Back to Michael.
After taking so ti to evaluate himself, Michael now understood far more about his evolution than he had when he first woke and
faced that terrible crisis.
As he had suspected, this evolution was bound to be more significant than the others. What he had not expected, however, was just how vast the change would turn out to be.
Now, Michael could say with confidence that this new race of his was likely rated Epic Grade by the system. If it was not, then perhaps he needed to rethink what "Epic" even ant.
Thanks to the evolution, his race had shifted from High Human to True Human. On the surface, his stats appeared to have been cut nearly in half, yet in reality, his strength had more than doubled. Just as High Human had been roughly twice as strong as the common human race, this True Human form stood in equal superiority over the High Human.
The specifics still confused Michael. The term "True Human" did not feel like a race in the conventional sense.
That doubt stemd from the two titles he had received upon evolving.
[True Person]
Summary: You have been acknowledged by the universe as a True Person, one who has stepped beyond illusion and touched the essence of reality. A True Person is a being one step closer to unity with the universe.
Effect: Your perception of laws has deepened. Insight into universal principles is enhanced, reducing the barrier to understanding laws by
20%.
[Mortal God]
Summary: Against the natural order, a mortal body not yet divine has taken the shape and resilience of a god's vessel. This title recognizes your defiance of limits.
Effect: Physical durability, vitality, and recovery are drastically increased. Your mortal body functions as a pseudo-divine vessel, granting resistance to law-based damage.
Instead of calling it a "race," it seed more appropriate to Michael to think of it as a "checkpoint"-a stage humans would eventually reach once they touched a certain threshold. His Mortal God title seed to hint at this, and the "True" in his True Person title was unlikely to be re coincidence.
But if that was the case, did it an all humans were actually incomplete?
Michael felt this was far beyond his current understanding. The lack of knowledge alone frustrated him, but he couldn't deny the many surprises and strengths that had co with his evolution.
Even setting aside his stats, the sheer strengthening of his soul was enough to frighten him. Two weeks ago, after his rank advancent, his contract slots had risen to 250. Then, after completing the quests in the exam space a few days ago, the number had climbed to 300.
And now-just from evolution alone-Michael had gained another 200 contract slots.
This ant his panel now displayed an incredible 500 slots.
That was only what could be directly asured. He could feel there. were deeper, subtler enhancents to his soul as well.
Looking at the sheer number, Michael couldn't help but wonder what his new contract-slot growth per level had beco. He didn't dare to assu it was 10 per level, even though that would already be
extraordinary. After all, the first ti he had advanced in rank, the system had given him 10 extra slots, but his evolution into High Human seed to have consud that boon to empower his body rather than leave it as a direct gift.
Unfortunately, his second advancent to Rank 2 had not provided him with any slots, leaving him with no basis for comparison now. Was it because the first rank advancent was unique, a one-ti reward? Or was it because the nature of his second advancent? Did it alter the distribution of gifts from the system? Michael didn't know.
Whatever the truth, one thing was undeniable: he now possessed a staggering number of contract slots. Even if he could not yet determine the exact increase per level, he was certain the growth rate had risen significantly.
What remained unknown, however, was how many attribute points he would now gain per level, and how many free points the system would grant him to allocate. But with his level already at the peak of Rank 2, that mystery would have to wait until his next advancent. For now, what mattered were the imdiate rewards. Along with his boosted stats, Michael had also gained new skills. They were not only tied to intelligence, as had often been the case before. This ti, he had acquired skills rooted in physicality.
There were four of them.
Iron body, Overdrive, Burst step and Fortify.
Iron Body was the most striking among them. It resembled his old Iron Skin skill, yet the mont Michael studied it, he realized it wasn't the sa. Also, Iron Skin had vanished entirely from his skill bar, replaced by this higher version. The difference was obvious- while most new skills started at basic mastery, Iron Body already carried a mastery percentage far higher than the others, as though the system itself acknowledged his past progress and built upon it.
Overdrive was a strength-focused ability, sowhat reminiscent of the berserk state but without the side effects of madness, frenzy, or irritability. It consud vitality and stamina to forcibly increase his physical strength for a short duration. Unlike berserk, this skill seed more controlled.
Burst Step fell under agility. It was not a continuous enhancent but a single explosive movent. The system's description made it clear this was designed to close distance or evade in an instant, condensing power into one decisive step.
Fortify was another defensive skill, but unlike Iron Body, it required considerate mana expenditure. By channeling energy outward, Michael could coat the surface of his body in a thin, hardened layer of force. It reminded him of a crude form of aura.
Then ca the skills granted by his Intelligence attribute-mana skills.
This ti, however, there was a surprise.
Previously, this attribute had only ever given him non-elental skills
or those tied to the dark elent, a result of his dominant affinity. But now, things were different.
Michael had been lucky enough to gain six new skills. Yet when he looked closer, they felt... unusual.
The six skills were: Wind Blade, Fireball, Water Wall, Earth Spike, Ice
blade, and Life Drain.
Yes-Michael now possessed skills from multiple elents, not just
darkness. It was the first ti he had seen such variety in his panel, and the sight imdiately reminded him of a particular notification he had received upon waking from his evolution. [Your affinity with the world has increased significantly.]
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