《Primal Ascension (Monster Evolution, Progression Fantasy)》 Chapter 1: The Escape It was an ordinary morning when golden light spread in every direction. ¡ªRecords of the Golden Dawn
After arranging the bait, Nick hid behind the thickets with his makeshift bow and arrows. In just fifteen minutes, sweat began dripping down his chin and an annoying mosquito buzzed over his head. Fortunately, it wasn''t mutated. As he waited, Nick fiddled with his bow, but even half an hour later no prey arrived. Across his face, though, no impatience was visible. Patience was the greatest virtue of a hunter. And Nick had acquired it with his many outings into the forest. A disturbance came from the shrubs. Nick tightened his grip on his bow, his heart raced, and peered at the moving shadow in the distance. A lone wolf cautiously traipsed towards the meat, looking around it now and then. The creature appeared hungry and beaten. Marks of battle were visible all over its furry body and saliva dripped down its ugly muzzle. Nick activated his skill and a light flashed over the monster¡¯s head.
[Windchasing Wolf ¡ª level 1]
Nick nodded and straightened his bow in his hand. The monster couldn¡¯t control its hunger and lunged at the chicken, tearing the meat with its sharp fangs. However, as it was drunk in the ecstasy of the tender and juicy meat after days of scavenging here and there, an arrow bolted from behind the thickets and pierced its neck. A painful howl of a monster echoed in the surroundings. And as the beast clawed the ground, struggled, and whimpered, another arrow found its way into its neck. The creature produced another mournful cry and twitched a few times before becoming still.
[You have slain a Windchasing Wolf ¡ª level 1]
Nick eyed the message flashing in front of his eyes and smiled. He could feel the monster''s energy coursing through his body. He¡¯d taken out another beast. All alone. Not that someone would allow him to join their team with his shoddy skill. He shook his head and pulled out his status window.
Name: [Nicklas Werfel - Level 1]
Talent: Insightful Vision(Common) ¨C You can see other living creatures¡¯ level, and learn minor things about inanimate objects.
Contracted Beasts: [None]
Nick eyed his Talent and sighed before looking with expectant eyes at the end of the screen.
Chaos Pearl(???) ¨C A one-time use heavenly treasure.A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
Assimilation ¨C 99%
When he¡¯d awakened three years ago, the Chaos Pearl was already there¡ªwith sixty percent assimilation. He¡¯d no idea what it did and where it had come from. Maybe it had something to do with his¡­ parents? Not that it mattered...he shook his head and shoved away all the distracting thoughts. He rummaged through his bag and pulled out a dagger. He pierced the monster¡¯s skull and dug out a blue gem. Then he collected beast blood in a jar before proceeding to skin it. They were all valuable materials. With them he¡¯d be able to pay his sister¡¯s school fee¡ª Hisss! When he was halfway through, a terrifying hiss sounded which was not too far away from him. He flinched and veered around, finding a gigantic python staring at him with its green and beady eyes, flicking its nasty tongue. All the color drained off his face. The monster was too strong. The dark scales covered its body and green slitted eyes gleamed with wild ferocity. He could not even see its level, only a huge question mark.
[Ironscale Python¡ª??]
To defeat a level 1 monster he had to use all his tricks. No way he stood a chance against this beast. He gritted his teeth and threw the bag away before dashing in the opposite direction. The monster hissed furiously and dashed after him. It wasn¡¯t willing to let its prey escape, no matter how meager meat he carried. Nick bolted through the woods, wheezing. He dared not slow down. His life was on the line. He could feel a tingling sensation on his neck. The monster was just a few meters behind him. The burning pain in his chest intensified and his legs began to slow down. It was only a matter of time before he got devoured by the python. Suddenly, the trees parted and revealed a massive waterfall roaring before his wide eyes. ¡°Oh, oh shit!¡± he cursed and tried to stop his sore galloping feet, but the momentum dragged him forward, forcing him to summersault before halting at the edge of the cliff. As he took a deep sigh of relief, the twisted shadow of the python emerged from the undergrowth. And it wasn¡¯t willing to slow down. Nick jerked back in fear, completely forgetting where he was standing. Then he heard cracking sound of a rock and began descending down the cliff. He eyed the vast sky and felt himself flying. It was an amazing feeling. Though what came after that was not so amazing. His body smashed on water and a terrible pain invaded his body. He was still dizzy when something collided with his skull. And on the verge of losing his consciousness, a message flashed in front of his eyes.
[Congratulations! The Assimilation of Chaos Pearl has completed]
[The skill Insightful Vision¡­]
Before he could read the full notification, he lost himself in darkness. *** Nick coughed out a mouthful of water as he dragged his beaten body out of the plunge pool. After stumbling a few meters, he tripped and fell on the ground. He wiped his wet face and remained sprawling with a pale face, groaning. He eyed the sky and sighed in relief. The sun was a few hours short from setting. Then he felt a throbbing pain from his skull. He reached out with his hand and felt a coarse crust underneath his soggy hair. He could also feel sticky blood that was yet to dry. Taking a deep breath, Nick dragged his aching body off the ground and eyed his surroundings. After determining his location, he began to move alongside the stream. This place was not far away from Aston. After all, with his lousy strength, Nick dared not to roam too far away from the town. And as he walked for ten minutes the knee of his left leg began to throb in pain. Earlier he failed to notice but the area around his knee was swollen and red. Though not a fracture, he would still require medical attention. That''s what happens when you make bricks without straw. Every now and then he took rest due to his bad condition. And when the sun was about to set, a colossal gate of the town revealed in the distance. As he limped towards the entrance, the guards eyed him up and down, vigilantly. ¡°Who the fuck aa''ye, boy?¡± asked one of them. Nick eyed the guard and revealed his white teeth underneath his smudged face. He knew the man. Chapter 2: The Appraiser The world fell into chaos, continents ripped apart, and creatures evolved. ¡ªRecords of the Golden Dawn
Nick was lying on a cot of a government hospital, waiting for the doctor to arrive who, according to the nurse, was tending to other patients. As he was getting bored, he called out his status window. What he saw on the screen left his mouth agape.
Name: [Nicklas Werfel ¡ª Level 1]
Talent: [Arcane Vision (Mythical) - Pierce through the secrets of the world, create the paths of evolution]
Contracted Beasts: [None]
His brain malfunctioned as his eyes remained stuck on the floating characters. Unable to understand the cause of the change, until it all came down to him. Chaos Pearl. Yes. He came to that conclusion because he could no more see the assimilation percentage at the end of the status window. Who''d have thought the change would be this drastic? Rare or Unique rank would have been too good to be true. God¡¯s blessing and what not. However, his Talent had turned straight into Mythical rank. ¡°So, you¡¯re the patient?¡± Nick was distracted when he heard a sweet voice. Hoisting his head, Nick found a girl of at most nineteen, towering over his head, clad in white apron of a doctor. From a badge pinned on her chest, he learned her name: Isabel Rylan. ¡°Ah, yes, Madam Doctor,¡± Nick said with utmost respect after a moment of pause. ¡°I''m him.¡± ¡°I''m no doctor, boy,¡± Isabel smiled before proceeding. ¡°I¡¯m a healer.¡± ¡°Healer?¡± Nick eyed the lady in surprise. No further explanation was given, though Nick understood what she meant. And as expected, a plant that exuded blue light manifested beside her. It had heart-shaped green leaves, twisted purple veins that snaked over them. Nick¡¯s eyes shone with a strange glimmer and his Talent was activated on its own.
Name: [Heartbloom - Level 5]
Type: [Plant]
Boodline Rank: [Common]
Skill: [Flesh Mending(Common) -Mends and heals the minor wounds]
Evolution Paths: [5] (Click)
Isabel eyed Nick and smiled, finding his shocked expression quite funny but also normal. Then she proceeded to check his wounds and gestured for the nurse to clean. After that, she waved her hand and the blue light started to spread out of the plant, covering his wounds.The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Nick took a deep breath and calmed his beating heart. He eyed the last line and clicked on it, revealing new information in front of him.
Evolution Path: 1
Heartbloom(Common) ? Emberglow(Uncommon) ? ???
(Click)
Evolution Path: 2
Heartbloom(Common) ? Vitalbloom(Uncommon) ? ???
(Click)
This time Nick was completely blown away. Not even bothering to look further. How many shocks had he gone through today? But no shock was greater than this one. Holy shit! he whispered. Isabel gave him an odd look, but for the moment, he couldn''t care less about her. A scientist would work his ass off for years to discover an Evolution Path from Common to Uncommon. But with just a glance he knew five of them. ¡°It''s done,¡± Isabel''s voice brought him back to his senses. ¡°Let me know if I''ve left any wounds unattended.¡± Nick breathed and checked his body. An amazed look appeared in his eyes. His wounds were mostly healed. His head trauma had been patched. Only rough marks of wounds were left. ¡°Thank you very much,¡± Nick said, gratefully. A confused look also surfaced over his face. A lady like her could work anywhere she wanted. What was she doing in a government hospital? "Once a month, I do voluntary work," she replied as if knowing his inner thoughts. Nick blinked and nodded in understanding. Before long Isabel left. Standing on the entrance of the hospital, Nick pondered briefly and walked towards his trashy coop of an apartment. Nick disliked three things in his life. One, eating alone, and another opening the door of a lonely house. What a terrible feeling it was. Whenever opening the door of his apartment, he felt as if the whole world was trying to crush him under its weight. And the last was his Talent. Obviously, now it wasn''t in the list. He needed to find something else to fill the vacant place. Maybe he could add his apartment to the list. As soon as he opened the door, dust fell over him and a bat screeched, and began it''s dance over his head in an unending loop. Nick sighed and used a net to catch the bat before sending it out of a window. After that he fell on the bed that made some really terrible sounds, in no time he was asleep. He was so fucking tired. When he opened his eyes it was already morning. He wiped his arse, brushed his teeth and took a long refreshing shower. Of course, he wasted as much water as he wanted, for he paid every month in gold coins. Then, he fried two stale breads over a gasoline stove. After consuming them, he packed a few things into his bag and walked out of his apartment. Nick eyed the rising sun and strolled towards the Town Plaza. Usually, if he wasn¡¯t hunting, he was working in a construction building. Mostly. But due to his condition, the former options were excluded. For that matter, today he¡¯d be an appraiser. That was his third profession, after hunter and labour, of course. A multitalent guy, indeed. T''s crowded, Nick thought as he reached the plaza. Pushing through the throng of people, he arrived at the area where antique shops were situated. He observed the people sitting by the street. Weird looking objects lay in front of them and most of them were trash. The purpose of those items was to make the appraiser look mysterious. Without these weird shenanigans many people would not even come close to them. For Nick, it was bizzare as fuck. However, the demand of the profession was as such, so he removed the bag from his back and settled it down. Then, he rummaged through it, pulled out a mattress and his own collection of strange objects: a broken lantern, rusty rings, and dirty stones. Nick''s eyes shone and a single word appeared above all the items: [Junk]. Settling down on the mattress, Nick closed his eyes, and pretended to be meditating. Earning money wasn''t an easy thing. There were three ways to earn it: killing, stealing, exchanging. Nick was into the third option, though he had also tried the second one a few times. He never thought about the first. He hoped he¡¯d never have to. In a world he lived there humans die for riches as birds die for food. Chapter 3: The Appraiser(2) Beware! Beware! They are here! DO NOT LET YOUR GUARD DOWN! ¡ªRenowned Seer of Ten Nation Alliance, Logan Stevens. Note: Logan went insane after the declaration.
Nick continued his pantomime as people entered and exited the antique shops. A few hired an appraiser. Identifying a gem among the trash could be tricky. Not many had the skills for it. No one came to him, though. His indignance peaked when a person perching five meters apart from him got hired. Nick cursed. Because he could see man''s Talent which had no relation to appraising.
Name: [Luca Hornsby - Level 1]
Talent: [Dusting] (Common) - A person can use a gusts of wind to clean dust.
Evolution Paths: [4] (Click)
Contracted Beast: [None]
The man was definitely a fake. But had better acting skills. Looked more experienced. And had more fake treasures laying in front of him. Taking a deep breath, Nick retracted his gaze. His luck. His damn luck. Even a fake guy like that could be hired but him. He didn''t know what to do. As he lamented, two silhouettes strolled towards him¡ªa girl and a boy of sixteen or seventeen. The male wore an azure linen shirt, and a black trouser which was narrow at the bottom, fastened with a belt, and tucked inside his boots. His eyes were sharp, carried a sword on his waist, and moved with a confident gait. The girl was clad in a short sleeved tunic and cotton trouser. Her black ponytail dangled on the back. Her slim figure and picturesque face looked like a doll. What a beautiful lady she was. However, as she strolled towards him, her nostrils flared. ¡°He''s just a boy, pretending to be an expert. Jack, do you really think he¡¯d know anything about appraising?¡± she asked with an irritating tone. Jack smiled but remained silent. He towered in front of Nick and their gazes met. ¡°I''d like to hire you,¡± said Jack. ¡°Fifty gold coins for an hour. What do you say?¡± An excited look emerged across Nick''s face. Finally, a fish, and a big one. ¡°Jack¡ª¡± ¡°It''s fine, Kate,¡± he said. ¡°At least half the appraisers are fake here. I don''t want to go around and check every single one of them and waste my time.¡± Kate flared her nostrils at Nick but remained silent. Looking at Kate¡¯s plump chest, Nick thought, So big boobs really make a woman stupid. Then, he eyed Jack whose face was full of confidence. Nick¡¯s eyes shone and a blue screen appeared in front of him.
Name: [Jack Burton - Level 15]
Talent: [Lucky Breeze] (Uncommon) - Luck favours the brave, and fools are not brave.
Evolution Paths: [3] (Click)
Contracted Beasts: [Scarlet Crane]
His heart thumped, not knowing what to feel. Jack looked even younger than him. Nick never thought a person could attain such height at such a young age. Jack might be the strongest person he had met so far.The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. ¡°You alright, man?¡± said the boy. Nick hoisted his head, took a deep breath and smiled. ¡°I''m alright,¡± he paused. ¡°Ah, yes, I''m alright with your offer.¡± ¡°Cool,¡± said Jack, then gestured to him to follow. Nick nodded and began walking behind the duo. Jack paused and eyed him before glancing at the mattress on which a broken lantern and rusty rings lay. ¡°What about your stuff?¡± he asked. ¡°Not a problem,¡± Nick said, grinning. ¡°There¡¯s nothing valuable here.¡± Kate scowled at him, as if saying, See, I told you he wasn''t reliable. Then she hooked her arm with Jack''s before saying, ¡°You really think he''s something special?¡± ¡°We will know soon.¡± The group arrived at the shop, Shadows of the Past. Nick had never been into it, only knew it was one of the best antique shops in Aston. Two guards stood at the gate. Both of them being Level 10. After passing through the entrance, a large hall filled with people enfolded in front of their eyes. Many of those people were tailed by an appraiser. Items were arranged inside glass shelves as well as inside glass cases. And things like painting, tapestries, and maps were displayed on walls. Of course, everything was controlled from behind the scenes. No one would leave his treasures open without ensuring their safety. ¡°Alright,¡± Jack said, indicating for Nick to take the lead from here. ¡°The floor is yours.¡± Nick nodded and began examining the objects inside the glass shelves.
[Junk]
[Junk]
[Junk]
¡°You really believe this guy?¡± Kate asked as she eyed Nick moving from one shelf to another after giving a single glance to the objects. ¡°Look at him. Not even trying to pretend.¡± Jack eyed Nick''s back speechlessly, unable to refute her. He shook his head and replied, ¡°No idea if he is the real deal, but I felt a strong impulse to hire him. You know how my Talent works, right?¡± Luck¡­ was an unpredictable element, creating unexpected strokes of fortune. Nonetheless, it could never be controlled. Jack knew it, that''s why he always went with the flow, hoping to understand his Talent better.
[Junk]
[Junk]
[Junk]
Nick continued to skip the shelves one after another. After crossing dozens of glass screens, he finally spotted something useful. A lantern. A broken lantern. Peculiar runes were etched over its surface, a small crack at its bottom, and dust over its head. No one paid it attention as it lay at a lonely corner. And by just looking at the lantern, no sane person would ever consider buying it. But Nick was different. He could see what others could not.
Name: [Crimson Lantern](Inactive)
Type: [Artifact]
Rank: [Common]
Ability: [The artifact that uses blood of a monster as its fuel and creates a scarlet defensive shield around the user]
Activation Method: [Soak the lantern inside the blood of a monster]
Nice, Nick grinned and eyed Jack. Before the boy could speak, Nick went on, ¡°Buy this lantern.¡± ¡°What¡ª¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Before Kate began flicking her venomous tongue, Jack interrupted, ¡°We will take it.¡± No one spotted it, but his eyes glittered at that moment. He could feel his ability. His luck. What an enigmatic thing it was. Kate groaned and gave Nick a hateful look. Not that Nick cared about it. Stupid girl. Nick continued his search and in no time another artifact came into his view¡ªa mask. The condition to use it was quite unique. An individual who never killed a man would not be able to use it. Nonetheless, Nick knew there was no shortage of such individuals. He suspected that Jack had already killed someone. Anyway, its ability was pretty good. Hearing and seeing of the user would be amplified. At times, they could be very important and save a person''s life. After indicating Jack to get the mask, he continued. And an hour went just like that. Ten artifacts. He had discovered that many. Nine of them being Common and one Uncommon rank. Of them he told about four to Jack. Even with that he felt his heart was bleeding. If only he had money¡­ As Jack paid money, Nick asked for a pen and a paper from a receptionist. Then he jotted something on it. Kate threw a curious glance in his direction, but before she could gape at the content, Nick folded the paper and returned the pen to the receptionist with a polite gesture. When Jack was done, Nick handed the note to him and said, ¡°Open it when you are alone.¡± He gave Kate a side glance, for the sole intention of taunting the pompous young mistress, before going his separate way. Leaving a smiling boy and a scowling girl behind as he faded into the crowd. Fifty gold coins clinking in his pocket. Chapter 4: The Beastmaster Every planet begins its journey of formation with a cloud of gas and dust, and becomes perfect after awakening its mana. ¡ªTemple of Sun God *** Nick walked out of the post office after sending money. He missed Luna, worried for her well being, and wondered about her life in the Eclipse Academy. Three months was a long time. The longest she ever stayed away from him. Has she awakened her Talent? Nick thought, his smile reaching the edges of his eyes. Would the amount I send be enough for her? Nick eyed the remaining ten gold coins in his hand and chuckled in melancholy. Money. If he could he¡¯d make it disappear off this world. A self mocking grin flashed over his face. Nevertheless, the capital was a damn expensive place. He needed to earn more or his precious sister wouldn''t be able to focus on her studies. *** Jack stood in front of a lonely wooden door. A distracted look crossed over his face. Never in his wildest dreams had he thought about leaving his home. And now here he was, far from that loving and warm place. The place that turned into a graveyard. The place of cold and broken corpses of his parents and family members. No. No more that warm place lived. A hell, dwelled by the spirits of his loved ones. Their screams and wails echoed through the smoldering corridors, berating him for abandoning them, for fleeing with his pathetic life. A man could bawl like a baby, feel afraid, get beaten, but a man could never forsake his family. A man should stand and fight and protect his loved ones. Coward, Jack muttered, tears begning to form in his eyes. A look of anguish clouding his face. Then, he clenched his teeth and suppressed his lurching emotions. As he pushed the door open, a small, unfamiliar, cold room greeted him. Placed the bag he carried on a table and plunged on the bed. And gradually the thoughts of his home started to resurface. Jack twisted and turned on the bed this way and that before sitting straight. He eyed the bag lying on the table. A distracted look flashed in his eyes before he dug out the note out of his pocket. As he skimmed through its contents, his tired eyes began twinkling. How could it be? Jack shook his head. No way he knows how to activate artifacts, right? Five minutes later he groaned and rummaged through the bag, pulling out a mask which, according to the appraiser, was an artifact called Mask of Two Senses. To activate this mask one did not need any requirement apart from being a killer. Killer¡­ Yes, that he was. And he''d kill more. For the sake of his parents. For his family. For himself. Jack grasped the mask, poured his mana into it through the small perforated area at its back. The mask burst into an incandescence of light. A shocked look emerged across his face. And then, the shocked expression turned into a solemn one as he eyed the note. A true master. Either that or someone strong was behind him. No fake appraiser could know such detailed information about artifacts. He was the real deal. For the second time that day he left the inn. A rare occurrence. But he needed to confirm it. To calm his beating heart. And for that he needed external materials. He needed to verify if all the information written in the note was really genuine. ***This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it When the next day Nick arrived at his working location, a familiar face came into his view. Jack stood by the road, searching this way and that as if looking for something or someone. Kate was nowhere to be found. And at that moment their gazes met. Jack smiled and stepped forward. ¡°You are here, Mister Appraiser.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± Nick raised an eyebrow, pretending to be clueless of his intention. ¡°How may I help you?¡± ¡°Two hundred gold coins for an hour. What do you say?¡± ¡°Deal!¡± Nick replied. Fuck pretending, money is more important. Today Jack led him into another renowned antique shop. Nick discovered a new batch of artifacts. Of them he selected five for Jack and decided to buy the remaining for himself. Not now. He was too poor at the moment. But if he could buy and sell artifacts, he''d have another source of income. After sending Jack off, Nick went to the Oblivion Alley. It was also called Monster Alley. A place where monsters were sold. And today he was going to get one. If he was old Nick, he¡¯d have accumulated more money, to buy a monster with an Evolution Path of at least Uncommon rank. However, with his upgraded Talent, that problem was no problem at all. He pushed open the door of a monster shop, and a hall unfolded before his eyes. An elegant chandelier hung from the ceiling at its center while the walls were decked with portraits. A young lady with short hair and large eyes perched behind reception table. And a number of people acquired sofas at the right side of the hall. At this moment a man clad in black suit strolled in his direction and greeted him. ¡°Hello, sir. How may I help you?¡± Nick eyed the attendant and said, ¡°I want to buy a monster. Common rank.¡± ¡°Perfect,¡± said the attendant and smiled. ¡°Sir, do you have any preferences? I mean what type of monster you want.¡± ¡°No,¡± Nick shook his head. ¡°I''ll decide after looking at them.¡± The attendant nodded and said, ¡°Please, follow me.¡± Nick followed him through a long corridor, spotting various bolted doors now and then; finally they arrived in front of a large gate. As the young man pushed the door open, an unpleasant smell wafted over Nick¡¯s face¡ªthe smell of dung and urine. A frown appeared across his face as he followed the employee into the Beast Hold. He spotted mammals, birds, reptiles and many more. Though none of them had known Evolution Path. He examined the monsters with an impressed expression. Walking up to the mammal section, his face darkened. Five hundred. Yes. The lowest price of a mammal. No way he could afford one of these. He eyed the different sections, but the outcome was not favourable at all. One by one he checked the monsters, only to lower his gaze in shame. Nick was disappointed, sad and lost. All the anticipation vanished out of his feverish eyes. No glitter remained in them. Only a dull tinge of sorrow. However, when he turned to leave, he spotted a plant in the corner with withering leaves and shriveling branches. A small tinge of green at its stem was the only indication that it lived. And when he eyed the price tag a smile flashed across his face. One hundred and fifty gold coins. Finally something he could afford. As he activated his Talent, a window appeared in front of him.
Name: [Dream Sprout - Level 1]
Type: [Plant] (Dehydrated)
Bloodline Rank: [Common]
Skills: [Dream World](Common): Mark the world, summon the world, control the world.
[Death Lash] (Common): Summon the wrath of nature, strike with a lash of thousand death.
Evolution Path: [1] (Click)
A surprise yelp escaped his mouth. For the first time Nick had seen a creature with two skills and a single Evolution Path. Though he could not understand the first skill, the second was definitely an attack type. ¡°I want this plant,¡± Nick told the attendant. The young man had a strange look on his face. Poor turd, he thought. No chance I''d get a tip from him. ¡°Ah, sure, sir,¡± he said, hiding his scorn behind his fake smile. ¡°Would you like to bond with it? Our shop will provide a free room if you want.¡± ¡°Sure, ¡± Nick replied curtly. How could the disdain on the attendant''s face escape his sharp eyes? However, he was really a poor crab. What could he say? After completing the transaction, Nick sat inside a room. Dream Sprout lay on his lap. He glanced at his finger that trickled with blood and began dripping it over the plant. As the blood spread over its withering branches, new leaves sprouted, branches turned healthy green. At that moment a sheen of golden light shrouded the plant, and Nick knew the bond had been established. He could literally feel something that connected him with Dream Sprout. A spiritual connection. A bond. Finally he was a beastmaster. Chapter 5: The Encounter People were shocked to find a random screen in front of their eyes, hanging in the air, telling them about their Talent. It was absurd. ¡ªRecords of the Golden Dawn
Dogs barked. Nick strode through a dark alley. A packet of pastry in his hand, a pleasant smile on his face. Dream Sprout floated inside his consciousness, absorbing his mana to replenish itself. To furnish that energy he¡¯d need to kill at least three level 1 monsters. With Dream Sprout, though, it was only a matter of time. The Windchasing Wolf might not even be his match in a head-on battle. He was still visualizing his great future and grinning from ear to ear when he abruptly stopped. His smile receded and a grim expression replaced it. In front of him stood three people, each of them carrying a dagger. He knew them. Especially the one standing at the very front. Lucas Hornsby. All of them were appraisers. ¡°What do you want?¡± Nick asked and activated his Talent. Lucas had a useless Talent, so he ignored him and paid attention to the other two. One man had the Talent called Warmth, which helped him to warm his body in cold weather. Useless. And another man could increase his speed for a short time. Both were Common rank Talents. Nick''s taught nerves relaxed. ¡°You already know what we want,¡± said Lucas. ¡°Surrender all the money you nipped from that young master.¡± ¡°I do not have money,¡± replied Nick coldly. He was no more afraid as he knew he could take them down with Dream Sprout. If they dared to move against him, he would let them know the pain real. ¡°Hehe,¡± chuckled Lucas. ¡°A hard nut to crack, huh? Let''s see how hard it is.¡± Nick frowned. He wanted to end this charade. Just when he opened his mouth to speak a rod smashed into his head from behind, ramming him on the concrete road. The world darkened. His head was numb, body out of control, and a strange buzzing filled his ears. A shadow rolled him with a shoe. Definitely the man who attacked him. How did I not notice him? He tried to take a look at the man, but there was only blur in front of his eyes. No matter how hard he tried. Then something warm and sticky dribbled over his cheek and neck. Blood. ¡°Wow, Stealth Talent is really awesome,¡± Nick heard Lucas exclaiming. ¡°Boss Aiden is amazing.¡± ¡°Cut the crap,¡± said the authoritative voice, Aiden. ¡°Take out all the money off his pockets.¡± Then someone pounced on him, checked his clothes while frisking for hidden coins, and collecting over hundred gold coins. ¡°For such a meagre amount you called for me?¡± cursed Aiden and landed a kick on Nick with frustration before marching away. His minions on his toes. As Nick continued to lay there his eyelids became drowsier every passing moment. And then he found himself floating in a strange space. His pain had vanished, his body was no longer out of his control. Fog. His surrounding was obscured and clouded in the fog. ¡°Master!¡± An excited voice echoed in the murky opening. Blinking in amazement towards the outcry, he let out a surprise yelp. What is that? he thought as he eyed at the figure in the distance. A plant? No. Dream Sprout. His first contracted beast was levitating towards him. But how the hell a plant could fly? It made no sense! And when it reached him, it transformed into a pixie. Light green illusory wings flapped behind her, purple hair dropped on her back, waving in the air as she moved. Her blue eyes glittered like an infinite starry sky, and her dress was made up of exquisite dark green leaves. ¡°Master!¡± said the pixie, as she flew around him and giggled like a child. ¡°You are¡­ are you Dream Sprout?¡± Nick asked, eyes blinking in astonishment and curiousity. ¡°Yes, Master,¡± she replied. "With Dream''s super awesome skill, Dream summoned you!¡± Skill? Nick''s eyes light up. ¡°You mean, Dream World?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Dream replied cheerfully and then settled on his shoulder. ¡°Dream wanted to meet Master! Inside your consciousness is boring!¡± Nick''s eyes glittered and said, ¡°So, Dream, you can summon anyone inside this¡­" he looked around him and continued, ¡°... Place?¡± ¡°Of course!¡± Dream replied. ¡°Leave the mark on them. Summon them in the Dream world.¡± ¡°You are smart,¡± Nick said, smiling as she flapped her wings and darted around him, teasing him from time to time. Low level monsters had no intelligence. That was common knowledge. Only with continuous leveling could they awaken their wisdom. However, his first Contracted Beast had falsified that theory. It was as strange as it was absurd. ¡°Of course, Dream is smart!¡± she said. And then Nick''s surroundings changed. No, he was not back in the dark alley with his broken body. He stood amidst the flower field. Roses, tulips, sunflowers, and many other kinds whose names Nick didn''t know. A real fragrance wafted his nose. ¡°Mark the world, summon the world, create the world,¡± Nick muttered as he understood Dream''s first skill. ¡°Master is smart, too!¡± Dream grinned and pecked on his cheek before bursting into a peal of laughter like a child.A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. Nick blinked. He was back, saliva dripped out of his mouth as dirt and debris found their way into his mouth. He continued to lay there for ten more minutes. Only then his dizzy head and trembling body stabilized. The blood had formed a cake on his face and neck. He reached out to his head and felt thick sticky liquid on his hand. Climbing on his feet, he eyed the pastry lying in the dirt, sighed, and stumbled away. What could he do? There was no justice for poor and weak people in this world. Maybe he could file a complaint in the Police Station, but he knew nothing would happen. After all, without the support of local authorities, how could these criminals run amok?
The next day Nick arrived at the market in the afternoon. His head was swathed in bandages, concealing whatever injuries he had suffered. A few people gave him looks but no one came up to him. None of them were close to him. Nick ignored them and limped towards his sitting place. Lucas Hornsby perching just a few meters away glanced at him with a mocking grin across his face. Nick, however, ignored him completely. Revenge was a dish best served cold. And Nick would let Lucas, his companions, and Aiden know what it really meant. ¡°Hello, Mr Nicklas.¡± Nick eyed the owner of the voice and a smile emerged on his face. ¡°Hello, Jack. Hope you are doing good.¡± ¡°I''m fine,¡± Jack said as he eyed him. ¡°But what happened to you?¡± ¡°I tripped,¡± Nick grinned. ¡°You wha¡ª¡± He shook his head as he realised that Nick did not want to tell him about the details. Neither were they that close to each other. It had been only two days since they met. ¡°I want to hire you again,¡± Jack said after a brief pause. ¡°Sure,¡± Nick replied with a smile. ¡°But I want two hundred coins and an antique of my choice. What do you say?¡± Jack eyed him for a moment and then nodded, ¡°Sure.¡± ¡°Hey, how are you?!¡± Nick was about to follow Jack when he heard an excited and familiar voice from his right. Veering around, he caught a lady clad in white dress, staring at him with her charming and curious blue eyes. Her brown hair flopped on her back. Her small nose appeared quite appealing on her round face. ¡°Madam Healer?¡± Nick asked in surprise. Isabel smiled and then frowned, spotting a bandage on his head. ¡°What happened to you now?¡± ¡°Oh, he tripped,¡± Jack chimed from his side, a mocking grin over his face. Nick''s face twitched. Isabel rolled her eyes, but did not comment back. She looked at Nick and said, ¡°Let me see.¡± After removing his bandage, she summoned her beast. Jack yelped in surprise. He did not know Isabel was a beastmaster. Furthermore, she appeared to be a healer. Only a meagre amount of beastmasters Contracted healing type monsters. After all, it was hard to level up with them. Moreover, her beast was an unknown species. She¡¯d probably never be able to go beyond level 10. What a pity. Nick was flattered by Isable''s kind gesture. How much people would pay her for healing and yet here she was doing it for free. His eyes flashed and a screen appeared.
Name: Isabel Rylan
Talent: [Self Healing] (Common) - [Heals minor wounds]
Evolution Path: [4] (Click)
Contracted Beast: [Heartbloom¡¿
¡°By the way, what are you doing here?¡± Nick asked her as his head injury began mending. He felt itchy in his skull. ¡°If you don''t mind telling me.¡± ¡°Here to try my luck,¡± she replied, grinning. ¡°You know about antique shops, right?¡± ¡°I see, ¡± Nick nodded. ¡°What about you?¡± she asked. ¡°Oh, I''m an appraiser.¡± He grinned back at her, feeling his skull where only a mark of his wound remained. ¡°You mean¡­¡± She gasped in surprise when she saw him nodding. ¡°You aren''t a fraud, like many others, right?¡± ¡°Of course not!¡± Nick felt a bit offended. ¡°I''m a real appraiser.¡± He eyed Jack who stood smiling on the side. ¡°He can vouch for that if you don''t believe me. He is my regular customer.¡± Jack nodded. ¡°Yes. He is certainly genuine and knows his craft well enough to be at the top.¡± ¡°Really?¡± She eyed them skeptically, but nodded, nonetheless. ¡°Since you help me twice, I''ll find an artifact of your choice.¡± Nick said after a brief pondering. ¡°Tell me what you want?¡± Isabel gave him a strange look. She still thinks I am a fraud.¡¯ Nick didnt know whether to laugh or cry. Though he could not blame her for that as people in this profession were really quite unethical. And who''d know better than him after yesterday''s thrashing? The trio entered the shop called Moonlight Relics. The same in which they had gone the last day. ¡°You still didn''t tell me what kind of artifact you want,¡± Nick asked Isabel. Isabel was silent for a brief moment. Then, ¡°I want something that could defend me, or attack. Any one of the two functions would do.¡± Nick nodded. She was a support type beastmaster. For her, defending herself was the biggest issue. Her beast did not have any such skill, nor her Talent was related to that. Only a decent artifact could cover her weakness. Nick eyed the items piled in the corner and arranged on the shelves. Most of them were Junk. Only a few could identify treasures from that trash. As Nick''s gaze roamed through shelves, he abruptly halted.
Name: [Pulse Amulet]
Type: [Artifact]
Rank: [Common]
Ability: [Releases shockwave that knocks back and stuns opponents]
Condition: [Only a virgin can use it]
It was a nice artifact. But the problem was that he had no idea if Isabel was a virgin. If I asked, will she misunderstand me? ¡°What?¡± said Jack when he spotted a frown across his face. ¡°Can''t find one?¡± Isabel also eyed him. A slight disappointment could be seen on her beautiful face. She really hoped Nick would find her a decent artifact. She could not afford one from an artifact shop as she needed to pay her sister¡¯s medical bills. ¡°It''s alright¡ª¡± She¡¯d just begun when Nick interrupted. ¡°Are you a virgin?¡± he asked with a deadpan face. However, his hands were sweating. His heart raced and he cursed himself for being tactless. He had no idea how to talk to a girl as he never had interaction with them, apart from his sister, of course. The silence lingered between them briefly before Isabel stuttered with red and somewhat angry face, ¡°What do¡ª¡± ¡°Don''t misunderstand me,¡± Niku raised his hand in defense and explained. ¡°The artifact that I have found can only be used by a virgin. So let me ask you again. Are you a virgin?¡± Isabel eyed him skeptically, but nodded, nonetheless. She could feel her face burning pink. What an embarrassment. ¡°Ok,¡± Nick said and pointed towards the pendent on the shelf. ¡°Buy this amulet.¡± Then he explained its function. Her face was filled with surprise and uncertainty. Not knowing if he told the truth. Nonetheless she bought the pendant of dirty obsidian embedded with cracked sapphire. Artifacts were nothing but regular items of the Pre-Golden Dawn Era, turned magical, having different requirements to activate them. And appraisers were responsible for only finding the artifacts among the pile of trash. Discovering the method or requirements to activate the artifacts was not their concern. That''s why the look in her eyes changed when Nick told her about it. If he was a fraud, he¡¯d never make such a mistake. It was tantamount to exposing himself.