bewildered crew.

…

Meanwhile, in the water, I, Morgan, watched with curiosity as the pirate ship abruptly turned around. "Are they calling me a monster?" I thought, an ironic smile forming on my face. I couldn't see it, but I was sure it was a terrifying sight.

Despite my recent evolution and my new claws, I felt a voracious hunger growing inside me. "Well, I have to keep growing for my future," I reflected as I dove deeper in search of prey.

What I didn't know at that moment was that we were living in a crucial year. It was the year 1497 of the Sea Circle Calendar, a year that would go down in history.

Somewhere in the Grand Line, a man named Gol D. Roger was about to conquer the seas, find the legendary One Piece, and proclaim himself King of the Pirates.

And while the world above was about to change forever, I, in the depths of the ocean, was also undergoing my own transformation, until I finally became something akin to a Leviathan.

________

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