First Evolution! ...What's going on with my Soul?
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A few minutes had passed since Veronica had defeated her 'siblings', the Living Armors, and her 'father', the Living Armor Commander. She had gotten ready to leave, but needed to do one thing before that.
"Evolve… the ability to 'evolve' given by the Samsara system is still present even in my third life. Though, compared to Kritias monsters who evolve immediately after reaching the max level, the Samsara system needs the approbation of the user for doing so," thought Veronica.
The Samsara system was often called 'the god's miracle' or 'god's blessing'. Because in Kritias there was already a remarkably similar system, it was not seen as something alien or strange, but as a blessing.
Possessing a unique system given to her by a strange entity, she was able to do something that no demon could evolve! A unique trait only given to monsters, while intelligent races were limited by their Jobs, and could not quickly develop their physique through evolution.
To top it all, if she were just able to evolve, she would have been called a 'half-monster', but she was also able to obtain jobs, something that not even half-monsters, children between monsters and demons were capable of.
Due to these perks, she was able to raise in strength even when she was deemed as talentless due to her inferior physical strength and lack of any magic affinity.
Now in this third life, Veronica planned to use such abilities to their fullest, opening the 'Evolution' section in the Samsara System, she glanced at her options.
[Evolutions Available]
[Cursed Living Armor], [Spiritual Living Armor]
"Two options…"
Veronica used appraisal in the system itself, which opened its hidden secrets that it didn't even show to its users such as evolution and job information before obtaining them.
[Cursed Living Armor]
A special evolution granted to a Living Armor who had assimilated a large quantity of cursed steel. It specializes in physical offense and defense over everything else.
It also obtains the Skill 'Cursed Wounds', which can make enemies afflicted by its attacks suffer status ailments such as 'Decreased Recovery Speed', 'Decreased Strength', etc.
This evolution specializes in Health Points, Strength, and Defense.
[Spiritual Living Armor]
A special evolution granted to a Living Armor who had learned how to communicate with spirits has created a bond with one and obtained the 'Spirit Magic' Skill. A rare evolution of Living Armor that specializes in the use of magic.
Evolving into this option would grant bonuses in levels of skills such as 'Spirit Magic' and 'Mana Control'.
This evolution specializes in Mana Points and Magic.
"Ah, both look good… It is hard to decide, but I have to think quickly… I need to consider things and my future development before deciding, but also on convenience and survival" thought Veronica.
Veronica's goal was to specialize in both magic and physical fighting in the future, mixing both things to create the greatest results.
However, she was now given a choice between choosing one side or the other, she did not have a middle point like a 'Cursed Spiritual Living Armor' or something.
She considered her current fighting style and the prioritization of survival instead of thinking about the far future.
"Cursed Living Armor it is… it's the most convenient for now, I must use the tools I've already obtained. 'Cursed Wounds' will help me out greatly when fighting against any monster whenever I use my Unarmed Fighting Technique. Leveling up my Spirit Magic or Mana Control through the other evolution seems nice, but I don't think it would bring as much benefit as a quick increase in my bulk and immediate offense," concluded Veronica, as she selected the first evolution option.
Flash!
As she selected the evolution option of 'Cursed Living Armor', she felt her entire armor body shrouded in momentary darkness… its components slowly increasing in quality at the same time that her soul.
She felt as if her soul gained a strange, new component…
"Even my soul is evolving…?"
Ding!
[Congratulations! The user had successfully evolved into [Cursed Living Armor; Rank 2]!]
[You acquired the [Cursed Wounds; Level 1] Skill!]
Veronica checked her stats out and saw that her Health Points, Strength, and Defense had increased slightly. Evolution did not always grant great stat boosts but reset one's 'evolution level' to gain more stats through leveling up.
Of course, there was a certain increase in one's body quality, and sometimes, more extreme changes in physique would bring greater stat increases or stats rearrangements.
Veronica's new appearance seemed almost identical to her previous one, as she had already absorbed the 'Cursed Steel' material that made the Living Armor Commander's body. She felt that her body became a little bit heavier and the claws in her gloves became sharper.
Aside from that, Veronica felt incredibly healthy for some reason, her soul, which had been damaged since she reincarnated, had suddenly become more vigorous and thicker. Although it was still weakened, if she were to evolve again, it may finally fully recover.
Aside from the vigorous feeling that she felt, her soul had taken into a darker tone, not being pale yellow anymore. This did not create any issues for her whatsoever, and even Shade, who was resting inside of her hollow body felt that her soul had become more 'familiar' with him.
"The quality of your mana had become greater… and tastier as well. This was a surprise coming from you, piece of junk" said Shade, once again shrouding itself in the darkness of Veronica's hollow body.
Veronica did not have time to talk with Shade, she immediately went to her System tab again and selected the 'Job Change' section.
[Jobs Available]
[Apprentice Warrior], [Armored Thrower], [Cursed Armor Brawler] (New!), [Apprentice No-Attribute Mage] (New!), [Apprentice Spirit Caster] (New!), [Soul User] (New!)
Veronica glanced at her options with excitement, in the time that it took her to reach level 100 in both Rank and Jobs, she had already unlocked four new Jobs to change into…
She was familiar with the two Mage jobs there, as she had used them in her previous life, and guessed that 'Cursed Armor Brawler' was just an upgrade to her 'Armored Unarmed Fighter' Job. But the last Job 'Soul User'… she had never heard or seen that one in her previous life.
Veronica instinctively used 'Appraisal' on it without even thinking.
[Soul User]
A Job unlocked by those capable of using their bare souls as a tool. Different than the 'Phantom User' Job, which uses the Phantom Essence that covers the soul of an Undead, a 'Soul User' uses its soul itself to fight, resulting in greater strength.
This Job strengthens the user's 'Soul Form' Skill and grants it the ability to use its soul as a limb.
This Job specializes in Health Points, Mana Points, Strength, and Magic.
"This… would I be able to heal my Soul if I level the 'Soul Form' skill? And the bonuses don't seem half bad either… If I am capable of using my own soul as a weapon and a limb, then my fighting options would surely increase" thought Veronica, as she decided to select this Job.
Ding!
[You have changed Jobs to [Soul User]!]
[The Level of the [Soul Form; Level 1] Skill has increased!]
[You Acquired the [Soul Materialization; Level 1] Skill!]
Veronica, for a second time, felt her soul heal itself… The terrible damage caused by the wicked God of Light and Righteousness in her second life had left a large scar in her soul, but now, that scar had finally closed itself and she felt filled with energy and enthusiasm.
"My soul… the painful wound has finally closed itself… haah… this really is a relief," thought Veronica, patting her armor's belly as if she had eaten so much and felt satisfied.
Aside from healing her wounded soul, she acquired the mysterious skill 'Soul Materialization'. Without doubting for a second, Veronica inspected its information with 'Appraisal'.
[Soul Materialization: Level 1/10]
A skill that only those capable of manipulating their souls and convert them into semi-solid material can acquire.
It further increases the effects of this ability, giving the user an easier time materializing their soul and shaping it as they please, with a slight cost in Mana.
Increase the level of this skill for greater control and strength.
"With this… doing what I did before should be slightly easier…" said Veronica, releasing her dark-colored soul for a moment and shaping it as a hand… well, it was too deformed to even look like that, it resembled a large and grotesque claw with four sharp fingers.
As she activated 'Soul Materialization', her claw became slightly more solid, and she was capable of taking the large pieces of armor with it and even punch them while using 'Unarmed Fighting Technique', though doing it with her soul, it consumed more Mana than with her own gloves.
Satisfied with her new abilities, Veronica began to look for the 'switch' or anything that could open the hidden secret room.
Using her 'Appraisal' to inspect every area of the room, she quickly found a strange button below the throne where the Living Armor Commander used to sit on.
She decided that before she pressed it and revealed the rest of the dangerous dungeon to her, she would use something to cover her presence.
"Shade… let us cast 'Lesser Brightness Manipulation'. Here, have my Mana" said Veronica.
Shade stayed silent as he obeyed, eating on Veronica's tasteful mana, he gave her the ability to cast the Level 1 Light Attribute Spirit Magic Spell 'Lesser Brightness Manipulation'.
With this skill, she manipulated the brightness that reflected over her body, making her seem as if she were always covered in darkness… though the effects of the spell were not as much due to its low level.
This was the best she could do for now, but she suspected that just like her previous life, if she used this spell enough, she would soon acquire the 'Stealth' Skill, to remove her presence even further if possible.
The sound of her armor cracking was still obvious though…
Pressing the button, the walls beside her trembled, as they began to move to the left, revealing a long, dark, and damp corridor… fog and darkness were the only things accompanying Veronica in this dungeon, alongside the dim light produced by the torches attached to the mossy walls.
"Alright, Shade, let's get going"
Of course, she was not completely alone, she had Shade with her.
"Piece of junk, whenever you get killed, I am leaving you… But I would prefer that you would not, as your mana is tasty…" said Shade.
"You're very strange for a spirit, you know? I've never met such a talkative one!" muttered Veronica, in a low voice.
"…"
Shade did not respond, it seemed to have become flustered…
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[Name: Nameless (Veronica)
[Race: Cursed Living Armor.
[Age: 0
[Titles: None.
[Type: Undead/Ethereal/Material
[Rank: 2
[Level: 001/100
[Job: Soul User.
[Job History: Armored Unarmed Fighter.
[Level: 001/100
[Health Points: 125/125 > 145/145
[Mana Points: 180/180
[Strength: 98 > 118
[Defense: 170 > 190
[Magic: 82
[Resistance: 57
[Agility: 65
[Passive Skills]
[Memory Retention; Level 4]
[Special Five Senses; Level 6]
[Soul Form; Level 2]
[Mana Enlargement; Level 5]
[Magic Enlargement; Level 5]
[Abnormal Status Immunity]
[Strengthened Physical Power; Level 3]
[Physical Damage Resistance; Level 2]
[Armor Rearrangement; Level 2]
[Absorption Healing (Mineral, Materials, Armor); Level 1]
[Active Skills]
[Hardworking; Level 7]
[Appraisal; Level 6]
[Charge; Level 2]
[Coordination; Level 1]
[Unarmed Fighting Technique; Level 3]
[Throwing; Level 2]
[Shield Technique; Level 1]
[No-Attribute Magic; Level 1]
[Mana Control; Level 1]
[Spirit Magic; Level 1]
[Cursed Wounds; Level 1]
[Soul Materialization; Level 1]
[Unique Skills]
[Armory; Level 1]
[Current Armory Slots: 2]
[Slot 1: [Cursed Living Armor Commander] [Armor]
[Slot 2: [Medium-Sized Copper Shield] [Shield]
[Befriended Spirits]
[Shade, Spirit of Shadows and Darkness (Light-Attribute)]