I looked at the two requirements displayed on the panel and began thinking about how to complete them.
[1. Have at least 8 different types of items in Cheek Pouch Space simultaneously]
[2. Successfully store a living creature and maintain its survival for 1 hour]
I considered the first requirement first.
8 different types of items—this should be relatively simple.
My Cheek Pouch Space currently held snake meat, fruit, Glowbugs, and Stone Beetles.
That was already 4 types.
I just needed to find 4 more different types of things.
"Let's complete the first requirement first." I decided mentally.
The second requirement looked more difficult. 1 hour... Previously when Waspy and Brownie entered the space, they could only stay a few minutes at most before becoming uncomfortable.
To reach 1 hour, I'd definitely need to improve the space's stability.
But that was something for later.
I looked at Brownie and Waspy sleeping in the tree hollow and decided not to wake them. Rest first.
Tomorrow I'd collect the other items.
The next morning, sunlight once again streamed through the tree hollow.
Brownie stretched and woke up.
Waspy also woke and flew a circle around the hollow.
I poked my head out from the hollow entrance, looking at the forest outside.
Today's task was collecting 4 different things.
I turned to them and said: "Today we're going to collect some things."
Brownie tilted its head: "Collect what?"
"Various different things. I have a use for them."
I didn't mention it was for evolution—that concept would be too hard to explain to them.
Waspy immediately said: "We'll help you!"
Brownie also nodded: "Right!"
I smiled: "Thanks."
We left the tree hollow and began moving around the forest edge.
First was a stone.
I came to the stream I'd discovered before and found a smooth stone in the water, about the size of my paw.
I put it in my Cheek Pouch Space.
Brownie asked curiously: "Why collect stones?"
"I need various different things." I said.
Brownie looked even more confused but didn't continue asking.
Next was a leaf.
I found a special leaf under a large tree. The leaf had unique patterns and felt thicker than ordinary leaves.
I also put it in the space.
Waspy flew to my side: "You're collecting leaves?"
"Yes."
Waspy's compound eyes looked at me, clearly finding my behavior strange.
Then a branch.
I found a branch about finger-thickness, not long—only about half my body length.
Put it in the space.
At this point, Brownie and Waspy were already exchanging glances. They obviously thought I was acting very odd today.
The last item—a mushroom.
I found a small mushroom by some rotting wood, a very ordinary little mushroom.
I carefully plucked it.
Waspy finally couldn't hold back: "Gray, what are you doing?"
Brownie also asked: "Why are you collecting these weird things?"
I put the mushroom in the space—
At that instant, a system notification suddenly popped up.
[Evolution Requirement 1 Met: Have at least 8 different types of items in Cheek Pouch Space simultaneously]
[Current Progress: 1/2]
I jumped up excitedly!
"Success!"
"Success at what?" Waspy looked confused.
I realized I was too excited: "Uh... I mean, I've collected enough."
Brownie and Waspy looked at each other, clearly even more puzzled.
I took a deep breath and decided to explain a bit.
"Actually, I discovered my Cheek Pouch Space can become larger and more stable." I said.
"Really?" Waspy asked.
"Yes, but I need to meet some requirements. Collecting those things just now was one of them."
Brownie had a moment of understanding: "So that's it!"
Waspy said: "What's the other requirement?"
I looked at them, somewhat hesitant.
"I need to keep a living creature in the space for a long time..."
Waspy immediately said: "You mean, let us go in?"
I nodded.
Brownie immediately said: "I can!"
Waspy also said: "Me too!"
I looked at them, warmth welling up inside.
"But you'd have to stay for a long time. It might be uncomfortable..." I said.
Brownie said: "That's okay, we're both willing to help you!"
I took a deep breath.
"Then let's try it now. But first, we need to prepare."
After returning to the tree hollow, I began the first experiment.
I caught several Glowbugs—living ones, found near the hollow.
I put them in my Cheek Pouch Space, then started timing.
Brownie and Waspy watched quietly from the side.
1 minute...
2 minutes...
5 minutes...
I felt the bugs in the space starting to weaken.
I immediately opened the panel to check—
Their HP was dropping!
[Glowbug HP: 8/10]
[Glowbug HP: 6/10]
In less than 7 minutes, these bugs had died.
"Looks like the space isn't stable enough yet..." I said.
5-7 minutes—that was way too far from 1 hour.
Brownie asked: "How is it?"
"Still far off. Weak insects can only stay about 5 minutes before dying."
Waspy said: "What about us? We're stronger than insects."
I looked at Brownie.
"Brownie, are you willing to try?"
Brownie nodded without hesitation: "No problem!"
I took a deep breath and put Brownie in the space.
This time I watched the time even more nervously.
10 minutes...
Brownie's voice came from the space, saying it was okay.
20 minutes...
"A bit stuffy..."
30 minutes...
I saw Brownie's HP begin slowly dropping.
[Brownie HP: 43/45]
No good, I couldn't continue!
I immediately released Brownie.
Brownie gasped for air: "So stuffy..."
I quickly gave it water and food: "I'm sorry..."
Brownie shook its head: "It's fine, just a bit uncomfortable."
I looked at the data on the system panel and began analyzing.
"It seems the strength of creatures put inside affects how long they can stay."
The stronger the creature, the longer it could stay in the space!
Moreover, I felt that each time I used the space, the space would undergo subtle changes.
Like... it was slowly "expanding."
I said to Brownie and Waspy: "I understand now. We need to do two things."
"What?"
"First, I need to use the space more often to make it more stable. Second, you also need to get stronger so you can stay in the space longer."
Brownie immediately said: "Then let's get stronger together!"
Waspy also flapped its wings excitedly: "Right!"
Over the following days, we began planned training.
Every day, I'd have Brownie or Waspy enter the space to test how long they could stay.
At the same time, we also intensified our hunting.
Main targets were Stone Beetles and Glowbugs, occasionally catching Thorn-Tail Rabbits too.
Though experience wasn't much, it added up.
And I discovered a pattern—
After each use of the space, the next time could maintain for slightly longer.
Though each increase was only a few seconds to a dozen seconds, there was definite progress.
A week later, I felt the timing was about right. Brownie and Waspy had both reached level 8.
Insects could now stay in the space for 20 minutes, and during previous tests, Brownie could stay nearly 50 minutes.
I looked at Brownie: "Brownie, are you willing to try once more? This time might be a long stay."
Brownie didn't hesitate: "No problem!"
Waspy said worriedly from the side: "Won't it be too much?"
"I'll be watching the whole time. If it doesn't work, I'll release immediately." I said.
I took a deep breath and put Brownie in the space.
Waspy circled nervously beside me.
10 minutes...
20 minutes...
30 minutes...
Brownie's voice came: "Still okay."
40 minutes...
50 minutes...
"Getting a bit uncomfortable..."
I saw Brownie's HP begin dropping.
[HP: 78/80]
I nervously clenched my paws.
Should I release?
But if I gave up now, all previous efforts would be wasted...
Waspy looked at me worriedly.
55 minutes...
[HP: 60/80]
Brownie's voice was somewhat weak: "I... can still hold on..."
"Just wait!" I told myself.
58 minutes...
59 minutes...
60 minutes!
At that instant, a system notification popped up!
[Evolution Requirement 2 Met: Successfully store living creature and maintain its survival for 1 hour]
[Current Progress: 2/2]
[All evolution requirements met]
[Evolution available]
"Success!"
I immediately released Brownie.
Brownie collapsed weakly on the ground, gasping for air.
"Brownie!"
Waspy immediately flew over.
I quickly retrieved food and water from the space for Brownie.
Brownie ate some, color slowly returning.
"I... I did it?"
I nodded firmly, saying with guilt: "Sorry... making you so uncomfortable..."
"It's fine, as long as we succeeded." Brownie smiled weakly.
Waspy excitedly circled nearby: "That's great!"
I looked at the system panel.
[Evolution Options]
Now I could click it.
I took a deep breath and opened the evolution option.
A final confirmation appeared on the panel:
[Confirm evolution to: Hoarder Squirrel?]
[Note: During evolution, will enter deep sleep, estimated time 8-12 hours]
[Yes/No]
I looked at Brownie and Waspy.
"I might need to sleep for a while. Can you watch over me?"
Brownie nodded firmly: "Okay!"
Waspy also nodded: "Don't worry!"
I smiled.
Then I clicked "Yes."
Intense drowsiness instantly washed over me.
My eyelids grew heavier and heavier, my body starting to heat up.
"Finally... going to evolve..."
Consciousness gradually blurred.
The last thing I saw was Brownie and Waspy's worried yet expectant eyes.
Then everything plunged into darkness.