The champion, however, despite its wound, was not dead. Far from it. If all went well, it would be more alive than it ever had been.

The Collector activated the secondary ability of Higher Calling: the capacity to evolve goblin subspecies into higher variants of themselves. Those forcibly evolved could also be connected to the Collector's mana pool, regenerating infinitely so long as the Collector possessed the mana to sustain it.

However, there were several limitations to this ability. The higher the subspecies of goblin, the more difficult it was to force them to undergo evolution to their next subspecies variant.

It required that the specimen possess an innate magical and biological potential to come close to reaching that evolution by themselves, and the higher the evolution, the more potential was needed from the specimen.

Thus, it was easy to ascend a goblin into a hobgoblin for the gap was not incredibly large in terms of required potential.

Far more difficult to ascend a hobgoblin into a champion.

And now, how difficult would it be to ascend a champion into the next in its line of biological advancement?

The Collector withdrew its fist from the champion's stomach and let the specimen go.

The champion fell onto his knees on the snow, blood pooling from his stomach wound and freezing on the snow. The hole in his stomach quickly sealed, however, as black tendrils began to form from the raw, bloody wound.

The champion's sizable form shuddered rapidly as his blue eyes rolled into his head. His body began to morph and distend every which way, arms and legs twisting in ways they were biomechanically should not be capable of. His muscles swelled and rippled as if ready to crawl out of his skin.

The Collector noted as the champion's magical energy levels began to surge, an aura of red swirling out from his convulsing form, and then, they plummeted.

As the red aura dissipated, the champion's form burst apart at the seams like a popped balloon.

Chunks of flesh scattered everywhere in an explosion of blood that left nothing but skeletal chunks flattened against the snow.

Disappointing, thought the Collector as it hunched its chest over the mass of freezing bones, organs, and flesh. The Collector's detachable maw burst open from its stomach, twin masses of teeth and grinding flesh clamping down on the champion's remains.

The maw could expand to such a degree that when it scooped up the remains, it shoveled up a sizable chunk of snow as well, leaving zero traces of the champion's existence. Only an indent in the snow that acted like a grave marker, though the snow would quickly cover it up.

The maw retracted back into the Collector's stomach, and the split gap sealed shut.

>>>

*Biomass gained*

Biomass Level: 0/100 > 5/100

*Genetic material gained*

Stored Genetic Material:

==

-Frostborn Hobgoblin Thrall [Core]

-Vineswinger Goblin Champion [Core]

-Windcutter Wildcat

-Shockstripe Eel

-Lurker

-Goblin Lord [Core]

-Frostborn Goblin Champion

*Spirit Roots Gained*

Root Consumption Level: 5/100%

>>>

The Collector noted that this champion possessed more raw magical energy than the red-skinned one. But his fine control over it was severely lacking.

As for this failed evolution, the Collector took note, analyzed, and adjusted its calculations. Just as it did with the magical power that allowed for high speed projectiles or the many applications of combat based mana usage it learned, it required data and experience to utilize perfectly.

All the powers it interacted with in this new world were entirely novel, completely out of the bounds of prior calculations and calibrations the Collector was originally created for, thus, it had to adjust, reassess, and adapt.

The Collector took note of the forced evolution's mechanics. It involved injecting a substantial 20% of the Collector's mana into a specimen. This initial burst of mana spread into the specimen's core, and from there, hijacked it and forced a particular set of biological and magical growths.

Like an enzyme locking into a substrate, the initial injection of mana shaped itself under the Higher Calling primal magic into a structure capable of inducing a fit with the core. In this case, this induced fit was only capable of slotting into the structures of goblin cores.

When the injection of mana locked into the core, it catalyzed a reaction of biological and magical modifications that led into the evolution.

The Collector clicked the mandibles on its main skull in understanding. Now that it had observed the general processes of the magic, it could now work on finer tuning.

"Come before me," said the Collector, and its intent was conveyed such that the goblin it spoke to, Rogg, drew forwards, kneeling before the Collector.

"Stand," said the Collector, and the hobgoblin did so.

The Collector enveloped one of its hand in the magical energy signature of the Higher Calling power. Black lined with flickers of red wreathed its fingers as it slammed its hand into the hobgoblin's chest.

>>>

Mana Level: 60% > 45%

>>>

A significant mana cost again.

But this was to be expected.

In skipping a metamorphosis level, the Collector had skipped an entire level within which to obtain spirit roots. Thus, it could be said that while its metamorphosis level was at an eight, its spirit level was still at seven.

Of course, the Collector now had an increased root consumption limit to account for two levels, but it would have to operate on a total mana pool that was only sixty percent of what it should be.

Higher costing abilities such as those of the Firefly Shinchu and the goblin lord's Higher Calling were therefore to be utilized sparingly.

This time with the hobgoblin, the Collector mediated its output and made it more efficient, cutting off five percent of the mana cost. It carefully punched into the hobgoblin's chest only until it could grasp the hobgoblin's heart with surgical precision.

The hobgoblin stood utterly still even as blood began to trickle from his lips due to the lethal wound.

The Collector made adjustments to the flow of mana within the higher calling 'substrate', reducing the rate of forced mana flow to ease burden on the physical body as well as adapting said flow to individually better suit the hobgoblin.

After several seconds, the Collector pulled out its hand and observed.

The hobgoblin shuddered and his body begin to twist and shake, the muscle underneath the skin bulging in odd and unnatural undulations. However, the movements were far less violent than with the champion.

The hobgoblin doubled over as his body and roots were rewritten at a base level, and then, it was over.

The Collector observed as the hobgoblin stood up straight almost half a meter taller. His frame was padded with significantly more muscle, and tusks jutted from his lips. His blue eyes had become dyed a bright red and tendrils of black had sprouted from his back.

A successful evolution into a champion.

The tendrils, the Collector realized were essentially antennae. Organic protrusions that received the Collector's mana. If the Collector willed it, it could stimulate a rapid healing factor by transferring its magical energy into the champion via the tendrils.

Interesting.

Another potential site for modifications. Already, the Collector could theorize multiple improvements in efficiency and effect. Lowered cost of regeneration. Lowered passive cost to maintain the evolved goblin's sustained existence. A potential to induce offensive capabilities in the tendrils.

Everything related to this power and the goblins were quite flexible. The Collector noted now that it had devoured a great many goblin genetic samples that their biological forms were highly adaptable, quickly altering their structures and basic functions to survive in different environments,

Presumably, it was through the imbibement of specific atmospheric mana that induced these changes, and the lord's Higher Calling power interacted heavily with this adaptability to induce its own changes.

The Collector stared at its hand for a moment. With sufficient data in utilizing this power, it could potentially alter it such that it affected itself. The primary factor involved in whether a goblin was successful in its evolution was the idea of potential.

What would occur if the Collector whose goblin elite genes were of prime material induced Higher Calling within itself?

Yet, not now.

Without data, the likelihood of internal injury was significant.

The Collector would continue to adjust and calibrate more once it regained the mana it lost. Pores in its carapace opened as it began to maximally draw in mana flow from the environment, regenerating its mana at the rate of 1% per minute.

It theorized that there was even potential to alter this Higher Calling ability such that it could affect races that were not goblins.

It had memorized the approximate structures of human cores via analyzing their hearts, but it would need a fresh sample to constantly experiment with Higher Calling and ensure successful alterations.

For now, it moved on, slithering towards the Snowmound.

"Come," said the Collector as it passed through the ring of hobgoblins. The hobgoblins broke their formation and immediately began to file behind the Collector. "Advance ahead. Circle the Snowmound. Do not let any specimen within leave."