The answer to my dilemma was simple, I needed to choose the skill whose evolution would benefit my upcoming class the most. At the same time, I had to consider which skill I felt confident enough to evolve on my own.
For the first question, the answer was clear [Essence Manipulation].
Since I was aiming for an Essence-based class, evolving this skill would be the most beneficial.
As for the second, it had to be [Seismic Burst]. I was confident I could evolve it myself. Since it was an attack skill, I could study other offensive abilities and find a way to refine it further.
My mind drifted to Guro's last moments, the instant I used [Seismic Burst] and unintentionally created fire by manipulating heat particles and Essence.
If I wasn't mistaken, that was what had caught June off guard. As a Master Rank, she must have sensed me manipulating the heat energy around me.
I believed Essence acted as the fuel for generating fire from heat particles in that moment. And now, with my heightened Psynapse, I could likely do the same with other elements. If I evolved [Psynapse Boost], my ability to influence elemental forces would increase significantly.
But another thought kept nagging at me, what if I could move the generated Essence outside my body? The fire had only manifested when I supplied Essence to the concentrated heat particles.
What if I could do that deliberately, not because of [Seismic Burst]?
I exhaled slowly, letting the idea settle in my mind. Then, I made my final decision.
"Initiate Skill Core Absorption."
The system responded instantly.
[Initiating Skill Core Absorption…]
The gold core in my hand cracked apart, dissolving into shimmering gold particles and then surged toward my glabella.
[Absorption Successful]
[1 Evolution point gained]
I looked at my status, which now displayed one Evolution Point and a + sign next to all three skills. Focusing my mind, I selected the + sign for [Essence Manipulation].
The moment I selected the + sign for [Essence Manipulation], the status panel flickered, and a new notification appeared.
[Evolution Initiated… Processing Skill Data…]
[Generating Evolution Options…]
My eyes widened. I hadn't expected to get choices. I thought the skill would evolve on its own, but this….this was even better.
The panel flickered, and several options materialized before me.
—---------------------------------------------
[Advanced Essence Manipulation] – A direct enhancement of the current skill, improving precision, efficiency, and overall control over Essence.
[Essence Shaping] – Grants the ability to mold and forge Essence into different forms, allowing for the creation of constructs, weapons, or barriers.
[Essence Release] – Unlocks the ability to expel Essence from the body, enabling external manipulation, ranged applications, and interaction with the environment.
[Essence Fusion] – Enhances the ability to merge Essence with other energies or materials, allowing for hybrid techniques and new skill combinations.
—---------------------------------------------------------------------
I scanned through the displayed options, and they all seemed interconnected.
If I chose [Advanced Essence Manipulation], then, as the name suggested, it would enhance my overall control, meaning I could likely perform all the functions of the other evolutions to some extent.
The specialized evolutions, on the other hand, were more focused.
[Essence Shaping] would refine my ability to mold and forge Essence, while [Essence Release] would push it outside my body.
[Essence Fusion] hinted at merging it with other energies. Each had a core function, with additional effects as a bonus.
I took a few minutes to carefully consider my options before finally settling on [Essence Shaping].
It would allow me to mold and create constructs, something that wouldn't be possible without the ability to release Essence outside my body.
On top of that, it would help me condense Essence within my Generator Core, maximizing efficiency and creating more storage space.
With my decision made, I focused my mind and selected [Essence Shaping].
The moment I confirmed my choice, the panel flickered.
[Evolution Initiated…]
[Skill Evolution in Progress…]
A warm sensation spread inside my head. Then, suddenly, a flood of information poured into my mind. It wasn't painful, just… a lot. Like reading an entire book in a single second.
Shapes, patterns, techniques: all about molding Essence into different forms. I could stretch it, condense it, even make it flow like liquid. The concept felt natural, like I had always known it but never had the means to do it.
The sensation faded, and the panel flashed again.
[Skill Evolution Complete.]
[Essence Manipulation → Essence Shaping.]
[Essence Shaping - Level 1]
I grinned and immediately checked my Essence store. It was empty.
"Fuck."
I cursed under my breath.
I should've activated the core before going to sleep, by now, it would've been full.
Shaking my head, I stood up.
"Power up!"
The core stirred to life, humming as it began pulling energy from the surroundings, slowly generating Essence. But I wasn't in the mood to wait. If I wanted to speed things up, I needed to get moving.
Without wasting a second, I dropped into a push-up position and launched into an intense workout, forcing my body into motion while my core worked in overdrive.
Almost half an hour later, I checked my Essence.
10/20.
I took a deep breath, closed my eyes, and activated [Essence Shaping].
My focus zeroed in on my core as I began shaping the Essence into floating, solid spheres. The energy roiled and shifted, responding to my intent.
It surged, molded itself, and within a minute, a perfectly round sphere took form. My heart pounded, but I kept my composure and continued shaping.
Five minutes later, four spheres hovered inside my core, surrounded by wisps of gaseous Essence. I glanced at my store—2/10.
I held back a victorious grin and instead shifted my attention to the skill's next function.
Raising a finger in front of my eyes, I directed the gaseous Essence out of my core.
It flowed through my body toward my fingertip, but I noticed some loss along the way, the Essence thinned slightly before reaching its destination.
The moment it reached the tip of my finger, I exhaled slowly, steadying my focus. With a final push, the Essence slipped past my skin, emerging from my fingertip. A faint green wisp flickered into existence, floating just above my finger like a delicate flame without heat.
I stared at it, feeling a mix of excitement and deep concentration. But this wasn't enough.
Closing my eyes, I extended my perception outward, searching. The air wasn't empty. Tiny, invisible particles buzzed around me, energy waiting to be harnessed. I honed in on the heat particles, the same ones I had manipulated before.
Their quantity wasn't as high as it had been inside the volcano, but they were easier to locate.
My mind reached for them, pulling them toward the flickering green Essence. It wavered for a moment, then—
Fwoosh.
A small flame, no bigger than a lighter's flicker, danced at my fingertip. Warmth radiated from it, and I grinned.
I waved my hand slightly, watching how it danced with the movement. A laugh bubbled up in my chest, and I couldn't hold it back.
"Hell yeah!" I clenched my fist, snuffing out the flame before pumping it in the air.
The applications of this skill were endless.
Could I manipulate not just heat but other elements the same way? Water, air, even metal? If I found the right particles, could I mold them into something completely new? A weapon forged purely from Essence?
The thought made my heart race.
I turned my hand over, staring at my fingers. If I could sustain this, refine it, maybe I wouldn't even need a weapon. Or better yet, I could create one on the fly. A spear of hardened fire, a whip of pure energy, whatever the situation called for.
I exhaled, pushing my excitement down. I was still too far from that day.
But first…
I glanced toward the remaining two blue cores. North still hadn't gotten her core yet.
I had two choices now, continue and unlock my class, or find North and hand over the core.
I scratched my head.
Technically, I could do both today.