Other than the realizations that he had with regard to his techniques and how he should improve them, Novus also realized one important thing that could’ve made his execution, or rather, his fight with the Beast Wave, just a little bit easier than it should’ve been.

That is the fact that to him, the consumable resources that the Evolution Domain gives shine the most, not because of their immediate effect, but rather the small permanent effect that stacks with each of his consumption.

For example, had he consumed all the Liquid Shadow acquired during his second run on the Evolution Domain, then maybe, just maybe, he would’ve raised his affinity with dark element enough that perhaps, he could mimic the Shadow Slimes’ stealth even just for a little bit.

That is exactly what he is trying right now as he stares at the liquid, magically floating above his hand, the grayish, constantly dancing darkness making him wonder whether it is really consumable or not.

’Let’s try it once... if in some way, I can’t handle this right now, then I guess I’ll have to breakthrough to E-Tier first, then try it again...’ he thought to himself as he took a gulp, moving the Liquid Shadow towards his mouth in preparation to consume it, all while thinking of something else in his mind.

’Still, with the precedence of the Evolution Crystal, there’s no way it will be any more dangerous, right?’ he thought to himself as he opened his mouth, forcing it to enter as he felt it starting from his tongue.

It was slightly slippery, almost feeling like it was doing its best to avoid being held, but being inside an enclosed space restrains it from achieving this as Novus takes a gulp, forcing the consumable to slide down his throat with calm, unsettling ease.

The Liquid Shadow is neither warm nor cold, carrying a strange hollowness to it despite making Novus’ mind feel that it is certainly a liquid, that odd feeling lingering just a bit longer even when the consumable is already down his stomach.

There was nothing more to it than that, no more chill, no incoming warmth; there was nothing.

And yet within that nothingness, he feels it, a little bit of familiarity invoked from the shadows around him as his very own shadow quivers a bit, stretching ever so slightly towards the rest of the shadows around the room before it snaps back into its rightful place.

’Weird... but not bad...’ as he opened his eyes, he pointed out given that the sensation from consuming the Liquid Shadow is too subtle and doesn’t last for too long, making him doubt whether it truly affected him or not.

As he saw the screen floating in front of him, however, he pretty much confirmed that it was indeed the case.

[Consumed Liquid Shadow.]

[Shadow Element Affinity has slightly increased.]

[You are now in a stealth state for five minutes.]

[Note: Consuming multiple Liquid Shadows at the same time does not stack stealth duration; however, consuming another Liquid Shadow will refresh the duration of the stealth.]

’Should I try out how effective the stealth is?’ still seeing himself despite being under stealth state, Novus couldn’t help but ask himself, eventually opting not to, as he knew that there were way better things to do than playing around with consumables like this.

With the Liquid Shadow now proven to be effective and safe to consume, he then decided that it is about time for him to proceed with the reason as to why he is even hunting higher tier creatures in the Evolution Domain in the first place, the look on his eyes as he reads through his breakthrough requirements one that is ecstatic, as he is as prepared as he can ever be.

[F-Tier Evolution Crystal Required: 14,683/10,000]

[E-Tier Evolution Crystal Required: 1,243/10]

[You have met the requirements to promote yourself to the next rank (E-Tier). Would you like to proceed with the promotion?]

[Yes/No]

There’s not a single hint of hesitation in his face as he proceeds to select the yes option, the system’s floating screen popping up another notification yet again as if preparing him for what is about to come.

[System user is detected to be triggering the breakthrough promotion to the E-Tier. Now utilizing required resources as assistance to the breakthrough.]

[Consumed 10,000 F-Tier Evolution Crystal. 4,683 F-Tier Evolution Crystal left.]

[Consumed 10 E-Tier Evolution Crystal. 1,233 E-Tier Evolution Crystal left.]

As those words vanished as fast as they appeared, Novus saw it, what the system dubbed as the assistance it would provide for his promotion to the E-Tier.

It appears uncannily similar to the mana orb that he often uses to form a fireball with; however, what mana lacks in what it provides to the sense of sight, this orb of energy has an abundance of, the faint, bluish hue of pulsing light coming out of it, something that is extremely mesmerizing to the eyes.

What he feels all the more impressive, however, is the raw amount of power his senses can detect from within this bluish ball of energy, different from mana, that intense, yet ever so warm sensation that this orb of energy is making him feel immediately, pointing him to the conclusion of what it truly is.

’Evolution Energy.’ While seeing the visuals it provides, along with the feeling of that familiar warmth, Novus immediately identified what sort of energy it is, the obviously massive amount of Evolution Energy that came from all those Evolution Crystals, compressed into nothing but a ball no larger than his own head, making him wonder just how powerful the system truly is.

Still, he dwells on those thoughts not for long as his mind focuses on what is right in front of him, his imminent breakthrough to the E-Tier approaching as the ball of Evolution Energy starts extending tendrils, this instinctively making him expand his own senses to guide it towards himself as if he just knows what he has to do.

The outcome of this action is something that he can only describe with one word. Divine.

That familiar, comfortable warmth starts hitting him once again, but this time, not with any restraint, as the tendril of Evolution Energy starts growing larger. Its end, sitting right on top of his head, begins to swirl as his absorption not only keeps up, but also goes beyond the level the orb of Evolution Energy is initially going with.

From his head, it heads down his heart where it settles for a bit, wrapping around each of his cells and giving them much-needed energy, elevating them to a higher level bit by bit, that comforting refinement, that pleasing warmth, feeling like he is basking in the bountiful, lovely spring sun.

Once the Evolution Energy’s autonomous refinement seems to be satisfied with the current refinement of his heart, it starts to move onto the next targets, the warmth being kept within the core of his circulatory system as all incoming Evolution Energy passes through it before using his blood vessels to travel all across his body, forging his entire body anew with each burst of power it feeds each of his cells.