Chapter 29 – Evolution Trial
Astaroth and Duke Valdris collided once again.
Their swords met with a thunderous explosion.
BOOOOM!
The endless Vault shook violently.
Golden and crimson energy clashed across the sky, ripping open the very fabric of space.
Unlike before...
Astaroth no longer fought with corruption.
His six brilliant wings radiated divine light, and every swing of his sword carried overwhelming authority.
Valdris was forced back for the first time.
He smiled beneath his helmet.
"So this..."
"...is your true strength."
Astaroth lowered his blade.
"I have merely remembered who I once was."
Below...
The battle between the expedition and the Abyss Beasts was nearing its end.
The Sacred Forest created by Seraphina covered almost half the battlefield.
Golden trees purified Abyssal corruption while their roots restrained countless monsters.
Ryan released another arrow.
It split into dozens of streaks of light before striking multiple enemies.
Marcus smashed the last Void Devourer before him into the ground.
He rested his hammer on his shoulder.
"...That should be the last one."
Sophia emerged from the shadows.
"Not quite."
She pointed toward the crimson rift.
Another wave of monsters was already descending.
Marcus sighed dramatically.
"They really don’t know when to quit."
Suddenly...
The Guild Badge on everyone’s arm began glowing.
The Guild System announced.
Guild Achievement
First Planetary Dungeon Raid
Current Progress:
96%
Guild Synchronization Increased.
All Guild Members:
+10% EXP Gain
+10% Skill Mastery
Marcus grinned.
"I could get used to this."
At that moment...
Azrael’s body suddenly radiated black and silver light.
Seraphina’s body was surrounded by golden and white brilliance.
The two energies intertwined before separating again.
The System appeared before only the twins.
Evolution Requirement Fulfilled
Level Requirement:
Complete
Legacy Requirement:
Complete
Origin Relic Requirement:
Complete
Beginning...
First Evolution Trial
The world froze.
The sounds of battle disappeared.
Everything became still.
Azrael and Seraphina vanished from the battlefield.
The Hall of Evolution
Azrael slowly opened his eyes.
He stood within an endless white space.
Towering crystal pillars stretched infinitely in every direction.
In front of him floated a massive sphere of light.
It was larger than a mountain.
The Celestial Evolution System itself spoke.
Not with its usual emotionless tone.
But with a calm, ancient voice.
"Welcome..."
"...Bearer of Oblivion."
Azrael remained silent.
"You can speak?"
"I have always spoken."
"You simply were not qualified to hear my true voice."
The sphere shimmered.
"Today..."
"You stand before your first racial evolution."
Panels of light appeared around him.
Thousands...
Then millions.
Every panel displayed a different race.
Available Evolution Paths
Light Spirit
Holy Knight
Sky Griffin
Storm Dragon
Crystal Giant
Thunder Phoenix
Moon Elf
Void Walker
Ancient Treant
Celestial Fox
World Serpent
Infernal Beast
Iron Titan
Spirit King
...
...
...
Total Available Evolutions:
4,983,217
Azrael’s eyes widened.
"Nearly five million..."
The System replied,
"Every choice shapes destiny."
"No two beings share the exact same path."
The panels continued expanding endlessly.
Then...
Almost all of them disappeared.
Millions of choices faded into darkness.
Only three remained.
The first glowed with pure white light.
Evolution Path
Lesser Angel
Compatibility:
100%
Potential:
SS
The second radiated crimson darkness.
Evolution Path
Lesser Demon
Compatibility:
100%
Potential:
SS
Azrael stared quietly.
Then...
A third panel slowly emerged from the darkness.
Unlike the others...
It was covered in ancient silver chains.
The System became silent.
The chains slowly shattered.
One after another.
A black-and-silver symbol appeared upon the panel.
Hidden Evolution
Aetherion
Compatibility:
Unknown
Potential:
???
Status:
Never Recorded
Existing Population:
0
Even the System paused.
Then...
It spoke.
"This evolution..."
"...should not exist."
Azrael looked at the panel.
"What happens if I choose it?"
The System answered honestly.
"I do not know."
"No being has successfully evolved into an Aetherion."
"It predates my current records."
Silence filled the hall.
Azrael looked at the Angel evolution.
Then the Demon evolution.
Then the unknown path.
He smiled.
"If no one has ever walked this road..."
"...I’ll be the first."
He reached toward the hidden panel.
The moment his hand touched it—
The Hall of Evolution shook violently.
The silver chains exploded into fragments of light.
Hidden Evolution Accepted
Race:
Aetherion
Evolution Beginning...
Estimated Success Rate:
0.01%
Meanwhile...
Elsewhere within the Hall of Evolution...
Seraphina stood before her own evolution choices.
Unlike Azrael...
Her available evolutions numbered over six million.
One by one...
They disappeared.
Leaving only four.
Lesser Angel
Compatibility:
100%
World Tree Guardian
Compatibility:
100%
Celestial Spirit
Compatibility:
100%
Then...
A hidden panel appeared.
Covered in living vines woven from starlight.
Hidden Evolution
Genesis Bloom
Compatibility:
Unknown
Potential:
???
Status:
Never Recorded
The System spoke gently.
"This race nurtures possibility itself."
"It has never appeared within recorded history."
Seraphina smiled.
"I’ve already made my choice."
She placed her hand upon the hidden panel.
The vines blossomed into countless radiant flowers.
Hidden Evolution Accepted
Race:
Genesis Bloom
Evolution Beginning...
Estimated Success Rate:
0.01%
Back inside the Vault...
The twins remained motionless.
Brilliant pillars of light descended from the heavens.
No one could approach them.
Not even Astaroth.
Lyra’s eyes widened.
"They’re evolving..."
Marcus blinked.
"Already?"
Elena smiled proudly.
"They’ve earned it."
Even Duke Valdris paused mid-battle.
His golden eyes narrowed as he looked toward the twin pillars of light.
"So..."
"They chose those paths."
Astaroth immediately noticed something strange.
"You know those races?"
Valdris chuckled.
"I know..."
"...that the last beings who attempted those evolutions vanished before history even began."
His smile slowly faded.
"If they succeed..."
"...the balance of every realm will begin to change."
Far beyond Heaven...
Auriel looked into the Celestial Mirror.
Tears formed in her eyes.
"They’ve chosen..."
Raphael stood beside her.
"You expected nothing less."
She nodded.
"Our children were never meant to inherit Heaven..."
"...or the Abyss."
"They were always destined..."
"...to walk a path that neither side has ever seen."
As the evolution pillars illuminated the Vault of Legacies, the entire Celestial Evolution System began updating records that had remained unchanged since before the birth of countless universes.
For the first time in ages...
A race with an existing population of zero was about to return to existence.