The three months following Paul's return settled into a comfortable, productive rhythm for the Greyrat household. The seasons turned, the last of the summer heat giving way to the crisp gold and red of autumn. Life was a cycle of lessons, chores, play, and the constant, hidden hum of my own personal evolution.
The changes in me, so profound internally, began to manifest in subtle, publicly acceptable ways. The most noticeable was in the one area I had no natural talent for: Swordsmanship.
It happened during our morning drills. Paul, ever the drill sergeant, was putting us through a series of repetitive strikes against a padded post.
"Again! Hah! Step and cut! Feel the flow from your heel, through your core, to the tip of the sword!" Paul barked, demonstrating with a fluid, powerful slash that made the post shudder.
Rudeus, as usual, was overthinking. His strikes were technically correct but disjointed, each one a separate calculation. Adjust angle 2.3 degrees. Rotate hip 15%. Engage latissimus dorsi. It was like watching a poorly programmed robot.
I, however, was beginning to feel it. Not through natural talent, but through the symphony of integrated traits. My [Agile Frame] provided the effortless footwork and balance, allowing me to pivot and step with a grace that felt instinctive. My [Keen Senses] gave me an unparalleled awareness of the post's position, the swing of Paul's demonstration, the minute shifts in my own posture. My [Resilient Hide] and [Hardy Constitution] meant I didn't tire easily; the vibrations from hitting the post didn't sting my hands, allowing me to focus purely on the motion.
But the real breakthrough came from traits I hadn't even considered combat-related.
One afternoon, while "helping" Zenith shell a mountain of nuts, I'd absorbed the essence of a particularly stubborn [Ironwood Weevil - Lv. 1], a pest known for its powerful mandibles and tough carapace. It gave me a minor trait: [Jaw-Force Kinesthesia (Minor)] - an innate understanding of force application through a leveraged point. It was meant for biting, but my system, ever-adaptive, applied the principle to my grip on the sword hilt. I suddenly understood leverage, point of impact, and force transfer on a visceral level.
Another day, observing a [Kestrel - Lv. 2] hunting field mice from afar, I imprinted its [Dive Trajectory Sense], a minor trait for judging angles and velocity of a moving strike. It was for plummeting from the sky, but for me, it translated to judging the perfect angle for a downward cut.
These traits, combined with my existing physical enhancements, transformed my swordsmanship. The disjointed movements Paul had criticized began to smooth out. My strikes weren't just mechanically sound; they started to carry weight, intention, and a frightening efficiency. I wasn't "solving a math problem" anymore. I was executing.
One cool morning, about two months in, Paul had us spar lightly with padded sticks. Rudeus and I faced off. Rudeus, using his analytical mind, tried to predict my moves. He saw me shift my weight left and prepared a parry to his right.
But I was already moving. Using my weevil-derived leverage sense and kestrel trajectory, I feinted left, then used my agile frame to launch a low, sweeping strike at his legs that he hadn't calculated for. His parry met empty air, and my stick tapped his ankle.
"Point to Leon!" Paul called out, his eyebrows shooting up. He hadn't seen the feint coming either. "Rudeus, you're thinking in straight lines. Leon… that was fluid. Where did that come from?"
I shrugged, adopting a look of modest surprise. "I just… did what felt right, Father. Like you said, stop thinking and feel it."
Rudeus stared at me, his analytical mind visibly short-circuiting. "The feint utilized a 40% commitment to the initial movement before redirecting kinetic energy on a non-intuitive vector. The muscle control required is… statistically improbable for your recorded strength and training hours."
"I've been practicing in the garden," I said, which was true. I'd been practicing a lot of things in the garden.
From that day on, my [Swordsmanship] skill began to climb steadily. It was no longer a grudging, point-by-point grind. It was a smooth ascent as my body and mind, augmented by a dozen tiny biological insights, finally understood the language Paul was speaking. By the end of the third month, the notification came.
<< Through dedicated practice and trait synthesis, [Swordsmanship (Novice)] has reached Lv. 9. >>
<< Evolution to [Swordsmanship (Intermediate)] requires a foundational comprehension of combat intent or a significant breakthrough. Skill Evolution Item or specialized training recommended. >>
So, I'd hit the cap. I could mimic the forms perfectly, but the "heart" Paul spoke of—the true intent of a warrior—was still missing. I couldn't brute-force it with traits alone. That was fine. Level 9 Novice was far beyond what any three-year-old (or even most adults) could claim.
While my swordsmanship progressed openly, my magic advancement was a masterpiece of controlled subterfuge. Under Roxy's excellent tutelage, Rudeus was a blazing star in Water and Fire magic, his [Waterball] and [Fireball] reaching Intermediate rank quickly due to his fanatical focus and unparalleled control. He struggled more with Earth (too blunt) and Wind (too chaotic), and Healing still confounded him on a philosophical level.
I, however, took a different approach. With my System allowing me to see MP costs, efficiency ratios, and even suggested optimizations in real-time, I could practice magic with scientific precision. I didn't just learn a spell; I deconstructed it. My [Keen Senses], now sensitive to magical auras, let me see the spellforms as they were woven, not just feel them.
I practiced in secret, during my "pest control" rounds or late at night when I was sure Rudeus was asleep. I would cast a silent [Waterball], then use my system to tweak the mana flow, increasing pressure to create a cutting jet ([Water Cutter] - Intermediate), or decreasing temperature to form a shell of ice ([Ice Shield] - Intermediate). The system logged these as derivative skills, all feeding into the main elemental skill's experience.
For Fire, I learned to not just create heat, but to shape and deny it. A focused beam became [Fire Lance] (Intermediate). A wide, clinging spread became [Sticky Flame] (Intermediate). My secret [Hearth Sense] trait gave me an innate, gut-level understanding of thermal energy that Rudeus, for all his calculations, lacked.
Earth was my playground. [Earth Shape] evolved naturally into intermediate-tier manipulation. I could now create rough walls ([Earthen Wall]), shape simple traps ([Pitfall]), or condense stone into dense, sharp projectiles ([Stone Bullet]). All Intermediate.
Wind was the hardest, but my [Faint Breeze Affinity] and [Agile Frame] gave me a connection to it. I learned to sharpen it into [Wind Blade] (Intermediate), use it to amplify my movement [Gust Step] (Novice), and even create small vortices to disrupt or deflect.
Healing came surprisingly easily. While Rudeus argued with Roxy about cellular theory, I simply focused on the system-assisted prompt: Encourage the body's natural story. I visualized the MP as a green, restorative energy that told damaged cells to "remember" being whole. My [Hardy Constitution] trait gave me an intimate blueprint of a healthy body to use as a template. My [Heal] reached Intermediate while Rudeus was still stuck at Advanced-Novice.
But I was careful. In group lessons, I performed at the level of a very talented, diligent student—just a step behind Rudeus in his specialties, and a step ahead in others. I let him shine in Water and Fire. I showed proficiency, but not mastery, in Earth and Wind. I demonstrated a "knack" for Healing that I chalked up to "wanting to help Mother when she gets a cut."
Roxy watched me with those knowing purple eyes. She saw the depth of control, the versatility. "Your magic is… remarkably adaptable, Leon," she said one day after I'd seamlessly shifted from patching a hole in the garden wall with [Earth Shape] to using a gentle [Wind Cutter] to prune a dead branch. "You lack Rudeus's raw power in a single element, but your ability to apply the right tool to the problem is advanced."
"Thank you, Teacher," I said, bowing. "I just think about what the problem needs."
If she knew the truth—that I had five elements at Intermediate rank and a system quantifying my every improvement—her job as our tutor would essentially be complete. And I didn't want that. I didn't want her to leave. So, I played the part of the versatile, competent, but not revolutionary, second twin.
The true revolution was happening inside me, in the silent, endless feast of Assimilation. My three-month campaign of targeted consumption was a staggering success. I moved beyond pests and began carefully targeting small magical fauna in the forest's edge: glow-toads for [Low-Grade Mana Absorption], moss snakes for [Camouflage Pigment Control], sonic bats for [Echolocation Awareness].
I focused on synergy. I sought out traits that would complement and evolve my existing packages.
I consumed a [Forest Badger - Lv. 3] for its tenacity and digging claws, gaining [Burrowing Instinct] and [Tenacious Grip], which merged with my existing traits to finally evolve [Night Crawler's Vigor] and [Earthworm's Tolerance] into a Basic Trait: [Unyielding Endurance] - drastically increased stamina, fortitude against exhaustion, and the ability to maintain effort under extreme stress.
I imprinted the pattern from a fleeing [Cotten-Tail Hare - Lv. 2], synthesizing [Sudden Acceleration] and [Zig-Zag Escape Pattern]. Combined with the remnants of my mobility traits, they evolved my [Agile Frame] into an Advanced Trait: [Phantom Step] - Movement speed and reflexes are massively enhanced. Can execute near-instantaneous directional changes and leave brief after-images under certain conditions. (+5 effective DEX for movement/agility, +25% base movement speed, unlocks skill potential: [Afterimage]).
The Advanced evolution was a quantum leap. The surge of power was so intense I had to sit down when it happened. My body felt lighter, faster, as if the air had less resistance. When I practiced later, a simple sprint across the garden left a faint, fading blur in my wake for a split second. I had to consciously dial it down to avoid suspicion.
But the crown jewel of my three-month grind came from a creature of pure, simple function. A [Queen Ant - Lv. 4] from a forest colony I found after a storm. It wasn't powerful in a combat sense, but its essence was a dense packet of organizational efficiency, resource distribution, and colony-wide resilience. Consuming it (a mentally difficult but necessary act) didn't give me a single powerful trait. Instead, it provided a dozen microscopic traits related to systemic efficiency, nutrient routing, and distributed consciousness.
The System went into overdrive, analyzing this new data.
<< Super-Synergy Detected. Multiple Basic Traits ([Keen Senses], [Resilient Hide], [Hardy Constitution], [Unyielding Endurance]) and supporting Minor Traits show compatibility with Queen Ant systemic optimization package. >>
<< Commencing complex trait fusion… >>
<< Fusion Successful. >>
<< Basic Traits have been subsumed. >>
<< New Advanced Trait Acquired: [Adaptive Bio-Systems Network] - Your body operates as a hyper-efficient, self-optimizing biological network. All physical attributes (STR, VIT, DEX) receive a moderate permanent boost. Regeneration rates (HP, Stamina, MP) are significantly increased. Resistance to all forms of damage (physical, magical, poison, disease) is dramatically enhanced. The body passively analyzes threats and environmental conditions, allocating resources and subtly adjusting physiology for optimal performance and survival. Can actively consume biomass to fuel accelerated healing and short-term stat boosts. >>
The change was not a wave, but a total transformation. It was as if every cell in my body woke up, communicated with its neighbor, and organized into a perfect, living machine. I felt stronger, tougher, faster, smarter in a bodily sense. My health, stamina, and mana pools swelled. A quick glance at my status showed jumps across my physical stats. This was it—the foundational power I'd been grinding for.
The day after this evolution, during a family dinner, the difference was subtle but present. I helped Zenith lift a heavy iron pot with one hand, not even straining. Paul glanced at me, a flicker of something unreadable in his eyes. Rudeus, slurping his stew, paused and stared at my arm.
"Leon," he said, "your radial and ulnar flexion while lifting that pot exhibited a tensile strength inconsistent with your muscle mass. Has your STR increased?"
"Must be all the wood-chopping Father makes me do," I said smoothly, taking a huge bite of bread.
Paul chuckled, but the look lingered. He was a warrior. He noticed things. The too-fluid swordsmanship, the unnatural resilience, the casual strength. He didn't understand it, but he was starting to see the outline of the mystery that was his eldest son.
Later that night, as autumn wind whispered against the house, I lay in bed and finally pulled up my full, current status. The three-month report was nothing short of breathtaking.
---
STATUS
Name: [Leon] Greyrat (Twin Eldest)
Age: 3 (and 9 months)
Title: The Devouring Twin, New Game+
Level: 11 (EXP: 890/1100)
TRAITS
Advanced:
· [Phantom Step]: Massively enhanced speed/reflexes, near-instant directional changes, can create brief after-images. (+5 effective DEX movement, +25% speed, unlocks [Afterimage] potential).
· [Adaptive Bio-Systems Network]: Hyper-efficient bodily network. Moderate permanent boost to STR, VIT, DEX. Greatly increased HP/Stamina/MP regen. Dramatically enhanced all resistances. Passive threat analysis/environmental adaptation. Can consume biomass for accelerated healing/temp boosts.
Basic:
· [Keen Senses]: (Subsumed into Network, effects enhanced)
· [Resilient Hide]: (Subsumed into Network, effects enhanced)
· [Hardy Constitution]: (Subsumed into Network, effects enhanced)
· [Unyielding Endurance]: (Subsumed into Network, effects enhanced)
· New - [Spatial Computation]: From bat/sensory traits. Allows for instant, intuitive calculation of trajectories, distances, and spatial relationships.
· New - [Metabolic Control]: From glow-toad/badger traits. Can consciously slow or speed up metabolism for endurance or burst energy.
· New - [Elemental Affinity (Earth/Wind)]: From prolonged practice and minor trait synthesis. Reduces MP cost and increases potency of Earth & Wind magic by 15%.
· New - [Mana Thread Weaving]: From precise magic practice and system analysis. Allows for finer, more complex mana control, prerequisite for advanced spellcraft.
· New - [Predator's Eye]: From weasel/kestrel/hunting traits. Grants instinctive insight into weaknesses, patterns, and vital points of observed creatures.
Minor/Microscopic: Dozens, fully integrated into the Advanced and Basic trait network.
---
ATTRIBUTES
HP: 450/450 (Regen: 5/min)
MP: 150/150 (Regen: 10/min with Ring)
Stamina: 500/500 (Regen: 15/min)
STR: 18 (Base 11 + 7 from Adaptive Network)
VIT: 25 (Base 16 + 9 from Adaptive Network)
DEX: 28 (Base 17 + 6 from Phantom Step + 5 from Adaptive Network)
INT: 28
WIS: 24
LUCK: 12
Unallocated Stat Points: 55
System Points (SP): 3,420
---
MAGIC SKILLS (All Intermediate Rank)
· Water: Waterball (Lv.7), Water Cutter (Lv.5), Ice Shield (Lv.4)
· Fire: Fireball (Lv.6), Fire Lance (Lv.5), Sticky Flame (Lv.4)
· Earth: Earth Pillar (Lv.6), Earth Shape (Lv.7), Earthen Wall (Lv.5), Stone Bullet (Lv.4)
· Wind: Wind Cutter (Lv.6), Gust Step (Lv.5), Wind Vortex (Lv.4)
· Healing: Heal (Lv.6), Soothe (Lv.4)
· General: Mana Control (Lv.9), Silent Casting (Lv.8)
---
COMBAT SKILLS
· Swordsmanship (Novice): Lv. 9 (MAX)
· Unarmed Combat (Novice): Lv. 3
· Throwing (Novice): Lv. 2
---
QUEST LOG
· The Next Step: Evolve a skill to Intermediate rank. (In Progress - Swordsmanship)
· Arcane Scholar: Achieve Intermediate rank in 3 magic disciplines. (COMPLETED - 5/3)
· Trait Master: Acquire 5 Basic Traits. (COMPLETED - 9/5)
· Ascendant Biology: Evolve a trait to Advanced rank. (COMPLETED x2)
---
I dismissed the screen, the blue glow fading. Fifty-five stat points. Over three thousand SP. A body that was rapidly becoming a masterpiece of biological engineering. Magic skills solidly in the Intermediate tier across the board. An Advanced trait that was essentially a permanent, intelligent buffing spell.
And yet, I was still a three-year-old boy in a warm house, listening to my brother snore, my parents murmur downstairs, and the wind in the eaves. The power was intoxicating, but the purpose was clear. This was my foundation. The grinding had been fruitful beyond my wildest hopes.
The known story of Rudeus Greyrat was progressing beside me. But my story, the story of the Devouring Twin, was being written in the silent language of consumed traits and system prompts. I was no longer just preparing to survive the turning points. I was preparing to redefine them.
I closed my eyes, the [Adaptive Bio-Systems Network] humming contentedly within me, optimizing my rest, repairing microscopic tears, preparing for the dawn. The path ahead was long, but the first, most crucial steps had been taken