Evolution & Stages!

Evolution

Superhumans go through five stages of evolution as their powers grow and mature. These stages are colloquially referred to as "levels", though each stage has an official name as well. Evolution is not a well-understood process, and reliably triggering it has only recently become possible through Bramon Xanthe's work on the Evolution Serum. Evolution has been seen to occur through overuse and straining of powers, extreme emotional stress, as a response to physical trauma, contact with excessive amounts of varied monster material, and other currently unknown phenomena.

Most superhumans will never evolve beyond Level 2. Reaching Level 3 is usually a sign of a high potential superhuman. However, the final threshold of Level 5 is the true test. Reaching it seems to require special circumstances, with only three superhumans (Henrick Bendrix, Bernhardt Gunvald, and Malik Drexel) having achieved it naturally. All other Level 5s seen so far have had to use the Evolution Serum. According to Bramon Xanthe, it is possible to fail the special requirements for Level 5 without even knowing its happened.

Superhumans are not guaranteed to succeed in evolving, and even the evolution serum only greatly increases the odds of success. An evolution that is successful can also cause a superhuman to develop limited monstrous features if they were on the brink of monsterification before its completion. Factors that may influence a superhuman's chances of achieving their next evolution include accumulated Monster Power, knowledge of their own powers, and strength of will.

Level 1 - The Rebirth Stage

The first stage of development, in which the human body is broken down and restructured into a superhuman one. Powers are still forming at this stage, as the superhuman's biology and psychology shape their adaptations to the monster infection. Abilities are more erratic, often either mentally or physically difficult to manifest reliably. Physical enhancement is at its lowest at this stage, and even a human with a knife could potentially kill a Level 1 superhuman.

Level 2 - The Balancing Stage

Upon reaching the second level, superhumans are properly matured and their abilities and biology integrated. Abilities are fully formed, becoming much easier and less costly to use, though it is still possible to manifest new abilities with further growth. Evolution to the second Level grows power substantially, as well as increasing the maximum limits to which power may be grown by other means. As such, this is the first stage at which it become possible to exceed the superhuman's monster parent, at least if it was a weaker monster. Physical enhancement also rises sharply. At this point a human would require both incredible skill and heavy firepower to defeat a superhuman.

Level 3 - The Strengthening Stage

With the body now used to evolving, the evolution process begins to focus on pure strength. Evolving to Level 3 uncaps the superhuman's growth, leaving them with no limit to how strong their abilities can become through training. Evolution still holds its own benefits, but in theory a sufficiently dedicated and experienced Level 3 could attain the same degree of raw power as a Level 5. Additionally, at Level 3 the superhuman's physique becomes directly reinforced by their supernatural energy, meaning that the stronger their abilities become the stronger they physically become. Level 3 also sees one of the largest innate jumps in strength from evolution, second only to the gap between Levels 4 and 5. As such, while a strong Level 1 could conceivably defeat a Level 2, a Level 2 defeating a Level 3 is effectively impossible, even with a numbers advantage.

Level 4 - The Limit Breaker Stage

At Level 4, a superhuman can begin to break or bend the normal laws of physics. They no longer have any physical needs like needing to breath, drink or eat, though they can benefit from engaging in them. Their energy supply can be produced ex nihilo, generated indefinitely without fuel, and used to directly influence their body. A Level 4 can manipulate their energy to control blood flow, enhance senses, or even fly, all without any abilities that should enable those feats. Ability-wise, a Level 4 superhuman breaks the limits of their powers, growing in scope and being less restricted. Outright physics-violating feats like faster-than-light travel become possible at this stage.

Level 5 - The Final Stage

Level 5 completes the superhuman's growth and development. While quantitative growth and learning new applications of their powers remains possible, the evolution to Level 5 will see the last qualitative improvements and new abilities. The power of Level 5 superhumans is titanic, with even the weakest monster parent making for a superhuman strong enough to combat all the military force possessed by mundane humanity single-handedly. The strongest Level 5s are more comparable to forces of nature than combatants.