Golden Globe

I smiled as I looked down at the enormous pile of orbs we had collected. This was the highest amount I had seen in one place since the world had gone to shit.

All the exp that Ella, me and Rose got should be shared, so it didn't matter which of us crushed the globes.

I had set some aside so that Kuro could also level. It was a way of saying thanks for helping us this far, and she needed to get stronger to be useful.

"Well let's get started."

I said it to no one in particular as we all started to crush the globes.

Gear started to appear all around us, as my experience bar started to rocket up. I sent a quick glance over the gear as it dropped to the ground.

(Exquisite Elven Bow (Green) – A hand crafted bow of the elves, it was exquisitely made and extremely durable. Enchanted with magic it increases the penetration power of arrows used and is lightweight.)

(Elven Leather Armour (Green) – Elven crafted Leather armour. Increase in Endurance +2 END)

(Elven Leather Boots (Green) – Elven crafted leather boots. Increase in Endurance +4 AGI)

(Elven Leather Gloves (Green) – Elven crafted leather gloves. Increase in Endurance +4 STR)

(Elven Leather Pants (Green) – Elven Crafted Leather pants. Increase in Endurance +2 END)

(Elven Mage Robe (Green) – Standard Elven crafter mage robes, unisex. Increase in Intelligence and Spirit, +2 INT, +2SPR)

(Female Elven Leather Armour (Green) – Elven crafted Leather armour, specifically made for females. Increase in Endurance +2 END)

(Female Elven Leather Pants (Green) – Elven crafted Leather armour, specifically made for females. Increase in Endurance +2 END)

(Female Elven Mage Robes (Green) – Elven Crafted mage robes specifically for females. Increase in Intelligence and Spirit, +2 INT, +2SPR)

(Elven Mage Staff (Green) – A staff that is attune with nature. Helps to channel energy. Good for nature or earth mages)

Multiple sets of elven gear dropped as the globes were crushed. No swords were found, only bows and staffs, which was disappointing, but the gears stat bonuses were amazing. I split my attention for a few seconds to quickly equip the gear and got Ella and Kuro to do the same.

The problem came as we were about half way through the pile. With the extensive increase in exp needed per level, even after going through half the pile we hadn't reached level 20 yet. Rose herself hadn't been gaining any exp and I figured it was because she couldn't gain any exp till we were at the same amount of points.

Which made no sense at all.

So when we reached level 19 and got to her exp number, it finally moved. It was when we got to level 20 that a blue box appeared in front of both me and Ella.

(Level 20 Reached, Kin Evolution Required to proceed)

(Experience stored)

(Stored 50,000 exp)

(Proceed with Evolution? Y/N?)

My hand, which was about to crush another globe stopped. Ella stopped and Rose also stopped. Kuro who was off to the side didn't notice and continued to gain experience. That didn't concern me. My mind had turned completely blank at the moment.

I couldn't gain more exp until Ella evolved?

Well she couldn't evolve right now, I still needed to head back and get her the evolution serum. Without it I couldn't make her stronger. Whatever she would evolve into after level 20, would be miles apart from if she gets all the proper resources.

My gut was telling me this fact, and I had started to rely on it more and more. I would have panicked a bit had the stored exp message not shown itself. I could still gain the exp; it just wouldn't be available to me till she had evolved. I couldn't gain anymore exp either. The stored exp wouldn't go into my level. I was stuck at 0/1,200,000 on my exp bar.

Because I was stuck there, so was Rose. I frowned, but after thinking about it for a few seconds it was fine. I wanted a higher level to kill the elder in the dungeon. He would most likely be a level 20 and getting a higher level was only be a reassurance to me.

We could still crush the globes and get exp, we just couldn't level. I calmed down and pressed the 'N' in the box. Ella left the decision completely to me and I was glad she wouldn't do anything till I decided. If she wanted to evolve before I got the evolution system, we would miss out big time.

Going through that crisis my heart calmed down and we continued to crush the globes. There was a lot left to go and it was all being stored. Once Ella evolved I was sure we would burst right in to level 22 or higher.

In the end after all the globes were crushed Kuro had made it to level 20. She was more than half way through the level, but would need quite some time to get the rest. It's not every day that you get this much exp.

Rose, Kuro and me had stored a grand total of 5,650,000 experience points and it was a lot more than I was expecting. If the requirements per level didn't drastically spike, we would be able to get another 3 or 4 levels once everything was said and done.

I smiled as the rest of them got ready to leave; we had already spent enough time in the town and had to hurry to get to the dungeon. While they were checking their gear and swapping out their weapons, for the best they could find, I ruffled through my pockets.

Tucked away in the corner of my right pocket, I instantly grabbed onto the small gem that was lying there. Pulling it out I stared at the golden glow that enveloped it and used analyze.

???

Level 20

???

No Previous Class Allowed

I still couldn't see what the thing actually did, even at level 20. Well I didn't care; I had waited a long time to finally use this globe. If I didn't use it now, I would be stupid. Throwing caution to the wind I crushed the globe.

Unlike the usual, when the globe was crushed the golden glow exploded outwards and blinded me. I felt it seep into my body and something was changing.

With what eye sight I had left, I saw what had been in the globe.

System Function

Level 20

Evolution

No Previous Class Allowed

That was all I could make out before even that disappeared and the golden glow was sucked into my body.

And then….. I felt nothing.

Nothing seemed to have changed; unlike at the start when I felt something, nothing else happened. I was dumbfounded and prayed that I hadn't screwed up somehow.

I was pensive as 30 seconds passed before a box appeared. My heart calmed down as I saw it appear and I took a breath.

(New data received)

(System override!)

(Class Function locked!)

'What!!!'

I screamed in my head! I couldn't get a class anymore!!!!

What the hell is happening? Did I screw up?

My heart beat a mile a minute before more boxes popped up.

(Function Unlocked)

(Evolution Function Unlocked)

I was stunned as I stood looking at the messages. I didn't move and waited for more boxes to appear, but nothing did. There was no explanation, nothing telling me what had truly just happened. I was left with no answers and a multitude of questions.

I quickly pulled up my status to see if anything had changed.

Name: Liam Coltear

Race: Human*

Sex: Male

Age: 18

Level: 20 EXP (0 – 1,200,000)

Kin : Ella Coltear, Rose Wood

Resistance: 10% Ice Resistance

Entertainment Points: 89,946

Attributes: (0 Points)

STR: 90 (94)

END: 92 (96)

INT: 87 (87)

AGI: 96 (100)

SPR: 89 (89)

LUK: 15 (15)

I didn't need to pull up my skills or equipment, as I already knew what was happening I was looking around for anything new. I put in my spare attribute points that I had collected and actually missed it on my first look.

Wait WOAH!

What the hell happened to my entertainment points????

I was shocked as I looked at the amount of EP I had. It was ridiculous. I thought I would have trouble getting Ella her evolution serum, but looking at it now that was a nonexistent worry. I could buy 9 of them with the amount of points I had.

My mind couldn't help but wander as I thought of all the gear and potions I could get, once I got back to town. Fantasizing for a few seconds I refocused and looked for the new function.

It took me a few seconds to realize that there was a small point next to my race.

Where there had been 'Human', there was now 'Human*'. That had to be it. I had no way of checking about the whole class locking thing, because I didn't have one. But I could check on this. Eager to see what had changed, I quickly clicked on the small point.

(Evolution requirements not met.)

(One factor Pending)

Yeap, I had no clue what was going on. It was like the evolution with Ella, it looked like I would need to fulfill a certain amount of requirements or have a certain amount of resources to evolve.

Was I even human anymore?

That small thought popped into my head, as I looked at the blue boxes. They told me one simple fact. Once I used this evolve function, I wouldn't really be human anymore. I couldn't even go back if I wanted to; the class function that would let me become more powerful was completely locked now.

I let out a dejected sigh as I thought over the ramifications of the golden globe. Ella who could sense how I was feeling moved over with a worried look. I gave her a reassuring smile and had a quick look at her status; I needed to put her attribute points in anyways.

Name: Ella Coltear

Race: Infected (Empress Class Strain)*

Sex: Female

Age: 18 Days

Level: 20 EXP (0 – 1,200,000)

Kin: Liam Coltear, Rose Wood

Resistance: 10% Fire Resistance

Attributes: (0 Points)

STR: 92 (96)

END: 92 (96)

INT: 86 (86)

AGI: 96 (100)

SPR: 87 (92)

LUK: 13 (18)

I gave a slightly chuckle, as I realized that I had finally caught back up with her stats. I was on par with her in AGI and close in the other physical aspects. Like me she also had a point next to her race name. Giving it a small click the same message from before popped up.

(Proceed with Evolution? Y/N?)

I clicked no and looked over Rose's. Unlike both me and Ella she didn't get a point next to her race stat having reached level 20. It gave me a small bit of relief.

Getting everything done and all our gear set, we prepared ourselves to head towards the dungeon. Just before we left I called Kuro over.

"You mind if I see your stats?"

She didn't react badly to my question and said yes.

Name: Boosted KuroNeko

Race: Human

Sex: Female

Age: 18

Class: Newb, Warrior, Weapon Master

Level: 20 EXP (550,000–1,200,000)

Entertainment Points: 9602

Attributes: (0 Points)

STR: 83 (87)

END: 111 (115)

INT: 40 (40)

AGI: 94 (98)

SPR: 57 (57)

LUK: 7 (7)

She was the same level as us now. We still of course eclipsed her in total attribute points. But because I had prioritized the balance of attributes Kuro was a lot closer to our higher stats, and had a ridiculous END of 111.

I mean her SPR and INT were far behind us, but her STR, END and AGI were almost at our level, or eclipsed it. At least she would be able to keep up with us.

I made a small mental note about how powerful those like her would be. Even if I did have quite a few cheat skills and connections that made me powerful. The classes that they get and how powerful they could become wouldn't be far behind.

Giving her a small nod, I turned and followed Rose out the front gate. She knew how to use it thankfully or we would have had to jump the walls again. Once we were outside it automatically closed behind us.

We didn't have time to collect the corpses or eat anything. Well Ella did take a few pieces while we were there, but it would be useful later.

Not just Ella, Rose could also siphon energy from people. I wasn't sure if it worked with dead people, but it was worth coming back here later.

Getting out the gate, we started to rush off to the north.

It was time to end this!