NOVEL WEB Chapter 12: Change
[Appraisal Activated]
Name: Unknown
Species: Sage Larva
Level: 1/10
Rank: F
HP: 12/12
MP: 20/20
Stamina: 5/12
Echo Skills: [Bite Lv: 7] [Movement Lv: 4] [Camouflage Lv: 3] [Instinctive Dodge Lv: 2]
Resonance Skills: [Appraisal Lv: Max]
Resistance Skills: [Poison Resistance Lv: 5] [Hardened Carapace Resistance Lv: 3] [Mental Pain Resistance Lv: 1] [Physical Pain Resistance Lv: 1]
Apex Skills: [Knowlegde Lv: 1]
Titles: [Earth-003 Reincarnator] [Survivor]
Status Effects: None
The world felt... different.
He lay still, gathering his bearings, the soft earth beneath him cool and comforting. His body, newly evolved, no longer ached the way it had before. The constant, gnawing hunger that had plagued him throughout his previous form had faded, replaced by a deep sense of calm. He didn't need to eat right away—not yet. It was a strange relief.
No more endless hunger. That realization alone was enough to make him pause. For the first time since waking in this alien world, he didn’t feel like a bottomless pit, constantly devouring everything in his path just to survive.
He wriggled slightly, testing his new body. His form had changed, becoming slimmer and more efficient. Each movement felt smoother, more deliberate, as though his limbs had been fine-tuned for precision rather than brute survival. Gone was the sluggishness that had defined his previous stages. Now, every twitch, every motion, seemed purposeful, like a silent whisper of control had settled into his new body.
He opened his eyes—or whatever they were now—and the world came into focus with a sharp clarity. No longer was his vision clouded or chaotic. Everything looked cleaner, the edges of each leaf, each blade of grass, clearly defined. The details of the ground, the subtle shifts in light and shadow—he saw it all, without the usual blur that had marked his perception.
For a moment, he marveled at the simplicity of it. The colors weren’t overwhelming, just more focused. The textures of the world around him—the soil, the grass, the tiny movements in the distance—were clear and precise. It wasn’t that he was seeing more, but that what he saw was sharper, more understandable.
So this is what it means to evolve as a Sage Larva.
His body felt leaner, lighter, yet stronger in a subtle way. He could feel magic within him, though not as a violent force ready to burst forth, but as a gentle stream waiting to be tapped. The constant chaos of his mind had quieted. Now, there was room to think. The frantic need to survive had been replaced by a sense of control.
Still, something about his new evolution felt different. It wasn’t just the physical changes. There was something else, something lingering at the edge of his awareness.
The Eye of Omniscience.
He closed his eyes again, this time trying to focus on the strange new sensation that came with his evolution. He felt... clearer, like there was a new lens through which he viewed the world. But it wasn’t as mystical or overwhelming as he’d expected. It was subtle, barely noticeable, like adjusting to a new pair of glasses. It allowed him to see the world in finer detail, but beyond that, it didn’t offer the grand revelations he had imagined.
Opening his eyes again, he observed the world once more. Yes, everything was sharper, but there was nothing more to it. The Eye of Omniscience, it seemed, wasn’t some magical ability that immediately unlocked hidden truths. Instead, it enhanced his perception just enough to allow him to notice details he might have missed before. It wasn’t revealing secrets yet—it was just making things... clearer.
Maybe I’m not ready to fully understand it yet, he thought. It wasn’t disappointing, but it was a reminder that evolution didn’t instantly solve all problems.
And what was the difference between echo, resonance and apex skills anyway?
Curious about the deeper implications of his new abilities, he activated Appraisal, hoping to gain a clearer explanation.
[Appraisal Activated]
Echo Skills: Echo Skills are those learned through experience, growth, and survival. They echo the potential within an individual, amplifying natural abilities or common skills gained through life’s challenges. They tend to be practical and versatile.
Resonance Skills: Resonance Skills are tied to a being's core essence. These abilities resonate with their soul’s unique frequency, often inherited at birth or through deep connection with their environment. They remain dormant until certain conditions or levels are reached.
Apex Skills: Apex skills are unique abilities that are derived from the resonance between fundamental skills. They represent the pinnacle of mastery and understanding, granting the user abilities that go beyond conventional skill sets. Apex skills are abstract in nature and reflect a deep connection to the world or its underlying forces. Only one entity in the universe can possess an Apex skill at any given time. Apex skills are not easily defined and often grow stronger as the user evolves, learns, and experiences new challenges.
He blinked—or whatever passed for blinking now—as the information settled into his mind. Apex skills weren’t as straightforward as he had assumed. They weren’t just raw power or easily measurable abilities. Instead, they seemed to represent something more abstract, more profound—a mastery over something fundamental, a connection to the universe itself.
He thought about the two skills that had resonated within him: Wisdom and Ignorance. When combined, they had formed the Apex of Knowledge. But knowledge wasn’t just about understanding facts or learning quickly—it was about seeing deeper patterns, about perceiving truths hidden beneath the surface of reality.
But how did that work in practice?
He focused on his Apex Skill, trying to get a feel for it. Unlike the other skills, it didn’t immediately respond to his thoughts. It wasn’t like Bite or Camouflage, where he could activate and use them at will. This was something more intrinsic, something that wasn’t meant to be wielded directly. It was as if the Apex of Knowledge was part of him, always there, silently enhancing his understanding without him needing to call upon it.
He concentrated again, this time focusing on the plants around him. The grass swayed gently in the breeze, and as he observed it, he could feel a faint recognition stirring in his mind. He knew things now—details he hadn’t noticed before. The energy that pulsed through the grass, the subtle interactions between life and magic—it all made sense in a way that it hadn’t before. Not because of some flash of insight, but because the Apex of Knowledge had already started to deepen his understanding.
It wasn’t a tool—it was a shift in perspective. A part of him, always active, always working in the background, refining his thoughts and perceptions.
That’s what made Apex skills different. They weren’t direct power boosts or simple abilities to call on. They were about mastery. They were about becoming something greater, evolving past mere survival or strength and into something far more complex. The Apex of Knowledge was about understanding the fabric of the world, but it would take time. Time, and experience, for him to fully grasp what it could do.
As he processed all of this, another thought crept into his mind. He now understood why only one being could possess an Apex skill at a time. These weren’t ordinary abilities. They were unique because they represented the culmination of something fundamental. To hold an Apex skill was to be the embodiment of a particular aspect of existence—in his case, Knowledge.
He let the understanding sink in. He wasn’t just a tiny creature anymore, struggling to survive. He had taken the first steps toward something far greater. He had chosen a path that prioritized knowledge over power, and now, with each passing moment, he was beginning to see the world in a way few others could.
The Eye of Omniscience didn’t reveal everything at once. It wasn’t a tool for instant answers. But it would make things clearer, slowly, piece by piece, as he evolved and learned.
He took a deep breath—if such a thing was even possible in his current form—and let his body relax. There was so much more to discover, so much more to understand. But for now, he had something few creatures could claim.
A path forward. A mind open to the infinite possibilities of the world around him.
And the knowledge to unlock them.
Oh yeah, I maxed out my Appraisal! Whoo!