Excitement surged through Logan's veins like wildfire as he heard the guide's words. His heartbeat thundered loudly in his ears as his gaze remained locked onto the wheel.
'This is way too broken…!' he thought, his fingers curling slightly as anticipation flooded his mind.
He had already caught glimpses of several ability names flashing across the wheel, and even a single one of them would have been enough to make him terrifyingly powerful given enough time to grow.
But three opportunities? That was no longer luck. That was the heavens outright pampering him without shame.
Not that he planned to complain about it.
"So… can I spin the wheel now?" Logan asked, his voice steady but unable to fully conceal the excitement bubbling beneath the surface.
"Yes, you can, golden child," the guide muttered in response, jealousy seeping into every syllable despite her attempt to sound indifferent.
Receiving her confirmation, Logan stretched out his hand and gave the wheel a firm spin.
The moment his fingers left its surface, the wheel began to rotate violently, its speed rapidly increasing as the abilities engraved upon it started changing at a dizzying pace. Symbols blurred together, names flashing by faster than his eyes could track.
If Logan had to guess, the wheel originally contained around fifty ability slots. Now, however, each slot was being continuously replaced by another in rapid succession, causing the total number of possible outcomes to explode from mere dozens into tens of thousands.
'What will I get?!' Logan's thoughts raced as the wheel gradually began to slow, his focus narrowing entirely onto the pointer inching toward its final destination.
It swept past Heaven-Lightning Physique, an ability Logan desperately wanted, and for a brief instant his heart clenched painfully in his chest.
Then the wheel stopped.
[Congratulations on awakening Evolution Path Vision.]
The notification materialized before his eyes, glowing softly against the white backdrop.
Before Logan could even process what had happened, a translucent panel unfolded in midair!
[Innate Ability: Evolution Path Vision]
Type: Unique, Passive
Description:
Allows the user to perceive all possible evolution paths of contracted nightmares and summons. Reveals branching evolution routes, hidden variants, failed paths, and rare or forbidden evolutions. Displays requirements, risks, compatibility, and long-term potential of each path. Enables the user to consciously choose and guide evolution, bypassing all randomness.
Restriction:
Only applies to entities under a binding contract with the user.
Logan stared at the panel, his breath hitching slightly as the meaning of every line sank deep into his consciousness.
This was not just powerful.
This was outright unfair.
The guide first looked at the wheel, then slowly turned her gaze toward Logan, her mouth hanging open in complete disbelief.
"Y-you…" she stammered, her voice trembling despite herself. "What kind of absurd luck is this? You can see every possible evolution your nightmares can undergo and choose the optimal path at will. Even ancient walkers would kneel before such an ability… Tsk tsk. Truly a golden child of the heavens."
Logan reread the description once more, carefully, as if afraid the words might change if he blinked. When he finally confirmed that this was real and not some elaborate illusion, a slow grin spread across his face.
This changed everything.
"Thank you, O great guide!" Logan laughed, his heart swelling with pure, unrestrained joy. "Can we move on to the next spin now?"
Logan wanted to see what else he could get now. Without waiting for guide's reply, he reached out and spun the wheel again, his eyes burning with renewed anticipation.
'Come on… give me the physique this time…!' he silently urged.
The wheel spun for a few steady breaths before gradually slowing once more, its movement calm compared to the chaos of the previous spin.
This time, it stopped on...
[Random Evo Points Multiplier]
"Hm… what is this?" Logan wondered, genuine curiosity filling his mind as he willed the description to appear.
A soft blue screen shimmered into existence before his eyes, the text forming smoothly across its surface.
[Innate Ability: Random Evo Points Multiplier]
Type: Unique, Passive
Description:
Once every week, the user may activate this ability to roll a random multiplier. All Evolution Points gained during that week will be increased by the rolled value. The effect applies universally to all sources of Evolution Points without exception.
For a brief moment, Logan simply stared at the screen, his mind blank.
Then the meaning struck him like a thunderbolt.
'Holy… this is equally broken,' he thought, excitement surging through him anew.
Evolution Points were the lifeblood of the Vast Expanse. They were not merely a form of currency, but the fundamental resource required for the growth and evolution of nightmares. Without Evolution Points, evolution was impossible, regardless of how rare or talented a nightmare might be.
There were three recognized grades of Evolution Points: Standard, Great, and Superior.
The quality of Evolution Points used during an evolution directly determined the quality of the resulting form. Even a powerful nightmare could end up with a mediocre evolution if the points invested were of insufficient grade or quantity. It was one of the most decisive factors shaping a nightmare's future.
And now, this ability shattered that balance entirely.
Once every week, Logan would roll a random multiplier, and whatever value he obtained would apply to every single Evolution Point he earned during that entire week. A low roll would still grant noticeable gains, but if fortune truly smiled upon him…
If he rolled something absurd, like a tenfold multiplier…
Then every Evolution Point he earned from hunting, quests, contracts, or rewards during that week would be multiplied ten times over. The points would accumulate relentlessly, transforming a single productive week into a stockpile massive enough to force higher-grade evolutions far earlier than anyone else could even dream of.
It was not merely powerful.
It was fundamentally unfair.
It was broken beyond reason.
"OH MY GAWD!!" the guide suddenly shrieked, spinning wildly through the air above Logan's head, her movements so exaggerated that she nearly flipped upside down. Her reaction alone perfectly captured just how outrageous the ability truly was.
"Do you even realize what you just obtained?" she shouted, staring at him as though he were a walking calamity. "One lucky roll, and you could hoard enough Evolution Points to push Great or even Superior evolutions long before anyone else even qualifies!"
Logan slowly exhaled, his breathing steadying as a sharp, determined smile formed on his lips.
With abilities like these backing him, the path ahead no longer felt impossible.
He could pay back the debt.
He could grow stronger.
And most importantly, he could finally find a cure for his sister!