Alesha stared at the display numbly, trying to take it all in.
{~~author's note: changes to her status screen from the evolution are in bold~~}
*****
Alesha Jane Williams
Age: 22 [Sol years]
Species: Human (Bloodline: Chaos Dragon)
Racial traits: (4)
Level: 5
XP: 240/600
HP: 38/38
Strength: 6
Agility: 6
Vitality: 6
Intelligence: 10
Psychic: 4
Chaos Energy: 0/10
Free Stat Points: 1
*****
*****
Racial Traits:
- Carnivorous Constitution
- Child of Chaos
- Chaos Dragon's Dominion -- [Partially Locked]
- Mana Core
*****
All of her basic stats had increased. Strength, Agility and Vitality had all risen by 2 points, Intelligence by 1, and Psychic (which she still didn't know the use for) by 3. Her HP had gone up the most, though -- a whole 10 points at one time! That was insane considering she didn't even level up.
After analyzing those easy-to-process changes, Alesha turned her attention to what she had been dreading to look at: her species.
It had changed. Just like she had feared, this had not been untouched by her evolution. However, "human" was still included in the description, which came as an unexpected and huge relief. Apparently not even the System could change her species so easily.
[Phhh, just because you think I can't doesn't mean that's true! I totally could have made you something entirely different, especially under the Chaos Moon with the constant influx of Chaos Energy it gave us. I was just being nice.]
Alesha didn't trust its words for a second. If it truly had the power to change her more, she was certain it would have done so. "Sure, sure," she said aloud at a low volume.
She turned her attention back to her species: Human, with something referred to as the bloodline of a "Chaos Dragon." What did that mean, exactly? What was a Chaos Dragon? She could make all sorts of assumptions and inferences from its name but the truth of a Chaos Dragon's nature would be incredibly important to her. She couldn't afford to make incorrect conclusions.
"System, what's a Chaos Dragon? And what does it mean for me to be a human with the Chaos Dragon Bloodline?"
[I'm still upset that you don't believe me, Host! I truly was being nice and considerate and compassionate towards your situation and all that. How can I answer your questions when you won't even trust what I say?]
Alesha pinched the ridge of her nose and sighed. "Alright, I'm sorry, Rogork, please explain. I'll believe you, I promise."
[Well alright then.]
[Chaos Dragons are, as you might expect, dragons who are deeply connected to the powers of Chaos. You recall how many ancient Earth legends refer to Fire, Water, Earth, and Air as elements, yes? And how legendary dragons of those respective "elements" are immune to and thrive in the midst of those elements? Well I am pleased to inform you that such things are, in fact, real. Just as Fire Dragons belong in and create flames, Chaos Dragons thrive in and create Chaos Energy. You see, Chaos Energy is an element all its own. Not in a scientific sense, like Gold, Oxygen, or Iritium, but in the mystical sense, like fire, water or air.]
[Unlike the dragons of other elements, the majority of which are secretly enslaved with great success by humanity's leaders, Chaos Dragons continue to rebel, cause great damage and escape every year. They are just like the Chaos Energy they embody. They twist, bypass and shatter the shackles binding them, just like my father did a few years ago.]
"WAIT wait wait wait, hold up, you have a father?!"
[... I just shattered your world by announcing the existence and enslavement of dragons, which you have always been such a huge fan of, and what you're most concerned about is the fact that I have a father?]
"Uhhh yeah!! Because if you have a father, then who's the mother?! Is it me?! You didn't exist before meeting me and you've always been inside me! My head, I mean."
[... No, I don't have a mother, just a father. If anything, we are siblings. You are distinctly, absolutely, and positively NOT my mother.] The System said the last part quite emphatically; evidently, it found the idea of Alesha being its mother quite abhorrent.
"Okay… so how does me not being your mother make me your sibling?"
The System paused, its hesitation somehow communicating frustration at having to explain such a simple thing, rather than a need to find the right words. [You now have the bloodline of a Chaos Dragon. My father is a Chaos Dragon, the same whose blood you now share. He created me and your Dragonchild bloodline is his. That clear now?]
Alesha was still hesitant. Could she really have another father now? Other than her human one? If so, was it more akin to a natural process, or alchemical experimentation? In what manner had this mysterious, unnamed Chaos Dragon become her father? Further, it occurred to her with a budding seed of horror, that this Chaos Dragon must not have been the one to enact the change himself. It had been the System.
Did that make the System her new parent instead then?!? And one she was stuck with in her head 24/7?!
[I suggest you don't overthink it. Chaos magic is not meant to be clearly defined. Also, I 100% reject the idea of myself being your parent!! Absolutely not!! While I would enjoy the relative increase in my authority over you, I actually prefer our current relationship to that, thank you very much!!]
Alesha laughed a little. "Me too. I don't want you to be my parent either."
[Now then, do you want me to finish explaining, O Sibling who is very much not my parent and who I am very much not the parent of?]
"Please," Alesha said with a smile.
[Alright then, as I was saying, Chaos Dragons like our father are embodiments of Chaos that break and bend the rules of reality wherever they go.]
[You, Alesha, are a Human with the Chaos Dragon bloodline. This means that your physiology has adapted much more to Chaos Energy and having it overfilled by a little will no longer hurt you. I still don't recommend overfilling it and leaving it that way, but you won't die for letting it be a few points over max for a couple minutes.]
Alesha shuddered at the memory of how she'd taken 5 whole HP of damage in mere seconds from being a single point overfilled the night before. This change, at least, was one she would be grateful for.
[It also means that not only can you hold the Energy better, but you will actually generate it at a rate of 1 per day going forward, and the variety of ways in which you can use it has increased dramatically. Chaos Energy will now automatically be consumed to heal you (in real life only, not in game). You can also use it to power Chaos-specific spells and skills that you'll unlock later. The slow rate of generation hopefully clues you into how powerful these spells are.]
[The other ways to consume Chaos Energy still exist, and as an aside, I'll remind you that you promised you'd try out the Mystery Potion when it was a better time and I would like that to be today. Just, you know, I want to see what it does. Here's some incentive so you don't forget]
[Ding! New Quest Available.]
[Quest: Try the Mystery Potion!
Goal: Drink the Mystery Potion today
Quest Conditions: Drink at least one Mystery Potion by 22:00 tonight
Reward: System's Gratitude
Penalty: System gets control of your body for one minute >:)
Failure Condition(s): Fail to drink the Mystery Potion in time]