Ronan scanned through about forty of the racial options before realising they were only getting worse. If he was going to change his race he wasn’t going to accept anything less than the best. Well, one of the best. According to the system the very best race he could have taken was that juvenile suneater. It was basically a gigantic whale that flew through space and, as the name suggested, ate stars. He had no desire to become a huge whale. Even the silicate, the best race he could take after removing the unwanted ones, wasn’t ideal. No, his decision had come down to just two of the options.

  Angel and Juvenile Chronate.

  Both had their pros and cons, but he couldn’t quite choose between them. He pulled up the descriptions of both races again, trying to find any reason that might make him disqualify one or raise one over the other.

  Angel (E)

  The origin of the angel race is dubious, but some believe they originated from a mutated supernova. They possess a great affinity for light and the celestial, as well as dimensional magic. They resemble humans but are superior physically and physiologically.

  All angels are born with affinities towards [Light], [Celestial], and [Dimensional] mana

  Instead of Health and Stamina, angels possess a single combined resource called Celestae. The Vitality and Endurance stats are also merged into a single stat called Celestae. It operates differently, but can be used for skills that require either health point or stamina costs. When it reaches 0, the angel does not die but will be greatly weakened and vulnerable

  You possess one Angelic Core. You will not die unless your Angelic Core is destroyed

  +50 Celestae, +10 Regeneration, +25 Charisma, +40 Free Stat Points on level up

  Juvenile Chronate (E)

  Chronates are born in the gaps between time and space, where reality is but a suggestion. They can naturally manipulate their personal flow of time, as well as more easily slip through the barriers between dimensions. Many juvenile chronates die while learning to use their powers, accidentally falling into dimensions they should not have entered. Chronates take many forms, but usually they resemble the most populous species in the vicinity of their birthplace.

  All juvenile chronates are born with affinities towards [Time] and [Dimensional] mana

  Chronates possess a unique stat called Chron which allows them to manipulate their personal timeflow, and at greater stages of evolution and power, the timeflow of other beings and objects and even the multiversal flow of time

  Chronates have a 1% chance to inflict the [Time Bleed] effect when landing successful strikes on their foes

  +45 Vitality, +20 Resistance, +25 Tenacity, +30 Free Stat Points on level up

  On paper, becoming an angel seemed to be slightly better. Having only one stat to worry about instead of two, that also wouldn’t immediately kill him when it ran out, was highly beneficial. However, the benefit of the Angelic Core was somewhat redundant, given that his heritage already made death an inconvenience instead of a permanent end. Not to mention that dying allowed him to become stronger.

  The stat gains were attractive for both classes, with neither having a particular advantage. In fact, the Juvenile Chronate suited his innate talents and most resembled his base stats with the large tenacity gains. Not to mention that a lot of its abilities were unusually similar to those that his clan seemed to possess. As well as the damn name.

  Chronate. Chronos.

  If anything, Ronan felt that coincidence alone was enough to push him towards the latter option. He deliberated a little while longer but decided that the angel’s racial benefits were somewhat dulled by his heritage and the juvenile chronate seemed to fit him far too well.

  You have selected [Juvenile Chronate (E)] as your race change option!

  Initiating racial shift…

  Oh fuck, this—

  It hurt.

  Ronan did his best to push that memory to the recesses of his mind. He didn’t want to ever think about it again. Hopefully evolving the race would be slightly easier than shifting into one.

  Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

  You have changed your race from [Human (E)] to [Juvenile Chronate (E)]!

  Racial stat shift failed due to interference from [Paragon Fate-Dancer]!

  That’s annoying. Might have to experiment with not taking the overpowered luck class a few times… It’s so strong, though. There was little he could do at that point so he just dismissed the notifications. He had gained two new traits, relating to his newly acquired affinities. Dimensional Affinity was at Legendary, while Time Affinity was at Mythical. It was his first mythical skill or trait. Neat.

  Well, first if he didn’t include class skills. Locking Blessed Dao Child as one of his sub-classes had given him a permanent heavenly and mythical skill.

  In any case, he was no longer human. Ronan looked down at the ocean. It wasn’t that reflective, what with the churning waves and stormy skies, but he could just about make out his silhouette. He looked about the same as a moment ago. Bigger, perhaps. It was hard to tell. As long as he hadn’t become some sort of freak abomination he was fine with some minor adjustments.

  Unfortunately now that he had changed his race, time had resumed, and he needed to hurry up to finish the rest of the things he needed to do before stage 5 started. Whether he would be able to cultivate both of the boss shards in just three and a half minutes remained to be seen, but he would do his best.

  He started with the energy-aspected shard. It ended up taking a minute and a half to consume in its entirety. It was far harder than the previous attempt at using the Dynamic Flow Art, likely due to its increased level. However, he gained two entire realms of energy cultivation in the process.

  Ronan didn’t stop to read the notifications because he was still on the clock. He began going through a highly complex workout routine while draining the body-aspected shard. In fact he was grateful to the administrator for healing him. In his previous state he would have been forced to let the level 275 shard go to waste. Ultimately, with just ten seconds left on the countdown, Ronan consumed both and earned himself a big increase in cultivation.

  Congratulations! Your hard work and effort have allowed you to reach the sixteenth realm of Tempered Body Cultivation!

  Tempered Body Cultivation has advanced from [Iron ★★★★] to [Iron ★★★★★]!

  Greatly reduces chance of tendon, joint, and muscle damage during movement and combat. Efficiency of bodily functions is greatly increased. Durability, muscle memory, and bodily independence are moderately increased.

  Physical damage reduction +260%

  Efficacy of vitality, strength, agility, and resistance +230%

  Potency of vitality, strength, agility, and resistance +75%

  Congratulations! Your hard work and effort have allowed you to reach the seventeenth realm of Mystic Energy Cultivation!

  Mystic Energy Cultivation has advanced from [Vibrating ★★★★★] to [Vibrating ★★★★★★]!

  All forms of energy regenerate 325% faster

  Energy costs are reduced by 150%

  Efficacy of endurance and regeneration +250%

  Potency of endurance and regeneration +85%

  There is a 1% chance to regain 50% of the expended energy when using a skill, spell, or other applicable process that costs energy to activate. Only works on one-time costs and not channeled or long-term energy expenditures.

  There wasn’t much time left until stage 5 began. There were other things he wanted to do, but the rush to complete them wasn’t as urgent given that he had been healed. For the first time in a while Ronan was going to use Mineral Skeleton. He doubted there was time to absorb all the materials he had in mind, so he settled for the best, taking out Karadaxos’ Heart.

  It was legendary rarity, and almost bigger than Ronan. It nearly fell into the ocean before he balanced it on the corpse he floated upon. Then again, the boss had been huge so it was no surprise that its heart was equally so.

  The muscle was blackened, with faint lines traced into it that stood out to Ronan’s mana senses. Within the organ itself he felt a powerful pulse of energy. He almost wanted to take a bite out of it just to see what happened, but he suspected that would not end well for his stomach.

  He also felt he was probably stretching the definition of Mineral Skeleton. A heart was an organ and definitely not a mineral. Then again, there was no harm in trying. If it failed he could just use some of the scales instead. Ronan placed a hand against the black flesh and activated his trait.

  There was about a four second delay before the trait responded. Ronan grinned. If the analysis worked it meant he could probably absorb it.

  Material analysis complete!

  Foreign material identified as [Mutated Abyssal Orkrakstacean Heart]!

  [Mutated Abyssal Orkrakstacean Heart]

  The heart of a Mutated Abyssal Orkrakstacean. It still bears the burnt-out remnants of its powerful mana. What was once a source of death becomes sustenance for another.

  Absorbing all of the [Mutated Abyssal Orkrakstacean Heart] present in [Karadaxos’ Heart Lv.275 (Legendary)] will cause the following changes:

  +73 Vitality

  +7 Endurance

  +26 Regeneration

  +16 Wisdom

  +22 Acuity

  +[Water Affinity (Epic)]

  +50% Pressure resistance

  +25% Mana efficiency

  Absorbing all of the [Mutated Abyssal Orkrakstacean Heart] present in [Karadaxos’ Heart Lv.275 (Legendary)] will destroy the item…

  Absorb [Mutated Abyssal Orkrakstacean Heart] from [Karadaxos’ Heart Lv.275 (Legendary)] using [Mineral Skeleton]?

  That’s a lot of base stats. A skill, too. That’s the first time. Can’t see any reason not to do this. Ronan absorbed the heart. Then he doubled over as a gut-wrenching agony tore through his torso.