Rogue Evolution

by James Hunter

  In its natural state, the Hellstrike Jackal was far stronger than a Troll, favoring hard-hitting power over intelligence or speed. The more of the Hellstrike features Roark kept, the stronger but slower the Troll-Jackal hybrid became. When he tweaked the sliders in favor of his Troll-ish features, his Strength decreased, but his Intelligence and Speed shot back up. Unfortunately, even when he adjusted the sliders so that the Hellstrike features were almost imperceptible, his overall Intelligence still took a sharp hit, and no amount of tweaking seemed to fix that.

  Interestingly, a set of Hellstrike abilities had also been added to his character page. These didn’t change as he altered the hybrid’s appearance.

  Anti-Tank Airstrike: Knock any hero or chimera with .5 x your Strength or greater into the air and they will be knocked Unconscious for 15 seconds.

  Thrower of Flame and Slag: Fire a blast of molten magma 15 feet from mouth. Opponents struck by Thrower of Flame and Slag will take 5n Damage, where n is the caster’s character level, and 5 Burning damage per second for 30 seconds or until flames are extinguished. 15% chance of opponents with less than 35 Constitution being Immobilized in solid stone for 15 seconds.

  Most intriguing of all to Roark was the change in level that came with the addition of the Transmutation Core. He was currently at level 42, whereas the Lesser Hellstrike Core had come from a level 32 Beast. His new level displayed at 37. That was a drop to be sure, but his level cap had increased to 40—a net gain of four levels over his current cap. When he focused on the number, a message flickered into existence. Lesser Hellstrike Jotnar Level is determined by averaging the Base User’s and the Core Chimera’s Levels.

  He exited out of the Preview Transmutation Core Menu then attempted the experiment once more, this time using his real prize, the Greater Hellstrike Core. The apple-sized core was replaced with a larger melon-sized chunk of stone that burned with shimmering crimson light. Floating beside his avatar was the User-Core Compatibility Score. He’d been only 52% compatible with the first core, but the Greater Hellstrike Core was 67% compatible. A note appeared as he focused on the percentage: To implement a Transmutation Core, User must have at least 50% Compatibility.

  He frowned and dismissed the prompt, focusing instead on the physical changes to his avatar. The transformation was similar to before, though far more pronounced. His arms and legs were bigger and more muscular, his claws and fangs longer, while spits of blackened bone littered his shoulders and ran down the outsides of his arms. His stats were significantly more impressive, though, and so was his level. The Greater Hellstrike Jackal was a level 62, so when combined, the hybrid’s new level was a staggering 52.

  Even better, the respawn level cap had jumped drastically to level 65!

  The jump in both level and level cap made Roark seriously consider making the change then and there, but the low Compatibility still nagged at the back of his mind.

  He wondered what sorts of formulas and considerations determined Compatibility, but unfortunately no further explanation was forthcoming. At 67%, his own Compatibility with the Greater Hellstrike Jackal was above the required level, but nowhere near as high as he would have liked. This made sense when he stopped to consider it. The Jackal’s attacks all seemed based on Strength and Constitution, whereas Roark’s Infernali form favored Intelligence, Speed, and Dexterity. There had to be a creature somewhere in Hearthworld that would be more compatible with a Jotnar Infernali.

  He had a feeling, however, that the Greater Hellstrike Jackal’s Core would be an excellent pairing for a Knight or Elemental—the highest Evolutions in the physical Path taken by the most powerful of Thursrs.

  Roark glanced down at the bottom of the page where the option to Preview this Troll-Jackal hybrid had been. In its place was a new line of text.

  [Would you like to transmute Jotnar Infernali and Greater Hellstrike Jackal to form mega evolution: level 52 Hellstrike Jotnar Infernali? Yes/No]

  With a thought, he selected No. His avatar reverted to its former lean, ghostly pale, lithe-winged state. The fur disappeared and the pulsing purple tattoos of power that covered his skin returned.

  Roark strode out of his study, nodding to the Behemoth as he passed. It was time to assemble the inner circle, discuss this new development with them, and perhaps see how Transmute Flesh actually worked...

  Rogue Evolutions

  “NEW EVOLUTIONARY PATHS?” Zyra folded her arms and leaned back in her chair. “So, we won’t be Trolls anymore?”

  A frisson of uncertainty ran through the group gathered in Portal to Flavortown’s upper room. Kaz, Mai, and Yevin squirmed uncomfortably in their seats, while Griff narrowed his eye as if he were trying to stare through Roark’s skull and into his brain. Ick rubbed at his chin with one chitinous back leg, producing a sound like a rasp on metal. Even the few low- to mid-level Trolls who had volunteered to be test subjects shifted from foot to foot anxiously.

  “You’ll be more than Trolls,” Roark said, voice confident and rock steady. This new ability could change everything. Could level the playing field with Lowen and give them all a decided edge over even the most stalwart heroes in Hearthworld. “You’ll be hybrids, with all the most powerful abilities and strengths of your current Evolutions combined with something equally deadly to form something much more potent.”

  That seemed to intrigue Zyra. At least, she didn’t immediately object to it, which usually meant she like the idea.

  “And yeh’re wanting to change us all up?” Mai asked, tucking a strand of yellow hair behind her ear.

  Kaz shook his head, a frown pulling down on his huge features. “Kaz loves Mai exactly the way she is, Roark. She needs no hybriding to make her perfect.”

  “I’m not going to force the Transmutation on anyone,” Roark promised. This meeting was getting out of hand quickly. Unable to stand still any longer, he started to pace the little space left in the packed room. “Only those who want to become more powerful and rise above their current level cap will be eligible for a core. In truth, I think finding the right Evolutionary combinations is going to be the key to leveraging this as a weapon. I didn’t use the Greater Hellstrike Jackal core on myself for a reason. It wasn’t a decent match. None of the Jackal’s strengths or abilities played to the Jotnar Infernali strengths, you see? But if I searched the WikiLores and Hearthworld’s Wilds, I could find a compatible creature for every one of us.” He stopped and met Kaz’s concerned gaze. “Every one of us who wants a core, that is.”

  “How exactly does it work?” Yevin asked as he restlessly drummed his fingers on the tabletop. “Transmute Flesh isn’t a spell I’m familiar with.”

  “Yes.” Ick’s mandibles clicked. “What magick does the transformation utilize? They do not seem to correspond to any of the Primal Creation Magicks.”

  “Unless they’re illusory,” Yevin suggested, causing the arachnoid Nocturnus to nod in agreement. “Or perhaps some augmented form of Polymorph Self.”

  “No illusion,” Roark said. “It’s closer to Polymorph, but of a more permanent sort. The very nature of the base materials is altered when the two Evolutionary Paths are combined. From what I can tell, you won’t shift back after a certain time limit as in Polymorph. The hybridization would be final. That’s why I’m warning everyone up front not to walk into this decision lightly. Whatever happens, I won’t be able to undo it unless I remove the Transmutation Core. Doing that will destroy the core, but I don’t have any information on what will happen to the host. They could revert to their original form, or they could be destroyed as well.”

  Silence settled over the room at the gravity of the possible outcomes.

  Roark stole a glance into the depths of Zyra’s shadowy hood, wondering what her expression held. How was she weighing the possibility of becoming something even deadlier than she was against an irreversible and potentially unsatisfactory alteration? He started to open his mouth to say that it wasn’t that different from choosing which Troll Evolutionary Path one would tak
e when they reached the correct level, but something stopped him. It didn’t feel like an honest comparison. Not when forever-destruction was a possibility.

  A gnarled blue hand shot up from behind Yevin’s shoulder.

  “I-I’d still like to try it, Dungeon Lord,” the little Changeling Snaf croaked. She squeezed between the Arcane Paragon and the Nocturnus and stepped forward, her Peerless Chainmail shirt dragging along the ground. “If you’ll have me, that is.”

  Roark pursed his lips, then nodded. The moral ambiguity of experimenting on living beings, even if they had volunteered, warred with his desire to see how and even if Transmute Flesh would work in real time. There was simply no other way forward but to try it out on someone.

  With a thought, he brought up Snaf’s stats page.

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  WITH IT CAME A SLOWLY spinning avatar of the misshapen little creature. At the bottom of the page was the option Preview Transmutation Core. He selected it and one of the Chipped Hellstrike Cores.

  [Error! Incompatible Core: Discrepancy is too large between Host’s current level (4) and Core Creature’s level at time of death (18). The discrepancy between the levels of the Host and Core Creature must not be more than 2n, where n is the Host’s current level.]

  Roark scowled and closed out of the grimoire.

  “It says it’s incompatible,” he told Snaf. He could attempt to find a lower-level creature for compatibility’s sake, but he didn’t like the idea of stooping down for something that would permanently alter her. “You’ll have to level up a few times before I can implant you with one of the Transmutation Cores. But assuming you want to make the leap, I’ll hang onto this core just for you.”

  “I’ll get it done, Dungeon Lord.” Snaf gave a sharp nod of her bald little head, determination etched into her features.

  Crusher, the Behemoth who had been guarding Roark’s study, stepped forward, ducking to avoid the hanging light fixture at the center of the room.

  “I’m a level 16, Dungeon Lord,” he rumbled. “Would it work on me?”

  Roark let out a rush of breath. “Let’s find out.”

  He pulled up Crush’s stats and selected the Preview option again, choosing the same Transmutation Core as before.

  [Compatibility: 84%]

  Excitement flashed through Roark’s limbs as he looked over the new stats of the Behemoth-Jackal hybrid. Most of the abilities of the Lesser Hellstrike Jackal would transfer, but the average of the levels would only bring Crusher up to a level 17, one higher than his current level, and his respawn cap wouldn’t change at all. After a bit of quick math, Roark backed up a step and tried a slightly higher-level core, this one from a Hellstrike Jackal that had died at level 32.

  [Compatibility: 96%

  Would you like to transmute Thursr Behemoth and Lesser Hellstrike Jackal to form Mega Evolution: Level 24 Bonesnap Behemoth? Yes/No]

  Roark scanned the new stats for the Behemoth. It seemed that using a core with a slightly higher tier had transferred even more of the Hellstrike abilities to the hybrid.

  “This one’s going to work,” Roark said, turning to Crusher. “You can change your appearance before you accept the core to your liking, but altering it does affect the stats you’ll gain or lose.”

  A deep furrow appeared between the Behemoth’s brows. “Could you make it so that I have extra Strength, Dungeon Lord? I want all the Strength so’s I can live up to my name and crush stuff.”

  Roark gave a quick nod and tweaked the arms and chest of the hybrid, lengthening, shortening, and widening until he’d found the perfect combination to bring Crusher up to maximum Strength and Constitution. Surprisingly, the Compatibility score went up as the hybrid’s total Strength rose.

  “Have a look at it,” Roark said. “See what you think.”

  Crusher’s eyes glazed over as he inspected the new form. Slowly, a grin stretched across his enormous face.

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  “IT IS MIGHTY,” HE RUMBLED. “Crusher will strike fear into the hearts of any who dare to cross his path!”

  “Then you’re ready to accept it?” Roark asked, forcing his voice to hold steady in spite of the nerves dancing in his gut. “Permanently?”

  “Yes,” Crusher insisted, bobbing his great head in enthusiastic agreement.

  Swallowing hard, Roark selected the option to Transmute the Behemoth.

  Brilliant amber light flashed through the upper room, and everyone flinched, the hulking Behemoth included. A series of parchments appeared before Roark’s eyes one by one.

  [Congratulations, you have created Bonesnap Behemoth level 24! Note: New Respawn level Threshold is level 20.]

  [New Evolutionary Path for Crusher, Bonesnap Behemoth, detected! Feral Thursr Knight (available at level 25) or Hellstrike Elemental (available at level 30).]

  Roark blinked away the notices, his head swimming and heart thundering. Not only would Transmute Flesh bring them more powerful Evolutions, but it also opened up opportunities for more Evolutionary forms. He couldn’t keep the grin from his face. This was fascinating.

  A bone-shaking roar split the air, then rapidly morphed into a hearty chuckle.

  “Bonesnap Behemoth!” Crusher clapped his new paws gleefully. “Look upon me and weep, you Herald scum!”

  Nearby, Snaf was hopping from foot to foot and cheering.

  “I’m going straight to Druz to see if she’ll put me on a griefing patrol,” the little Changeling crowed.

  “Indeed it is very impressive,” Ick said, slowly circling the newly transformed Troll-Jackal hybrid. “And unless I am very much mistaken, Yevin, that was a form of magick altogether unknown to Hearthworld?”

  The Arcane Paragon had risen and was studying Crusher as well.

  “I haven’t seen or heard about it before, no,” Yevin agreed. “Fascinating stuff, Dungeon Lord. Truly fascinating.”

  “Me next! Me next!” the last of their volunteers said, pushing past the two magick scholars. He was a bulky level 28 Elemental, one who had chosen the magic-using Evolution of the Thursr path. “Please say I can be next, Dungeon Lord.”

  “Surely.” Roark pulled up the Elemental’s stats, flowing through the process with a little more confidence this time.

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  ROARK SELECTED A STANDARD Hellstrike Core from a Jackal with a level of 49, which would bring the Elemental up to level 38. Roark had to clench his fists to contain his excitement. Transmuting this Troll would do the work of leveling ten times. It was brilliant!

  [Would you like to transmute Thursr Elemental and Hellstrike Jackal to form Mega Evolution: Level 38 Earthshaker Hellemental? Yes/No]

  Roark turned to the Elemental. “Any changes to the appearance you’d like to make before I accept it?”

  “Just a moment.” The Elemental lengthened his claws, perked up the pointed batlike ears, and widened the deadly grin of the canid mouth. There were other differences to this version—earthen cracks littered the Elemental’s arms and chest, glowing with veins of pulsing magma. Spikes of hardened obsidian riddled massive forearms, which would make them excellent blocking tools. When the Elemental finished, the changes had raised his Intelligence by four points, but a bit of Constitution had been sacrificed. “That’ll do for me, Dungeon Lord.”

  Roark accepted the Transmutation.

  [Congratulations, you have created Earthshaker Hellemental level 38! Note: New Respawn level Threshold is level 30.]

  [New Evolutionary Path for Smorg, Earthshaker Hellemental, detected! Volcanic Fury (available at level 45) or Molten Magus (available at level 50).]

  Breathless with success, Roark grinned and looked around the room.

  “I’d say this is an excellent start.” And he hadn’t even used the Greater Hellstrike Core yet! “The benefits to this will be unfathomable.”

  A chair scraped the floor, cutting through t
he newly hybridized Trolls’ celebration.

  Kaz stepped forward, and Roark’s stomach bottomed out.

  “Kaz will be the next Evolution,” the Mighty Gourmet said, a strange determination to his words.

  Roark shook his head. “Once I’ve had time to refine the process, maybe, but—”

  “No,” Kaz said, raising a huge hand to silence his protests. “Kaz must lead by example. If the Troll Nation is to defeat the Vault of the Radiant Shield, then Kaz must be stronger. He must raise his Respawn cap before the evil Lowen attacks. If this process is safe for all Trolls, then it must be safe for Kaz, too.”

  “Well, isn’t that just sweet as meringue?” Mai jumped to her feet, one hand on her hip, the other leveled accusingly at Kaz. “Always putting your life on the line for this place, for your mob brethren. The Griefer says jump, and you say, ‘Stand back!’ What happens if this change makes you”—the young widow faltered, color burning high in her pink cheeks—“someone else? Something else. I, for one, don’t think you need changing anymore’n I do, Kazko. I think you’re sure perfect as you are, and it’d be a crying shame to lose any little bit of you.”

  A wide, lovesick grin broke out on Kaz’s face, and he picked up Mai’s tiny pink hands in his enormous mitts.

  “Mai shouldn’t be afraid,” he said tenderly. When she hmphed and looked away, he leaned over into her face until she had to look him in the eye again. “Kaz will not change. Crusher is still himself, isn’t he?”

  The towering Bonesnap Behemoth nodded emphatically. “Of course, Miss Mai, I swear to it I am.”

  “And Smorg has always smelled like that,” Kaz offered.

  “What?” The newly transmuted Hellemental looked from Griff on his right to Zyra on his left. “Smelled like what?”

  “Burning hair and used ale,” the hooded Reaver drawled.