POV: Zai
I wasn't satisfied with just one combo. Not after seeing lightning flow through Sheik's needles like I had rewritten the rules of the universe.
If I could zap the needles…
Then what happened if I lit them on fire?
Back in the same cracked-up lot behind the rec center, I crouched again and summoned:
Needle Shot
Fireball Throw
I stared at them both—one in each hand. The needles: cool, sharp. The fireball: warm, pulsing like a heartbeat.
I took a deep breath.
"C'mon... Fuse."
I steadied my breathing, pulled both skills together in my core, and imagined the needles carrying the fire—piercing and burning at the same time.
Not forceful.
Precise.
I flicked my hands together.
[SKILL LINK DETECTED — ATTEMPTING COMBINATION...]
Result: SUCCESS
The needles gleamed a violent orange, heat rippling off their surface like sun-warmed metal.
I flung them.
FWOOSH.
They left a faint trail of smoke as they whistled through the air, embedding into a dead tree across the lot—and igniting it almost instantly.
The bark caught fire like it was paper soaked in gasoline.
I felt the heat hit my face like a slap.
[New Combo Skill Created: "Scorch Needles"]
– Parent Skills: Needle Shot + Fireball– Effect: Piercing projectiles that ignite on impact– Extra: Burn stacks for 3 seconds (mild)– Cooldown: 10s (shared)– Use: Mid-range chip damage + area control– Note: Needles can set flammable surfaces alight– System Warning: This combo causes early-stage mutation if used repeatedly
I froze.
There it was again:
System Warning: This combo causes early-stage mutation if used repeatedly
My mouth went dry.
I brought up the system panel and tapped on that specific line.
[MUTATION: EXPLAINED]
Some skill combinations may begin to "mutate" after repeated use. Mutation is a transformation system triggered by natural compatibility, repetition, and energy imprinting. When a mutation occurs:
The skill permanently changes into a new form
Base cooldowns may increase or decrease
Visual appearance and elemental nature may shift
Compatibility with future combos may change
Mutation cannot be undone once locked in
Mutations typically occur after 10+ successful uses or 100% skill saturation.
I let that sink in.
So... the more I used Scorch Needles, the more likely it was to evolve into something completely new. Something unique to me.
Maybe it'd become a burn-based trap skill.Maybe the needles would explode.Maybe they'd leave lava trails.
I didn't know.
But I wanted to find out.
The system pinged again.
[Warning: Scorch Needles Usage – 2/10 Mutations Detected]Progress toward Mutation Threshold: 20%Track this combo? (Y/N)
I hit Y without thinking.
Suddenly a glowing red meter appeared under the skill name.
Mutation Progress – Scorch Needles:▌▌▌▁▁▁▁▁▁▁ (2/10)
Ten uses. That's all it would take.
And then?
I wouldn't just be using Smash skills anymore.
I'd be crafting ones the game never had.
For a moment, I just stood there, looking at the burning tree.
This system... it didn't want me to copy a character.
It wanted me to surpass them.
And when I hit Level 5?When I unlocked Subordinate Creation?
What if I could mutate them too?
Make a squad of broken CPUs with evolved Smash powers?
Yeah.
Things were about to change.