Chapter 83: Evolution

Chapter 83: Chapter 83: EvolutionThe private jet stood gleaming under the airport lights, a symbol of Bytebull’s success and Richard’s newfound status. As Richard and Feliciano approached, the ground crew greeted them with deference.

"Mr. Santamo," one of the crew members said, nodding respectfully.

Feliciano, now referred to by Richard as "Ciano," maintained a discreet but watchful presence a few steps behind. They boarded the luxurious aircraft, the engines humming to life as the jet began to taxi onto the runway.

Richard settled into a plush seat, the leather creaking softly under his weight. As the plane awaited clearance for takeoff, he turned his thoughts to family.

"How’s mother, Ciano?" Richard asked, a touch of concern in his voice. "Now that the mansion is lonely again, I hope the house isn’t too bored."

Feliciano glanced at Richard, his expression softening slightly. "Madam Anita is upbeat than most, sir. Though she still asks me about you. Since most of Don Estello’s employees have occupied the estate, there was never a day that’s boring. Anyone can walk in and out freely inside the mansion."

Richard smiled faintly. "That’s good. Does mother still watch those Chinese dramas translated into text-to-speech English?"

Feliciano nodded. "Yes, she does. In fact, most of the time that’s what she’s doing."

Richard decided it was time for his "System" activities. He stood, his expression turning serious.

"Ciano, don’t disturb me for a moment. I’ll just take a little break. Do remind me when we’re in Manila already."

Feliciano gave a subtle nod of understanding. Richard walked towards a private compartment within the jet and locked the door behind him.



Alone in his compartment, Richard summoned the System interface. Notifications flooded his senses, a cascade of numbers and updates.

[NOTIFICATION]

Game: "World War II: Frontlines: Multiplayer Update"

Downloads: 309,561,181

SP Gained: 173,494

Downloads × 0.01 SP = 173,494.52 SP

[NOTIFICATION]

App: "Phoenix Chat"

Downloads: 5,427,784

SP Gained: 1,085,556

Downloads × 0.2 SP = 1,085,556.80 SP

[NOTIFICATION] Software: "Vector Core"

Downloads: 3,562,103

SP Gained: 356,210

Downloads × 0.1 SP = 356,210 SP

[NOTIFICATION]

Software: "Phoenix AI"

Downloads: 1,810,131

SP Gained: 3,620,262

Downloads × 2 SP = 3,620,262 SP

[Notification]

You have gained a total of 5,235,522 SP

Richard’s eyes widened in disbelief at the total SP. He couldn’t help but shout, "Five million?!"


Feliciano, standing guard outside the compartment, heard the shout. He knocked on the door, concern in his voice. "Is there a problem, sir?"

Richard composed himself, his voice now low and strained. "N-nothing! Don’t mind me."

Internally, he repeated, "Damn, five million in 2 days..." A wide, almost feral grin spread across his face. He let out a quiet, manic laugh, shaking his head in sheer disbelief and elation.

Feliciano, hearing the muffled laughter and the earlier outburst, grew visibly concerned. He furrowed his brow and subtly shook his head, a fleeting thought crossing his mind: Maybe his boss was now crazy. He remained at his post, ever vigilant.

Richard took a deep breath, composing himself after the initial shock and joy. He willed the System to display his current status.

Let’s check my stats.

Status Window

Name: Richard Santamo

Age: 23

Weight: 191 lbs

Height: 6’3"

SP: 7,835,722

[SHOP] [SKILLS]

Stat Points Left: 910

STR: 43

CON: 100

AGI: 44

PER: 44

VIT: 44

INT: 101

Technology Learned:

Vector Core

Advanced Modular Fabrication System (AMFS)

Quantum Server Architecture: (Quantum Server Rack 34QU - ZT Model)

Skills:

Information Processing (Lvl 3)



Knowledge Acquisition

Keyboard Warrior

[ ... ]

Damn, I know I didn’t touch the system for 6 months, maybe 5, but the stat, 910 stat points, hmmm... it was time to upgrade his stat below 100.

Richard navigated to the System’s [SKILLS] section. He mentally accessed a bookmarked skill. He knew stat upgrades could be intensely painful.

Before he’ll suffer from the stat upgrades, figured it was useful to dampen his pain sensors before lying down while the upgrade does all the work.

[Active Skill: Pain Dampening]

Description: Passively reduces physical pain perception. You’ll still take damage—just won’t care as much.

[Price: 10,000 SP]

Richard mentally tapped "Buy." A wave of relief washed over him. He then scrolled further or used a search bar.

Paralyze.

[Active Skill: Static Paralysis]

Description: Activate a potent bio-electric field on your skin. Upon physical contact with an unshielded target, this field discharges, overwhelming their nervous system with a focused surge of electricity, causing immediate and temporary paralysis.

[Price: 20,000 SP]

Richard tapped "Buy" again for this skill.

The jet continued its journey, the weight of Richard’s newfound power and the mysteries yet to unfold pressing down on him and the consequences of Richard’s actions yet to unfold.

Richard sighed, then lay down on the bed in his private compartment. He activated the [Pain Dampening] skill and pinched his arm hard, drawing a bead of blood. True to its description, he felt no pain, only a dull pressure. The nanites in his system quickly sealed the minor wound. Satisfied, he then activated [Static Paralysis] on himself. His body, from the neck down, became unresponsive.

Weird. The senses are dulled, but the damage is still real... good thing these nanites are efficient.

He thought about the upgrade order. CON is at 100, so no genetic consequence for pushing others to 100. If I’d done STR first... bones and muscles wouldn’t have coped. Reckless as always, but lucky this time.

He navigated the System and allocated +57 Stat Points into Strength (STR), bringing it to 100. The transformation began. The nanites reconfigured his muscles. Instead of pain, thanks to [Pain Dampening], the process was bizarrely ticklish, like worms writhing beneath his skin.

After approximately three minutes, the process completed. He deactivated [Static Paralysis] momentarily and stood up, only to bump his head on the cabin ceiling.

Did I get taller?

His muscles felt compressed, harder, denser. He flexed an arm, relieved he didn’t look like an over-inflated bodybuilder.

Richard lay down again, reactivated [Static Paralysis], and allocated +56 Stat Points to Vitality (VIT), aiming for 100. As the transformation began, a System notification flashed.

[In order for the upgrade to proceed, you need to be unconscious]

[Initiating force shutdown...]

Richard was plunged into unconsciousness. While he was out, his internal organs were reconstructed and optimized. His blood chemistry changed, now carrying a faint silver luminescence. A secondary heart developed to support the enhanced organs and new blood. His bone marrow was refined.

Richard woke up abruptly. He took a breath. It felt like the first true breath of his life, the air crisp and rich in his lungs.

No time to stop.

He lay back down again, reactivated [Static Paralysis], and dumped +56 Stat Points into Agility (AGI), bringing it to 100. He braced himself, half-expecting another forced shutdown.

The AGI upgrade was surprisingly quick, completing without rendering him unconscious.

Next... Perception. Honestly, I’m not quite yet ready for this.

Steeling himself, he allocated +56 Stat Points into Perception (PER). Instantly, his senses shut down: vision, touch, hearing, smell, taste vanished into a void. Nanites worked furiously, overhauling his entire sensory apparatus.

Sometime later, he regained his senses and slowly sat up, then stood.

Sounds were incredibly clear, layered, distinct. He could perceive different colored energies emanating from living beings like faint smoke or mist. He saw energy vortexes – guessing one was Ciano outside, others were the crew. Glancing at his own body, it was covered in a layer of black and red, foul-smelling gunk – impurities expelled during the transformations. The room was also stained and stank. He could see energy pathways within his own body, and a distinct, spinning vortex of energy in his solar plexus.

Richard cautiously made his way to the private bathroom’s mirror, navigating by his new senses despite the mess. He looked at his reflection. His eyes widened.

His eye color was now a striking cyan blue. His facial features were more refined, his skin smoother and clearer (once the gunk was gone).

He couldn’t resist flexing, a smirk playing on his lips. His ego swelled.

[Your body may have changed, but not your personality.]

Shut up.

He proceeded to shower and clean up.

After a thorough cleaning, Richard emerged from the bathroom with only a towel wrapped around his lower body. He suddenly remembered a crucial oversight.

I forgot I didn’t bring any spare formal clothes! How am I supposed to get out of here?

He also realized he could barely stand up straight in the compartment anymore.

I’m definitely taller. Oh well.

He unlocked and opened the door to his compartment, stepping out into the main cabin area, calling for Ciano.

Ciano was the first to see him. His professional composure shattered; he stared, completely stun-locked, as if he was flashbanged. Nearby flight attendants gasped, quickly covering their faces and blushing furiously at the sight of Richard’s bare, now perfectly refined, muscular upper body. The way light caught his skin made it look almost polished.

Richard, slightly amused by the reaction, clapped his hands sharply.



"Ciano!"

Ciano snapped back to reality, blinking.

"Ciano, you got any more clothes? I forgot to bring any."

Feliciano, regaining his composure, slightly flustered but professional, said, "Oh! Yes, sir. Madam Anita gave me a set of clothes and suits. She said you likely wouldn’t bring any and said I have to... babysit you."

The flight attendants, overhearing this, let out suppressed chuckles. Feliciano retrieved a suit bag.

Richard, snatching the bag, slightly embarrassed, said, "Shut up, Ciano."

He retreated back into his compartment and closed the door.

Ciano, internal thought, while Richard was changing, shook his head slightly, still processing. How could his boss change so much in less than an hour? He’s definitely taller... and that presence...

Inside, Richard quickly dressed in the clothes provided by his mother. The suit was, as usual, slightly oversized, a habit of Anita’s and every mothers when buying their son’s clothes.

Glad the size still fits... mostly. Mother always did buy oversized. Good thing it perfectly fits this time.

He adjusted the suit, feeling more comfortable now that he was dressed. The slightly loose fit likely accommodated his new, more imposing frame better than his old clothes would have.

With Richard, now transformed and suited, he was ready to face whatever awaited him in Manila.