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[Shapeshifter] Chapter 22: Evolution Options
🕑 Added 2025-07-03 05:03:44 +0000 UTC"Wait, what?" Xen said as his mind was overwhelmed with information. "What titles?"
The system didn't answer him. Apart from displaying his levels and skills, it seemed to keep any other information in the background, such as titles and stats. He knew they existed... perhaps if he got his appraisal skill to a higher grade than C, he could see them one day?
His thoughts were interrupted by a rather aggressive system message.
Select your path forward. Warning: Evolution choice is permanent.
[Option 1: Neural Slime]
[Option 2: Biomorph Slime]
[Option 3: Necrovore Slime]
[Option 4: Echo Slime]
[Which option will you pick?]
"Um," Xen paused. How was he supposed to know? Did he have to guess from the names alone? "System, can you tell me any more about the options? What is a Neural Slime?"
[Option 1: Neural Slime]
An extremely rare variant of an F-grade Mind Slime that excels in cognitive assimilation and mental disruption. This evolution prioritizes knowledge integration and psychic influence and comes with the skill [Neural Pulse] and the passive [Memory Sync].
Xen read over the description of a Neural Slime and realized this was the classic evolution path of a Mind Slime. It seemed to build upon what he was already good at and made him special.
"I wonder what title caused me to gain this form—"
Evolution unlocked due to the title [The Mind That Eats]
You have devoured the minds of multiple intelligent beings and retained more than just memories. The echoes of their thoughts linger within you, evolving your consciousness beyond instinct.
"Wait! You can tell me about my titles! Why don't you show them anywhere on my status screen?"
The system remained silent.
"Whatever. Can you tell me about these skills? What is a Neural Pulse, or this passive skill?"
Skill: [Neural Pulse (D)]
Emit a localized psychic shockwave that disorients and interrupts enemies within a small radius. This skill is best used to interrupt spells before they are cast.
Passive: [Memory Sync]
Enhances memory clarity and speeds up the assimilation of devoured knowledge. Mental resistance increased.
That Neural Pulse skill sounded strong. Of course, what the system defined as a 'small radius' would seriously impact the usefulness of this skill, but the idea of interrupting skills before they were even cast would give him a significant advantage in fights against a mage when inhabiting a melee form like the wolf.
"The passive skill doesn't sound very beneficial other than gathering more information from memories. Mhm, actually, mental resistance does sound nice now that I think about it. The more memories I absorb from so many different monsters and humans, the less I want them messing with my mind."
"Though I have to say, the fact I just get given a new skill and passive skill for free after evolving is really interesting. This gives me all the more reason to level up my other forms to evolve them."
Starting off with such a strong option, Xen was incredibly curious about what other options the system wanted to tempt him with. Tackling the second option on the list, he asked, "System, what is a Biomorph Slime? Just tell me everything about it, including the skills and such."
[Option 2: Biomorph Slime]
An adaptive variant of Mind Slime that has achieved control over internal form manipulation. Specializes in shapeshifting efficiency and hybridization of devoured traits.
Skill: [Fleshsculpt (D)]
Alter your current form mid-combat by combining previously devoured racial traits or features.
Passive: [Efficient Metamorphosis]
Biomass costs are reduced. Shapeshifting and modifications are faster and less taxing.
"I see, a form that seems to focus more on the bodies I overtake and general shapeshifting compared to the Neural Slime, which had a larger focus on my abilities as a slime and a... person? Would calling myself a person be the right term? Probably not. Wait, this is a rare opportunity. System, what title did I get that let me unlock this evolution?"
Evolution unlocked due to the title [Bodybreaker]
You have reshaped your form mid-battle, dissolved flesh to mend yourself, and altered your body's nature repeatedly. You are no longer bound to a single identity but are a creature of pure adaptation.
"I did do that quite a few times, didn't I? I wonder if that's something other Shapeshifters are capable of, or only me? Actually, are there even any other shapeshifters out there? When I got it, the system claimed my shapeshifter class was 'Unique,' which sounds quite rare. Perhaps even one in a million? Or am I truly a unique existence and the only shapeshifter?"
Either way, Xen wasn't as interested in this evolution as the first one—simply because it mostly improved things he was already capable of. It also focused more on enhancing a form physically, but he wanted to focus more on skills and magic if possible.
"If I level up my shapeshifter skill, which is currently at E grade, I'm bound to see some improvements in these aspects without needing to take this class. Alright, next one," his eyes flickered to the empty staircase looming overhead, "I'm on a time limit here."
[Option 3: Necrovore Slime]
A death-aligned variant that thrives on necrotic energy and communion with the undead. Gains affinity for lifeforce manipulation and undead synergy.
Skill Unlocked: [Soul Leech (D)]
Drain lifeforce from weakened enemies to regenerate mana and biomass over time.
Passive Gained: [Undeath Resonance]
Undead creatures treat you as kin. Corruption-type skills enhanced.
Xen's purple flame eyes flickered in disbelief. "What the hell title gave me this option?"
Evolution unlocked due to the title [Soul-Eater]
You have consumed the life force and essence of an undead and felt no revulsion. You resonate with corruption and walk the boundary between life and death.
"...this title is total bullshit. I ate those bones with no revulsion because they tasted of nothing but dust and sadness. I suppose I am inhabiting the body of a skeleton right now, and I said aloud that it felt the most comfortable, but this is going too far." Xen paused and looked over the option again. "Actually, you know what? This does make quite a lot of sense as an option. I interact with quite a lot of dead bodies, and these skills... [Soul Leech (D)] seems a little odd as my fights never last that long to where this skill sounds like it could be useful... though there was that fight against the wolves where they were biting at me, and I was staying alive by burning through my biomass. This skill would have come in handy then. But most interesting is this [Undeath Resonance] passive. Undead creatures treat you as kin? Corruption-type skills enhanced? My strongest skill right now is [Corruption Missile (B)], which was already strong enough to kill a human ten levels higher than me, so that would get empowered, and undead would see me as kin..."
Xen felt a pang of longing in his chest. The idea of being treated as kin rather than an outsider who had to be killed on sight. Sure, it was by mindless undead, but he would appreciate going through sections of the dungeon infested with undead and being left alone.
Before going too deep, he decided to check the fourth and final option.
"System, show it to me."
[Option 4: Echo Slime]
A sensory-specialized evolution that is attuned to magical frequencies and perception. Enhances the ability to detect and analyze mana-based threats.
Skill: [Mana Echo (D)]
Send out a pulse of mana that maps the surrounding environment and reveals hidden enemies or traps. It can also reveal recent magical signatures.
Passive: [Perceptive Overflow]
Increases the effective range of all vision- and perception-based skills and, at the expense of mana, slightly accelerates your reaction time.
Evolution unlocked due to the title: [Mana-flow Observer]
You have seen the world not through eyes but through currents of mana, detecting truths hidden to others. You view the battlefield as a web of energy and intent.
The description didn't immediately grab him as he understood the value of perception and the ability to detect dangers, especially in the World Dungeon, which was filled with death. Yet, the passive skill seemed absurd.
"Aghhhh," he clutched his bony head in his hands. All four of the options seemed great. He could remove the Biomorph evolution from the options, but the remaining three were all solid contenders.
In the end, after much debate, he decided on which evolution to take.
