Over the following days, we began systematic hunting.
Main targets remained Stone Beetles, Glowbugs, and the occasional Burrow Rat we'd encounter.
Though my level had reset to 1 after evolution, my physical abilities were clearly much stronger than before.
Working with Brownie and Waspy, our hunting efficiency greatly improved.
Soon, both Brownie and Waspy reached level 10.
I looked at their panels.
[Tree Sprite Mouse] [Brownie]
[Level 10/10]
[Experience: ——]
[HP: 80/80]
[MP: 40/40]
[Strength: 6]
[Defense: 4]
[Speed: 12]
[Luck: 8]
[A small magic beast that inhabits trees, slightly larger than a squirrel, feeds on fruit and leaves, non-aggressive]
[Traits: Tree Affinity, Light Constitution]
[Skills: Climbing (Proficient), Glide, Leaf Camouflage]
[Poison Stinger Wasp (Mutant)] [Waspy]
[Level 10/10]
[Experience: ——]
[HP: 50/50]
[MP: 50/50]
[Strength: 6]
[Defense: 3]
[Speed: 15]
[Luck: 7]
[A mutant Poison Stinger Wasp with hallucinogenic toxin, causes hallucinations instead of paralysis in targets, thus expelled by colony]
[A wasp-type magic beast with mutated toxin, rejected by colony due to mutation, survives alone]
[Traits: Toxic Stinger (Hallucinogenic)]
[Skills: Poison Sting, Flight (Proficient)]
"Max level." I said.
Brownie and Waspy looked at me excitedly.
"Can we evolve now?" Brownie asked.
I nodded and concentrated on viewing their panels.
As expected—
A new option appeared at the bottom of Brownie's panel.
[Evolution Options]
I opened it.
The system panel expanded, displaying three evolution paths.
[Evolution Path 1: Forest Spirit Mouse]
[Level Cap: 20]
[A rodent-type magic beast in deep symbiosis with plants, can obtain nutrients and shelter from plants while feeding back to them, gentle temperament]
[Traits: Plant Symbiosis, Light Constitution]
[Skills: Life Drain, Leaf Camouflage, Vitality Bestowal]
[Evolution Requirements:]
[1. Simultaneously care for and cultivate at least 3 different types of plants (Not Met)]
[2. Successfully restore a dying plant to health (Not Met)]
[Status: Requirements Not Met]
[Evolution Path 2: Galewind Tree Squirrel]
[Level Cap: 25]
[A rodent-type magic beast that moves rapidly between trees, extremely fast at climbing and leaping, difficult to track]
[Traits: Swift Climbing, Light Constitution]
[Skills: Tree Sprint, Continuous Leap, Glide]
[Evolution Requirements:]
[1. Use climbing skill to move between trees for cumulative distance of 10 kilometers (Not Met)]
[2. Complete 10 jumps between trees within 3 seconds (Not Met)]
[Status: Requirements Not Met]
[Evolution Path 3: Thick-Hide Tree Rat]
[Level Cap: 25]
[A rodent-type magic beast with toughened skin, enhanced defense, can resist attacks from most small predators]
[Traits: Tough Skin, Tree Affinity]
[Skills: Skin Hardening, Climbing, Leaf Camouflage]
[Evolution Requirements:]
[1. Near death 3 times (Not Met)]
[2. Take cumulative damage 20 times (Not Met)]
[Status: Requirements Not Met]
I carefully read through all the options, then began explaining to Brownie.
"Brownie, you have three evolution paths." I said.
Brownie listened carefully.
"The first is Forest Spirit Mouse, which can symbiose with plants." I explained. "You can get nutrients from plants while also helping them grow. Plus there's a skill called 'Vitality Bestowal' that sounds like a healing ability."
"The second is Galewind Tree Squirrel, a speed type. You'd become very fast—almost no one could catch you moving through trees."
"The third is Thick-Hide Tree Rat, a defensive type. Your skin would become very tough and hard to injure."
I paused: "But the third one requires near death 3 times and taking damage 20 times... Too dangerous. I don't recommend it."
Brownie nodded, falling into thought.
I then checked Waspy's panel.
It also had three evolution paths.
[Evolution Path 1: Shadow Striker Wasp]
[Level Cap: 25]
[A wasp-type magic beast with extreme flight speed, an assassin of darkness, excels at high-speed raids, delivering killing blows then rapidly withdrawing]
[Traits: Toxic Stinger, High-Speed Flight]
[Skills: Swift Strike, Rapid Flight, Poison Sting]
[Evolution Requirements:]
[1. Successfully ambush with poison sting 10 times (Not Met)]
[2. Fly cumulative distance of 50 kilometers (Not Met)]
[Status: Requirements Not Met]
[Evolution Path 2: Mindtwist Wasp]
[Level Cap: 25]
[A wasp-type magic beast with powerful hallucinogenic abilities, toxin can deeply affect target's psyche and even cause brief confusion, enjoys toying with prey]
[Traits: Mental Erosion, Hallucinogenic Venom]
[Skills: Mental Disruption, Poison Sting, Flight]
[Evolution Requirements:]
[1. Cause confusion state in same target 5 times (Not Met)]
[2. Cause confusion in two targets simultaneously and make them attack each other once (Not Met)]
[Status: Requirements Not Met]
[Evolution Path 3: Scout Wasp]
[Level Cap: 20]
[A wasp-type magic beast with enhanced perception, excels at reconnaissance and tracking, flies agilely and is hard to detect]
[Traits: Enhanced Perception, Toxic Stinger]
[Skills: Target Mark, Tracking Sense, Poison Sting, Flight]
[Evolution Requirements:]
[1. Discover hidden magic beasts or dangers 10 times (Not Met)]
[2. Scout in dangerous environments without being detected 5 times (Not Met)]
[Status: Requirements Not Met]
"Waspy, you also have three paths." I turned to Waspy.
"The first is Shadow Striker Wasp, an assassin type. Very fast and excels at hit-and-run attacks."
"The second is Mindtwist Wasp, which enhances your hallucinogenic ability. The toxin can deeply affect the target's psyche and even confuse them. Plus there's a new skill called 'Mental Disruption.'"
"The third is Scout Wasp, a reconnaissance type. Your perception would become very strong, good at discovering hidden enemies and dangers."
Waspy listened carefully, compound eyes flickering with thoughtful light.
"You decide for yourselves." I said. "Choose the path that suits you best."
Brownie spoke first.
"I want to choose Forest Spirit Mouse." It said.
I was somewhat surprised: "Why? Galewind Tree Squirrel has a higher level cap and speed is very practical."
Brownie shook its head: "I... I've always really liked plants. If I could symbiose with them, it would be so interesting."
It paused, then added: "And I was thinking, if I can cultivate plants, maybe I could make your space look nicer."
"And that 'Vitality Bestowal' skill..." Brownie looked at me. "If I can heal, then when you get hurt, I can help."
I looked at Brownie, warmth welling up inside.
It chose this path not to become stronger itself, but to help us.
"Alright." I nodded. "Forest Spirit Mouse it is."
Waspy also spoke up.
"I want to choose Mindtwist Wasp."
I looked at it.
Waspy continued: "Before in the swarm, my hallucinogenic toxin was always treated as a burden. Everyone thought only paralysis toxin was useful."
"But after meeting you..." Waspy's voice became gentle. "I discovered hallucinogenic toxin can be very useful. When dealing with the Vine Serpent, we succeeded because of my ability."
"I want to make this ability stronger." Waspy said firmly. "I want to prove that hallucinogenic toxin isn't a flaw."
I smiled.
"You've already proven that." I said. "And you'll become even stronger."
"Then it's settled." I looked at them. "Brownie chooses Forest Spirit Mouse, Waspy chooses Mindtwist Wasp."
I confirmed their choices on the system panel.
[Evolution path selected: Forest Spirit Mouse]
[Evolution path selected: Mindtwist Wasp]
A system notification appeared:
[After completing evolution requirements, click evolution option again to evolve]
I looked at the requirements displayed on the panel.
Brownie needed to simultaneously care for 3 different types of plants and restore a dying plant to health.
Waspy needed to confuse the same target 5 times and make two targets attack each other while confused.
"Next is completing these requirements." I said.
Brownie nodded: "I'll work hard!"
Waspy also flapped its wings: "Me too!"
I looked at them, my heart full of anticipation.
Soon, we'd have two companions who had completed their evolution.
A Forest Spirit Mouse that could symbiose with plants.
A Mindtwist Wasp that could manipulate minds.
"Let's start tomorrow then." I said. "Brownie, we'll help you find suitable plants first. Waspy, your requirements need actual combat—we'll find opportunities."
"Okay!"