Pagan followed quietly behind Lucius, leaving the first watch to celebrate their recent promotion.
"Lighted One, you said you would start giving out missions. Since I've already evolved, does that mean I'll be getting one soon?" Pagan asked once they reached the cottage.
"That's correct," Lucius answered as he walked in.
"Then what will my first mission be?" Pagan asked as Lucius observed the pods.
"To hunt a boar," he answered with a smile, before touching Alpha's pod and being sent to the white void.
[100,000 Helios is required to complete evolution.]
[Accept] [Decline]
~Accept.~
[Purchase 『Sobriquet』 from 『System Shop』 in order to add creature to linked commune.]
Lucius then quickly purchased the sobriquet and used it.
[Input creature's title.] The system prompted, to which Lucius answered, "Alpha."
[『Alpha』 has been linked to your commune.]
[『Alpha』's stats can now be viewed.]
[『System Shop』 items may now be shared with 『Alpha』.]
[『Alpha』 's genomes have unlocked a natural skill.]
[『Alpha』 has a 0.05% chance to『Surpass』 causing his strength stat to be doubled for a short duration.]
And with that Lucius was thrown out of the void.
~Surpass? That sounds interesting,~ Lucius thought with a smile, as a ripping sound emanated from the pod. Within a few seconds, an evolved Alpha emerged from the pod.
Alpha's new form was very different from Lucius and Pagan's. His entire body was covered in a sort of wood-like armor, making him look more like a tree golem than a leafling. Though the wood still had a green color to it, so he didn't look too foreign.
Lucius moved to pull him out of the pod and found that though the 'armor' looked like green wood, it was quite soft, perhaps only a little harder than his own skin.
Lucius laid him on the ground and noticed that his claws weren't retractable like Pagan's and his own. Instead, the wood armor that covered his body, continued to his fingers, forming sharp projections at his fingertips.
He was also a lot bulkier than Pagan was when he first evolved, and with some growth, Lucius could see him becoming sort of like a moving tank.
~Solar Cleanse,~ Lucius chanted, waking Alpha from his induced coma.
Two green dots came into view under his woody helm, instantly looking toward Lucius.
A split second later, Lucius found himself flinging Alpha towards a wall, mere moments before Alpha could strike claws into his eyes.
"Lighted O-"
"Keep Hanibal's pod safe. Something isn't right here," Lucius interrupted, looking at Alpha as he got to his feet.
Once Alpha was up, he let out a ghastly shriek, akin to that of a wild animal.
~That shriek, is it because of the hunter thing?~ Lucius wondered. It was probably because he had been unconscious during the change, so this was probably all too sudden for him.
Alpha charged toward Lucius, and Lucius swatted him away like a bug. There was a considerable size difference between them. One was the size of a boar, while the other was the size of a small soda can.
"Alpha, get a hold of yourself. It's Lucius," Lucius tried calling out, but once Alpha got back to his feet he charged toward him again.
"I guess you need a time out then," Lucius decided, grabbing Alpha just as he was about to strike, and holding him into a tight grip.
After about 3 minutes, Alpha ran out of energy and stopped struggling. Only then did, he seem to regain his senses.
"Captain?"
"You're finally back to normal," Pagan said, a sort of annoyed look on his face.
"You scratched the Lighted One you know," he continued, staring down at Alpha.
"Pagan?" Alpha said, turning to look at Pagan.
Lucius could understand the confusion. After all, they were many times larger since the last time he had seen them.
"It's us yes. There's a lot I need to explain to you. But for one, you are a hunter now. So watch your urges around the leaflings," Lucius warned, before ordering Pagan to take him to the river so he could wash off the goo that acted as an amniotic fluid in his pod.
"Feed him once you're done with that. I'll be there soon with Hannibal," Lucius said as the two left the cottage.
"Sigh, I hope Hannibal will be easier to deal with," Lucius whispered to himself before touching Hannibal's pod.
[100,000 Helios is required to complete evolution.]
[Accept] [Decline]
~Accept.~
[Purchase 『Sobriquet』 from 『System Shop』 in order to add creature to linked commune.]
[Input creature's title.]
"Hannibal."
[『Hannibal』 has been linked to your commune.]
[『Hannibal』's stats can now be viewed.]
[『System Shop』 items may now be shared with 『Hannibal』.]
~No special additions, huh?~ Lucius thought to himself before he was thrown out of the void.
A moment later Hannibal's newly evolved form emerged from the pod. It was the same form that he had when he had first evolved into a leaf-being. In fact, there were no differences whatsoever, he even had a tail, unlike Alpha.
~Solar Cleanse~ Lucius chanted, already holding Hannibal tightly in his hands.
The moment Hannibal woke up, he thrashed around, shrieking uncontrollably, however that only went on for a few seconds, before Hannibal stared at Lucius.
For a moment there was silence, and then he spoke. "Lucius?"
"Ah, at least. I didn't want to have to hold you like this for three minutes," Lucius replied, before setting him down.
"Head over to the river. You'll find Pagan and Alpha on the way. I'll explain things to you after that," he continued, staring at all the goop on his hands.
Lucius then tried to see if Ghost's pod was ready, but found that she was still in incubation.
~Perhaps a few more days,~ he thought to himself before joining Pagan and the others.
After everyone was washed up and fed, Lucius began explaining to them what had happened. How they were now hunters due to him eating the Shri'kilian, and how he had planned on creating a rank system that worked on missions.
He purposefully left out the part about how he had fought the 'furry-folk'. Right now it wouldn't help to have them scared, he decided it would be better to reveal things when they were a little stronger.
"Hmm, so food will be a problem for us now. I'm guessing securing it will be among these missions," Hannibal said after digesting everything.
"You're correct in that line of thinking. I myself can probably run through the supplies we currently have if I really wanted to satiate myself. And it will only get worse as the whole commune evolves," Lucius explained.
"And you spoke of ranks, I don't exactly understand what you meant by that, Captain," Alpha said after.
Though they had just come from what can practically be described as a coma, it was obvious that there was still tension between the two. As such, Pagan had to be between them, much to his annoyance as he would rather be standing beside Lucius.
"You can think of rank as a right to lead. I want this to be a meritocracy. As the commune grows, seniority will be a requirement," Lucius explained, before adding, "And though I understand that you worked hard to be a leading figure, you'll have to do more if you want to keep that position."
"So when will I have my first mission?" Alpha asked immediately, already itching to gain as many ranks as he could.
"You won't be getting your mission any time soon. You and Hannibal will be given your cruxes either today or tomorrow, so you'll be in another coma for a few more days," Lucius explained.
"But don't worry, during today's naming ceremony, you'll be awarded the commune's first-ever rank for the work you have already done. Guard B-grade."
