I looked at Brownie emerging from the space.
It looked exhausted, but there was a glimmer of excitement in its eyes.
"How is it?" I asked.
Brownie said excitedly: "There's a response! The tree is absorbing my magic power!"
"Though it's very faint, it's definitely working!"
I breathed a sigh of relief.
"That's good." I said. "Rest first. Continue after your magic power recovers."
"That dying plant probably needs a lot of magic power to fully recover—it won't happen all at once."
Brownie nodded and rested against the hollow wall.
I sat at the hollow entrance, guarding the evolving Waspy while sensing the plants' condition in the space.
Waspy's body was still glowing, enveloped in that faint purple light.
After a while, Brownie's magic power recovered somewhat.
"I'll try again." Brownie said.
I nodded and put it in the Dimensional Cheek Pouch.
This time Brownie was more experienced—the magic power transferred more smoothly.
I could feel the dying tree in the space slowly absorbing magic power.
After another period, Brownie came out to rest again.
And so the cycle repeated.
Brownie came out to rest.
Magic power recovered.
Went back in to transfer more.
Time passed bit by bit.
The sky began brightening.
Waspy was still evolving, purple light still enveloping its body.
Brownie had already transferred several rounds of magic power, but we still weren't sure if the plant had fully recovered.
"I'll try one more time." Brownie said.
Though it looked tired, its eyes were determined.
I put Brownie in the space.
But this time, Brownie's excited voice came: "Gray! I can feel it! The tree's vitality is recovering!"
"The leaves are turning green! The cracks in the trunk are healing!"
"Keep going!"
Brownie poured in the last of its magic power with full effort.
Suddenly—
A system notification appeared:
[Evolution Requirement 2 Met: Successfully restore a dying plant to health]
[Current Progress: 2/2]
[All evolution requirements met]
[Evolution available]
"Success!"
I immediately released Brownie.
Though Brownie was exhausted with magic power nearly depleted, it jumped up excitedly.
"Gray! We did it! The tree completely recovered!"
"All the leaves turned green, and the cracks in the trunk are healing!"
"I can feel it's full of vitality!"
I was also happy: "You did it!"
Just then—
The purple light around Waspy suddenly became much brighter.
We both turned to look.
The light lasted a few seconds, then slowly faded.
Waspy opened its eyes.
Its body had undergone obvious changes.
Waspy's size was slightly larger than before.
Its wings had become more transparent, with a faint purple sheen that shimmered mysteriously in the sunlight.
Its body color had also deepened—the original yellow and black stripes had become deep purple and black, with some mysterious purple patterns.
The tail stinger looked sharper, emanating an eerie purple glow.
Overall, it gave off a more dangerous, mysterious feeling.
Waspy slowly stood up.
It tried flapping its wings.
"Buzz—"
The sound from its wings was deeper than before.
Waspy took flight.
"It feels... so strange." Waspy said.
"But I feel so much stronger!"
I immediately pulled up Waspy's system panel.
[Mindtwist Wasp] [Waspy]
[Level 1/25]
[Experience: 0/100]
[HP: 80/80]
[MP: 70/70]
[Strength: 8]
[Defense: 4]
[Speed: 18]
[Luck: 7]
[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]
Greatly improved stats!
And a new skill—"Mental Disruption"!
"Waspy, congratulations!" Brownie said excitedly.
"Thanks!" Waspy spun a circle in the air.
I smiled: "Want to try your new skill?"
Waspy nodded: "Yes!"
---
We left the tree hollow and found a Stone Beetle nearby.
"Watch this!"
Waspy flew near the Stone Beetle, hovering in mid-air.
It didn't sting the beetle, just concentrated and stared at it.
Suddenly—
The Stone Beetle began crawling around chaotically!
It attacked empty air, crashed into rocks, completely falling into confusion!
"You can confuse it without even stinging?!" I said in surprise.
Brownie's eyes widened too: "Amazing!"
And the confusion was deeper than before.
The duration was also longer—a full half minute.
Waspy excitedly circled in the air: "This skill is so strong!"
"Let me try something else!"
Waspy found another Stone Beetle.
This time, it first stung the beetle with its stinger.
The Stone Beetle immediately became confused, crawling around erratically.
Then—
Waspy used "Mental Disruption."
This time was different!
The Stone Beetle stopped its random attacks.
It began moving according to Waspy's will!
"Left." Waspy said.
The beetle crawled left.
"Right."
The beetle crawled right.
"Spin!"
The beetle spun in circles!
"It's... following my commands!" Waspy said excitedly.
Though it only lasted a few seconds before the beetle returned to normal, this was already astonishing.
"I can control them!"
Waspy's eyes sparkled with excitement.
I looked at Waspy and suddenly thought of something.
I looked again at the species description on the panel: "enjoys toying with prey."
Fell into thought.
"Waspy." I said.
"Hmm?" Waspy flew to my face.
"Do you... really enjoy this feeling of control?"
Waspy paused: "Well... yeah, it feels interesting."
Then it also realized something: "Huh? I don't think I used to think like this..."
Brownie also noticed: "Waspy, your personality seems a bit different."
I looked at the panel: "It might be the evolution's influence."
"Don't know if evolution changed your personality, or if this was always a hidden part of you."
Waspy thought: "I'm not really sure either..."
"But this feeling... seems very natural."
"Like... it's how I should be?"
I nodded: "Evolution might influence personality tendencies."
"But regardless, you're still you."
Waspy nodded, though there was still a trace of confusion in its eyes.
The atmosphere became somewhat heavy.
Brownie jumped up to lighten the mood: "Either way, Waspy got stronger! That's a good thing!"
"And I can evolve too!"
I smiled and nodded: "Right, you've met all the requirements too."
Waspy also perked up: "Brownie, do your best!"
---
We returned to the tree hollow.
I opened Brownie's evolution option.
[Confirm evolution to: Forest Spirit Mouse?]
[Note: During evolution, will enter deep sleep, estimated time 8-12 hours]
[Yes/No]
I looked at Brownie.
Brownie took a deep breath: "I'm ready."
I clicked "Yes."
The next second, Brownie's body began glowing.
This time it was a pale green light.
Carrying the breath of life.
Like the color of the forest.
The glow was gentle and warm, making one feel at peace.
Brownie slowly closed its eyes.
"This time it's my turn to watch over you." Waspy said.
I smiled: "We'll do it together."
I sat at the hollow entrance, Waspy perched beside me.
Watching Brownie enveloped in green light.
But my mind was still thinking about what just happened.
Evolution... did it really change personality?
If I kept evolving...
What would I become?
I shook my head, thinking no more of it.
I looked at Waspy beside me.
It was quietly perched at the hollow entrance, compound eyes watching Brownie.
Though its personality might have changed somewhat, Waspy was still Waspy.
It was still the companion willing to help us and fight alongside us.
That was what mattered most.
"Waspy." I said.
"Hmm?"
"No matter how evolution changes us, we're still companions."
Waspy paused, then its wings gently vibrated: "Right... we're companions."
The confusion in its heart seemed to dissipate somewhat.
We sat quietly, watching Brownie enveloped in green light.
Time slowly passed.
Occasionally we could see Brownie's body slowly changing within the glow.
Its size seemed to be growing slightly.
Its fur also became more lustrous, with a faint green sheen.
Waspy and I kept watch over it like this.