Excited thinking about all the possibilities of his new skill, Alexander became even more determined. He then began to hunt 1st evolution creatures along his way.
At first, Alexander and Ocean found it difficult to adjust their timing. But as they practiced during their hunts, they began to get used to each other's timing.
This rapid adaptation occurred due to the influence of Ocean's skill |Teamwork|, as she could adjust very quickly to Alexander's timing.
After ambushing and slaying some prey, Alexander noticed, upon making some estimates, that Ocean didn't gain anywhere near the same amount of XP as he did, because her progress bar rose very slowly.
To solve this problem, Alexander decided to change his tactic to one where Ocean killed the target and he only provided support.
Such a tactic was more dangerous and difficult to execute, as Ocean hadn't evolved, but Alexander, who could use paralyzing poison, thought it was worth taking a bit of a risk for her.
As soon as they slew the next creature, the amount of XP Alexander gained decreased and Ocean's increased. But even so, the amount he gained was still greater than the amount she gained before.
"It seems I'm gaining/taking a part of her XP, because she is my familiar," Alexander pondered. "Since that's the case, let's continue with this tactic."
After killing a few more 1st evolution creatures, they had to look for a place where they could hide to be safe, because Ocean leveled up and needed a calm place to evolve.
Ding!
[Your familiar leveled up.]
Ding!
[Your familiar has reached the maximum level of its current race and, as its master, you can choose the evolutionary path it will follow. Choose one of the selectable evolutions within three days or it will evolve randomly and forcibly.]
Alexander didn't expect the system to be able to influence even Ocean's evolutions, but since it could, he would use it together with the skill |Gift| to help Ocean in each of her evolutions.
After they found a small cave inhabited by a creature at the beginning of the 1st evolution and claimed it, Alexander opened his status and began to think about what was the best thing to pass on to Ocean.
After very carefully considering his options, Alexander concluded that the most consistent choices would be the enhancements (Bodily Development) and (Blessing of the Waters). But since Ocean could end up gaining (Bodily Development) during her evolution, just like him, Alexander thought it better not to pass it to her.
Ding!
[You gifted the familiar {Ocean} with the enhancement (Blessing of the Waters)]
As soon as Alexander passed his enhancement (Blessing of the Waters) to Ocean, he felt an "ethereal hand" passed through him and take something away.
Ding!
[You lost the enhancement (Blessing of the Waters)]
"So that's why the skill is 'Gift' and not 'Train,' or something like that," Alexander analyzed, sighing at the carelessness. "Good thing I chose something I can recover."
With the notification that appeared, Alexander understood immediately what had happened and, hastily, recovered his enhancement through his class's skill tree.
Ding!
[You obtained the enhancement (Blessing of the Waters)]
Alexander recovered his enhancement as quickly as he could, because enhancements are essentially bodily changes. It couldn't be good for his body to keep making and undoing such changes.
After that scare, Alexander checked his status again, but saw nothing worth losing to "gift" to Ocean. Not because she didn't deserve it, but because losing any part of his status now could cost both their lives in this forest.
Having no more reason to postpone Ocean's evolution, Alexander made sure the area was safe and called upon the system.
"Show selectable evolutions for the familiar Ocean… It's like that, right?"
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Ding!
[Starting analysis for evolution possibilities…]
[Analyzing previous evolutions…]
[Analyzing current species…]
[Analyzing current race…]
[Analyzing genetic inheritance…]
[Analyzing skills…]
[Analyzing the environment…]
[Analyzing compatible items…]
[Analyzing titles…]
Ding!
[Analysis for evolution possibilities successfully completed. Checking for suitable evolutions…]
Ding!
[Suitable evolutions found:]
『 Evolutions: 』
[Alpha Wolf:] “Natural” evolution of a {Small Alpha Wolf}. Primarily increases size and leadership capacity. Does not reach its potential without a pack.
[Great Wolf:] Evolution unlocked by wolves with high physical attributes. Primarily increases physical attributes and its stature. Adaptability decreases a little.
[Sea Wolf:] Evolution unlocked by wolves from water-rich places, like the sea, and by water-related enhancements or items. Primarily increases the Intelligence attribute and affinity with the water element. Not physically strong.
Note1: Choose carefully. The process can still be postponed, but once started, it should not be interrupted and is irreversible.
Note2: If the evolution process is interrupted, there will be serious consequences. The worst of them is death.
Alexander chose {Sea Wolf} without needing to think much. He even considered choosing {Great Wolf} a bit, but the increase in intelligence would help them much more as a team. Ocean was no longer an omega.
Ding!
[The evolution process has begun. Your familiar will be placed in dormancy and deep sleep until the process is complete.]
"Don't worry. You can rest," Alexander said to Ocean, who seemed to be trying to resist the drowsiness. "I'll protect you."
Hearing/feeling that Alexander would protect her, Ocean stopped resisting sleep.
Ding!
[Starting bodily evolution process…]
[Leveling up all bodily enhancements…]
Ding!
[Please choose your familiar's evolution bodily enhancement:]
『 Enhancements: 』
[(Magical Boost):] Strengthens magical affinity in a general way.
[(Keen Eyes):] Increases vision capacity.
[(Bodily Development):] Increases all attributes, except Charisma and Luck, in a very balanced manner.
"Magical Boost? But she doesn't even have mana," Alexander pondered for a while. "Is it worth the risk?"
Feeling that he shouldn't prolong the process so much, he decided to take a chance. "(Magical Boost)."
Ding!
[Your familiar acquired the enhancement (Magical Boost)]
Ding!
[Species change detected. Changing species…]
[Modifying bodily structure…]
[Strengthening body cells…]
[Strengthening metabolism…]
[Reviewing genetic inheritance…]
[Strengthening genes…]
Ding!
[The evolution process was successfully completed]
As soon as the bodily evolution process began, Ocean's body released a faint sea-blue light and was enveloped by it. As the evolution advanced, the light intensified and Ocean's body began to change… grow.
Ocean's evolution only lasted about 10 minutes, but that short space of time was enough for her to look like a completely different creature. Her eyes and fur changed to light shades of blue; her height became about 1.2 m at the shoulder, as wolf height is measured; her length became about 1.75 m from snout to tail tip, as wolf length is measured; and her physique became more robust, though still leaving a bit to be desired compared to the alpha wolves Alexander had encountered.
"How do you feel, girl?" Alexander asked while rubbing Ocean's neck, which was now almost his height.
"Woooolf," Ocean barked excitedly in response.
"I'm glad you liked it," Alexander replied. "Now let's see how you turned out 'on the inside'."
During Ocean's evolution, Alexander received some notifications about what was happening, but since they were far from all the information, he went to see her status tab.
『 1st Familiar 』
Name: Ocean ♀
Species: Magical Beast
Race: Sea Wolf
Level: 10/25
Condition: Good
HP: 183/183
Mana: 67/67
Stamina: 83/83
[Proficiency Skills]:
|Ambush (Intermediate)| … |Teamwork (Intermediate)| … |Run (Advanced)| … |Claw Attack (Intermediate)| … |Bite (Intermediate)|
[Enhancements]:
(Alpha's Body II) … (Blessing of the Waters II) … (Magical Boost)
[Titles]:
Alexander was startled by the size of the change, but couldn't be happier for her.
Excited about her changes, Alexander decided to spend his growth points to "gift" her with his strongest water spells. And since she became a {Magical Beast} with the enhancement (Blessing of the Waters II), water spells were no longer incompatible with her.
Ding!
[You gifted the familiar {Ocean} with the spell |Water Barrier|]
Ding!
[You lost the spell |Water Barrier|]
Ding!
[You gifted the familiar {Ocean} with the spell |Water Cannon|]
Ding!
[You lost the spell |Water Cannon|]
Ding!
[You gifted the familiar {Ocean} with the spell |Water Blade|]
Ding!
[You lost the spell |Water Blade|]
Chapter 020 – Sea Wolf
