Chapter 17 - Theory of Evolution

[The four major categories of familiar skill development are Projection, Acceleration, Formation, and Compression! While each is different, they all fundamentally rely on energy infusion.

With some basic training, every familiar can awaken their internal energy and infuse it into themselves to enhance their strength. This is their most basic form of energy utilization.

Depending on the attribute, the effects of energy infusion will vary. For instance, infusing the body with Rock energy boosts defense, while infusing the body with Wind energy enhances speed. Each attribute has its own unique effect. However, this basic utilization of energy is usually never what separates victory from defeat in combat.

If you want to emerge victorious, you must master a more advanced method of energy utilization.]

"Captain Doofus can already infuse its body with natural energy. I wonder if it can do the same with Wind energy," Lu Ran mused.

Energy infusion was no doubt a basic ability. After reaching level three, Captain Doofus awakened it alone while in battle, and many of the creatures in the secret realm also figured out how to use it. If everyone could use it, it clearly wasn’t a decisive factor in battle.

[After mastering the basics of energy infusion, a familiar has four different advanced applications based on their preference.

The first application is Projection. Energy is part of the familiar, and it’s only easily controlled when in contact with it. When energy leaves the body, the familiar loses control of it. However, some familiars that are naturally talented can be trained not only to project energy for long-range attacks but also to control its trajectory to suppress enemies! Energy projection is a must-learn for every familiar that wants to master long-range combat.]

Lu Ran thought about it and nodded. In battle, ranged attacks could play a vital role. Projection skills were all long-range moves, like the “Kamehameha Wave” from anime.

[The second application is Acceleration. Energy in the body can be manipulated to accelerate like a raging river. Compared to keeping infused energy stagnant, accelerating it can multiply its various amplifying effects. After becoming proficient, one can even learn to unleash a torrent of skills instantly.]

Hmm?

𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

Lu Ran quickly understood the concept. Essentially, Acceleration was like the difference between a bow and a submachine gun. The bow had to accumulate power to fire just a single shot, while the latter could fire continuously. In other words, if skills had a cooldown, then mastering energy acceleration could reduce it!

"This is also very important..."

[The third application is Formation. Energy is intangible, and basic energy is as weak as a breeze, but by shaping it, energy can be materialized. Materializing energy can maximize the innate properties of energy.]

The training manual also gave many examples of Formation. For instance, Wind energy infused in the body could be manipulated to form a pair of wings, granting the ability to fly. Alternatively, ice energy infused into the hand could form a solid ice blade to increase the familiar’s lethality.

After pondering it, Lu Ran concluded that he shouldn’t sleep on Formation either.

[The fourth application is Compression. Energy comes in varying qualities. Familiars can even unleash large amounts of energy and then compress it to the limit to improve its quality and power.

Note: This skill requires extremely high levels of control and a powerful physique. Compressed energy is extremely volatile, putting a huge burden on the body and posing a significant danger. An explosion could generate terrifyingly destructive power, making it a double-edged sword.

Projection, Acceleration, Formation, and Compression are advanced usages of energy. They are not mutually exclusive and can be used in conjunction. For example, by combining Formation and Projection, familiars can turn Ice energy into icicles and fire them as long-range attacks. This is the basis of skills.

The beastmaster’s responsibility is to choose appropriate techniques based on their familiar’s talents and help combine them into skills!]

"Skills really do have to be self-developed," Lu Ran said as he stroked his chin.

He originally thought that familiars could automatically learn skills by leveling up. After thinking it over, however, he realized that Captain Doofus, being only a Transcendent species without a powerful bloodline inheritance, would naturally have to start from scratch. Presently, this information was undoubtedly very helpful to Lu Ran.

For the Wind-attribute Captain Doofus, Formation was mandatory; Lu Ran didn't even have to think about it. After all, Captain Doofus needed it to gain flight capabilities.

Projection would also be very useful. Disregarding ranged attacks simply wasn’t viable. Compared to Captain Doofus having to bite and fight physically, wouldn't it be cooler for it to spit out a wind sphere that had the power of a storm?

Compression was also useful. Although it could injure the familiar, thanks to the Divine Dear Pendant, physical injuries were the least of Lu Ran and Captain Doofus’ worries! Moreover, Captain Doofus was proficient in mutually destructive fighting styles. It even used one in the beginner trial.

Acceleration was related to endurance, so it was important as well.

"It looks like every category is important and should be practiced..."

However, these four major categories were still considered relatively basic. As Lu Ran continued reading with narrowed eyes, he realized the true core determining factors of a familiar’s combat power!

Bluntly put, any familiar could learn energy application with some hard work and talent. However, the next chapter was on evolution! It was the biggest opportunity for any familiar. It was their chance to change fate.

[Every 10 levels, familiars can use special resources to awaken a new attribute or take on a new trait. Through awakening, familiars can acquire a second, third, or even fourth attribute. These so-called “traits” are similar to special abilities.

For example, the Size Manipulation trait allows familiars to freely control their size to become bigger or smaller.

The Sun trait turns a familiar’s Fire energy into sunfire, which burns at terrifying temperatures.

The Vibration trait adds shockwaves to a familiar's attack, enhancing their destructive power.

The Dragonborn trait allows familiars to acquire the characteristics of a dragon.

There are all kinds of traits, and anything is possible. Familiars with traits have vastly superior combat power compared to those without.

The most important aspect of attributes and traits is that they determine a familiar’s evolutionary direction. Whenever a familiar acquires a new trait or awakens a new attribute, its species rank will improve as well.

Upon acquiring three attributes and/or traits, the familiar will undergo evolution. The evolution will cause a major change in its appearance, an increase in species rank, and allow it to obtain stronger attributes.

This means familiars have two opportunities to evolve: at levels thirty and sixty.

However, the items needed for awakening new attributes and traits are extremely rare. They only have a small probability of dropping in Hell-difficulty secret realms. This is the ultimate goal for beastmasters.]

"Evolution, traits, new attributes...

Ugh

."

After what he read, Lu Ran could no longer suppress his desire to explore secret realms. Throughout the whole article, the possibility for Captain Doofus to evolve attracted him the most, but these things still seemed distant to him.

If I already had trouble with the beginner trial, how could I go for Hell-difficulty secret realms? I should start training Captain Doofus in the four energy usage categories first.

Lu Ran spent half an hour reading all the information in the Basic Beastmaster Manual. In addition to some common knowledge about beastmasters and familiars, there was also information about secret realms, team formation, and civilian beastmasters.

After reading through the manual, Lu Ran felt that he finally got a preliminary understanding of Limitless City and beastmasters.

Lu Ran wanted to flip through the manual again, but a familiar howl stopped him.

"

Awoo!!!

"

Surprised, Lu Ran took out the black card to confirm whether it was where the noise came from.

Did Captain Doofus wake up?

"

Awoo!!!

"

Lu Ran casually waved his hand, summoning the fully rested Captain Doofus. He excitedly circled Lu Ran.

"Wait, you fought for a whole day and only slept for a little over an hour, yet you're already fine?"

"

Woof!

"

Doofus stared at Lu Ran with its blue eyes. A tuft of hair on its head wagged, a sign that it was hungry, again.

“Wait, don't worry about food right now. You woke up at just the right time!" Lu Ran's eyes lit up.

He held the Super Beast Mimicry skill card and thought for a moment. A beastmaster could only learn one beastmaster skill per level. The skill in his hand seemed to be pretty compatible with them, though. Captain Doofus was talented in combat, and Lu Ran could heal it when injured. If so, it was more crucial for him to improve his own combat power.

"..."

Lu Ran couldn't think of any disadvantages in learning Super Beast Mimicry at his level. On the contrary, he found it very suitable for newbies.

The worst thing that could happen to a beastmaster was getting sniped with a cheap shot. For example, back when he used to compete in insect fighting with old men in the park, would anyone stand up for him if an old man sucker-punched him and knocked him out just as he was about to win?

As for whether he would become increasingly more like Captain Doofus after learning it, Lu Ran already had a theory!

[Name: Pedestrian A (Lu Ran)]

[Race: Human]

[Beastmaster Rank: Apprentice]

[Beastmaster Skills: Super Beast Mimicry]

Learning a beastmaster skill was very simple. He just had to activate the skill card. The card would then disappear, and information about the skill would appear in his mind.

Once Lu Ran had learned the Super Beast Mimicry, Captain Doofus looked at him as if it was getting a bad feeling.

Immediately, before Captain Doofus's confused expression, Lu Ran took out two swords: one wooden and one metal.

Captain Doofus stared at Lu Ran. "

Woo?

"

"Take it and hold it in your mouth. Do you remember the sword techniques I taught you before?"

Lu Ran stuffed the wooden sword into Captain Doofus's mouth and made him bite it. He then held the metal sword properly. The two then continued to stare at each other.

Lu Ran had always thought that Captain Doofus' personality was similar to Yazi’s. In addition, Lu Ran and Captain Doofus could communicate on a deeper level. Hence, Lu Ran often liked to put Captain Doofus through some special training that wasn’t meant for dogs—like swordsmanship.

Ancient records always depicted Yazi glaring and holding a sword in its mouth to increase its power. It was strange, but Lu Ran even used to want Captain Doofus to cosplay as Yazi.

Captain Doofus was already very proficient in chopping and similar actions, but in reality, it was pointless for a dog to know these techniques. They had no practical value and could easily lead to injury. However, that was about to change.

The era of energy manipulation had come!

"I initially wanted the meteorite iron ore to be forged into a sword for self-defense, but I've changed my mind. When the time comes, you can use the forged sword. The meteorite iron sword is said to have good energy conduction and enhancing effects, so it wouldn’t be ideal for me to use it,

“I believe it would be much more suitable for you. If you work hard to become a swordsdog, then I can imitate your swordsmanship to obtain the power of a beast swordsman. Perfect!" Lu Ran felt like a genius.

"

Awoo...

"

Captain Doofus looked incredulous. It didn't understand what Lu Ran was trying to say, but it understood what he was doing. Were they going back to the old days? Forcing a dog to practice swordsmanship had always seemed inhumane to it. It would remember this grudge.

"Everything is possible," Lu Ran said confidently. "Now that we are both 'evolving,' we have to get used to breaking conventional wisdom. People who rigidly follow the rules always end up as mediocre. Just think about it—if the Wind energy in your mouth is combined with your sword, wouldn’t that become sword qi? Who said that dogs couldn’t use swords?!"

Captain Doofus stood in awe.

Sword qi? What is that? It sounds awesome.