Chronicles of the True Wizard

Felix flew up to the top of the volcano but saw that the bait was exactly as he had left it so he descended back to the roof of the tower and started creating a giant shell of solid mana. He simply made it a larger version of his experimental scale model in ever way. Other than scale, it was identical. He made it just slightly wider than the tower. Halfway through the day he realized he couldn't just have it resting a top the tower though as this was where he appeared when he teleported. Instead, he began constructing large posts all around the roof to suspend the engine in the air. He used his flight to move around it and slowly grew the shell out for days on end. He used a combination of his own passive regeneration and active manual regeneration.

It ended up taking him almost five days to finish just the shell. Inscribing the ritual after that was trivial. Once it was complete, at the top of Felix's tower, there was a massive disc of solid mana suspended about three meters in the air with a spiral shaped ritual inscribed upon it. Felix kick started the ritual with his own mana and watched as the vortex slowly began to spin. He continued to manually feed it his entire mana pool multiple times over until it finally spun on it's own. It slowly sped up over time with the compressive force in the middle ramping up alongside the speed of the vortex. Felix watched it accelerate and noted down a couple more spots he could further optimize. It was taking forever though so he decided to go check on the bait to see if a sprite had spawned yet.

He once more flew to the top of the volcano and into the bowl. It was once again exactly as he had left it, except this time the yellow rock had fallen to the side. He replaced it on the pile of gravel and descended the volcano back to his tower. He expected to see a massive mana engine humming away a few meters above his tower but instead, he found a pile of solid mana shrapnel. He rushed down to the roof to see if there was anything he could sense about why it failed but it was too late to figure anything out. He was just going to have to reconstruct it and watch this time.

Reconstructing the mana engine was much easier than building it from scratch. He didn't have to solidify mana at all as he could just put the pieces back together and fuse them. He also didn't need to know where each piece had been exactly as he could simply mold the mana into whichever piece he needed. When he was done, it looked exactly as it had when he first created it.

Before starting it up though, he began to make the entire thing thicker and hoped that would keep it from shattering this time. He started up the engine and watched intently as it accelerated. This time he sat and watched it for the hours it took to ramp up and took notes on what to iterate on for next time. He also hovered dozens of meters away incase it did explode.

It didn't explode this time, instead firing all the way up, but he did see why it had collapsed violently last time. Though it worked, the vortex was completely unstable and turbulent. Felix created a outlet for it to vent out mana instead of compressing it from as far away as he could. Once he was certain it wouldn't try and kill him, he approached it and slowly morphed the shell to try and remove the turbulence. He also made the optimizations he had noted down earlier. The entire thing was much easier to work with when it wasn't trying to compress mana and was even relatively safe, compared to how it was before he had added the vent at least.

Felix continued to iterate on the engine until he couldn't find anything else to improve with it. He still just couldn't figure out though, how to make the final step from liquid mana to solid mana. He felt the mana in the middle was right on the edge but just not making it quite there. He continued to look for optimizations but couldn't seem to find anything further. After hours of trying to figure it out, he metaphorically began to hit his head against the wall and simply sat there willing it to work. Unfortunately, his will was perfectly capable of doing exactly what he wanted the mana engine to do so he unintentionally solidified the mana right at the center.

He scrambled to undo it, worried it would make the engine unstable but stopped himself when he noticed it growing. The liquid mana was finally being compressed into a solid, it seemed that it had just needed a seed to grow from.

I'm surprised you didn't figure that out sooner.

You knew that was all it needed?

Nope, not a clue.

Then what do you mean?

It's just like water.

Oh shit, you're totally right. You can cool water down past the point of freezing but it won't transition until it either has a seed or is shaken.

Usually any imperfection will do, but a seed keeps thing's pure.

I always forget because water just freezes in the freezer.

Yeah but tap water always has some minor flaws.

With that complete, Felix quickly headed up the bait in the mountain but it was once again, untouched. He headed back to the tower and was starting to think it was a waste of his time to check the bait as often as he was. He figured he probably needed to go and find more natural treasures but Grim seemed to think it should be enough as is. He spent a few days grinding out the last three levels on his profession by creating grenades for Benjamin.

He didn't really have anything better to make so he figured he might as well make him happy and make up for lying. He also created his second version of the cannon. This one was made out of entirely solid mana meaning he could control it with his mind, it wasn't nearly as powerful though as solid mana wasn't nearly as strong as steel. He hoped one day he might be able to change that, but for now he didn't know of any way to make it stronger.

D Grade

You have reached the prerequisite level to upgrade to D grade in your class, profession and race.

You may open the evolution selection screen to select your upgrade now.

Note: It is possible for these options to change if you decide not to evolve now.

Note: You can continue to gain experience, but you will not gain any stats from the levels beyond the threshold until you evolve. Those levels will be active as soon as you evolve however.

So, did it matter if I checked it earlier?

Only got a response a few hours ago, it's almost always better to wait because the options are always better. There are some that combine your profession and class, others that combine your race as well. Apparently they're super rare but… I figure you seem like the kind of person to be offered one. Apparently you can get back the ones that got replaced anyways. If you upgrade your profession, the combination options that included a profession will disappear from the other two.

Alright, thanks. Evolution Selection Screen.

Seven options appeared to Felix and all but one of them was a complete surprise to him.

[A - Arcane] Mana Dragon

A dragon is widely considered to be one of, if not, the most powerful beings in the multiverse bowing only to The System. Dragons are powerful beyond belief and as prideful as they come.

Note: This race will progress you directly into the A grade. Dragons do not exist below the B grade.

Note: This evolution will encompass your Race, Class and Profession.

All stats equal to 300k with 420k free points.

Uh… Grim, can you see this option?

Yeah I can see it, I have no idea though.

About what?

If it's good, what it does, why you got it… anything. I'm posting questions now.

It is curious why I haven't heard more about dragons… at all, now that I think about it.

[D - Common] Human

Humans are one of the most common races in the multiverse. They are adaptable and versatile.

+2 to all stats per level.

+500 to all stats upon evolution.

It's nice to know I have that to fall back on I guess. I'm not super inclined to change races now that I think about it. I like who I am, I don't want to change it all completely. That being said, I think I can get used to some changes, just nothing massive.

What if the dragon evolution is awesome beyond belief?

I mean it sounds like it is, I just don't think it suits me.

Wow, honestly, I didn't expect that.

What?

I think it's the right choice to pass on Dragon if it doesn't suit you. I think your journey has to be a personal one where you do what you think is right. I just didn't expect you to be so wise considering how young you are.

Uh… Thanks?

[D - Special] Singular Mind

A race that is often described as a floating brain, Singular Minds are among the most intelligent beings in the multiverse. They are often employed as strategists and city planners as well as any job that requires quick thinking and perfect memory. These beings are often referred to as ‘Living Computers'. This race mostly interacts with the rest of the world using spells.

+1 STR, DEX, AGI, VIT, END per level

+5 PER per level

+15 INT per level

+5 FREE per level

+2500 INT and +750 to all other stats upon evolution.

No chance. I would rather be a human than that.

Yeah honestly. Sounds kind of gross. Is it just exposed?

Please don't post that question, I don't want to know the answer.

I already got an answer back. It's not nearly as gross as we thought. Most often, it's a floating head, not an exposed brain.

Oh, that actually makes it a lot better. Still not taking it though.

Agreed.

[D - Epic] Construct: Spell Casting

A race that encompasses a wide variety of beings created for a vast set of purposes. They come in so many different forms they are most often not even considered a race as grouping them together is usually folly.

+3 STR, AGI, PER, VIT, END per level

+10 DEX, INT per level

+5 FREE per level

+4500 INT and +1000 to all other stats upon evolution.

Oh man, these suck. Do I turn into a robot if I take this?

Maybe not. Could be a biological construct.

I guess.

[D - Epic] Lightning Elemental

An elemental focused on lightning. Your body and mind will become lightning controlled entirely by your soul.

Note: This race relies entirely on a single stat. Your health and energy will instead be based on your mana bar. Taking damage and expending energy will consume mana instead. Your other statistics are removed and will instead be equal to the properties of lightning.

+70 INT per level. All other stats removed.

+10500 INT upon evolution.

Really? Pass.

[D - Arcane] Infant Lich

Often considered undead, a Lich is a soul that has been separated from it's body and bound to a new one. This race allows you to change bodies through a ritual that binds your soul to a new body. You may choose to use a phylactery and puppet a body but be warned, using one will greatly decrease your strength compared to inhabiting a body with your soul directly.

+100 Free per level

+28000 Free upon evolution

Oooohh, I think I might take this one, those stat bonuses are insane. Plus I can just stick to my own body.

Sort of, they increase your soul's strength but you could still be limited by the body you possess.

What do you mean?

Just don't expect to dump all your points into strength then possess a bee and lift a building.

I guess that makes sense, weak body means my stats will be limited to it's capabilities?

Exactly. It's definitely not bad. Having skills or spells given to you makes this a much less dangerous option compared to manual lichdom. Might as well see what the other option is.

Fair enough.

[Unique] Wanderer

This race does not exist in the multiverse currently and has never been born in the multiverse, though they have traveled through on occasion, hence, Wanderer. This race is entirely unique to each individual as it is based on individual upgrades and evolutions. This race evolution grants finer grained control over the body, to the mind and soul facilitating manual upgrades and evolutions. Taking this option will grant an immediate upgrade and then entirely remove System control over your race.

Note: The starting body will be based on your current race, Human. You will appear human for all intents and purposes. You will be identified as human. Your race will be Wanderer as soon as the evolution is complete. You may freely diverge from your humanity as desired.

Note: Your level and grade will continue to represent and estimation of the capabilities of your soul, irrespective of the capabilities of your body and race. This may result in your stats being limited by the capabilities of your body. Your level will still increase as you gain experience, but your bodies level may differ from your actual level. It will be up to you to keep these as aligned as possible.

Note: Once you take this evolution, you may not change evolutions in the future. You will not be offered any evolutions to the next grade. This race has no specific grade and it will instead be estimated by it's current capabilities at any given moment.

+10 to all stats (including FREE) per level.

+1000 to all stats (including FREE) upon evolution.

Further stat increases will depend on manual modifications to your body. Stat increases per level may increase in accordance with this race's estimation of your grade along with manual upgrades. It is possible for the stat increases to be temporarily halted as your body catches up to your soul.

What…

Take it. Take it now.

What, why?

Just trust me and take it.

Did you get an answer back on the whole dragon thing? Also you don't even know what an evolution is, what do you mean ‘take it'.

Just trust me please and take it. The dragon thing doesn't matter, you weren't going to take it anyways. This evolution is gonna be so unique I won't really be able to tell what an evolution usually entails, but it doesn't matter this is worth it. I can go watch Noah evolve or something.

Don't I need the sprite first?

Oh shit, yes you do. Ok can you lock it in or something?

Felix tried to lock the option but couldn't seem to find a way of doing so.

Damn. Take that one as soon as we find the sprite. Actually, it's probably worth it to just take the evolution now. I have a feeling this evolution will be weird and not super helpful for the sprite anyways. Yeah, forget the sprite, take it right now.

You sure?

Yes. 100%. We can manually evolve the sprite ourselves, it's not that big a deal just slightly less convenient. Plus, on the tiny chance the option isn't offered when you come back to this screen, you need to take it now. I do not want the system to change it's mind. Again, this is sooooo worth it.

Alright, it sounds like it doesn't change much anyways so I'm good with it. Lich did sound cool though.

Trust me, this race is every liches dream.

Felix selected the option and instead of immediately evolving like he expected, he received a message.

D Grade Race Evolution.

Your race selection has been finalized. This option is locked in and cannot be changed. To facilitate the process, you may also select your class and profession upgrades now so that all evolutions happen at once. You may also choose to evolve your race now.

Would you like to evolve your race now?

Yes.

No.

Hey Grim, it locked in the race and is letting me select the profession and class now. Says I can't change the race option even if I wanted to.

Oh interesting. Maybe we do have time to grab the sprite then. I think we should still manually evolve it and see what options we get.

We get to choose it's evolution?

Maybe. Apparently, if it let's us pick the evolution, the system will present us with the options.

Alright, let's do it. Hopefully it showed up by now.

Hey what's up with the level representing soul thing?

I have some idea, but I'll ask so I have a more complete answer and let you know. Just think of the bee analogy with the lich, it's probably something like that.

Sounds good. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .