Kenji trudged back toward the ogre village, exhaustion weighing heavily on him. The fight with the kobold commander had pushed him to his limits, and the rush of hitting his level cap left his body tingling with strange energy. His mind buzzed with anticipation—he was finally ready to evolve.

  The towering gates of the village came into view, and he let out a small sigh of relief. But as he approached, a sharp pain lanced through his body. His vision blurred, and his legs buckled.

  “What the—?” Kenji muttered before collapsing onto the ground, unconscious.

  The ogre guards stationed at the gate were quick to react, their heavy footsteps thudding as they rushed to his side.

  “Prince Kenji!” one called out, kneeling to check his pulse.

  “He’s breathing,” the other guard confirmed, though his brow furrowed as he noticed the faint, erratic glow emanating from Kenji’s body. “But something’s not right.”

  Without hesitation, they lifted Kenji’s limp form and carried him toward the village infirmary. Word traveled quickly, and it wasn’t long before the queen herself burst into the room.

  The queen’s golden eyes were wide with panic as she approached Kenji’s still form. “What happened?” she demanded, her regal composure slipping as worry took over.

  The healers scrambled to respond. “His vitals are stable, Your Majesty, but his mana is… chaotic. We’ve never seen anything like it.”

  The queen placed a hand on Kenji’s forehead, closing her eyes as she focused on the storm of energy coursing through him. Her expression darkened.

  “It’s his evolution,” she said, her voice trembling with both awe and concern. “His mana is reacting to the change, but without proper control, it’s overwhelming his body.”

  Before anyone could respond, a violent burst of mana erupted from Kenji, forcing everyone to shield their eyes. When the light dimmed, a translucent cocoon of swirling energy had formed around him. The queen stared at it, her expression a mix of worry and pride.

  “This is the turning point,” she murmured, more to herself than to anyone else. “My son… you’ll come out of this stronger than ever.”

  The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  Meanwhile, Kenji’s POV:

  Kenji felt the world around him completely shift. Darkness gave way to a vast, starry expanse. He stood suspended in a void of twinkling lights, each one casting a faint glow.

  “Where am I?” Kenji muttered, turning in a slow circle.

  A soft, melodic voice echoed through the expanse. “Congratulations, Kenji Asamiya.”

  He froze, searching for the source of the voice. It was warm and feminine, filled with an almost motherly pride.

  “Who’s there?” he demanded.

  The voice continued as if ignoring his question. “You’ve reached the first milestone on your path of evolution. With each step, you will grow stronger, and your choices will shape your destiny. Choose wisely, for each path carries its own trials and rewards.”

  Before Kenji could respond, the voice faded, leaving only the faint echo of its last word.

  “Tch,” Kenji muttered. He hated when the system or whoever this was spoke in riddles.

  Before him, a glowing panel appeared, illuminating the dark expanse.

  [EVOLUTION OPTIONS AVAILABLE]

       1.    Savage Hybrid

  ?    Description

  ?    Stats Increase: Major boost to STR, DEF, HEALTH. Moderate boost to DTX.

  ?    Skills Gained: Blood Frenzy, Primal Roar, Enhanced Regeneration

  2.    Shadow Stalker

  ?    Description

  ?    Stats Increase: Major boost to SPEED, DTX. Moderate boost to MANA.

  ?    Skills Gained: Shadowmeld, Critical Strike, Blink Step

  3.    Arcane Warden

  ?    Description

  ?    Stats Increase: Major boost to MANA, DEF, SPEED. Moderate boost to STR.

  ?    Skills Gained: Mana Shield, Arcane Burst, Elemental Slash

  4.    Chimeric Ascendant

  ?    Description:

  ?    Stats Increase: Balanced boost to all stats.

  ?    Skills Gained: Fusion Form, Skill Assimilation, Adaptive Evolution

  Kenji’s eyes scanned the list, his mind already weighing the pros and cons of each option. Each choice was enticing, and each came with its own strengths and sacrifices.

  The starry void seemed to hum with anticipation as if waiting for his decision.

  Which evolution choice should Kenji pick?