Chapter 232: Not Another Chain Please
I pulled up my system to have a look.
[Class Evolution Complete]
[Primordial Executor – Transcendent (Mythic)]
[Level Up!]
[Level 100 → Level 104]
[Skill Level Up!]
[Absolute] -> [Absolute Domain]
[Absolute Domain: Level 2 → Level 4]
[Revert: Level 1 → Level 3]
[Psynapse Overdrive: Level 2 → Level 3]
[Affinity Gained: Essence]
[Essence-Related Talent Detected]
[Affinity Adjusted]
[Rank Upgraded]
[Mortal → Master]
Suddenly, Essence surged out from the abyss surrounding the platform and flowed straight into my body. The process lasted for a few minutes, and I felt it with vivid clarity—Essence infusing into my muscles, bones, and even my blood, saturating every fiber of my being.
I could only assume this was the reward for advancing to a higher rank.
[Stats Gained]
[Strength +50, Constitution +50, Dexterity +50, Psynapse +50]
My body adjusted to the new changes quite quickly.
Next i stared at the next blinking notification.
[Race Evolution Available]
I took a deep breath.
Race evolution always happened at Level 100. That was common knowledge. When someone reached that point, the system offered a list of traits—special abilities shaped by their class, skills, and affinity.
Most were physical upgrades: a special eye, hardened skin, elemental resistance, things like that. But only one could be selected. No retries. No second chances. It didn’t change your race entirely, just layered something new on top—like an upgrade patch to the body.
The stronger the path you walked, the better the options you got.
I rubbed my forehead, already knowing my evolution wasn’t going to be as simple as picking a trait from a list.
I started mentally counting all the weird things tied to me.
"My talent."
"My class."
"Null Heart."
"This... chain."
I paused, trying to think if I’d missed anything—then it hit me.
"Steve," I muttered, nodding to myself.
Of course.
I took a deep breath, steeling myself for whatever was about to happen, then tapped the option.
[Initiating Profile Analysis]
[...]
[...]
[Profile Analysis Complete]
[Generating Trait Li#$%$@(*&#]
My face twisted. The System glitched.
[You have been Marked by ### Chained ### the ### Fallen]
[Unlocking ### $$$ Race...]
My eyes widened.
"Unlocking race ? Not a trait?" I asked aloud, half-expecting an answer.
Silence.
I clenched my jaw and growled, "Fuck."
I knew something was coming. And it was going to hurt. Again.
And the process began—right from the place I least expected.
The Null Heart.
The white core at the center of my chest suddenly started spinning, faster than ever before, until it became a blur of blinding light. Then, from the very core of my chest where the Null Heart pulsed, a single shimmering chain emerged.
The moment the chain emerged from the Null Heart, I knew this would not be a simple transformation.
The chain, glowing a cold blue with faint white flickers, slowly slid out of my chest and floated before me.
The first link of the chain suddenly exploded, not into pieces, but into countless tiny runes that shimmered like stars. The runes drifted toward my right foot, swirling around it like a gentle wind.
I stared in silence, not moving a muscle. The runes touched my skin and slowly began to sink inside, like water soaking into dry earth. There was no pain. Just a strange coolness spreading through my toes and arch. I could feel the runes moving beneath my skin, tracing patterns I couldn’t understand.
The bones in my foot shifted slightly, then the runes worked along my muscles and skin, etching fine lines that glowed briefly before fading into my flesh. My foot felt no different. The runes embedded themselves deeper, as if rewriting something inside.
When the last rune vanished beneath my skin, the single link that had broken was gone. For a moment, nothing happened. Then another link on the chain cracked and broke free, repeating the slow dance. This time, the runes floated toward my left foot.
The same cool light, the same silent flow.
They seeped into the skin and muscles, weaving across the surface like a delicate web. I felt no pain—only a strange sense of change, like a silent reset happening in my body. My left foot twitched slightly as the runes moved through tendons and bones.
The glow faded once more, leaving no sign but a faint warmth.
One link at a time, the chain slowly unraveled.
Next, a link broke free and the runes poured into my calves.
I felt the cool flow wrap around muscles and bones, slowly pulling and shaping from inside. It was like watching a sculptor at work, but without sound or effort.
The runes carved their way through, leaving fine glowing marks that soon disappeared.
The links kept breaking off one by one, each sending runes to the next part of my legs. They traveled up my shins, my knees, my thighs. I only watched, breathing calmly.
I could feel the slow rebuilding of my legs, piece by piece. The runes etched themselves into the very tissue, disappearing only to be replaced by new sensations—freshness, a faint hum deep inside.
When my legs were done, the next link shattered and sent runes to my hips and waist. The runes crept along my skin, deeper inside my muscles and bones.
My body felt lighter but somehow denser, as if something invisible was being laid beneath my flesh. The glow pulsed softly, then faded into nothing.
The process continued steadily. Link after link, the chain released more runes. They traveled slowly to my chest, wrapping around my ribs and heart. I felt the steady beating of my heart, steady but somehow altered beneath the cool runes’ touch.
My breath remained even. I couldn’t tell what had changed, only that something inside was different, though I didn’t understand how or why.
Another link broke free. The runes poured into my shoulders, climbing down my arms like flowing water. I watched the delicate glow spread through my skin and bones, weaving fine lines I couldn’t follow. My arms twitched slightly but didn’t hurt.
The chain kept breaking, sending runes to my hands and fingers. I flexed my fingers slowly, feeling the cool, glowing lines move under the skin like threads.
The runes seemed to stitch something new beneath the surface. I tried to imagine what the final picture might be but gave up. All I could do was watch and wait.
The final links began their work, climbing up my neck and reaching toward my face. I could feel the runes slipping beneath my skin on my cheeks, jaw, and finally my skull. The cool light reached the base of my brain, wrapping around it like a web. A shiver ran through me.
Then the very last link broke. The runes shot straight into my eyes. I felt a sharp rush, a cool flood of light filling the space behind my eyelids.
It was not painful, but intense and strange, like ice flooding my vision. I kept my eyes closed, breathing deep, letting the sensation settle.
When the rush faded, I opened my eyes slowly. The world looked the same, but I felt different. To check, I conjured a small patch of ice in my palm and held it up close.
I focused, looking into the cold surface like a mirror. At first, I saw my familiar green eyes. But then I noticed something new—a thin violet circle glowing softly around each iris. It wasn’t bright, but it was there, clear and steady.
I blinked and looked away, then back again. The violet rings stayed.
"Whoa that looks...strange."
I didn’t feel stronger or different right now. There was no sudden power rushing through me.
The chain was gone. No glow, no lingering runes—only silence. The violet rings around my irises were the sole reminder that something had changed.
Then, the notification appeared.
[Race Evolution Complete]
[New Race: Executor (Human)]
[Ability Unlocked: Trait Acquisition]