After searching for a while, Ricky found a safe spot beneath a massive stone slab. The rock suspended overhead like a natural fortress, shielding him from the open sky. It was roughly two to three hundred meters away from the spiritual spider's tree—just enough distance to avoid its attention.
Since the spider had never strayed far from its perch, Ricky assumed he wouldn't be disturbed.
Beneath the stone, the air was crisp and cool, a welcome contrast to the heavy, mana-rich atmosphere outside. The enclosed space gave him a sense of security, allowing him to finally relax his tensed nerves.
"Let's begin..."
Taking a deep breath, Ricky initiated the evolution process.
[Permission acquired.]
[Analyzing evolutionary chain.]
[Beginning evolution.]
The moment the process started, an unbearable force erupted from within him. A soul-crushing weight bore down on his tiny frame, and before he could even react—
Boom!
His entire body imploded into a writhing mass of blood, glowing like a newborn star.
Suspended in the air, the blood sphere pulsed with an eerie rhythm, its surface rippling like molten glass. At first, it spun slowly, barely moving. But as seconds stretched into minutes, the speed increased. Faster. Faster. Until it became a blur of crimson light.
A suffocating pressure blanketed the area.
It was as if an unseen entity had descended upon the land, bending the very air to its will. The stone Ricky had taken shelter under trembled, cracks forming along its base.
Then, from the void, tendrils of bluish mana surged forth. They slithered through the air like Demonic serpents, drawn magically toward the spinning sphere. The moment they touched the surface, the ball absorbed them hungrily, drinking in the raw energy.
The process continued. Time blurred. Minutes? Hours?
Then—
Crack!
The blood sphere shattered with a deep, primal roar.
From its core, Ricky emerged.
His body had transformed once again. He had doubled in size, growing from four to eight centimeters in length. His once-smooth proboscis now bore razor-sharp protrusions, designed to tear through the toughest hides with ease.
Not just that.
His antennae and maxillary palps twitched with newfound sensitivity, detecting even the faintest of scents. His compound eyes, previously limited in vision, now processed an overwhelming flood of information—the shifting air currents, the subtle movements of distant creatures, the lingering traces of spiritual energy.
It was as if the world had unveiled itself before him.
Yet—
"There's something missing…"
Despite the successful evolution, an unsettling hollowness remained. Ricky could feel it—this was only the prelude. His instincts screamed that something greater lay ahead, just beyond his grasp.
The next evolution would change everything.
A thrill coursed through him at the thought.
Suppressing his excitement, he called out his status window.
---
[STATUS WINDOW]
[Stage 1, Rank 3]
[Name: Ricky Stormwind]
[Bloodline: None (Gather more genes to awaken a suitable bloodline)]
[Lifespan: 2 years]
[Evolution Progress: 0%]
[Spiritual Force: 0.428]
[Abilities]
[Shadow Perch (E-Rank)] – Can blend into dark areas for safety.
[Resourceful Drain (E-Rank, Innate)] – Absorbs days of lifespan per bite.
[Robust Iron Frame (FFF-Rank, Active)] – Temporarily hardens the body like steel.
[Lifespan Sense (FFF-Rank, Passive)] – Can vaguely detect lifespan-rich beings within 100 meters.
[Blood Infusion (FFF-Rank)] – Converts lifespan into temporary power boosts.
---
The first thing Ricky noticed was the increase in his Spiritual Force—it had nearly doubled. Yet, compared to the spiritual spider, it was still a drop in the ocean.
"Oh, new skills..."
His mood instantly lifted as he scanned the list. Not only had he gained new abilities, but some of his older ones had improved.
All in all, Ricky felt stronger. More secure.
And in this brutal world, strength was everything.
---
Meanwhile…
Perched on its tree, the spiritual spider senses tingled.
"Hmm… what is that thief doing?"
Its eight glossy eyes gleamed with curiosity as it gazed toward Ricky's direction.
Moments ago, a familiar pressure had rippled through the air. A force the spider had only felt once before—
The day it was born.
"If only my spiritual field was bigger…"
A flicker of frustration passed through the spider's mind. Not long ago, it had managed to establish its spiritual space, allowing it to absorb mana directly from its surroundings. This had pushed it to Stage 2, making it an elite among the monsters of the Evergreen Forest.
Yet, despite its newfound strength, a strange sense of familiarity lingered whenever it thought of that peculiar mosquito.
Buzzzz!
The spider's attention snapped toward the sky.
A tiny figure flitted through the air, approaching at a steady pace.
It was him.
---
Ricky flew toward the spider, his mood high, raw strength coursing through his veins.
He was eager to test himself—to see how his new power compared.
Even from a distance, he could feel the spider's presence, as if an invisible thread connected them.
[Ding! A Stage-2 being detected.]
[Click to check status.]
Without hesitation, Ricky activated the function.
---
[STATUS WINDOW]
[Nether Swan Spider – Stage 2, Ravaging Beast Rank 1]
[Bloodline: Spiritual Fruit]
[Lifespan: 200 years]
[Spiritual Force: 1]
[Abilities]
[Nether Thread (EE-Rank)]
[Fruit Cultivator (EEE-Rank)]
[Guard (FF-Rank)]
---
Ricky froze.
His jaw would have dropped if he had one.
Even after his evolution, the gap between them hadn't shrunk—it had widened.
A suffocating feeling gripped his tiny body.
But before he could spiral into despair, a childish voice echoed in his mind.
"Something's different about you, thief… what did you do?"
Already irritated, Ricky snapped.
"Who are you calling a thief, you eight-legged, moronic piece of shit?!"
Silence.
The spider, stunned, fell completely quiet.
Ricky blinked.
Had he… made a mistake?
Before he could react, the voice spoke again, this time much softer.
"I-I'm sorry, thief. I didn't mean to hurt you…"
Ricky froze.
His compound eyes widened in disbelief.
Did the spider just… apologize?
Then, a mischievous glint flashed in his eyes.
"Sorry? You think that's enough? My fragile heart has been deeply wounded…"
If he played his cards right, this might just be the start of something interesting.
Really he wasn't thinking of taking advantage.