Chương 19: Book 1 - Chapter 19: Great Oaks From Little Acorns Grow

Given everything that had happened so far, Dominic was unsurprised when a message popped into his vision upon brushing against the orb with curiosity. He was, however, taken aback by just how much there was in it. [Core Detected. Origin: Hyena Status: Complete Tier: Basic Available Options: 1) Convert to XP This Core may be converted into 320 XP. XP may be retained for later use or converted into Evolution Energy and directed into a chosen Domain.

2) Convert to Evolution Energy This Core may be directly processed into Evolution Energy aligned to the Predation Domain. Energy gained through this method is more efficient than standard XP conversion but cannot be redirected to other Domains. 3) Assimilate Core The host may attempt to integrate the Core's intrinsic patterns. Possible outcomes include the acquisition of a Mutation, partial understanding resulting in a locked Mutation, acquisition of an Adaption, or no meaningful gain.

Resulting adaptations, if any, will reflect the Core's origin and may not align with the host's current priorities. Select Processing Method?] Dominic breathed for a moment, his eyes wide. There are so many implications to this, he marvelled. Then, glancing at the bloodstains and carcasses around him, he decided that this wasn't the place to spend the time thinking about it. I don't want to make a hasty decision that I regret later, Dominic decided.

Hoping that it would react the way his message about a Domain Evolution had, Dominic thought, later, at it and it disappeared from his view. The golden orb was still there so hopefully that meant he could make the choice later. The fact was that he was currently a beacon to scavengers and, injured as he was, he had no desire to meet them. His first priority was to eat, hopefully heal, and then to get away from the area and clean himself. Then he could consider what to do with the golden orb.

Though I do need to carry it somehow, Dominic considered. His mouth was the obvious option, but he had another possibility – if he figured out how to use it. His gorget, as well as providing excellent armour for his throat, was also supposed to be an extra-dimensional holding space. But, unfortunately, it didn't come with instructions. System easy so far, Leo reminded him. True, Dominic mused. And activating the gorget's amour had been as simple as willing it to do so.

No reason why the storage space function would work any differently. Placing his paw on top of the orb, Dominic visualised a box and imagined it going inside. His paw flattened on the rocky earth as the orb disappeared from below it. Well, that worked, Dominic murmured, though slightly uncertainly – had it gone to his extra-dimensional space, or had he accidentally absorbed it – assimilated it? Try taking out? Leo suggested. Dominic nodded, focusing now on opening that box and pulling out the orb inside.

He immediately felt a lump under his paw again. Lifting his paw revealed the golden orb once more. Well, that's a relief, Dominic sighed. But it's going to be a bit annoying if I have to remember everything I've put in the space. Not to say impossible – especially after some time had gone past. Some more experimentation revealed that though there was no visible inventory, if he concentrated on the gorget 'box', he could get a general sense of what was inside it.

He also found out that he had to be touching the object to put it inside, and then, when it reappeared, it would be in exactly the same position relative to him. He even confirmed that it worked if he was touching it with his unarmoured tail – and it would appear at the end of his tail again when he pulled it out. Need to move, Leo reminded him, making him realise that he'd dived perhaps a little too deeply into his testing. Even his stinging wounds had stopped bothering him quite as much in his distraction.

Tucking the golden orb away a final time, Dominic crouched next to the carcass of one of the two hyenas that hadn't somehow turned into a ball of possibility. Ripping at the meat, he ate with none of the inhibition he'd had in his first meal in the trial grounds. The meat just tasted too good to be precious about eating something that had been alive only a short while before.

Actually, it tasted even better for that – the knowledge that the hyena would have done the same to him if he'd lost making the meat even sweeter. In fact… Does this meat just taste better in general to you? Dominic questioned Leo. Yes, Leo replied thoughtfully. Trial creatures… chalky. Satisfying, but only just. Yeah. This meat is just so much more… real. Maybe that is the difference, Dominic mused. Still, he was glad to realise that the meat outside the trial seemed to still heal him in the same way.

His injuries itched awfully, then faded from his awareness. He kept eating, filling his stomach again and again until it stopped emptying. By the time he was done, he'd stripped one carcass all but bare and the other was half-eaten. Dominic rose to his paws then hesitated. He felt reluctant to leave the meat behind. Then, as he considered his new discoveries, he realised he didn't have to. Placing his paw on the half-eaten hyena carcass, he willed it into his extra-dimensional storage space with some satisfaction.

He left the other one – he wouldn't be able to get much more out of it but others would. Then, about to set off, he paused. He was ready to go, but he didn't actually know where. Uh, compass? he tried, hoping that would trigger something. Nothing happened. Find my father? The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Again, nothing. No compass that rose before his eyes, no sense of where to go.

Dominic huffed a breath, pushing away the nagging worry that something was wrong. He didn't have to go far, but he did need to leave this place that smelt of injury and death. They didn't need to visit the waterhole any longer – the hyenas had fulfilled his need to eat and drink – but that was as good a direction as any other, so, after taking a moment to listen and smell for any threats, he padded down the slope.

Finding something that was almost a cave, with a roof that cast a welcome shade, Dominic tucked himself inside. His first priority was cleaning himself so he stopped smelling like a charnel house. Licking himself clean would never stop being weird when he thought too deeply about it, so he tried not to. The fact was, it felt really good, and he needed to be clean, so, short of going to the waterhole and taking a dip, there weren't any other options. Water horrible, Leo contributed with a shiver.

I take it you're not a fan of swimming? Dominic asked wryly. The revulsion he received in response spoke volumes. If he were physically capable of it, he would have smiled. While cleaning himself, he found his thoughts drifting towards the golden orb and the options he'd been offered. XP, Evolution Energy, or assimilation, he mused. Lose some of it but be able to direct it, keep all of it but only for Predation, or roll the dice and see if I get a Mutation out of it. He thought for a moment.

A useful Mutation, that is. It had warned that the Mutation would be appropriate for the originating creature, not him necessarily. Does it depend on their physical aspects, or do they have Mutations like I do? he wondered, considering Compass, Meditation Conversion, and System Insight. He abruptly realised he hadn't looked at his status screen since he'd left the trial grounds. Seeing as he was currently relatively safe, this seemed like a good moment.

He even decided to pull up the full one to see what had changed.

DOMINIC MARTIN COLE / LEO Species: Chimera (Anomaly – Stabilised) Form/s: Lion, [Locked] Tier/Rank: Basic, [Locked] XP Pool: 0 / 2000 (100XP: 1EE) Domains Predation – Basic Stage 2 Active Mutation: None Stored Mutations: None Aegis – Basic Stage 2 Active Mutation: None Stored Mutations: None Realm – Basic Stage 1 Active Mutation: None Stored Mutations: None Conduit – Evolved Stage 1 Active Mutation: None Stored Mutations: Meditation Conversion – Stage I Type: Mutation (active) Enables the host to convert accumulated XP into Evolution Energy and consciously direct it to enhance chosen Domains.

The process requires sustained stillness and concentration to stabilise energy transfer. Initial conversion efficiency is low but improves with repeated practice and increased Conduit development. Translocation – Evolved Stage 1 Active Mutation: None Stored Mutations: Compass – Stage I Type: Mutation (active) When the host concentrates on a specific creature or location, this Mutation offers the sense of its general direction if it lies within range. The signal does not convey distance or exact position.

Effective range expands and other aspects may be discovered as the Mutation advances in Stage and Realm develops. Sovereignty – Evolved Stage 1 Active Mutation: None Stored Mutations: System Insight – Stage I Type: Mutation (passive) Grants the host the ability to perceive and interpret elements of their own System architecture. This includes awareness of Domains, mutation states, and energy flow pathways.

The integration allows informed management of abilities but does not grant direct control over System processes. Artefacts Tail-Mounted Morningstar - Stage 1 A living weapon that manifests along the tail and hindquarters, increasing its defences significantly. The tail terminates in a dense, spiked flail capable of delivering powerful striking attacks and crushing impacts. May be removed but may not be worn by a non-Chimera.

Dimensional Gorget - Stage 1 Upon activation, a collar of condensed bone and energy forms around the throat and upper chest, protecting critical arteries and vital structures. The artefact enhances structural durability in the protected region while adapting to the host's physiology. Embedded within the gorget is a stable extradimensional storage pocket with a capacity of approximately 2m³. May be removed but may not be worn by a non-Chimera.

Telepathic Ear-Cuff - Stage 1 Upon activation, a small cuff of condensed bone and energy attaches to the ear, adapting itself to the host's physiology without impairing hearing. The artefact enables the wearer to exchange simple thoughts, emotions, and intentions telepathically with willing creatures within approximately 100 metres, though complex concepts become increasingly difficult to convey. Effective range and fidelity of communication may improve through future enhancement.

May be removed and may be worn by non-Chimeras. Dominic was briefly taken aback at just how much his status had changed in such a short time. The Mutations were expected; having his artefacts on his status wasn't. And Stage 1? That makes it sound like they can grow, he mused to himself with a flicker of excitement. Of course, there was no indication of how, but he had a distinct feeling that he'd find out in time. Great oaks from little acorns grow. Studying the details, he noted some other interesting aspects.

Like the restrictions to the artefacts – it seemed like he might be able to share his Telepathic Ear-Cuff if he wanted to, while the others were restricted to him alone. It was also useful to know exactly how much space he had in the Dimensional Gorget – more than he was expecting; less than he was hoping. That two of his Mutations were active while one was passive was something else he noted. I wonder about the implications of that.

Maybe that's why Compass didn't work while I think System Insight has been functioning, he mused. But that then begged the question of how exactly he could make it work. And, his eyes catching on the Active Mutation slot, he wondered whether that might be the answer. Concentrating, he focused on shifting Compass into the active slot of Translocation. For a moment, it seemed like nothing would happen. Then, with the feeling of a key turning in a lock, a single line on his status screen changed.

Translocation – Evolved Stage 1 Active Mutation: Compass Anticipation pulsing through him, Dominic dismissed his status screen and concentrated on his father, forming a clear image of not just his appearance, but the very feeling of him. The warmth of his hugs. His easy affection. The brightness of his smile. He waited tensely for several moments, but nothing happened. Maybe I did it wrong?

Thinking that he hadn't given enough detail, he focused even harder on his father, thinking about where he'd been the last time they'd seen each other. Still nothing. He tried again. Still nothing. Try something else, Leo suggested. It was a good idea. Dominic clung to the implication that maybe he was doing something wrong – it was a better possibility than the alternative. This time, he focused on water, imagining its cool refreshing quality, its liquid texture.

Immediately, a sudden sense of where the water might be tugged at him. In fact, there were several tugs, each in a different direction and with a different strength. The strongest was in the direction where he knew the waterhole lay. With the knot in his stomach growing tighter, Dominic tried to direct it to his father again. Still nothing. Dominic's legs felt weak and he lay down before they collapsed under him. His father couldn't be… dead. Could he?