I can't believe it worked...
In excitement, I rush up to the bridge. It's covered in green algae and it has no sides so I have to be carful otherwise I'll just slip off, into the water.
I only make it two steps when I suddenly stop. I remembered the stone vanishing and didn't want to end up doing the same thing.
I quickly run back to grab a small stone and using my tail, I threw it towards the small island in the middle.
Just as I hoped, the stone didn't vanish this time, it just bounced off the island and splashed into the water on the other side.
Without anymore worry, I run back to the bridge and carefully start crossing it. I finally get to the little island at get a good look at what is making the silver glow. It was what looked like a broken piece of a crystal ball, it was clear like glass apart from some strange writing on the outside that I couldn't read.
I tried to use appraisal on it only to get,
[unable to appraise]
I give up appraising it and slowly reach out to grab it instead. As soon as my paw touches it, it suddenly shoots trough the air and hitting be right in my forehead.
"Aargh!"
I fall to the ground in agony. My head feels like it's on fire, a piercing pain so strong, I wouldn't be surprised if my head exploded. I don't even notice the system notifications, popping up in my vision.
I didn't even last 5 seconds be completely lost conscious, unable to bare with the pain.
I wake up some time later with one system message in my vision. All it said was.
[please select evolution]
"Huh!"
Ive never seen any thing on the system about evolution before, so i'm not even sure how to select an evolution.
Still feeling a bit groggy, I ignore the message for now and try to remember what happened.
I remember touching the thing that was causing the silver glow but I can't remember much after that. I look around to try to find it, but don't see it anywhere. Even the river glow is gone.
It couldn't have just vanished could it?
And why was I unconscious?
As I look around I notice that I feel different, it's as if there's a strange connection to everything around me. I can feel the exact locations of the 4 bridges around me, and can tell where each little stone is around me even without looking.
I try opening my status to see if I can notice anything different, just to get the same message.
[please select evolution]
I try opening the quest tab just for the same thing to happen.
Wait a minute!
How long was I unconscious for? What about my quest?
Without being able to see my quest I don't know how much time I have left!
I could have been unconscious for days for all I know. I start panicking a little bit before relishing it doesn't really matter. I can't get out of this cavern and was just waiting for my death anyways. Sure, not knowing when I will die is unsettling but I think it's better this way, at least now I won't sit there depressed counting down the hours.
I should pick an evolution anyway. I can't really do much else and I have to admit I am a bit curios. The only problem is I don't know how to pick one.
Hmm, how about "evolution!"
Nope? Then how about "select evolution!"
[select evolution]
[young fox beast]
[shadow fox cub]
[berserker fox cub]
[spatial fox cub]
[void fox cub]
Oh that was simple!
Well I suppose I should check them all out before picking one. I'll start with young fox beast. I don't have high hopes for this one because it sounds quite plain, but it's the only one that doesn't have 'cub' in its name so I suppose that means I grow a little?
[young fox beast]
[The most common evolution of most foxes, this breed of fox has no specialties but also no weaknesses.]
[requirements: none]
[would you like to evolve into a young fox beast?]
[yes/no]
Oh, what a plain and incredibly short explanation... The no weakness part sound good but that's about it, plus who wants to pick the most common evolution? I sincerely doubt that I'm going to pick this one.
Next up is shadow fox cub, i'm guessing this one has something to do with shadow magic.
[shadow fox cub]
[A rare evolution of fox cub. It has a high proficiency in both shadow magic and shadow related skills however it is weak to both light and holy elements. This species of fox are often found in places with very little light, such as dense forests and caves. ]
[requirements: shadow magic level 1 and 15 intelligence]
[would you like to evolve into a shadow fox cub?]
[yes/no]
This ones not bad, it will properly provide a boost to my shadow magic which is a good thing but I don't have any shadow related skills, plus the requirements are a bit low, making me feel that it's not as rare as it sounds.
Next up is the berserker fox cub. Honestly I don't like the sound of this one, whenever I think of a berserker, I think of one of those people who lose their mind in battle and just start attacking everything friend or foe. I'll check it anyways but I doubt i'll pick it.
[berserker fox cub]
[A rare evolution of fox cub that is always hungry for battle! It has high attack and defence but is weak to magical attacks. This species of fox can be found in any region but don't often live long due to their low intelligence and reckless behaviour.]
[requirements: 15 strength, 15 vitality and at least one level 3 attack.]
[would you like to evolve into a berserker fox cub?]
[yes/no]
No way! It tells you right there in the description that these foxes don't live long so why would anyone ever pick it? Plus I want to be able to use magic! I think I would rather pick the young fox beast than this one.
Just the last two now. these are the two I'm most interested in. Spatial fox cub makes me think of space magic, which is always OP in most web novels. And void fox cub just sounds cool, I have no idea what kind of fox it would be, but I doubt it will be ordinary. First up spatial fox.
[spatial fox cub]
[An incredible rare type of fox cub that is highly proficient in space magic. Very little is know about this breed of fox, due to how rare they are but it is assumed that they have no weaknesses.]
[requirements: space magic level 1 and 20 intelligence]
[would you like to evolve into a spatial fox?]
[yes/no]
It doesn't really tell me a lot but this is already my favourite! Not only is it incredibly rare, but It also has space magic! If I pick this I might be able to teleport out of this cavern, which means I might have a chance to finish my quest! The only thing I don't get is the requirements, I don't have space magic but it's still there as an option. Normally the system only give me options for things that I can select but i'm not sure with this one.
I almost select yes without even looking at the last one but stop just in time. Not wanting to waste anymore time I quickly select void fox cub.
[void fox cub]
[A never before seen evolution of fox cub. Nothing is known about this species of fox as it has never existed before.]
[requirements: space magic level 1, shadow magic level 1 and 20 intelligence]
[would you like to evolve into a void fox cub?]
[yes/no]
A brand new species...and looking at the requirements I'm guessing this one might be able to use space magic as well.
Hmmm, but do I risk it?
It's out of spatial fox cub and void fox cub. No matter how I look at it void fox cub seem superior. First of all it's one of a kind, second, its requirements are the same as spacial fox cub apart from the fact you need shadow magic as well.
Yeah i'm going to go with void fox cub, I just hope it helps me get out of the cavern to finish my quest.
[would you like to evolve into a void fox cub?]
[yes/no]
Yes!
[evolution starting...]
I lose conscious before I can even finish reading the words.