Chapter 268: Awakening or Evolution
[A/N: Happy Valentines!! For those who have a partner but for those who don't, please tell yourself that you love yourself and will treat yourself better from today onwards. ]
"But still… ugh, I need some air." Amelia said and rushed out of the room, leaving Keith and Clara alone.
Keith turned to look at Clara, "Thanks."
Clara shook her head, "Just because I defended you, it doesn't mean that I'm not angry. I feel quite conflicted right now… because, like Amelia said… there is a chance that you picked us for a certain reason. Maybe to use us in a certain way. Can you promise me that you had no ulterior motives?"
"I promise." Keith said and nodded, "You and I? It was instant attraction. I tried to keep my mind off of you at first because I didn't want to impact the team in any way. And on top of that, I had other priorities back then, like getting stronger.
You know how weak I was back then right? And then, you and Amelia kinda started this all. It wasn't me. You guys took me home when I was drunk and well, both of us know what happened.
Then you stopped talking to me, and yada yada like come on! I had literally fucking given up on you until you two came and gave me your whole story.
I saw a damn road, a road where I can live a life with you by my side and the moment you said that you'd rather be with me than a random noble bitch, I had completely made up my mind.
That I was going to clear the damn debt. Well, you know what… I've said what I had to say. I told you my secrets but now I'm second guessing myself even though I know that this is the right thing to do.
Man, fuck this shit. I think all of us need a break."
Clara watched silently as Keith barged out of the room and once he was gone, she sighed as her lips quivered.
'I didn't mean to say it that way… I know that you're not in the wrong here but it still feels weird that you can read my mind.' she thought as he recalled Keith's pained expression as he walked out of the room.
'I'm so sorry… but I think you're right. We all need some break… to digest all of this.'
Keith on the other hand, summoned one of his newer wolves and hopped onto it before grabbing a chunk of it's fur.
"Let's go, Bee. Let's fly."
"Awoooooooooooooooo~" the wolf howled before he dashed forward at an incredible speed. It moved past the streets with exceptional agility as it dodged every single person and carriage by either moving to the side or by jumping high up into the air.
Keith, who sat on it's back felt the air on his face and felt a weird sense of calm as he closed his eyes, 'I guess this is a great alternative to a bike…' he thought as he looked down at his wolf, but then he suddenly realised something that he had forgotten for months.
'Wait, one of the changes that I made to the system seed allowed me to use it on animals. Which means…. I should be able to awaken my wolves right? Nah, evolution is their version of awakening… hey Emma….'
[Your system does break some rules of this world you know? You can actually give these wolves systems and use these systems to give them an awakened ability.]
'I see… I want more speed…' Keith thought as he shifted his attention to his system, 'Hey system, tell me which awakened abilities are compatible with this kiddo here.'
[Affirmative]
[Scanning database… collecting DNA information from your wolf.]
'Nah, check every wolf that I have. Then, give me a list of all of their compatibilities.'
[Affirmative. Creating list, please wait.]
Keith barely had to wait for two minutes, but by this time, his wolf had already taken him away from the heart of the city and he was now in the slightly unpopulated part of the capital.
With less people in sight, the wolf could now go faster but Keith stopped it before he got off.
He looked at the list in front of him and sighed as he rubbed the area on top of it's snout, "You were the best when it came to genetics in your generation but your compatibility with awakened abilities is… kinda bad Bee."
Bee didn't understand a word that Keith said and simply licked his hand as it wagged it's tail, "Aouuu grrrrrr" it purred as it nuzzled against his chest, making him sigh.
'Fuck… this guy is kinda guilt tripping me isn't he?' Keith thought as he ruffled it's fur but now he was second guessing his options.
He silently thought for a while before he felt like he had a genius answer in mind.
'Hey Emma! Can't I just use the ritual to max Bee's compatibility with it's awakened ability? It has synergy with wild blades but it can change or become stronger right? Like…. I mean, wind blade itself is purely an offensive ability. The main reason I want a wolf mount is for speed and manoeuvrability.'
[Stop asking me every single thing… I mean, come on! You're the type of guy who likes experimenting around like a nerd right? Just do that instead of asking me everything like… this is not fun! I might have helped you out with your clone but I still want you to make your own decisions and take your own steps.]
'…. I don't really have anyone else to talk to other than you, you know? Oh well, sorry I guess. I won't ask you anything from now.'
[Fuck, stop acting so pitiful… and cute. Tch, what do you want me to say? That it's gonna work?]
Keith ignored her as a playful smile played on his face.
[Idiot, I can read your mind.]
'Oh fuck, give me some mental privacy will you?'
[Yeah, that's exactly how Amelia and Clara must have felt.]
'...' Keith stared silently at her response before letting out a sigh, 'You know that I meant no wrong.'
[I do. Just give them some time but I hope you're ready to part with them if it does come to it.]
'Whatever, I've gone through losing my kids in my last life. I'll probably be fine…'
[I hope so. Anyways, I'm gonna nap so good luck with Bee.]
Keith nodded and took Bee to his spatial dimension and went straight to the ritual formation. The first thing that he did was to simply run around with Bee, but in the background, almost fifty wolves floated in the air as their blood got extracted.
At the same time, they were getting healed with Keith's mental energy being the fuel and on top of that, Fabian also joined in to give his blood.
Keith did the same once he had cleared his mind and sent Bee back to the wolf land.
Almost an entire day passed by and Keith brought Bee back to the ritual formation and sent it to a deep sleep before he got the formation activate.
One hour later, all of the oil and blood that was in the gaps, was nowhere to be seen. Keith focused his attention on Bee who was still sleeping but his appearance had changed by quite a bit.
'Looks like awakening basically helps with evolution…. Well, they're technically the same thing soo… hmm.' Keith thought as he lifted Bee up into the air and brought it towards him before nodding to himself.
"He's bigger… and the wind blade is nowhere to be seen now." Keith muttered as he looked at Bee's status screen.
Fabian stood nearby, but Keith used his power over the space to make himself and his wolf invisible.
'…..' he silently stared at the new awakened ability as he remembered about Caleb, the one whom he had completely forgotten about.
"To think that Bee would get Caleb's awakened ability but without the lack of synergy… this is kinda great but I guess I should help Caleb awakened soon sometime but that guy is way too busy with Laura." he muttered before shaking his head.
"Nah, fuck him. I'll get him here and give him the chance to awaken the second time on the condition that he will train every single day in preparation for war. Now's not the time to be fucking around. Heck, why is he doing it when Laura is pregnant? Well, I guess she's still in the early stages." he continued to blabber on and on until he realised that he was talking to himself.
Keith then turned to look at Bee before he frowned, "Wait, awakening is similar to evolution in a way but we humans usually have a cooldown period to participate in another awakening ceremony. I wonder if it's the same for animals since evolution is slightly different even though it's similar."
'Hey system, how long would Bee need to completely absorb this awakening? I mean evolution.'
[The evolution was unnatural and forced, which goes against it's genetic code. Stabilisation will require two years.]
'Can you tell me the difference between humans and wolves when it comes to this… awakening ritual? For us, it helps with our first and second awakening but how does it work with wolves?'
[Affirmative, I can tell you the difference.]
[There is no fundamental difference at the "First stage" of awakening when it comes to the way "awakening" works. Both of you are creatures that can awaken. Humans simply call the awakening of animals as evolution to differentiate between them.]
[The true difference between them lies in the path they take and how the Awakening impacts them.]