Chapter Eleven: Experimental Records and Evolutionary Ranks

"On the first day, I tested all aspects of Shadow Ash’s physiological indicators. After receiving sufficient energy intake, its physical strength increased by thirty percent, its maximum speed rose by 5 meters per second, and its neural response time, among other parameters, showed remarkable improvement as well.

Furthermore, its intelligence also progressed. I decided to begin teaching it human writing and language—perhaps its cognitive abilities could reach the standard of an average person. Further observation is needed.

…

On the second day, I went out to gather some food. Purchasing large quantities of meat in a short time might attract unwanted attention, so I brought Shadow Ash to the seaside, where we hunted in the deep sea and collected over half a ton of food.

After its bodily evolution, Shadow Ash’s appetite grew larger; it consumed more than five hundred kilograms—the food converted into thermal energy, making its body even stronger, and the stronger body in turn utilized energy from food more efficiently. It’s a perfect positive cycle.

However, today the pace of Shadow Ash’s growth slowed noticeably. Its strength increased by only ten percent, and its maximum speed rose by about 3 meters per second… It seems there is a limit to the self-enhancement brought by the Blood of Evolution. I want to see where that limit lies.

I continued teaching it general knowledge and exposed it to a variety of artistic works—Shadow Ash was indeed captivated, spending the whole day watching films on the tablet. It likes Snoopy and dislikes Garfield, because Garfield enjoys mocking dumb dogs, but it is delighted whenever Garfield gets his comeuppance.

Additionally, as food is metabolized into energy, it produces large amounts of waste expelled from its body—by human standards, the smell is quite foul.

…

On the tenth day, Shadow Ash’s appetite sharply declined; today, it was satisfied after consuming only a few dozen kilograms, and its physical attributes ceased to improve. This seems to mark the upper limit of its bodily growth. From now on, energy will be used primarily to sustain cellular functions rather than further evolution.

Efforts to educate Shadow Ash in human knowledge have already met with preliminary success. It now recognizes over ten thousand characters, can type skillfully on a tablet, and can interact on animation forums without arousing suspicion. Although its throat is not anatomically identical to a human’s, with effort it can manipulate its vocal cords to produce some human syllables, though they sound very peculiar. So far, it is most adept at pronouncing words beginning with the consonant ‘w,’ which sound closest to human speech, but it finds words beginning with ‘k’ very challenging.

By rough estimation, Shadow Ash’s personality and intelligence now rival those of an average human adolescent.

…

On the thirteenth day, I began a new round of biological research. To differentiate experimental subjects, I retrieved a black eagle from the mountain forests. After the baptism of the Blood of Evolution, its body became larger, its wingspan longer, and its flight speed increased from 30 meters per second to 190 meters per second.

The connection forged by the Blood of Evolution allows me to hear its “inner voice,” just as I can with Shadow Ash. With abundant food intake and the energy thus provided, it established an energy cycle system similar to Shadow Ash’s, evolving rapidly in all aspects, with its physical attributes improving by about twenty percent.

I named the black eagle Black Moon. The Blood of Evolution endowed Black Moon with intelligence comparable to where Shadow Ash began, but the two do not get along. They are constantly at odds—Shadow Ash growls at Black Moon, while Black Moon circles overhead, taunting it in return.

…

On the twentieth day, as I did with Shadow Ash, I studied the “exponential formula correlating energy intake with physical growth” in Black Moon. Like Shadow Ash, Black Moon reached its physical limits and its food consumption dropped sharply.

Preliminary success has also been achieved in imparting human knowledge to Black Moon. It has learned a vast vocabulary and can communicate online using human language. Unlike Shadow Ash, it does not enjoy animation; rather, it prefers live-action films, especially science fiction. Whenever dazzling special effects and metallic visuals appear on screen, it stands on my shoulder, preening its feathers with wide, fascinated eyes.

Due to the fundamental difference in vocal organs, Black Moon can barely produce human speech from its throat. Yet, it somehow taught itself to mimic human-like sounds by channeling airflow from its abdomen—much like the ventriloquism described in martial arts novels. However, because the sound originates from the abdomen, it is deep and distant, a quality Black Moon dislikes. It prefers sharp, resonant calls, much like its own cries in flight.

Likewise, I purchased a tablet computer specifically for Black Moon. Its slender talons are not well-suited for manipulation, so I provided it with a sleeve and stylus; now, it can operate the device with agility.

…

Based on my prior observations, I have drawn the following conclusions:

1. Lifeforms baptized by the Blood of Evolution will experience a rapid leap in physical capabilities, breaking the limits of ordinary life.

2. After evolution, these beings enter a “rapid growth phase,” the duration of which is uncertain—so far, only records of eight and eleven days exist. During this phase, the organism will quickly utilize external energy to drive its evolution and achieve continued physical enhancement.

3. At the end of the “rapid growth phase,” the organism enters a “stagnation phase,” during which external energy serves only to maintain bodily functions, and no further significant evolution occurs. No method has yet been found to break through this stagnation.

4. Lifeforms baptized by the Blood of Evolution form an inexplicable “connection” with me. I can hear their “inner voices,” sense their physical conditions, and issue commands.

5. Non-human creatures baptized by the Blood of Evolution also undergo a dramatic increase in intelligence, enabling them to comprehend human emotions and appreciate human works.

…

Observing Shadow Ash, Black Moon, and myself, I have decided to establish a basic ranking system to measure each individual's degree of evolution.

Taking myself at the outset—before awakening any superpowers—as the origin, I designate my physical attributes at that time as Level Zero. After approximately ten days of strengthening, I reached Level One; after one hundred days, Level Ten.

Accordingly, by this standard, each increase of one level represents about a 10.46% enhancement over the previous level, while a ten-level increase makes one approximately 2.7 times stronger than before.

I have named this ranking system the “Evolution Level.” Based on this calculation, Shadow Ash currently stands at Level 63 in strength, Level 59 in speed, Level 61 in explosive power, Level 64 in neural response speed, and Level 63 in bodily resilience, for an overall rating of Level 62.

Black Moon’s strength is Level 57, speed Level 62, explosive power Level 60, neural response speed Level 65, bodily resilience Level 62, with an overall rating of Level 61.

As for myself, my stats are uniformly average, and since the system is anchored on me as the origin, my current Evolution Level is 367. Of course, this figure is somewhat arbitrary, as I naturally advance by 36.5 or 36.6 levels per year. This is, after all, a fabricated concept.

…Yet, even if it is a made-up system, the Evolution Level will become the cornerstone of my “Age of Superpowers Plan.”

After all, what would stories of transcendence be without the thrill of “battling across levels,” “level suppression,” and other passionate elements found in works of fantasy? Without a ranking system, how could one leave room for imagination?

With this, the preparations are complete.

…Next, it is time for the Blood of Evolution to formally intervene in the human world.

—But, of course… before that, I must first find a suitable candidate.