The Primal Hunter's
Evolution

Jake goes straight to work after waking up, concocting poison like never before. The process keeps getting easier and easier. After a few hours and a lot of poison later, he was a little surprised by the lack of leveling up. It seemed like the gain in experience had slowed down after reaching double digits.

However, one negative aspect of his speed increase was shown when his mana pool was emptied. His pool was much higher now, and he was honestly doubtful that he would be able to empty it by eating daily poison and ordinary mana potions.

Speaking of which potion, it was time for him to make again. He still has a lot left, but their qualities are still a lot to be desired. His skills had improved significantly over the past few days, having learned a lot from both health herbs, and of course, poison. All of that ignored his increasing stats.

Jake, with his usage and mana capacity increased, has tried to replenish it by eating his ancient rival. The blue mushroom shone brightly within the cave, unaware of the man who walked towards them to devour as much as his stomach could handle.

Which turned out to be just one mushroom. That damn blue bastard was full of mana, regenerating a lot of mana but also making it very sick. His health points began to decline as he, for the first time, was completely poisoned. Fortunately it was nothing more than he could handle, and it did bring benefits.

Jake learned a lot about mushrooms from that one. As it turns out, the poison in it is very strong and has necrotic properties. This is definitely not a surprise to Jake, as necrosis is one of the most terrifying things he knows, completely rotting flesh on a living creature. For fungi to have such evil properties it is only natural.

He also had to reluctantly admit that the damned mushroom tasted really good. Not that he'll eat again.

After running a short gathering of ingredients into the garden, he began to work once again, making mana potions. After making a few batches, he immediately went back to making poison. A few potions later, he finally leveled up.

*'DING!' Profession: [Alchemist of the Malefic Viper] has reached level 11 - Allotted stat points, +2 free points*

As he looked at the message, he immediately noticed the lack of race level, but before he could ponder it any further, the system appeared once again.

*Filled Race Evolution Requirements*

Your body and soul have become accustomed to the energy found in the Multiverse, allowing you to truly become a being of the new world. Evolution is a natural step for all multiverse entities, with the nature and benefits associated with evolution dependent on all Notes.

Start Evolution now?

Y/T

WARNING: Delaying evolution may have adverse effects, and no further racing experience can be gained before the evolution is complete.

Well, it definitely answered why his race did not level up. But given back, it makes sense considering what else he saw so far in the tutorial. All ferocious beasts at level 10 and above became significantly stronger, so the same thing happening to humans was not impossible.

But he was unwilling to spend much time considering the process of system evolution after looking at the last line. He still took small precautions, left the laboratory, went to the bedroom, and sat on the bed.

Taking a deep breath, he agreed to the system request.

As soon as he received it, his vision turned black.

When he regained consciousness once again, he was in a black void surrounded by tiny bright dots. Examining them further, he saw they were stars. Jake was hung in a place that looked like a central chamber as he felt his body slowly change.

Thinking back, this may have been what happened to him the first time he entered the tutorial. The only difference is that he is now much more aware of his surroundings.

Seconds passed as he just looked around and relaxed. His body felt numb, but he could still feel something changing within him. As he floated there, he also started to feel a strange feeling. He felt something. He could not put his finger on what it was, but there was something clearly present around him in the darkness.

As he focused on that feeling, it only became clearer. The feeling was strangely similar to the one he had when he examined the alchemy ingredients during the making of his potion. More specifically, the kind of energy he felt while making mana potions.

Suddenly it clicked for him. This is where he can feel. Which is the aspect of the multiverse that has always existed. Before, he only knew it was there because of reading about his presence, but now he could finally feel it.

He wondered if he was for some reason incompetent in that regard, because almost all of the books he read had references to sensing mana and checking the density of mana as if it was something everyone could do. Turns out; he needs to evolve.

The changes in his body had already started to slow down now. Jake closed his eyes, testing his newly acquired ability to sense mana when he suddenly sensed something more. In him, there was a change that was not purely the evolution of race.

A vortex in his heart formed as it absorbed the energy. Jake can sense mana moving and entering his body, but not where it disappeared. It had just entered a space somewhere around his heart. He felt like his heartbeat was speeding up, but physically it was not. It was an unexplainable experience.

Then everything stops, and Jakes's gaze changes when he finds himself back on the bed in the basement once again. It was not that he knew whether his physical body had ever left the room, to begin with, or if it was all some sort of out-of-body experience.

Jake felt no different. The only significant change was that he could now clearly sense the mana in the air. It felt much denser than in an area like space, but it was still easily visible. But his body felt the same way. Looking at the system prompt, it does confirm evolution.

*Ras Successfully Evolved*

Human (P) – Newly initiated humans have taken the first step up the evolutionary ladder. Your body has now become attuned to the energy of the new world. The human race is known to be one of the most balanced and most numerous multiverse races, capable of walking on many different paths on their path to power. Stat bonus per level: +1 for all stats, +5 points free

*'DING!' Race: [Human (F)] has reached level 10 - Allotted stat points, +5 free points*

The level-up bonus changes are small, giving him only 4 more free points per level. He earned four additional points with that level, which meant he now had 17 free points still unallocated. So that's good.

He did not gain any skills from evolution, but he gained one unexpected benefit as he read the next message.

*Developed Bloodline Capability*

Evolution has moved your bloodline, allowing it to flourish with you.

*Increased Bloodline Capability*: [Bloodline of the Primal Hunter (Bloodline Ability - Unique)] – Dorman power lies in the essence of your being. A unique innate ability that awakens in a newly initiated human lineage, Jake Thayne. Enhances innate instincts. Improving your ability to understand your environment. Improving hazard perception. +10% for perception.

Not much of the description has changed, and the focus on the ball has also shown nothing. But again, most of his lineage abilities are passive or only known during crises. No, what actually changed was a flat stat bonus for perception. While an increase from 5 to 10% does not seem like much at first, it can be great on the line.

More importantly, it showed the possible growth of his lineage abilities. If now the 10% with him had only become F-rank, what was stopping him from becoming much higher later. It also quickly answered the question of where the extra vortex was coming from. He was convinced that his bloodline was expanding.

With that in mind, Jake decides to throw all 17 of his free points into perception. While it may not be the smartest choice in the short term, he believes it is the best for the long term. It might also be the feeling of euphoria in his body that he felt after the evolution that messed with his head.

After he entered the points, his perception instantly became his highest status. Due to the increase in his direct stat, he felt a slight sense of vertigo as all of his senses improved, and he felt the scope of his perception grow both in range and quality.

It lasted less than a second before everything returned to normal except for his improved senses. He opened his status window, pleased with all the improvements.

Name: Jake Thayne

Race: [Human (F) – lvl 10]

Grade: [Harmer – lvl 9]

Profession: [Alchemist of the Malefic Viper – lvl 11]

Health Points (HP): 660/660

Which Points (MP): 610/610

Endurance body: 300/300

Statisticians

Power: 33

Agility: 36

Durability: 30

Vitality: 66

Toughness: 31

Wisdom: 61

Intelligence: 21

Perception: 70

Willingness: 40

Free points: 0

Title: [New World Predecessor], [Bloodline Patriarch]

Skill Class: [Basic One-handed Weapon (Inferior], [Basic Stealth (Inferior)], [Advanced Land (General)], [Archer's Eye (General)]

Professional Skills: [Herbology (General)], [Brew Banquet (General)], [Toxic Poison (General)], [Toxicology (Rare)], [Male Viper Poison (Range)], [Toxic Cult (Rare)], [Rarely) Poison, [Sky Atmosphere Malefic Viper (Rare)]

Race Skills: [Identification (General)], [Undless Tongue of the Myriad Race (Unique)]

Bloodline: [Primal Hunter Bloodline (Blood Line Capability - Unique)]

Incredible growth across the board. The only thing that makes Jake feel bad is his intelligence being his lowest stat a bit. Not because he needed a stat for all his skills, but rather because of his sentiment. Well, at least he was a wise man full of vitality with incredible eyesight.

Jake must admit that the whole evolution feels a little disappointing outside of his evolved lineage. He imagined those without bloodline abilities would feel disappointed by it. Or maybe he missed something? Some new power is hidden, or maybe its evolution is wrong somehow?

The ability to sense mana is great. However it was mentioned as something that one should have from the very beginning.

The thought kept bothering him. Luckily for him, he had a library with a wide variety of books. While all books are about alchemy, many are also about random topics that are only tangentially related to the profession.

After reading the book for a while, he came across some potentially powerful books. They are mainly about profession and leveling, but they have a part on evolution.

As he began to read, the word Record continued to appear. One seems to need to have 'Enough records' to develop his race. The same goes for improving one's class and profession.

However, what confused Jake was that he kept mentioning the first evolution for classes, professions, and races all at level 25. However, this clearly did not apply to him. He also found some interesting notes on how the evolution of level 25 was unique, but did not elaborate.

He continued to read books on the subject, and only after a few books did he find a side note in the chapter on the relationship between mana sensitivity and race rank:

“... while its evolution and related level requirements never know a credible case of deviation, the, there are rumors among some scholars that some races found in the newly integrated universe have more evolutionary stages. The F-stage is widely known as the lowest stage possible, but this new race starts on stage below even if these rumours are to be believed.

It should be noted that none of these cases have ever been officially endorsed. However, it is hypothesized that this has to do with the absence of mana in the newly integrated universe. According to the hypothesis, this stage can act as a period of adaptation, allowing new races to get used to mana. The origin of this thought is unknown, but multiverse figures have commented on it.

This hypothesis actually gained traction when confirmed accurately by Reverend Izzshaldin of the 91st universe, one rumored himself to be starting a new one. Many believe it to be accurate with the support of such a figure, although there is no verifiable evidence. Although the words of the god need not be doubted, it also cannot be considered a complete truth. Especially considering the lack of comments from the other leading gods. Because unfortunately, only the gods know the whole truth.

Again, it should be emphasized that this was never confirmed. Many also question the possibility that the universe has no mana ever existed. Even the most extreme cases of mana-deficient areas have some remaining mana, and total absence is only observed in very severe cases. Therefore, the entire universe without it is very unlikely, and quite frankly foolish to propose.

In conclusion, this rumor may be just that: A rumor. Unfounded ideas based on faulty logic and lack of understanding of which. Mana is as important to existence as the laws of nature and the system itself, making it an affront to one's intelligence to propose a world without it. ”

When Jake finishes that segment, he's quite entertained. These researchers must have felt like scientists from Earth when they heard someone propose that the Earth was flat. It is quite understandable that the researcher of the book felt a little upset even having to respond to the claim.

It also explains the lack of mention in all other books. If it only happens in the first generation that is integrated, there will not be many cases. Jake has a suspicion that immortality, or at least something close to immortality, is possible at a fairly high rate. However, he was still doubtful about how many were still alive since the universe was last integrated. Heck, the book mentions gods and deities, and if a god isn't even immortal, it must be a very annoying god.

With such a small sample size, it is clear that it is considered a waste of time, according to most authors. Perhaps that will change now, with an entirely new universe integrated into the multisemesta. Then again, there must be another integration before.

Not that there is a grandiose thought to change the theory of mainstream evolution that is in Jake's head. For now, he had to deal with a small matter in life. Like not dying from poisoning.

He sat down on the bed and placed the books beside him. He had wasted enough time reading today. It was alchemy time!