Nyxaris stared at the three glowing options before him, feeling the weight of his decision. The Trial of Evolution had pushed him to his limits, forcing him to grow stronger in ways he never imagined. Now, the game was offering him a new beginning—a chance to ascend to an entirely new level.
Each path had its own unique advantages:
Demon Lord – A ruler of chaos, capable of wielding powerful dark magic and commanding armies of monsters. A path of dominance and absolute authority.
Hero – A champion of justice, blessed with divine strength and unparalleled skill in combat. A path of righteousness and sacrifice.
??? – A hidden evolution path. No description. No clues. A complete mystery.
"What do you think?" Nyxaris asked, his voice low.
Inside him, Zeraldris, the Ancient Dragon, chuckled.
"You've truly reached an interesting crossroads, boy," Zeraldris mused, his deep voice carrying both amusement and curiosity. "A Demon Lord's power is immense, but it comes with chains. A Hero's fate is to carry the burdens of others. And this last one… even I cannot see what lies ahead."
Nyxaris exhaled, his fists clenching.
"I don't want to be bound by a title," he said firmly. "I want to carve my own path, to be more than just a label."
He lifted his hand—
And tapped the third option.
[SYSTEM ALERT!]
"Player Nyxaris has selected the Unknown Evolution Path. Processing..."
A wave of energy erupted around him, blindingly bright. The power surged through his slime core, shifting and expanding, altering his very being.
Eleanor and the 500 ogres who had fought by his side took a step back, unable to see what was happening.
Inside his mind, Zeraldris let out a low growl.
"This power… it feels ancient, yet unrefined. You've chosen something dangerous, boy."
Nyxaris grit his teeth as his body transformed—his slime form becoming denser, more refined, while his humanoid form shifted slightly, gaining a regal yet ominous presence.
Then, the system spoke.
[Evolution Confirmed!]
"Nyxaris has evolved into: Arcane Sovereign"
As the light faded, Nyxaris looked down at himself.
His slime body had become more compact, dense, and controlled.
His human form felt enhanced, his movements more fluid, his presence exuding a calm yet overwhelming energy.
His mana pool had increased significantly, allowing for greater spellcasting potential.
A new ability notification appeared before him.
New Unique Skill Acquired!
[Arcane Nexus] – Grants access to lost and forbidden magic. Enhances spell efficiency and allows the absorption of magical knowledge at an accelerated rate. This skill will evolve with the user.
Nyxaris smirked. "Arcane Sovereign, huh? I like the sound of that."
Inside his mind, Zeraldris chuckled.
"You've taken a path of wisdom and raw magical force. This is no ordinary evolution, boy. You're now a conduit of forgotten power."
Before Nyxaris could respond, another world announcement rang out.
[WORLD ANNOUNCEMENT!]
"Player Nyxaris has become the first to unlock a Hidden Evolution Path: Arcane Sovereign. The world shifts in response to his growth."
At Ethereal Systems' headquarters, alarms blared.
"WHAT THE HELL JUST HAPPENED?!" a lead developer shouted, eyes wide as they stared at the world notification.
A data analyst ran over, face pale. "Arcane Sovereign isn't in the system! This isn't supposed to exist!"
The CEO of Ethereal Systems leaned back in his chair, watching the screen intently. "Find him. No matter the cost."
Meanwhile, in the real world, players across the globe were losing their minds.
"HE DID IT AGAIN! WHO THE HELL IS THIS NYXARIS?!"
"A hidden evolution? That's impossible! We need to find him and get him to join our guild!"
"Is he some kind of developer? No way a normal player is getting this lucky!"
A portal of swirling energy materialized before Nyxaris, its glow illuminating the battlefield where the remnants of the orc horde lay scattered. The trial was complete.
Nyxaris turned to the heroine, Eleanor, and the 500 ogres who had fought alongside him. Their faces were filled with respect and gratitude, yet there was a lingering sadness in their eyes.
Eleanor stepped forward, arms crossed, her usual confident smirk replaced by something softer. "So, this is it, huh?"
Nyxaris nodded. "Yeah. The trial's over, and I have to move forward."
The ogres—battle-hardened warriors who had fought and bled for their home—bowed deeply. Their leader, a massive ogre with crimson tattoos, spoke. "You saved us. We will not forget your strength, Arcane Sovereign."
Nyxaris smiled. "Stay strong. Protect your people."
Eleanor sighed, punching him lightly on the shoulder. "You better not die before we meet again. I still need to pay you back for saving me."
Nyxaris chuckled. "I'll be waiting."
With a final glance at the warriors he had fought alongside, he turned toward the portal and stepped inside.
The moment his foot touched the stone pavement, the portal vanished, leaving behind only a faint shimmer in the air.
Nyxaris found himself standing in front of the old mage who had initiated the Trial of Evolution. The mage's piercing gaze studied him with intense curiosity.
"You have returned… changed."
Nyxaris exhaled, still feeling the surge of power within him. "Yeah. It was… intense."
The mage's eyes gleamed. "So, tell me… what path have you chosen?"
Nyxaris smirked. "Arcane Sovereign."
For the first time, the old mage's composure wavered. His eyes widened, and he took a step back. "Impossible… That is not a... What have you done, young one?"
Nyxaris crossed his arms. "I picked the unknown option. And now I feel stronger than ever."
The mage muttered under his breath, stroking his beard. "This… this is beyond what I anticipated. The world itself may shift in response to your presence."
Before Nyxaris could reply, a [WORLD ANNOUNCEMENT] flashed before his eyes
"Because of Player Nyxaris successful Evolution and attaining the class: Arcane Sovereign. The fate of the world has begun to change."
A golden light streaked across the sky, visible to every single player in the world. The message appeared before their eyes, causing an uproar in chat channels and among guild leaders.
"Nyxaris again?! What is this guy even doing?!"
"Arcane Sovereign… That sounds broken!"
"He must have completed some hidden questline. We NEED to find him!"
"Guild leaders, LISTEN UP! Put a bounty out on Nyxaris!"
While players scrambled to track down the mysterious figure who had shaken the game's balance, the game developers sat in stunned silence.
Inside the high-security server room of the game company, the CEO tapped his fingers on the desk, his sharp gaze fixed on the status screen.
"What just happened?"
One of the lead developers hesitated before speaking. "Sir… Nyxaris has unlocked an evolution path that shouldn't exist yet."
"Explain."
The developer pulled up the logs, showing the Arcane Sovereign class in a category separate from anything in their planned updates.
"This class… it's beyond what players should be able to attain at this stage. Even our top-ranked players are barely Level 50, and yet…"
The CEO's expression darkened.
"Find him."
Back in Astrid, Nyxaris stood in front of the mage who had given him the trial. The power from his evolution still surged through his body as he opened his status window, his heart pounding.
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
[PLAYER STATUS]
Name: Nyxaris
Race: Arcane Slime (Tier 2 Evolution)
Class: Arcane Sovereign (Unique)
Level: 75
HP: 48,500
MP: 175,000
Strength: 7,500
Agility: 12,800
Endurance: 14,500
Magic Power: 70,000
Gold: 2,850,000
[NEW SKILLS ACQUIRED!]
Arcane Sovereign's Authority (Advanced): Enhances Arcane magic, allowing increased control over elements.
Mana Regeneration (High Tier): MP regenerates 10x faster than normal.
Spatial Blink: Short-range teleportation within a 50-meter radius.
Arcane Blade Mastery (Intermediate): Enhances sword combat with magical energy.
Devour (Upgraded): Can absorb certain defeated foes and learn minor abilities.
Nyxaris stared at his drastically improved stats.
"This… This is insane."
A deep chuckle echoed in his mind.
"Heh. Not bad, little slime." Zeraldris, the ancient dragon bound within him, spoke with an amused tone. "Your growth is remarkable, but you still have a long way to go before you can stand at the top."
Nyxaris smirked. "Good. I don't plan on stopping."
Just as he was about to close his menu, another notification appeared.
[NEW QUEST: The Arcane Legacy]
Description: "The path of the Arcane Sovereign leads beyond what is known. Travel to the Celestial Archives of Eryndor, where ancient secrets and forgotten magics lie hidden."
Objective: Journey to the mythic city of Eryndor and seek out the lost tomes of Arcane Sovereigns past.
Rewards: ??? (Tier Unknown)
Nyxaris took a deep breath.
He had just unlocked power beyond anything he imagined.
The game world was reacting.
The developers were watching.
The players were hunting for him.
But Nyxaris?
He was just getting started.