As I settled into the space left by the missing brick, my eyelids grew heavy and my body felt like lead. The adventurers chatted animatedly around me, but I was too exhausted to grasp much of their conversation.
[Ding! Well, look who finally decided to join the evolution party! Congratulations on dragging your feet long enough to hit level ten. Now, before you pat yourself on the back, you need to figure out how to spend those precious points you've earned. Once you do that, you'll get to see the thrilling options for your evolution. Exciting, right?]
[To get started, there are ten categories into which you can put level-up points, and you only get more every ten levels, so choose wisely.
[Now when choosing how to spend your level-up points, just remember the acronym A.B.N.O.R.M.A.L.C.Y
A.erial: Allows you to fly more easily and do fun tricks
B.ind: Unlocks abilities that cause binding
N.inja: Unlocks movement skills
O.bservation: Increased your ability to notice things
R.easoning: Improves your ability to think
M.ana: Increases the amount of magical power you can use
A.rmament: Makes your body tougher against attacks
L.uck: Can go both ways
C.harm: Makes it easier for you to negotiate
Y.eet: Makes you stronger
You start out with ten points in each category and get an extra one-hundred to place in the categories you choose.]
After I was done distributing my points it looked like this.
Aerial:20
Bind: 30
Ninja:20
Observation: 20
Reasoning: 20
Mana: 30
Armament: 20
Luck:15
Charm:10
Yeet: 15
[Congratulations, point distributor! Now that you've scattered your precious points like confetti, it's time to unveil the three types of First Step evolution creatures you've managed to unlock. Just a friendly reminder: your points are the gatekeepers to your evolutionary dreams, but don't forget those unlocked evolution trees are in on the fun too. Ding! Ding! Ding! Behold the evolution choices that fate has graciously bestowed upon you!]
[Patheticism: You're not exactly a heavyweight champion, but hey, you can absorb a few blows. Congratulations, you've officially become the go-to target for everyone's frustrations. Dive into the evolutionary abyss of Patheticism. (High armament, low yeet, low charm)]
[Tree Hugger: You'd rather cuddle with a fern than deal with actual humans, and guess what? The plants are totally into you! Explore the twisted evolutionary path of Tree Hugger. (High binding, high mana, low charm.)]
[Egghead: You've got the brains to solve problems, but when it comes to executing them, you're about as useful as a screen door on a submarine. (High reasoning, High observation, low charm, low yeet.)]
[ So, you've decided to embrace your inner Tree Hugger. Should I start worrying about you getting too cozy with the houseplants?]
[Hooray! You've managed to unlock a shiny new power on the Tree Hugger tree. Here are the riveting options you can choose from.]
[Leaf Snipping: Shell out 500 points and you can turn innocent plant leaves into your personal weapon against foes. Who knew gardening could be so deadly?]
[Flesh-Eating Flora Control: For a mere 500 points, you can boss around carnivorous plants. Just think of it as a twisted version of plant parenting—except your plants actually want to eat your enemies.]
[Leafy Shield: Spend 500 points to turn leaves into your very own bodyguards. Because nothing says "I'm tough" like hiding behind a bunch of foliage while your enemies wonder if they should laugh or cry.]
[Congratulations! You've opted for Flesh-Eating Flora Control. Get ready for an evolutionary makeover. Sure, you're still a pint-sized wonder, but now you're a vibrant little green blob, like a walking petri dish. With your moldy green fur and eyes that scream "I need sunlight," you're officially the ugliest little bat in the garden.]
Tree Hugger Bat: Level 10
Powers: Poison Fang, Swift Wings, Flesh-Eating Flora Control.
Purchase Points Remaining: 500
Level-up Points Remaining: 0
As I woke up and stretched, a wave of discomfort washed over me, reminding me that everything felt just a bit sore. I glanced at my arms, confirming that I hadn't grown in size, and my fur had transformed into an unattractive shade of green. Peering through a narrow crack, I noticed a group of adventurers bustling about, cooking breakfast while others packed their belongings, preparing to set off. It was unfortunate that I was no longer human; I would have relished the chance to travel with them. My attention drifted to a vine on the wall, but I quickly realized it was too distant for me to affect. While I may not normally have chosen this evolutionary route, it seemed to be the best option under the circumstances. Just then, I spotted a small flower with white and red spots near the crack. As I concentrated on it, the center of the flower sprouted a mouth with teeth, snapping at a little bug that was about to invade my space. It then turned to me, mouth agape, and tilted its petals toward my palm. I reached out to pet it, and it responded by wiggling its leaves in delight.
"What a strange new ability."
Then it saw another bug nearby and snapped that up too. "I guess I get free bug control."
I cautiously wriggled out of the hole, ensuring no one was watching, and darted toward the nearest vine that loomed over the adventurers. It yearned to draw closer and feast on them, but the flames were too fierce for it to approach. As I neared the vine, just a couple of feet away, its tip lifted off the stone floor, sending a rush of adrenaline through me. I hoped my abilities extended beyond mere flowers. The vine's tip swayed left and right, resembling a creature trying to catch my scent. Then, it slithered toward me, prompting me to spread my wings, ready to take flight if necessary. Behind me, the small flower was pushing its leaves against the ground, its roots morphing into two leg-like shapes as it began to chase after me. The vine's end brushed against me, bouncing in place as if it were filled with excitement. A.B.N.O.R.M.A.L.C.Y indeed.