I Can See Evolution Paths

The professor gave Arthur a simple condition. "Gather those herbs, then you can go."

Arthur immediately took it seriously, not because the task was difficult, but because he wanted to reach the training grounds as quickly as possible.

Arthur grinned. "Easy!" he said, then rushed into the wetlands.

Sun watched him disappear. "He really wants to get there," he said.

Mithra laughed. "He looks like someone promised him treasure."

Athena adjusted her glasses. "For Arthur, the training grounds probably are treasure."

Vedas sighed. "We should probably follow him before he finds trouble."

Eden immediately flew after him. "Wait for me!"

The group spread out slightly while remaining together, searching for the herbs. Arthur noticed the herbs weren’t simply growing randomly.

Athena explained their identifying features. Pale blue veins in the leaves. Roots partially submerged. Small mana glow. Certain herbs only grew near specific water currents.

Arthur started noticing patterns. "They’re growing where the water is moving slower," he said.

Athena checked. "You’re right."

Arthur smiled. "Then we don’t need to search everywhere."

Eden seemed to have found something that looked exactly like one of the herbs. "I found one!" she said.

Arthur flew over and looked at it. "That’s not it," he said.

Eden’s expression fell. "Why?"

Athena examined it. "It’s a mana feeding plant," she said.

Eden looked interested again. "What does it eat?"

Athena paused. "Mana."

Eden looked at Arthur. "Can I feed it?"

Arthur said, "Probably."

Athena immediately said, "No."

Arthur said, "You didn’t even think about it."

Athena said, "I know you."

They continued searching again with Arthur crouching beside the water and studied the current. It moved slowly around the roots, carrying small leaves across the surface.

He looked farther ahead. "The water changes direction here."

Athena walked closer. "Yes."

Arthur pointed toward the roots. "And the herbs are growing where the current slows down."

Athena checked the area again. "You’re right."

Arthur stood. "Then the next ones should be around there."

He pointed toward a cluster of enormous roots farther ahead.

Sun stared at him. "You figured that out from looking at water?"

Arthur shrugged. "The plants need something."

Athena’s eyes brightened slightly. "You’re using the environment instead of searching randomly."

Arthur looked at her. "Isn’t that what exploring is?"

Athena paused. "...Yes."

Mithra smiled. "You’re actually getting better at this."

Arthur looked pleased. "Really?"

"A little."

"I’ll take it."

Eden suddenly pointed ahead. "I see something!"

Everyone looked.

Eden flew toward the roots and Arthur followed. There, partially hidden beneath the water, several pale blue plants grew together.

Athena’s eyes widened. "Those are the herbs."

Eden spun around proudly. "I found them!"

Arthur smiled. "Good job."

Eden puffed out her chest. "I’m an explorer too!"

Vedas laughed. "Apparently we have another one now."

Arthur nodded seriously. "Then we’ll need to find you a proper explorer hat."

Eden’s eyes sparkled. "Really?"

Arthur immediately realized his mistake. "...Maybe."

Eden cheered before she rushed off to continue looking.

While everyone searched, Athy flew higher. She suddenly noticed something and returned to Athena, pointing toward a patch of reeds.

Athena followed her gaze. "Another herb," she said.

Arthur looked impressed. "Athy found it," he said.

Athy proudly nodded.

Eden said, "I want to find one too!"

Arthur said, "Then keep looking."

Eden immediately took the task seriously.

The group encountered several camouflaged swamp Beasts. At first nobody realized they were there. Then one moved. The students tensed. Another moved behind them.

Vedas immediately stepped forward. "We’re surrounded," he said.

Arthur looked around, his eyes brightening. "They’re hiding in the plants," he said.

The first Beast disappeared beneath the water.

Arthur’s eyes narrowed.

"Where did it go?"

Vedas immediately turned.

"Under us!"

The water exploded.

A Beast shot upward.

Vedas blocked it with his spear.

Bang!

The impact sent water spraying across the group.

"They’re using the swamp as cover!" Athena shouted.

Another Beast vanished into the reeds.

Sun looked around.

"How are we supposed to fight something we can’t see?"

Arthur’s eyes moved across the water.

Then he noticed something.

Every time one of the Beasts moved beneath the surface, the floating leaves shifted slightly.

"There!"

Arthur pointed.

Sun immediately swung Long.

Boom!

The shockwave tore through the water.

A hidden Beast was thrown from the reeds.

Kong grinned.

"Found."

Sun looked at him.

"You could have said that earlier!"

Kong shrugged.

"I just found it."

Another Beast lunged toward Mithra.

Kusa flashed.

Mithra deflected its claws and stepped aside.

"They’re not very coordinated."

Vedas blocked another attack. "They’re testing us."

Arthur nodded. "They’re watching how we react."

Arthur’s expression changed.

He looked toward the water.

"They aren’t trying to beat us."

Vedas looked at him. "What?"

Arthur pointed toward the reeds.

"They attacked from different directions. They watched how we responded. Then they changed their approach."

Athena’s eyes narrowed. "You’re right."

Arthur smiled. "They’re learning our habits."

Sun frowned. "From one fight?"

"Maybe."

Arthur looked toward the dark water. "But if they can learn that quickly..." He paused. "I wonder what they’re learning about the other students."

Sun immediately shouted, "Don’t say that!"

Arthur laughed. "Why?"

"Because every time you say that, something gets worse!"

Arthur looked toward the retreating Beasts. "Maybe."

The creatures suddenly stopped attacking.

One by one, they disappeared beneath the water.

Arthur watched the water settle after the creatures disappeared beneath its surface, the ripples slowly spreading between the reeds until even those finally faded away.

"They’re smarter than I expected."

He barely finished speaking before the swamp erupted again.

A dark shape burst from the water directly ahead, its claws cutting through the air as it lunged toward Vedas. Vedas stepped into the attack instead of retreating, raising his shield just before the claws crashed against it.

CLANG!

The impact pushed him back half a step.

Vedas immediately drove his spear forward.

The Beast twisted away, splashing through the shallow water, but Vedas followed with a second thrust that forced it deeper into the reeds.

Another creature suddenly surfaced behind Mithra.

She spun instantly, Kusa already in her hands.

CLANG!

Its claws struck her blade and were knocked aside, and Mithra stepped forward with a quick slash that forced the Beast to retreat beneath the water.

At the same time, something moved above Sun.

A thick vine suddenly snapped downward, carrying another Beast with it as it swung toward him.

Sun raised Long.

[Shockwave Strike]

The blade swept outward, releasing a powerful wave that tore through the hanging vines and scattered the muddy water beneath them.

The Beast was exposed for a moment.

Sun stepped forward and struck.

BOOM!

The creature was thrown backward into the reeds. Arthur barely had time to turn before another Beast erupted from the water beside him.

He brought Dusk up.

CLANG!

Its claws crashed against the spear.

The force made Arthur’s boots slide across the wet ground, but he twisted his weapon and pushed the Beast away before it could follow with another strike.

Instead of continuing the attack, the creature immediately retreated into the murk. For a few seconds, they simply watched and then one slowly backed away.

Another followed.

Soon, all of them slipped beneath the dark surface, their bodies vanishing into the murky water until the swamp became completely still again.

Nobody chased them.

Arthur lowered Dusk. "They got what they wanted."

Vedas nodded. "They know we’re dangerous. And we know they’re intelligent."

Arthur turned toward the deeper part of the swamp. "Good enough."

The group continued forward.

They hadn’t gone far when Arthur suddenly stopped.

Among the reeds ahead stood a strange plant unlike anything else in the swamp.

Its stem was pale silver, while several small blue flowers grew from its branches, each one glowing faintly beneath the shade of the surrounding trees.

Arthur’s eyes narrowed.

"The last one."

But reaching it wouldn’t be easy.

The plant grew in the center of a small patch of darker vegetation, surrounded by several enormous plants whose leaves twitched despite there being no wind.

One of them slowly opened.

Rows of sharp teeth appeared inside.

Mithra stared. "...Those aren’t plants."

Vedas tightened his grip on his spear.

Arthur smiled. "No."

He stepped forward. "They’re guarding it."

Sun said, "Don’t tell me you’re going in there."

Arthur said, "I’m going in there."

Sun said, "Of course."

Mithra laughed.

Vedas followed. "I’ll go with you," he said.

Arthur smiled.

Fortunately, they were able to approach the plant without triggering the creatures guarding it. They carefully retrieved it with deliberate movements until the herb came free.

The group returned to the professor. Arthur handed over the herbs. The professor checked them. "All of them," he said.

Arthur smiled. "So we’re done?"

The professor nodded. "You completed the assignment."

Arthur immediately asked, "Can we go now?"

The professor sighed. "Yes."

Arthur turned toward the marked training grounds, his eyes lighting up.

Sun saw his expression. "There it is," he said.

Mithra laughed.

Athena smiled.

Eden bounced in the air. "Training!"

Vedas shook his head. "We haven’t even been here for a full day."

Arthur grinned. "And we’re already getting started."

As they began walking toward the marked area, Arthur noticed something. The training grounds weren’t simple fields.

They were sections of the Everglades that had been deliberately preserved despite being marked as safe. There were massive trees. Water channels. Training structures. Ancient stone platforms.

And several paths disappeared deeper into the forest.

A professor explained, "The marked areas are considered safe for first year training."

Arthur looked farther into the forest. "Considered?"

The professor paused. "Safe enough."

Arthur smiled.

Sun groaned. "Why does everyone keep saying things like that?"

Then Arthur stepped toward the training grounds.

Arthur stepped toward the marked training grounds.

Behind him, the Everglades stretched endlessly. Ahead was the first place where they could really clash with beasts that could help them grow.

Arthur smiled. "Let’s see what this place can do."