Divine Beast Ascension

Chapter 458: Evolution!

“I need you, Oli. I need you to become the next Demon Ape.”

Catching Oli off guard with his wording, Eeole stated, “Only after you achieve that same degree of reputation and then surpass it, can our plans truly be accomplished. Reach that point, and you’ll have your meeting with that soul expert Daruun to save your father. It’s already been arranged. All you have to do is overcome the weight of godhood and ascend to what’s beyond.”

Oli was still getting used to moving his body. But he still clenched a fist and subconsciously placed it over his torso, just above the soul jade. “I... I can really save my father?”

Smiling softly, Eeole removed his hood. “We’ve already gotten approval for the appointment. But we’ll be visiting Daruun for more than just your father, so we can only go after we’ve accomplished our plans here on Dominus. Then, you and I will both go meet him.”

“... So, you were already going to visit him? Why?” asked Oli.

But Eeole shook his head. “I’ll only tell you once you’re strong enough. Until then, knowing that information could jeopardize our plans. If I’m able to read your thoughts so freely, wouldn’t other experts also be able to? So, until you’re strong enough to defend yourself, physically and mentally, I can’t share the final portion of our plans.”

Nodding, Oli agreed. “I get that... And I just need to get stronger?”

.....

“That’s right. And you’ll have my support while you do so. Where do you think Trada got all those cores she left behind?” jested Eeole. “Those cores can be sold sparingly to cover living expenses or travel costs. And there are enough earth and dark cores to last you till you’re a perennial. How else will you become a peak-elder by the Global Expedition?”

“Global... The Global Expedition is one of the tournaments my father joined, right?”

Eeole explained, “Yes. That’s where he put up a perfect record, despite the exhibition being cut short by unexpected interferences. Only from his perfect record did he earn your peak-king earth technique. And you’ll want to do the same thing if you want Kartzal’s peak-king death technique.”

Oli blinked but quickly chuckled, “Right, of course, you’d know I chose death essence.”

“And I know that Kartzal’s the only possessor of such a technique. Otherwise, I’d have given you one long ago and would be training you in secret until you become a perennial,” reasoned Eeole. “But since you wanted to follow in your father’s footsteps, I figured you’d want to participate anyway.”

“Thank you, Eeole.” Oli gave a polite bow.

“Don’t thank me yet. I’ve got a couple of rules for you. First, you’re not allowed to use any gravity until you’re a perennial.” Eeole continued, “Since your affinity has progressed so far already, it’s best to wait until you form your divine core. Then, with equal affinities between your essences, your divine core will be formed in equal parts by all three essences. That will make wielding gravity essence much easier on you. Also, using gravity essence will completely give you away for the time being and force us to take drastic actions. So don’t use it.”

Oli agreed, “I know. You’ve already warned me so I saw that coming.”

“The second rule is that you’re not allowed to use any of your transformations apart from human form.”

“I already know that,” scoffed Oli.

“... Oli. Look at your hands.”

Realizing that something was off, Oli did as Eeole suggested. Nothing seemed different though. His fur was a bit darker than he remembered, but... “Wait? Why am I back in gorilla form? And my skin’s a different color-”

“You’re not. You’re in a hybrid form,” corrected Eeole, startling Oli.

“Hybrid...” Oli started looking all over his body, recognizing how different his body had become.

Smiling wide, Eeole laughed, “Since you’ve finally realized it, let me congratulate you. Oli, congratulations on evolving!”

“... Evolving... What’s that?”

“Technically, you’ve evolved twice. Your gorilla bloodline has evolved, which forced your mutated bloodline to evolve as well. You are no longer an Iron-body Gorilla. You’re the first of an entirely new species, just like your ancient ancestor Azar, the Tyrant Ape.”

While Oli was further shocked to hear that, Eeole mentioned, “Oh, and the reason your skin has become tightly-packed, dark purple scales is because of your dragon bloodline. That’s probably the reason your hybrid form is also a little smaller than your gorilla form, because the Toxic-shadow Dragon blood prioritizes sleek agility over brawn and bulk. That’s why your wings are so light that you haven’t even noticed them.”

“WINGS?!!”

As Oli whipped his head around, he instinctively flapped his wings. His body was lifted almost a full krin just from that impulsive flap. The wings had the same dark purple scales but the loose flaps of skin covering most of the wings were pitch-black, matching Oli’s fur.

Oli also noticed that he had retractable claws in his hands and feet, at the tips of his fingers and toes. He became consumed with his new form and wanted to learn everything new about it.

“You should see this.” A full-body mirror appeared beside Eeole. “Take a look at your back.”

Rushing, Oli did just that. “What is... What kind of metal is that?”

“You’ve successfully evolved from an Iron-body Gorilla into a Roxite Gorilla! A unique bloodline that’s new to the world.” Eeole gave a proud knock on the new sheet of metal embedded into Oli’s back. It looked like unpolished black iron, yet it was lustrous all the same. “Roxite is the rarest metal you’ll find in this world. So the fact that you evolved into a Roxite Gorilla is something even I hadn’t anticipated.”

“Seriously?! Then... Then how-”

“You didn’t notice because you were in the soul jade during the whole process. You’ve been in that completed form for almost a year now. So, of course your subconscious is already used to it,” explained Eeole. “But there’s another interesting fact about Roxite, apart from its strength and durability. It’s a natural ward against mental or soul attacks. It can only weaken them, not nullify them, but it will keep anyone from being able to see through your abilities so long as they’re not too much stronger than you.”