System Made Me a Tank [LitRPG-Evolution]

"What is my ultimate goal? What does that even mean?"

Boran reached out to try to close the message, but his fingers passed through the air. He shook his head, as if trying to shake off something physical. But the message remained there, suspended in the air. He blinked, trying to shift his focus elsewhere. He looked at his shield, tracing the burn marks on it with his finger. However, the presence of the question continued to linger at the edge of his vision like a shadow.

"Nonsense," he muttered to himself. "What could an ultimate goal even be? To be the strongest? The richest? The highest level? To defeat all bosses?" But even as he spoke the words, he knew that none of these constituted a real 'ultimate goal.'

He leaned back in his chair and stared at the ceiling. "Maybe this is a test," he thought. "Maybe the system is testing me." But a voice inside told him that this wasn't a simple system test. This question came from much deeper.

He stood up and began to pace around the room. With each step, the question echoed in his mind. What is your ultimate goal? As if the universe itself was asking him this question.

"My ultimate goal is to become a legend," Boran said out loud.

[WHAT is YOUR ultimate goal?]

"What does that mean?" said Boran, with a hint of anger in his voice. "THIS is MY ultimate goal. To become a legend. I've always wanted this. In the outside world, in this world, everywhere... I want to be someone whose stories people tell, whose adventures they talk about."

As he paced up and down the room, he continued: "I wanted to be like the heroes in the stories I listened to as a child. Now here, in this world, I have that opportunity. Why should I settle for less? Why should I limit myself? This is MY ultimate goal."

[WHAT is YOUR ultimate goal?]

Anger appeared on Boran's face, his voice rose. "What is this nonsense? Didn't you hear what I told you? My ultimate goal is TO BECOME A LEGEND!"

He ran his hands through his hair, continuing to pace quickly back and forth in the room. He didn't even know himself why he was getting so angry.

"Look," he said, speaking to the air as if someone was in front of him. "I don't know what you're trying to do to me. But I'm not playing this game. I told you my ultimate goal. I want to become a legend. I want people to remember my name for centuries, to tell of my achievements. I know what I'm doing."

He paused for a moment, took a deep breath. He closed his eyes. For a few seconds he just stood there, then opened his eyes again.

"Maybe this is some kind of hidden quest? Maybe it's something I'm being tested on?" he muttered to himself. "Or... or is this part of something bigger? Maybe the system is trying to show me something."

He sat back in his chair, placing his hands on his knees. For a moment he felt a wave of hesitation. Perhaps there was more than simply becoming a legend. Perhaps he had come to this world to truly make a difference.

"No," he said, shaking his head resolutely. "I won't waste my time with such philosophical nonsense. I'm here to become a legend and that's exactly what I'm going to do."

But still, that persistent question continued to hang there.

[WHAT is YOUR ultimate goal?]

"AAAARGH!" Boran shouted, now completely exasperated. "I'm not doing this to save the fate of the planet! The only thing on my mind is power and fame! To be recognized by everyone, to be the strongest, the bravest, the most legendary adventurer! Why is this so hard to understand?!"

He turned to look at his inventory, determined to change the subject. But that question persisted in the corner of his eye, like an insistent whisper.

[You're lying to yourself.]

Personal Quests

[Find what you truly want.]

[Reward: Class Ascension]

Boran sighed deeply as he looked out the window. "What nonsense am I dealing with," he muttered.

He took a few steps in the room, then stopped. "But why am I so bothered? Why does this simple question make me so uneasy?" He remained silent for a long time before answering his own question. He crossed his arms over his chest, as if trying to physically protect himself.

He touched his ring and Boney Stark emerged from it with a puff of smoke. He looked around for a while, appearing surprised.

"I'll show you around everywhere when no one's inside, Boney. For now, I summoned you to level up."

[Level: 30]

[Select equipment to upgrade or skill to get:]

[Bow] [Quiver] [Arrows] [Helmet] [Chest Armor] [Bracelets] [Boots] [Skill]

[Or spend 10 points to evolve "Boney Stark"]

Boran looked at the message on the screen with surprise. "Evolve?" he muttered. He had never seen such an option before.

He turned to Boney Stark. The skeleton was looking at him with empty eye sockets, as much as a skeleton can "look."

"Hey, Boney," said Boran, still examining the message on the screen. "It seems I can... evolve you. What do you think?"

Boney Stark, of course, couldn't answer. He just shrugged slightly, as if to say "why not."

"Okay, I'll try it," said Boran and touched the [Evolve "Boney Stark"] option.

Suddenly a bright light filled the room. Boney Stark's skeletal body rose into the air, with waves of blue and purple energy swirling around him. Boran squinted as he watched this magnificent sight.

The light intensified even more, so much that Boran had to close his eyes for a moment. There was a strange buzzing in his ears, like an incomprehensible song coming from far away.

And then, suddenly, everything calmed down.

When Boran opened his eyes, the skeleton was still there, but now it looked different.

Two long, curved horns had emerged from the upper part of Boney's skull. The horns were white and smooth, ending in sharply pointed tips. Even more surprising, they had pierced through the leather helmet the skeleton was wearing. There were now two holes in the upper part of the helmet, with the fabric torn where the horns had penetrated.

Boran was staring at his skeleton with his mouth open. "Wow, Boney," he finally said.

His bones had changed too. They now looked more solid, stronger. The previously yellowish-white bones now had a slight metallic shine, as if they contained silver veins.

And the most striking change had appeared in the middle of the skeleton's ribcage. There, exactly where the heart should be, a small blue crystal was glowing. The crystal pulsated at regular intervals, as if it were alive.

Boran quickly checked the incoming notification.

[Boney Stark has evolved!]

[New features: Enhanced intelligence, improved combat abilities, new equipment levels, new skills]

"We have 3 points left to give, Boney. Let's make all your equipment level 2."

Boran upgraded the quiver one more level, now all of Boney's equipment was level 2. "Now your equipment can go above level 2. Let's start by upgrading your bow."

Boran decided to upgrade Boney's bow. "First, let's bring the bow to level three," he said and touched the [Bow] option.

There was a flash of light and the bow in Boney's bony hands blurred for a moment. Yellow energy waves began to swirl around the bow, then suddenly disappeared. The bow that emerged looked slightly larger and more robust than before.

[Boney Stark's bow upgraded to level 3!]

"Again," said Boran excitedly and touched the [Bow] option again.

This time, the energy waves were blue and circled around the bow for a longer period.

"What's this?" he muttered in surprise.

The bow had changed, its current form looking completely ordinary.

Now in Boney's hand was a simple, medium-quality wooden bow of the kind you could find in any store. There were no decorations on its surface, no special details. Just a dark brown, slightly rough wooden bow. Yet it looked better than the previous one in every aspect.

Boran stepped closer and examined Boney's horns more closely. They had a smooth, ivory-like texture, but when touched, they were harder than ivory, almost as solid as marble. He ran his fingertips along the curved structure of the horns.

"These horns are really impressive, Boney," said Boran admiringly. "They have pointed tips, but they're not sharp. Maybe you could use them in battle too." He looked again at how the horns had pierced through the helmet fabric. "They must be quite strong."

Boney, though unable to respond, slightly straightened his head as if with pride.

"Well, that's enough for now," said Boran and touched his ring. "Rest a bit. I'll call you again when I need you."

Boney Stark was drawn back into the ring with the same smoke, his horned skull being the last part to disappear.