Evolution and Job Change (Cal Arc 2)

――――――――――

Your Race level has increased. You acquired 1 SP.

Your Job level has increased. You acquired 1 SP.

Your familiar's Race level has increased.

Your familiar's Job level has increased.

Your familiar, Calnagtool, has reached the required Race level. Evolution is available.

Master Izamu, please initiate evolution for your familiar, Calnagtool.

Your familiar, Calnagtool, has reached the required Job level. A Job change is available.

Master Izamu, please initiate the Job change for your familiar, Calnagtool.

Your 【Tail Strike】 level has increased.

You learned the Whip Tail Martial Technique for 【Tail Strike】.

Your 【Staff】 level has increased.

Your 【Scythe Arts】 level has increased.

You learned the Decapitation Martial Technique for 【Scythe Arts】.

Your 【Intelligence Enhancement】 level has increased.

Your 【Mental Enhancement】 level has increased.

Your 【Increased HP Recovery Speed】 level has increased.

Your 【Increased MP Recovery Speed】 level has increased.

Your 【Precise Mana Control】 level has increased.

Your 【Water and Ice Magic】 level has increased.

You have learned the Ice Rain spell.

Your 【Storm Magic】 level has increased.

You have learned the Air Hammer spell.

Your 【Tree Magic】 level has increased.

You have learned the Summon Evil Tree spell.

Your 【Lava Magic】 level has increased.

You have learned the Lava Pillar spell.

Your 【Sandstorm Magic】 level has increased.

You have learned the Sand Blade spell.

Your 【Smoke Mist Magic】 level has increased.

You have learned the Poison Mist spell.

Your 【Talisman Arts】 level has increased.

Your 【Magic Circle】 level has increased.

――――――――――

About a week had passed since the battle at Bigdaleio. We departed immediately after receiving our reward for the battle and had already returned to the Vetus Floating Island. His Majesty Salmaan had told us we would be welcome whenever we came again, and I hoped to go adventuring with the members who had been unable to come this time.

When we returned to the Vetus Floating Island, Shichiko and the other members had already reached Birdie Perch. After rejoining them, we had been hunting the Harpies of the Ancient Ruined City and the Evilfish of the Ancient Spring while leveling up and practicing our teamwork.

Both the leveling and the practice had gone extremely well. However, our overall combat skills had improved even more than that. Why, you ask?

"Hahaha! Nice read, wasn't it?"

"Damn! You dodged even that!?"

"Ho ho ho. Your movements are still full of wasted motion."

"Gah!? Even that didn't work...?"

Yes, it was thanks to the mock battles taking place before me even now. Jigorou and Genzuro were drilling the frontline group mercilessly. Before we knew it, their training had even become a source of income for them, taking the form of training and exercise quests that involved the warriors of Birdie Perch.

Everyone was getting stronger, and I was being dragged into things less often, so it was all upside. What? You mean everyone except Jigorou and Genzuro looked like they were suffering? Why, I have no idea what you are talking about.

"Oh? It's my brother! What brings you here? Weren't you going leveling with the production duo over there?"

Jigorou noticed me and voiced his question. Sei was sprawled at his feet, looking utterly exhausted. It seemed that he had held out for a respectable amount of time in their one-on-one fight, but Jigorou apparently had no intention of letting him win easily.

The production duo Jigorou mentioned were Iris and Shiitake. Iris created all sorts of items, including equipment, but she did not possess the 【Alchemy】 Skill. Shiitake, on the other hand, was an Alchemist, a specialist Job who used 【Alchemy】. The two women, both playing in pursuit of creation, had hit it off. Recently, with Number Eighteen's support, they had been shutting themselves away in a workshop and experimenting with all sorts of things.

The two of them had spent so much time on production lately that they had not left the workshop. Thus, when they wanted to go outside for a change of pace, I happened to log in, and I accompanied them to lend a hand.

"Yes. Cal became eligible to evolve right after we set out."

That was why we had turned back. After leaving Bigdaleio, my Race and Skill levels had risen considerably. I had also learned new Martial Techniques and spells. However, the most noteworthy development was that Cal had finally fulfilled the conditions for evolution during our latest hunt.

Iris and Shiitake were intensely interested in Cal's further evolution as a Dragon, and they were the ones who suggested returning to the calmer Birdie Perch instead of staying in the field. I readily agreed.

"Seriously? Hey, you old men! Get over here!"

"Hmm? Did you call?"

Jigorou turned around and called to our companions. Once he told them that Cal could evolve, he gathered the other members who were logged in as well. I had used the clan chat to contact those who were not here, so everyone would be gathering soon.

"Ho ho. That's wonderful news."

Genzuro congratulated me with a rattling laugh. He had evolved at almost the same time as us. His new Race was a Samurai Insector Edge Beetle, a type of Insector specialized to the extreme in bladed weapons.

In addition to raising his basic stats, it apparently granted an even greater bonus to the attack power of swords and other bladed weapons. In exchange, he could no longer use weapons without the slashing attribute, but since he had not used any such weapons to begin with, that should not be a problem. The serious battle he had fought with Jigorou under the pretense of testing his evolved body had been quite a spectacle. As for who won... I will leave that to your imagination.

"Cal-chan used to be a Lesser Dragon, right? What will Cal become next, I wonder?"

"Hmm, dunno."

That was Shifune and Wool speaking. The two of them still seemed to be as close as ever, with Shifune perched neatly atop Wool's head.

Their appearances had changed considerably. Shifune had evolved into a Bloody Sword Spider, a spider specialized in close-quarters combat. She seemed to be poor at magic, but her HP, attack power, defense, and agility had all increased substantially. Her body had also become smaller, making her more nimble.

She seemed overwhelmingly stronger, but things were not quite that simple. The biggest change was that although she could still use thread, she could no longer set traps. She had become a completely wandering spider. The word 【Traps】 had disappeared from her Skills, and apparently she could not reacquire it, either.

She had an ominous appearance, entirely black with dark red lines running across her body. All her jointed limbs were as sharp as blades, making for a terrifyingly aggressive design. She had apparently disliked the excessively intimidating appearance at first, but she was now fond of it since she had returned to a size that let her ride on Wool's back as before.

Wool had become a Nightmare Sheep, a Race even more specialized in putting others to sleep. In particular, the 【Nightmare】 Skill he had gained through evolution was powerful: anyone Wool put to sleep would take damage while asleep. He had truly become a sheep that led others into nightmares.

He had also become a Bard, a Job capable of making full use of his bleating, and acquired the Bard-exclusive 【Cursed Song】 Skill. Using his singing voice to strengthen allies and weaken enemies was a highly unusual fighting style even within our clan. It would broaden our tactical options, and there would surely be more things only he could do.

"We were mighty surprised when Izamu-han showed us that Dragon, you know."

"We nearly got eaten, too."

Nanako and Mossan were speaking with feeling. After parting ways during the event, the two of them had led the members who had not been in Bigdaleio all the way here. Both were sensible people, so they had been a great help. After all, our group had some dangerous people in it...

Even so, Cal apparently thought the two of them looked delicious. He had immediately attacked them and tried to eat them. We had stopped him in time, so nothing came of it, but the two of them still felt uneasy around Cal. There was a difference between nearly being attacked and nearly being eaten, after all. I had never been attacked with someone's appetite fully unleashed, so I could not say for certain.

"Are Big Bro Jigorou and Gramps Genzuro really players?"

"They are way too strong~. Those two are practically cheating. Here, a potion."

"Thanks."

Sei, who had been beaten senseless by Jigorou moments earlier, had evolved into a Buengko, while Shiitake, who had handed him a potion, had evolved into a Venom Needle Mushroom. Sei's familiars had also evolved: Fel into a Sharp Horn Wolf, and Tess into a Phantom Fairy.

Sei was frustrated, but his skills were improving by leaps and bounds. Perhaps because he found that enjoyable, Jigorou repeatedly challenged him to mock battles. Thanks to that, Sei had now grown into the strongest fighter after those two, at least in a straight-up fight on foot.

Shiitake, meanwhile, was thriving in her own way. She repeatedly conducted all sorts of experiments using materials gathered during our adventures and events, along with materials from the Vetus Floating Island. She had chosen a Job specialized in Alchemy, and the quality of her work was higher than that of the potions and offensive items I made. Perhaps we could leave production to those two from now on.

"Oh my, is Cal evolving? I wonder what form Cal will take."

"Cal will probably just get bigger, right? Eiji, be careful not to get eaten, okay? You are pork, after all."

"Toji... you..."

"Hahaha. You two get along well."

The next to arrive were Kanna and Toji, along with Ragya and Eiji. Kanna and Ragya had both reached level 50, evolving into a High Human and a Jinraiba, respectively.

This meant that Kanna had fulfilled the conditions to become a Jiangshi. She wanted to check how her evolved body felt, so we had not turned her into a Jiangshi yet. It was not listed in the information because her level was not a multiple of five, but her 【Necromancy】 and 【Talisman Arts】 had leveled up considerably. The procedure could therefore be performed at any time.

"Ah! We're the last ones!"

"It's completely our fault! We're sorry!"

"We were talking with a resident, so it couldn't be helped."

Ruby and Shio arrived a little later. Apparently, Shio had been in the middle of talking with an NPC and had been unable to leave right away. It was not as if everyone absolutely had to gather, so it did not really matter.

Ruby, one of the original five, had naturally reached level 50 as well. After passing through the Greater Assassin Jewel Slime stage, she had reached the High Assassin Jewel Slime stage. When it came to stealth and speed, she was far and away the best in the clan.

Her defense was second only to Eiji's, and although her attack power had remained unchanged, she excelled at charging into the middle of the enemy formation and throwing it into disarray. While the enemy was confused, her best friend Shio could snipe the commander, allowing the two of them to trample even foes who outnumbered them. They were a terrifying duo.

"Hmm. It is about time for you to evolve, Cal."

"Grrrroar!"

I operated the virtual display. The first thing I had to decide concerned Skills. Oh? This was slightly different from last time. Before, it had said, 'Please add a selectable Skill,' but now it said, 'Please add a selectable Skill, or choose a Skill that can evolve.'

After quickly checking the forums, I learned that familiars could use up the slot for adding a Skill when evolving and use it to evolve one whose proficiency had accumulated enough. It seemed that most familiars capable of evolving Skills were over level 40, but Cal was a Dragon, after all. It was impressive that Cal could do it even at this level. Then again, Cal needed an enormous amount of experience to level up, so it was only natural.

"Cal, would you rather add a Skill or evolve one?"

"Grrrr."

"Evolution?"

"Grrroar!"

Apparently Cal wanted to evolve. The Skills Cal could evolve were 【Claws】, 【Fangs】, 【Horns】, and 【Tail Strike】. Now, which should we choose?

"Hmm... 【Claws】 and 【Tail Strike】?"

"Grrr!"

Cal deliberately brought the tips of his claws and tail close to me. After making his wishes that obvious, there could be no doubt what he wanted. In that case, select them and evolve!

――――――――――

Your familiar Calnagtool's 【Claws】 have evolved into 【Dragon Claws】.

Your familiar Calnagtool's 【Tail Strike】 has evolved into 【Dragon Tail】.

Your familiar, Calnagtool, is beginning evolution.

――――――――――

"Grrrrr... GRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!"

As before, Cal shed his skin with loud cracking noises while letting out a roar. His old scales fell away with a clatter, and he grew another size larger.

However, the power I could sense from Cal was on an entirely different level from before. Thick muscles that could not possibly be hidden slept beneath his scales, while his already vicious gaze grew even more menacing. The evolved claws and tail possessed a sharpness that sent a chill down my spine.

――――――――――

Your familiar, Calnagtool, has evolved into a Lesser Destruction Dragon.

Your familiar, Calnagtool, has acquired a new Title.

――――――――――

A Lesser Destruction Dragon! I could not get rid of the 'Lesser,' but there was no doubt that Cal had become an incredibly powerful Dragon. And Cal had even acquired a Title... I was overwhelmed with emotion!

――――――――――

Your familiar, Calnagtool, has changed Jobs to Lesser Destruction Dragon.

As a result of the Job change, your familiar, Calnagtool, acquired the 【Intimidation】 Skill.

――――――――――

As for the available Job, apparently Cal could choose only one with the same name as Cal's Race. The 【Intimidation】 Skill gained at the same time was also usable by Jigorou. While active, it lowered the stats of lower-level opponents he faced. I knew that because Jigorou sometimes used it when he was too lazy to fight small fry.

"Grrrrrrrr..."

"Heh heh. Even though you've grown even bigger, you're still as needy as ever."

Cal looked capable of crushing me in a single bite, yet he rubbed his head against me as usual. He was just as cute as ever. Thinking that, I spent a while stroking Cal all over.