Chapter 18: Evolution

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"Of course, I need your protection, Mister Fluffy! Keep moving around, distracting them, and attacking them and I'll reap whatever slips away from our grasp." I said with a confident grin.

"Huh, never thought that brat's little sister would be this brave! I guess I am beginning to like you a bit more." Fenrir roared. His enormous claws made of darkness started slashing dozens of insects at once.

SLASH! SLASH! SLASH!

The monsters kept dying, but I wasn't earning any EXP from the monsters he killed, even when I damaged them a bit before they were killed, I couldn't earn EXP from them either. This is a bit annoying. Let me earn my damn EXP! What's happening?!

Ding!

[The Cosmic Throne {Jester Filled With Lies} says that due to the difference in power between Jack and Fenrir, you cannot earn EXP from their kills, even when you aid them!]

[Only with kills from your familiars or between allies that had been identified as your "party members" will this occur. And only when they're within your same power level, or lower.]

[This is a change that has been done so you don't cheat your way up, he hopes you can understand he has to keep things "fair" if possible, or [] and the Constellations watching you will get bored.]

Yeah, I assumed it was going to be something like this.

Ding!

[The Cosmic Throne {Jester Filled With Lies} says that, with the authorization of [], the Constellations have decided to let this unprecedented and unexpected event continue. As long as you attain victory with your brother, the one behind this will be punished!]

[However, the Constellations say that if you and your brother end up dying, they won't punish the {Trillion-Legged Millipede That Swarms The Cosmos}, and instead, they might even reward her.]

Oi! In which damn team are you bastards?! Maybe they're just saying this to force us to survive and win, or maybe they're just a bunch of sadistic assholes. So basically this nameless guy is allowing all of this crazy development to happen, and the Constellations, kind of unaware of it, are just letting it happen too.

Does this mean that whatever "[]" is, it is above the Constellations? They and the Jester seem to know things the rest doesn't. I think the Constellations don't even know I am a reincarnated person, only the Jester and [].

However, right now, both the Constellations and [] are aware of the Millipede's violation of their rules, and they're all willing to punish her… As long as we can defeat her Incarnation.

Well, doesn't that sound slightly interesting?

Ding!

[The Cosmic Throne {Maiden that Watches Over Nature} apologizes on behalf of her and many other Constellations that didn't agree to this.]

[She says there was actually a vote between the many Constellations to decide this.]

[As always, battle-loving ones that adore chaos are always the vast majority…]

Huh?! They had a damn voting pool… Well, whatever's the case. I've got some items I want to use, and also to evolve Violet while I am at it. Fenrir killed most bugs while I occasionally killed a few with Violet's silk help, but he can't earn more EXP, so I want him to evolve. Once he evolves, he might actually get larger and not just stay as a tiny larva.

FLASH!

"Kyu!"

Suddenly, as if reading my mind, Violet started to glow brightly.

Ding!

[Violet] has responded to your Desire to evolve him!]

[However, to trigger a successful evolution, [Violet] requires specific Evolution Materials.]

"I need evolution materials?" I wondered out loud.

"What? You what?" Fenrir wondered.

"Eerr, nothing, never mind Mister Fluffy!" I said as I fired a blazing slash using the Dragon Tooth Dagger.

BOOOM!

As I saw the bugs burning and dying, I quickly began to think what it meant by that. So I need special materials? What, does he need an Evolution Stone or something? No, wait, there must be something else than that. Did my brother ever have a Familiar in the story? Fenrir was always everything he had. And Fenrir's evolutions are different, triggered through completing special Trials.

Ding!

[Evolution Materials have been detected within your Inventory!]

[Left Scythe of the Abyssal Dweller Queen (C Rank)] x1, [Deadly Mandibles of the Abyssal Dweller Queen (C Rank)] x1, and [Rotten Heart Rose Crystal (B Rank)] x1 can be used as Evolution Materials.]

[Evolution Success Rate: 64%]

[Rare Evolution Chance: 34%]

Wait, what? That's not enough? Where can I get more compatible materials then?

"Wait…"

And then I realized that all around us, there were countless insect carcasses.

Alright, I get it.

"Mister Fluffy, cover my back!"

I quickly jumped off his back, rushing into the ground and touching several insect carcasses, beginning to store them inside of my inventory and dismantling them into several pieces. I did this as fast as possible, without breaking a sweat thanks to my enhanced physique.

"Oi, you damn brat! What are you doing?!"

Fenrir desperately started fighting the many insects, protecting me from getting swarmed. I collected more and more materials, as the system kept alerting me of the progress. The more materials I stored and dismantled, the further the evolution success rate increased.

Ding!

[You've acquired some compatible Evolution Materials!]

[Evolution Success Rate: 78%]

[Rare Evolution Chance: 45%]

Ding!

[You've acquired some compatible Evolution Materials!]

[Evolution Success Rate: 89%]

[Rare Evolution Chance: 58%]

Ding!

[You've acquired some compatible Evolution Materials!]

[Evolution Success Rate: 96%]

[Rare Evolution Chance: 63%]

Ding!

[You've acquired some compatible Evolution Materials!]

[Evolution Success Rate: 100%]

[Rare Evolution Chance: 76%]

I kept collecting more and more even as I swarmed with bugs, and I had to crawl my way by setting everything on fire. My Fiery Venom worked well at spreading flames without having to spend Mana to activate the Blazing Dragon Tooth's powers as well. Of course, I was aiming for the Rare Evolution.

Until finally…!

Ding!

[You've acquired some compatible Evolution Materials!]

[Evolution Success Rate: 100%]

[Rare Evolution Chance: 100%]

"Alright! Violet, Evolve!"

"KYUUU!"

Violet suddenly jumped in midair out of the blue, beginning to glow brightly. The other bugs crawled over him and attempted to devour him while he was doing something so risky, that even I got concerned! Did he have to be so dramatic and flashy about it?!

Ding!

[All Available Evolution Materials have been used!]

[Violet] is undergoing evolution!]

[Violet] body is being restructured and reformed!]

FLAAASH!

With the light so bright, many bugs were blinded, running away scared. But a few larger ones, mostly the D- Rank ones, crawled towards him and attempted to take a bite.

"Oi, what's going on?! Is this… your bug's evolving?!" Fenrir wondered in shock while protecting my back.

"Hehehe, wake up already, Violet!" I commanded.

CLAAASH!

An enormous bug suddenly emerged, slamming the ground with its heavy weight. The dungeon shook before its presence.

Ding!

[Incredible! [Violet] has attained a new, unique evolution!]

[Violet] has evolved into a [Greater Abyssal Dweller Warrior (D+ Rank)]!]

[Violet] Stats have increased!]

[Violet] Levels have been reset to zero, and his Level Cap has increased to 40!]

[Violet] Learned the [Slicing Scythes (D): Lv1] Skill!]

[Violet] Learned the [Reinforced Armor (D): Lv1] Skill!]

[Due to the effects of being your [Beast Pal], [Violet] has acquired a Unique Privilege: [Intimidation of the Strong (E Rank Privilege)]!]

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[Intimidation of the Strong (E Rank Privilege)]

A Unique Privilege that only truly powerful beings can learn!

While facing Monsters of the same type as the user, as long as they're lower in Rank, they will be intimidated, lowering all their stats by -30% and increasing the user's damage against them by +30%

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Wait, what?! Did he get a Privilege?

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[Monster Name]: [Violet]

[Monster Race]: [Greater Abyssal Dweller Warrior]

[Monster Rank]: [D+ Rank]

[Title]: [Friend]

[Level]: [0/40]

[HP]: [556/556]

[MP]: [235/235]

[STR]: [317]

[VIT]: [276]

[DEX]: [267]

[AGI]: [720]

[INT]: [192]

[WIS]: [162]

[LUC]: [180]

[CHM]: [240]

[Innate Skills (6/6)]

[Rare Breed (D): Lv6] [Silk Production (D): Lv7] [Venom Fangs (D): Lv6] [Regeneration (E): Lv3] [Slicing Scythes (D): Lv1] [Reinforced Armor (D): Lv1]

[Privileges (1/1)]

[Intimidation of the Strong (E Rank Privilege)]

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"KRIEEEEEE!"

Violet roared furiously, no longer adorably. His body grew like a smaller version of the Queen, but with a sleeker figure and the ability to easily run around. He had two massive, purple-colored scythes covered with venom, and a deadly set of mandibles, with sharp red eyes. Much like his mother.

FLASH!

His Aura spread around the surrounding monsters, as most of them were too startled to attack him head-on, beginning to quiver in fear. This was without a doubt the effect of his new Privilege. It's incredible how even my Tamed Monster Pet can get some!

Ding!

[The power of [Violet]: [Intimidation of the Strong (E Rank Privilege)] is taking effect!]

[All Surrounding [Insect-type], [Dark-type], and [Poison-type] Monsters one rank lower than [Violet] have been intimidated.]

[All of their stats have decreased by -30% and [Violet] damage against them has been increased by +30%]

"I-Incredible… how come you're so lucky, brat? Your monster evolved into a Warrior-type insect; it can intimidate other lower insects!" Said Fenrir in surprise. "It is perfect for this opportunity! Look, they're all quivering and weakened, this is our chance!"

"Roger!" I said, carefully managing my MP and KI as I attacked the monsters with a variety of attacks. Mixing the flames of Blazing Dragon Tooth, my Sunshine Skill, Twin Cutter, Venom Secretion, and Violet's new prowess, we kept advancing and pushing forward.

[You earned 50 EXP!]

[You earned 200 EXP!]

[You earned 100 EXP!]

[You earned 50 EXP!]

[You earned 200 EXP!]

[You earned 100 EXP!]

[Level Up!]

[Level Up!]

[Level Up!]

…

Meanwhile, as I slain bugs, I kept my attention where my brother was. His powerful attacks were bombarding Lolth, the Insect Queen. As the minutes went by, he started tearing apart her limbs one by one to immobilize her.

After roughly ten minutes of struggle and fighting, Lolth grew desperate, with four of her limbs gone and her wings torn apart, while lacking half her mandibles and having four of her six eyes crushed, she panicked.

And then attempted to run away!

"I-It's escaping?!" Fenrir felt shocked.

"And his bugs are weakened enough, let's chase after her!" I said.

With Fenrir carrying me and Violet covering our backs with his deadly slicing attacks, we quickly regrouped with my brother.

"Hahh… That damn thing has a powerful poison I have yet to get adapted to." My brother seemed to be struggling.

"You've already taken enough venom today to kill a million whales!" Fenrir sighed. "Oi, Anna, can you deliver the final hit to that thing?"

"I sure can!" I smiled, as I'd already drank an MP Potion, I quickly gathered all the Mana and Ki I had, and then unleashed it with a powerful slash of my Blazing Dragon Tooth made of golden flames.

"Let me help you as well…" Jack said while still tired, as he unleashed a powerful beam of darkness from his hand, which shaped into a monstrous wolf-like jaw made of shadows.

BOOOMM!!

The gigantic bug started to groan in agony, with most of the damage already dealt by my brother, I didn't have much to worry about now. The bug's entire body quickly was engulfed by the Dragon flames of my attack and took heavy damage from my brother's long ranged beam, completely consuming Lolth's last points of health. Without having any more strength, she quickly fell into the floor and finally stopped moving.

"S-She's finally dead…" I sighed in relief.

FLASH!

And then I saw my brother shine with a bright purple light. Was this his Level Up effect? It seemed strong, and it even healed a few of his injuries. He probably got a lot of EXP out of this monster, maybe even more bonus EXP because it was an Incarnation too.

"Phew… Well, we need to get out of here right away." My brother said. "Anna, now that- Hey! Where are you going?!"

I couldn't simply stand still while there was such a big treasure in front of me, so I quickly ran at her and touched her, storing the entire carcass of Lolth inside of my inventory. This included her many dismembered legs and wings, of course.

Ding!

[You have stored the [Insect Queen Lolth Carcass (A+++ Rank)] x1!]

[Oh? What Luck! The Quality of the [Insect Queen Lolth Carcass (A+++ Rank)] has increased to S- Rank!]

It increased to S-?!

"Wait, you can store items? So you awakened some sort of inventory ability!" My brother was surprised.

"Yep! Now let's get going!"

RUMBLE!

As I stored Lolth's carcass, the entire dungeon started to tremble.

Ding!

[Congratulations! You've slain the Dungeon Boss!]

[Escape within one hour before the entire Dungeon collapses and is swallowed by the Void!]

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