Is this really a Game?!

Chapter 804 Calling of the Stars: Aelrinder's Evolution

The group made their way back to the familiar surroundings of their territory, leaving the treacherous jungle behind. They were all exhausted, physically and mentally drained from the day's ordeal. The encounter with the corrupted jungle had been a stark reminder of just how perilous the transformed world could be.

As they arrived back at their base, there was a sense of relief that they had made it out of the jungle relatively unscathed. Their experience had given them valuable insights into the dangers of that region, and they were determined to approach it with greater caution in the future.

The news of Aelrinder's evolution was met with excitement and anticipation. The commander in charge of the elven forces had been forced to slowly improve in the past because of the many responsibilities he had.

He had only managed to finally start leveling up seriously when the elves migrated to Doncaster by suddenly teleporting their entire territory in the town. Aelrinder had shown exceptional dedication and skill in completing his challenging quest, and it was time for him to reap the rewards.

Each evolution was a big step forward and they were looking forward to fighting alongside him again. As Reign and the entire team returned to the territory, they were surprised to find Aelrinder who had still not evolved.

"I don't know why, but I feel that this evolution will be a bit different from those before, so I'm kind of getting nervous, I even spoke with Her Majesty and she assured me that everything would be fine, but still, I just can't help feeling nervous for some reason," Aelrinder told Reign and the others as they sat down in their living room.

"You feel that it will be a lot more dangerous than before?" Shadow asked Aelrinder who shook his head.

"No, not exactly."

"I can sense that it will be different, but that is all."

"Still, the very fact that I can sense that makes me very uncomfortable, an evolution shouldn't be like that."

Reign and the others nodded their heads. They knew that for most beings in the universe, what they were most afraid of was the unknown, and even they felt that they would feel apprehensive about evolving if they were to feel what Aelrinder was feeling right now.

"I am going to evolve, I just wanted to wait for you guys, if something unexpected happens, because of the restrictions placed on them, Her Majesty and the rest won't be able to do anything."

"If there is a chance to help me, please do help me, if not, if … if I show signs of losing control or anything like that, then you have to take action, alright?"

Everybody stared solemnly at Aelrinder before nodding at him.

When attempting to evolve, the worst-case scenario when failing was death. One could also get heavily injured or disabled as well. There was, however, another thing that could happen, one that was usually quite rare, but would happen a bit more frequently at higher tiers, and that was the loss of control.

If one lost control during the evolution, their mana would go berserk, their minds would shatter, and they would become mindless slaughter machines that wished for nothing else but to kill everything around them.

The entire team gathered around Aelrinder as he prepared for his evolution. They had never before seen a case where one was able to sense that something was different with the evolution they were about to have, and they were both interested and a bit apprehensive of what was about to happen.

Aelrinder stood in a designated area, a calm and focused expression on his face. His connection with his elemental affinity, wind, was strong, and it radiated from him. The air around him seemed to shimmer with energy, and there was an almost palpable anticipation in the atmosphere.

Reign, with his deep understanding of evolution, took the role of overseeing the process. He had experienced his own evolution, as had the rest of the team, and they knew that it was a momentous event that could determine their future path.

"Are you ready, Aelrinder?" Reign asked, his voice carrying the weight of the moment.

Aelrinder nodded. "I am. I've trained for this, and I'm ready to embrace the next level of power, let us just hope it all goes well."

Reign placed his hand on Aelrinder's shoulder and spoke in a calm and reassuring tone. "Remember, this is a transformation of both your abilities and your essence, what you have sensed might not be a bad thing at all, but a good one."

With those words, Aelrinder closed his eyes and began to channel his mana. His wind affinity surged, enveloping him in a swirling green aura. The transformation had begun.

The energy around Aelrinder intensified, and the air crackled with power. His form started to change, his body glowing with an ethereal light. It was as if he was becoming one with his elemental affinity, merging with the very essence of wind itself.

The team watched in awe as the evolution progressed. Aelrinder's stature grew taller, and his features took on a more refined appearance. His once brown hair transformed into a shimmering cascade of liquid silver. His eyes turned light green and upon staring at them one could see the powerful wind that was seemingly blowing inside of them.

As the evolution continued, his abilities also underwent a profound transformation. Aelrinder's control over water became more refined and potent. He could shape and manipulate wind with greater ease, and his attacks were now accompanied by an innate grace and fluidity, as well as a hidden ferociousness.

Suddenly, a change occurred.

It was evening when Aelrinder started the evolution as he sensed that that was the best time to do so.

The stars high above seemingly shone brighter as they cascaded down, bathing Aelrinder with their light.

"Ah, turning an ability that he has learned into one that fuses with his very being, making it akin to an innate ability, it has been a long time since I have seen such a thing." Aethion suddenly spoke from inside Reign who stared at Aelrinder.

'So, the feeling he had about the evolution was this, a change in the ability?'

"Yes, it is a qualitative change, one that now makes his ability into an innate one, fusing it with his very essence."

"I had gone through a similar thing once in the past, it's quite a strange feeling."

The starlight basked Aelrinder whose body turned bright and continued being so for the next 3 hours before the light finally started dimming and his body once again appeared.

When the evolution was complete, Aelrinder opened his eyes, and they shone with newfound wisdom and power. He had truly become a Tier V combatant, a master of wind manipulation, as well as a person who can now utilize his second ability as well as the first one.

He had become a truly powerful being right now.

Reign smiled with pride. "Congratulations, Aelrinder, you've achieved a remarkable evolution. You are now a Tier V combatant."

Aelrinder's voice held a note of gratitude as he replied, "Thank you, Reign, to think the feeling I had was actually my ability calling for me all along."

The team welcomed Aelrinder into their midst as a Tier V combatant, and he could feel the increased camaraderie and respect from his peers. With his newfound powers, he would undoubtedly play a vital role in the team's future endeavors.

As the day turned into evening, they celebrated Aelrinder's evolution with a feast. It was a moment of unity and joy, a reminder of their shared goals and the bond that held them together in this transformed world. They recounted their experiences in the jungle and the challenges they had faced, knowing that each trial made them stronger.

Reign raised his glass, and the team followed suit. "To Aelrinder, and to the strength that comes from facing adversity and emerging victorious. May our journey in this world be filled with growth and triumph."

The toast was met with cheers and smiles. They knew that their path was fraught with danger and uncertainty, but they also held the unwavering belief that they could overcome any obstacle as long as they stood together.

The following day, they discussed their findings and experiences in the jungle. The presence of the corrupted jungle raised new questions about the nature of this transformed world. They needed to be cautious and gather more information about such anomalies.

Reign made a decision. "We'll continue to explore the jungle, but we'll do so with greater vigilance. We'll map out the areas, mark any anomalies we encounter, and assess the potential threats. We can't let the dangers of this world catch us off guard."

The team agreed, and they began to formulate a plan for their future expeditions into the jungle. They would take precautions, establish safe zones, and coordinate with other teams in the territory to ensure their safety.