I Can See Evolution Paths

The enormous door finally opened. Arthur and the others stepped through cautiously, expecting another corridor. Instead the passage opened into a gigantic underground chamber.

Ancient weapon racks stretched into the darkness. Swords, spears, shields, bows, staffs, axes, and weapons none of them recognized were displayed throughout the chamber. Many were covered in frost. Some were partially buried beneath ice. Others sat on ancient stone pedestals surrounded by inactive magical formations.

Luna slowly looked around. "There are so many weapons..."

Eden flew a little higher, staring at the rows. "Are they all Relics?"

Athena shook her head. "I don’t know." She walked toward the nearest display. "But this place was definitely built to store them."

Sun whistled. "An ancient armory full of mysterious weapons hidden inside a mountain." He looked at Arthur. "You look way too happy."

Arthur smiled. "Do I?"

Sun sighed. "Yes."

Star, nestled against Arthur, began wiggling excitedly as the enormous chamber’s mana reached it.

Arthur looked down. "You’re excited too?"

Star bounced against his arm.

Eden immediately noticed. "Star likes it."

Star wiggled harder. Arthur chuckled. "Apparently."

As they moved farther inside, Dusk suddenly vibrated. Arthur stopped, and the golden spear gave off a faint pulse of light.

Mithra noticed immediately. "Dusk?"

Arthur looked down at it. "It’s reacting to something."

Athena approached. "Let me see."

Dusk pulsed again.

The farther Arthur walked toward the center of the chamber, the stronger the reaction became.

Eden followed above him. "It really wants to go somewhere."

Arthur nodded. "That’s what it looks like."

Sun folded his arms. "Even your spear has better instincts than you."

Arthur looked at him. "That’s debatable."

Mithra smiled. "I’m not sure I’d bet against Dusk."

Arthur laughed before eventually Dusk led him toward a massive stone altar.

A huge pedestal stood in the center of the chamber, and Dusk began glowing brighter. Athena immediately knelt beside the altar and examined the inscriptions. Her expression gradually changed. "This isn’t simply a weapon stand."

Arthur looked at her. "What is it?"

"A preservation formation." She traced one of the ancient symbols. "It was designed to maintain the condition of Relics over extremely long periods."

Luna looked at the countless weapons. "So that’s why they’re still here?"

Athena nodded. "Possibly."

Mithra looked toward Dusk. "Then why is Dusk reacting?"

Athena studied the spear. "I think the formation is recognizing it."

Arthur raised Dusk slightly. The altar suddenly illuminated, and the entire chamber responded. Ancient formations activated across the walls, one weapon after another briefly glowing.

Eden’s eyes widened. "Arthur..."

Arthur looked around. "I see it."

Star suddenly wiggled rapidly against Arthur’s arm. Arthur lowered his gaze. "You felt that too?"

Star bounced.

The altar began releasing ancient mana and Dusk was absorbing it. Arthur initially looked surprised; the mana didn’t feel hostile, and instead flowed naturally into the spear.

Mithra watched carefully. "Is it hurting?"

Arthur shook his head. "No."

Athena watched the blade. "Then let it continue."

The transformation began. Dusk’s golden spear became more refined, the edges of its spearhead sharpening as ancient markings appeared along the weapon. A denser flow of mana gathered around the weapon, so concentrated that Arthur could feel it even without actively channeling his own energy into it.

Arthur paused.

Athena noticed. "It retained the mana."

Arthur looked at Dusk. "Before, I had to keep feeding it."

Athena nodded. "Now the Relic itself can hold the energy."

Mithra smiled. "So Dusk became stronger."

Then the altar shone once more, and another wave of mana spread through the chamber.

Mithra suddenly looked down at Kusa. "Wait."

Her golden sword had begun glowing.

Arthur turned toward her. "Kusa?"

The weapon trembled gently in her hand before a warm golden light spread along its length. Mithra tightened her grip as the ancient mana flowed into it. "It’s reacting too."

Athena immediately looked toward the weapons everyone carried. "The altar isn’t recognizing Dusk alone."

A second glow appeared around Sun’s staff. "Long?" Sun looked down in surprise as mana began flowing through the weapon’s length. The familiar staff extended slightly, its surface developing new lines of glowing runes.

Kong leaned closer, his eyes widening.

Sun laughed. "Looks like you aren’t the only one getting something."

Kong immediately raised his fists excitedly. "Long!"

"Yes, yes. Long."

The altar released another pulse.

Athena’s Aegis suddenly lit up. The golden shield resonated with her spear at the same time, and the runes along the spear’s shaft brightened before flowing into the shield’s surface.

Athena stared at the pair. "The two are synchronizing."

Mithra looked over. "Was that supposed to happen?"

Athena shook her head. "I’ve never seen this happen so quickly."

Arthur watched the three weapons continue absorbing the ancient mana.

One after another, the Relics began changing.

Kusa’s golden edge became sharper, while a denser layer of mana settled around the blade. Long’s mana conduction increased, causing faint ripples of energy to travel through the staff even when Sun wasn’t actively channeling anything. Aegis became brighter and more stable, while the runes on Athena’s spear became clearer and more intricate. The connection between the two weapons was stronger than before, as though the ancient formation had reinforced their original design.

Mithra slowly tested Kusa with a light swing. The sword left behind a brief golden trail before the energy disappeared. "That’s different."

Sun rotated Long through his hand and looked at the mana gathering around its tip. "Definitely."

Athena carefully raised Aegis and allowed a small burst of energy to strike it from her spear. The shield absorbed the force almost immediately. Her eyes widened slightly. "The defensive response is faster."

Arthur smiled as he looked across the group. "Looks like everyone got stronger."

Vedas looked toward the altar. "Then this place really can awaken Relics."

Athena nodded. "And apparently it can recognize Relics that already have a bond with their users."

Mithra looked at Kusa with a smile. "I like this place."

Sun nodded. "For once, I agree."

Arthur nodded, and then the notification appeared.

[Relic Evolution!]

[Dusk]

[Ancient Relic → Awakened Relic]

[Relic Evolution!]

[Long]

[Ancient Relic → Awakened Relic]

[Relic Evolution!]

[Kusa]

[Ancient Relic → Awakened Relic]

[Relic Evolution!]

[Aegis & Runebound Spear]

[Ancient Relic → Awakened Relic]

Arthur looked at the spear, his expression slowly becoming excited.

Vedas stepped closer. "It feels completely different."

Arthur nodded. "It is."

Sun swung Long once. A compressed wave of mana followed the motion, traveling farther than it had before dispersing against the stone wall.

Sun blinked. "Okay. That’s useful."

Kong’s eyes shone. "Oh, it can extend? I want to try!"

"Uh, fine. But please don’t bring down the ceiling on us."

Mithra made another careful slash with Kusa. The golden trail remained behind the blade for a moment longer than before, making the sword feel almost weightless in her hand.

Mithra smiled. "The response is much faster."

Athena raised her spear and touched its runes against Aegis. The shield immediately produced a faint golden barrier.

She studied it carefully. "The spear is feeding energy directly into the shield."

Sun looked at the barrier. "Wasn’t it already doing that?"

Athena shook her head. "Not this efficiently."

She then continued examining the spear and Aegis, clearly more interested in the interaction between them than the upgrade itself.

Athy landed beside her and looked at the glowing runes. "They’re connected." Athy tilted her head. "Does that mean they became stronger together?"

"That’s what I’m trying to determine."

Athy smiled. "You’re excited."

Athena paused. "I’m studying it."

Athy giggled. "That’s what you say when you’re excited."

Athena glanced at her. "Don’t start."

Athy laughed and flew back toward Arthur.

Eden flew around Arthur and Dusk. "It’s shinier."

Arthur raised an eyebrow. "That’s your analysis?"

Eden nodded seriously. "It’s very shiny."

Mithra laughed, and even Athena’s lips twitched.

Star reached one tiny limb toward Dusk. Arthur noticed. "You want to touch it?"

Star immediately wiggled. Arthur let it briefly touch the blade, and the Slime’s body shimmered as it reacted to the concentrated mana. Arthur pulled Dusk back. "Careful."

Star settled against his arm again.

Athena looked toward the altar again, her expression becoming increasingly thoughtful. "Arthur."

He looked toward her.

"This may be much more important than Dusk becoming stronger."

Arthur raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

Athena gestured toward the armory. "If this altar can awaken one Relic..." She looked across the enormous chamber. "...then these weapons may not all be what they appear to be."

Arthur looked toward the countless ancient weapons. Mithra followed his gaze. "You think they can all awaken?"

Athena shook her head. "I don’t know." She paused. "But I think we just discovered an entirely different aspect of Relics."

As they investigated another section of the chamber, Arthur noticed a strange blue glow. Unlike the other weapons, this one was surrounded by a thick crystal of ancient ice. Inside was a beautiful bow, its body resembling frozen crystal, a pale blue core pulsing within it.

Luna approached cautiously. "It’s beautiful."

Eden floated closer. "It’s cold."

Athena immediately stopped her. "Don’t touch it yet."

Eden pulled her hand back. "Why?"

"Because we don’t know whether the formation is protecting the bow or containing it."

Arthur looked at Athena. "So naturally..."

Athena immediately looked at him. "Arthur."

Arthur smiled. "I wasn’t going to say anything."

Mithra laughed. "You absolutely were."

Arthur stepped closer anyway. He placed his hand against the frozen crystal, and the entire formation activated. The ice cracked.

Luna took a step back. "Arthur!"

The crystal suddenly shattered. The bow rose from within it, cold mana flooding the chamber. Arthur caught the weapon.

[Frostheart Bow]

[Awakened Relic]

Everyone stared. Sun slowly looked toward Arthur. "You’re collecting them now."

Arthur examined the bow. "I might be."

Everyone stared at the bow resting in Arthur’s hands. Its pale blue surface continued to emit a faint cold glow, and frost gathered around the string whenever Arthur’s fingers touched it.

Sun slowly looked from the bow to Arthur. "Are you actually planning to use that?"

Arthur glanced at the Frostheart Bow. "Maybe."

Sun raised an eyebrow. "Do you even know how to use a bow?"

Arthur paused. "Nope."

Sun stared at him.

Kong tilted his head, then looked at the bow and back at Arthur. "No?"

Arthur shook his head. "I’ve never really used one."

Vedas looked at him with a faintly concerned expression. "Then why are you considering it?"

Arthur examined the bow again, his curiosity clearly outweighing his lack of experience. "It’ll be fun to learn."

Sun’s expression slowly became one of disbelief. "Learn?"

Arthur nodded. "In the moment."

Sun stared at him for several seconds before looking toward Kong. "Did he just say he’ll learn how to use an Awakened Relic while fighting?"

Kong nodded seriously. "Arthur."

Vedas sighed. "That’s exactly what he said."

Arthur smiled. "How hard could it be?"

Sun rubbed his forehead. "Why do you always say things like that?"

Vedas looked toward the Frostheart Bow and then back at Arthur. "I suppose if anyone could figure it out quickly, it would be you."

Sun gave him an incredulous look. "Don’t encourage him."

Arthur laughed.

Mithra shook her head with an amused smile. "At least he’s not pretending he knows how to use it."

Athena adjusted her glasses. "That’s probably the only reassuring part of this conversation."

Arthur studied the Frostheart Bow. He drew the string once; a tiny amount of frost gathered around his fingers and an arrow made of ice formed before he released it. The arrow rushed out, streaking through the air before cracking the wall and shaking it a bit.

The weapon immediately returned to its dormant state.

Arthur looked at it. "It’s powerful."

Mithra asked, "Are you going to use it?"

Arthur shook his head. "I’m not an archer."

Athena nodded approvingly. "At least you’re being reasonable."

Arthur looked at the weapon racks. "But someone else might be able to use it."

Athena examined Dusk and the Frostheart Bow together, occasionally comparing the two weapons before moving toward another inscription partially hidden beneath the frost. She brushed the frost away and studied the symbols.

"This is interesting."

Arthur looked over. "What did you find?"

"An explanation of Relic development."

Mithra stepped closer. "Does it say anything about the stages?"

Athena nodded. "Some of them." She pointed toward the inscription.

Relic Development

Dormant Relic

↓

Awakened Relic

↓

Evolved Relic

↓

Living Relic

↓

???

Arthur stared at the progression. "Living Relic?"

Sun nodded. "We’ve heard of stronger Relics before."

Mithra added, "The three Greenroot agents were clearly using Relics beyond the ordinary level."

Arthur looked at them. "You knew about this?"

Athena nodded. "We knew Relics could develop. We simply didn’t know how many stages existed."

Arthur looked back at the inscription. "So Awakened isn’t the end."

"Far from it," Athena said.

Arthur’s eyes lingered on the final damaged symbol. "And nobody knows what comes after Living?"

Athena shook her head. "Not from this inscription. The final section is too damaged."

Eden floated closer and looked at the symbols. "So there might be something even stronger?"

"Possibly," Athena replied.

Arthur smiled. "Good."

Sun looked at him. "Why do I feel like you’re already thinking about getting there?"

Arthur glanced at Dusk. "Because now I know there is somewhere to go."

Athena noticed him staring. "What are you thinking?"

Arthur looked at the ancient inscription, then smiled. "That I want to know what’s at the end."

Athena sighed. "I should have expected that answer."

As they continued exploring the chamber, Athena gradually became distracted by something that had been bothering her since they entered. She stopped beside one of the empty pedestals and looked around the enormous armory. "There should be more."

Mithra glanced toward the rows of weapons. "More weapons?"

"Much more."

Athena began walking through the chamber, examining one empty display after another. The longer she looked, the more obvious it became. There were dozens of vacant pedestals scattered throughout the armory, and some sections had almost nothing left on them.

Luna’s expression became uneasy. "Do you think someone took them?"

Athena crouched beside one of the empty displays and touched the frost surrounding it. "I don’t know." She paused. "But these weren’t emptied naturally."

Arthur walked over.

Athena pointed toward the stone floor. "Look."

The frost had been disturbed. Not by the passage of time, but by something that had moved through it.

Arthur crouched and studied the faint trail. It disappeared deeper into the armory.

Vedas tightened his grip around his spear. "Someone came through here."

Arthur slowly stood, his eyes following the disturbed trail disappearing into the darkness.

"Yeah."

He looked toward the empty pedestals again.

Whoever had come through here hadn’t wandered into the armory by accident. They had known what they were looking for.

Arthur’s fingers tightened slightly around Dusk.

"Let’s find out what they took."

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