In an ever-expanding universe with aliens nestled everywhere, new people are being introduced to the Greater Galactic Union every year. This didn't mean wars and famine didn't still exist, but many tens of billions lived comfortable lives going to work and raising a family or, in this case, going to school.
On one of the many planets that hold sentient life, a horde of excited alien teenagers rushed to class some on 2 legs, others crawling on the ceiling. While a few used their wings as this was one of many multi-species schools.
Today's lesson was about one of the most talked about things in the universe, the game of evolution, which was the most-watched show in existence and had been going on for time immemorial.
Students sat down quickly as their teacher stood in front of them his name was Adra he had 4 red crabs-like legs. He has a furry brown body with 4 green eyes, 2 skinny red arms, and a mouth full of spiky teeth.
"Sit, sit children. I know this is one of the less boring topics you'll learn about, so be quiet and pay attention, a lot of this you'll already know from outside of this class, but we'll be doing a refresher"-Adra
Going towards what looked like a chalkboard, Adra held a thin grey-looking slug that began to shoot green sticky goo onto the blue board and coalesce into words and images.
"Let's get to it then since the Galactic Union began, and before it, the game has been going on. We estimate the games have been going on for a very long time, the exact time hasn't been agreed upon and is being debated to this day"-Adra
"The basics of how it works is that a planet found to have sentient life by the Game is discovered. Then 10 candidates are chosen they are then sent to a new world and forced to battle each other using what class?"-Adra
Many appendages went into the air, and a young lady with emerald skin was chosen to answer the question.
"Yes, Benel"-Adra
"Sir, each candidate is given the gift of crafting their very own loyal race of beings and gifting them the skills the candidate have been given or earned in the game"-Benel
"Correct that is called their main race, but they also get 2 support races as they progress, but is that all?"-Adra
"Go on Qwel"-Adra
A genderless being of energy and crystal answer manipulating sound waves to be heard.
"No sir, there is also what goes by many names such as slave, servant, allied or subordinate races that are gained through either a candidate beating another or through an alliance"-Qwel
Someone seemed to disagree, however, and it was a small but fiery boy with red skin and horns all over his body, his blue eyes swam in contempt.
"That's stupid. Everybody knows alliances are just for the weak ones who don't want to be killed they just don't want to be treated like the weaklings they are!"-Bovda
"Bovda, stop interrupting my classroom with your nonsense!"-Adra
"The alliance is made for those who understand that it's harder to win by yourself. Luck does play a part in the games, and unlucky candidates must make sacrifices to stay alive"-Adra
"The difference between enslaving and allying is that one enforces a basic code of conduct. So a candidate couldn't just abuse the other and their race but with enslavement they own you. They can do as they please though it is looked down upon in many civilizedsocietiess"-Adra
"Whatever"-Bovda
"Now, how many allied races can a person have?"-Adra
"4!"-Bovda
"Correct, but put your hand up next time and stop shouting! "-Adra
"So all together a candidate could have 7 races under their belt a powerful force indeed but why is this important in our lives students?"-Adra
A very thin but tall purple being with scaled-like skin and large lensed eyes put up its one long claw the size of a sword.
"Yes Apo"-Adra
"Well, eventually, a candidate will win, and they will emerge into the wider universe with at a minimum 3 races. All with powerful skills with a 10-year protection period so they can build their strength on the planet they won. Along with their home planet and whatever their wish was"-Apo
"Exactly having a single being with such power emerge has caused countless problems in the past. This is why you are taught about the games and also why you watch them as do hundreds of thousands of galactic agents. Whose entire job is to study the candidates so that the Galactic Union can try to understand the person who will be their new neighbour"-Adra
"The game and the 10-year protection period are great gifts since they give us ample time to prepare, both our ambassadors and military to either fight or form new alliances as not all who come out of the game are drunk on power and want to conquer, but those types exist"-Adra
"But going back to what Apo said, there is something else a candidate wins a wish. Can someone tell me what that is?"-Adra
A small orange-looking gremlin bounced in her seat with natural black tattoos all over her body.
"Yes Tetet"-Adra
"Ahh, it's only the greatest gift a person can get in the whole universe, as long as it's within the power of the game and the overseers. You can get whatever you want from another powerful skill or ooh another planet or even a longer protection period!"-Tetet
"Correct one guarantee of the game is that it makes regular mortals into powerful gods literally in many cases, but that's for the next lesson"-Adra
"So we've been bringing up these skills a lot, so let's discuss them"-Adra
The goo on the board changed once more, and the lesson continued.
"There are 2 skills, and the first are considered the most powerful and useful being candidate skills. All candidate races have this skill and are typically something like a boost or ability, but there are many more and new ones being discovered constantly"-Adra
"But there are also racial skills which are just for that specific race, so a candidate may have a candidate skill that gives all his races immunity to the cold but a racial skill will only go to that specific race. So they are all immune to the cold but can be vastly different because of racial skills. One may be a warrior race while others can be crafters, there's endless possibilities"-Adra
"What about the pool, sir?"-Qwel
"Ah, good question. Well, that's for if when the candidates get their first 3 candidate skills and don't like them, they can switch them out and the discarded skill will be put with all the others thrown away skills that now everyone who's contributed has access too"-Adra
"An example being you get these 3 candidate skills"-Adra
1. Iron Blood: Increases regeneration by 10%
2. Fearless: A complete immunity to fear
3. Brawn for brain: increase strength by 100% but decrease intelligence by 100%
"This would be the makeup for a blunt warrior race more suited to the monster system now which skill should go?"-Adra
Many answers were given, but eventually, Adra picked one student.
"Yes Ralpas"-Adra
A floating clam-like being with energy tentacles answered.
"Well, I'd go with the fear skill since you can raise intelligence naturally if in a civilization or through skills. But having even a bit of fear is healthy while having none means you'll be constantly put in situations where you underestimate its danger since you aren't fearful"-Ralpas
"Correct, it's like having complete immunity to the cold, so you think you can survive a blizzard but then get smothered to death in the snow. Or die from exhaustion, immunity isn't always good"-Adra
"This lesson has been going on for a while now, so let's finish up on the systems. We'll only talk about 2 for now, the monster and civilization system. What are they?"-Adra
"I wanna get home early, so I'll tell you they're the 2 choices a candidate gets when making their race. The civilization system focuses on building and technology along with culture and language. The benefits of this are that they have an easier time forming groups that can benefit from and grow with."-Adra
"They struggle more with magic and have no evolutions, but as they grow more advanced, those problems decrease massively. The monster system is for the none civilization races and focuses more on evolution and numbers along with basic magic and individual strength."-Adra
"A monster system can give you a large population that can evolve quickly and have a basic understanding of magic at birth. While the civilization system has a low population and takes a while to start up and struggles with magic more, but it has a more solid foundation and easier to control and guide"-Adra
"In the most basic sense, the civilization system is for the long term and is weak at the start but the strongest at the end. While the monster system is the opposite, that doesn't mean the monster system can't win games"-Adra
"Well, I think that's enough for today's class. I hope you keep in mind this information while you watch the next game. As one day, a race you watch on there could become your new friends, neighbours, or worse enemy"-Adra
"Class dismissed'-Adra