Mummy Evolution

Tomb Technology.

What was it?

Throughout history, bold Tomb Raiders had ventured into countless Tomb Worlds. If they were strong enough, they often found themselves thrust into entirely unique civilizations, each with its own technological structure.

In Sett's past life, he had entered many such Tombs.

One had talking animals implanted with brain chips, ruled by a hyper-intelligent race called the Spirit Monkeys. Another was a world overrun by soul-devouring demons, driven by insatiable hunger.

There were many other examples in Sett's mind.

And, in those worlds, he had experienced technology that Ehyut could only dream of.

In fact, as a youth, Sett had desperately desired a brain chip of his own. But most things from the Tombs would vanish the moment they left its confines—erased from existence as though they had never been.

Because of that, when some things leave the Tomb and do not get erased, it is called Tomb Technology.

And the Door in the clouds was one of those things.

As Sett looked at the door, he only had one feeling in his heart.

Intrigue.

That door was a Tomb Tech—something foreign to Ancient Kemet, stolen from another Tomb by one of Kemet's legendary Tomb Raiders.

Sett had never imagined he would lay eyes on such a thing, not when it had been destroyed long before his birth.

Only in a Tomb—a relic of history—could something long lost be seen again.

"Too much suspense!!!" Zarah shouted. "Just tell me what that treasure door does already!"

Sett didn't leave her hanging any longer. "This door is called the Cloud Door." He exhaled, steadying his excitement. "According to history, a Tomb Raider died bringing it out. Later, it was discovered—hidden among the clouds—by the First Pharaoh of the Ramses family."

The Ancestor of all Axiom Holders.

Zainah's brows furrowed. "If it was such a famous treasure, why isn't it famous now?"

"Because," Sett said with a grim look, "when the First Pharaoh grew old, he was consumed by bitterness and hatred. And for reasons unknown, he destroyed the door before his death."

Nobody knew why he did that.

Everyone who understood the Cloud Door's power had cursed the First Pharaoh for his actions. Sett himself had hated the man in his past life. Yet, between the short time of its discovery and its destruction, this door had become legendary.

Why was it so legendary and popular?

"Transcending the boundary of clouds, and swimming in the expanse of chaos," Sett recited history word by word. "That door appeared. Invisible it was to shallow gazes, but mighty it was to the eyes of those with pure eyes—leading to the thing that they desired most."

In the ancient history books that spoke about Kemet and its civilization—one thing stood out.

If you ever got to see the Cloud Door, the most legendary Tomb Tech of its time, know that you have stumbled on a tremendous opportunity. Make sure you do not misuse it.

"Just tell me what the damn door does Big Bro!" Zarah yelled impatiently.

Sett smacked the girl's head. "This door has a simple use. It can make garbage into treasures. At the same time, it also has another unbelievable function."

"Which is?"

Sett's gaze became immensely passionate as he stared at the door with fire in his heart. "No matter what you want in life—no matter how impossible it might seem—this door can create a roadmap to achieving that desire. It can make the impossible possible!"

Zarah frowned. "I don't get it!"

Sett smirked. "Have you heard the fable of the Honest Woodcutter?"

"...No."

"Illiterate, as expected."

He began telling the fable.

Both of the sisters perked up.

…

An old woodcutter was walking in a forest, carrying an axe. One day, he accidentally dropped the axe into a pond. Distraught, he sat by the edge of the water, lamenting the loss of his tool.

A spirit appeared out of the pond and asked, "Why are you upset?"

The old man explained that his axe was now lost in the pond and how it was his only means of survival.

The spirit, seeing the man's distress, decided to help. It dived into the water and brought up a golden axe.

"Is this your axe?" the spirit asked.

"No," said the old man, "that's not mine."

The spirit dived again, this time returning with a silver axe.

Again, the old man refused it, saying, "That's not mine either."

Finally, the spirit returned with the old man's iron axe.

Overjoyed, the man exclaimed, "Yes, that's mine!"

The spirit smiled and said, "Since you have been truthful and not tempted by the gold or silver, I will reward you. You may keep the gold and silver axes as well."

…

"So, wait wait wait!" Zarah exclaimed. "Are you telling me that the Cloud Door is like the pond?"

"Indeed, if history I know is the truth, that door is indeed that pond." Sett smirked. "It has both the spirit and the magical upgradation ability."

"Woah, let's try throwing something in!"

"Wait," Sett said. "One person only gets one chance. So whatever you are putting in must be chosen after careful consideration."

Zainah and Zarah exchanged an excited glance—this was so damn exciting!

This was how adventuring should be!

Fighting and surviving was too boring in comparison.

Sett stared at the door, deep in thought.

What should I throw in?

Can it even upgrade anything?

The treasure upgradation itself was nice, but Sett was more interested in the other power of the Cloud Door. He wanted to ask a lot of questions and if what he was thinking was true, the Door had the power to answer his questions.

In fact, legend had it that the reason that the Gods came to Kemet was to see this door.

The copulation with the Ramses family had just been a side quest for them.

"So what are we throwing in?"

A Tomb Heart appeared in Sett's hand out of nowhere.

It was a Tier 2 Tomb Heart.

"I want to throw one of these, if possible," he said. "But do you guys have anything better in mind?"

He should be able to get a Tier 3 Tomb Heart at the very least from the Door.

Zainah asked curiously, "What will happen if you throw living things into the door?"

Sett paused.

He had considered that.

"I don't really know. Historical records were too vague about that. But I don't want to risk it—what if the door spat out something that is no longer you?"

"Oh…"

The girls became hesitant. They didn't have anything to throw in there!

Sett, on the other hand, smirked.

There was a reason the Cloud Door was so popular in Ancient Kemet. Even poor people travelled for years to see the door, and there was a singular reason for it.

Of course, those poor people were always greedier than even the rich people—since they knew and valued every opportunity, they would never waste their singular chance on the Cloud Door for something simple.

Talent refinement.

That was the singular thing that all the poor people sought the Cloud Door for.

This door, due to that reason, also had another name.

The Transcendence Door.

"Zainah, you should throw a cup of your blood into the door."

"A cup of my blood?" Zainah was confused. Then, her eyes lit up. "Would something change?"

"Smart. And yes, if you can get a better version of your own blood from the Door, you can integrate that into your bloodstream and make your entire body better. That blood would refine your whole physique and improve your talent."

"Talent?" She blinked. "What will happen then?"

Sett looked at her patiently. "That will make you capable of digesting a Tomb Heart at least."

And that was a privilege that Zainah of the past never had.

Talent improvement was useless for someone as talented as Sett, but it was life changing for Zainah. But for Zarah, it would not be too useful. It would increase her strength without breaking through another level, but that would not change her life drastically.

"As for Zarah…" he frowned.

What should the little girl throw in?

Zarah also frowned, using her head with a consternated expression. "Can I gain an Axiom somehow? I also want magic powers like you two…"

Sett sighed. "That is impossible even with the Cloud Door. You are either born with an Axiom or you are not. There is no way around that—and sadly girl, you are not royalty."

"...But I am Zainah's sister! We are of one blood."

Zainah placed a hand over Zarah's head.

"Sorry, little sis. I am too talented."

That made the girl's face become incredibly annoyed.

Then, she finally got a great idea.

"What if you throw in your soldiers, Big Bro? Like Lord Burrhen and that big anaconda. It's alright even if they become different people or whatever, right?"

Sett became rather reluctant. He didn't like relying on an outside force, and deep down, he wanted to increase his own strength more than the strength of his soldiers.

And what if an upgraded version of his Tomb Slaves had free will?

What if they were no longer a slave?

That worried Sett.

"Why don't you use your chance to throw that Little Peckington into the door?"

"No way!" Zarah immediately stood infront of the eagle defensively. "It is a problem if Little Peckington became something else!"

Sett had a feeling that he was looking at a mother chick protecting its own child.

He sighed.

What a dilemma, what should they each throw in?

They had to throw something in to make the spirit come out.