I Can See Evolution Paths

For a moment, nobody attacked.

The group had just escaped the flood, everyone exhausted, and now three enormous creatures stood above them, steam pouring from their shoulders in thick columns.

Luna instinctively moved closer to Mithra.

While Arthur resummoned Eden who blinks before gasping when she saw the golems. "They’re huge."

Mithra kept one hand near Kusa. "And we’re tired."

Sun looked at the destroyed slope behind them. "That’s probably the understatement of the day."

Kong cracked his knuckles. "Still standing."

Sun glanced at him. "You say that like it’s enough."

Kong grinned. "It is."

Arthur studied the golems instead of immediately attacking. Athena noticed. "What are you looking at?"

Arthur pointed toward the glowing orange cracks running through their bodies. "Their mana."

Athena looked more carefully. The orange energy wasn’t moving randomly. It traveled through specific paths in their bodies whenever they prepared an attack.

Arthur smiled. "They’re circulating their mana."

Vedas raised his spear. "And?"

Arthur looked toward him. "And I think we can interrupt it."

Vedas sighed. "Of course you already have a plan."

Arthur smiled. "You say that like it’s a bad thing."

Then the first golem charged.

Its fist came down, and Arthur didn’t immediately counter. He moved sideways, letting the fist smash into the ground, fragments of stone scattering across the cavern. As it recovered, Arthur watched the orange glow travel from the golem’s chest toward its arm, concentrating near one of the joints just before the next swing.

Arthur immediately struck that point. His spear pierced through the heated stone, golden energy bursting through the crack. The golem staggered.

Everyone noticed. Athena’s eyes narrowed. "You found its mana point."

Arthur nodded. "They’re using the glowing areas to reinforce their bodies."

Vedas smiled. "Then we know where to hit."

The fight settled into a rhythm.

Vedas engaged one golem while Arthur kept another occupied. Kong moved around the battlefield rather than charging straight ahead, Sun supporting him from behind with well timed shockwaves. Mithra and Athena stayed near Luna, and Athy watched from above while Melo remained close to protect them both.

One golem swung at Kong. He blocked with both arms, sliding several meters backward, boots grinding deep grooves into the cracked stone. He looked down at the damage beneath his feet. "Strong."

Sun smiled. "You like it?"

Kong grinned. "Yes."

Sun shook his head. "Of course you do."

Kong charged again, driving his shoulder into the golem’s chest.

At the same time, Athy activated [Analyze], her golden eyes brightening. "Left shoulder!"

Athena immediately reacted, driving Aegis into the exposed mana point. The golem’s arm cracked apart, chunks of glowing stone crumbling to the ground.

Athy cheered. "Got it!"

Athena smiled. "Good work."

Arthur noticed Eden watching from the edge of the fight, clearly eager but unable to find an opening. He turned his attention to the weakened golem still standing, driving his spear into its leg until it dropped onto one knee.

Arthur looked toward Eden. "Eden."

She looked at him. "Yes?"

Arthur stepped back from the golem. "Your turn."

Eden’s eyes widened. "Really?"

"Really."

She immediately flew forward. The golem tried to raise its remaining arm, but Eden dodged underneath it and struck the exposed mana point square on.

The golem collapsed entirely.

Eden froze for a moment, staring at the golem as its enormous body finally collapsed. Then her eyes widened. "I did it!"

Arthur smiled. "You did."

Eden immediately turned toward the others as if she needed everyone else to confirm it. "Did you see that?"

Luna nodded enthusiastically. "You defeated it!"

Eden’s smile grew even wider. "I did!"

Mithra laughed softly. "You’ve gotten much faster."

Athena nodded. "Your timing was better too. You waited until Arthur exposed the mana point instead of rushing in."

Eden looked toward Arthur. "He made it weak for me."

Arthur shrugged. "That’s what teammates are for."

Vedas glanced at the collapsed golem. "Arthur did most of the work."

Eden puffed her cheeks. "I still finished it!"

Arthur nodded solemnly. "That’s true."

He turned toward Vedas.

"Someone sounds jealous."

Vedas stared at him. "I’m not jealous."

Sun immediately laughed. "You definitely sound jealous."

Vedas gave him a flat look. "You want to fight?"

Sun immediately turned away. "Nope."

Kong nodded. "Good choice."

Sun looked at him. "Why are you agreeing with him?"

Kong shrugged. "He’s right."

Melo’s tails swayed as she watched Eden happily celebrating.

"She’s getting stronger."

Arthur looked at Eden for another moment.

She was still smiling. It wasn’t simply because she had defeated a Beast. She had done it herself.

Arthur smiled. "Let’s keep going."

Just as the group began to relax, another tremor traveled through the cavern. Everyone stopped.

Luna looked around nervously. "More?"

Arthur looked toward the ground. "Looks like it."

Several smaller Steam Golems emerged from the walls, cracking loose from the stone. This time nobody panicked. Eden looked excited.

Arthur noticed. "You want another one?"

Eden nodded immediately. "Yes!"

Vedas sighed. "We’ve created a monster."

Arthur looked at Eden proudly. "A strong one."

Eden smiled, already darting toward the nearest one before Arthur even had time to weaken it, her small fists trailing golden light as she dove beneath its swing and struck its cracked shoulder joint dead on. It staggered, and she pressed the advantage, striking again until it finally crumbled.

After defeating the smaller golems, the group continued. This time the cavern became quieter. The walls narrowed, steam rolled along the ground, and nobody saw anything moving.

Melo suddenly stopped, her ears twitching. "We’re not alone."

Everyone became alert. Arthur looked toward the darkness. A pair of glowing eyes appeared. Then another. Then another. Steam Wolves emerged from the mist, red veins pulsing along their dark fur.

Luna instinctively stepped backward. Mithra moved in front of her. "Stay behind me."

Luna nodded.

The wolves didn’t immediately attack. They watched.

Arthur noticed their formation. "They’re waiting."

Athena studied them. "They’re hunting as a pack."

Vedas gripped his spear. "Then let’s break the formation."

The wolves attacked. One circled toward Luna, and Melo’s tails flicked, an illusion of Mithra flickering into existence directly in its path. The wolf lunged at the false target, jaws snapping through empty light. The real Mithra appeared behind it a heartbeat later.

"Nice try," she said, Kusa flashing once.

Arthur weakened another wolf with a single glancing strike and looked toward Eden. "Eden."

She understood immediately, darting in to finish it before it could recover.

The next wolf charged directly at Eden. Arthur started moving to intercept, then stopped himself. Eden saw the attack coming and dodged on her own, weaving beneath the wolf’s snapping jaws. It overshot completely, and Eden spun around to strike it from behind. It fell.

Arthur smiled. "Good."

Eden looked back proudly. "You didn’t even help me."

Arthur nodded. "That’s because you didn’t need help."

The cavern suddenly opened into a large chamber. The group stopped. For the first time they could see the ceiling, filled with drifting steam.

Then something moved.

Athy looked upward. "Above us."

Everyone looked up. A swarm of Steam Bats descended from the mist. Athy immediately spread her wings, her white feathers and black markings catching the dim light, golden armor gleaming as she created multiple light clones. The chamber filled with copies of her, each one scattering into the swarm.

Eden looked upward, amazed. "There are so many Athys!"

Athy proudly declared, "They’re all me!"

Melo tilted her head. "Technically, they’re copies."

Athy looked offended. "They’re still me!"

Athena smiled. "Focus."

Athy immediately flew into the swarm, her clones scattering the bats in every direction. Arthur watched Eden, weakening one bat that broke free of the chaos and dove toward the ground.

"Eden."

Eden grinned. "I know."

She finished it cleanly.

The further they went, the more the group realized something. The Steam Beasts were becoming easier to handle. Not because the cavern was becoming safer, but because they were becoming stronger. Their movements were cleaner. Their teamwork felt natural. Eden reacted faster with every encounter. Vedas grew more efficient with his spear. Kong learned how to move around Sun without either of them getting in the other’s way. Mithra and Melo coordinated illusions and strikes without needing to speak. Athena and Athy read each other’s movements in silence.

Arthur watched everyone. For a moment he simply smiled. They’d grown.

Then another group of Steam Wolves appeared ahead.

Sun looked toward Arthur. "More?"

Arthur nodded.

Sun sighed. "At this point, I think the cavern is deliberately training us."

Arthur’s eyes brightened. "Maybe it is."

Vedas looked at him. "Don’t get excited about that."

Arthur grinned. "Too late."

After several more encounters, Eden finally received another level up. The system appeared before her.

[Level Up!]

[Time Fairy]

[Level 13 → Level 14]

Eden froze. She looked at the notification. Then looked again. Her eyes widened. "Level fourteen..."

Arthur looked over. "Congratulations."

Eden suddenly threw both hands into the air. "I’M LEVEL FOURTEEN!"

Her voice echoed through the cavern. Luna jumped slightly before laughing. "Congratulations!"

Eden spun toward her. "Thank you!"

Mithra smiled. "You’ve been working hard."

Eden beamed. Athena’s expression softened as she watched the little fairy celebrate.

Sun smiled too. "She really has improved."

Then Vedas received his own notification.

[Level Up!]

[Goblin King]

[Level 11 → Level 12]

Vedas looked at it and smiled.

Then Arthur slowly turned toward him. Vedas immediately noticed. "No."

Arthur tilted his head. "No?"

"Whatever you’re thinking, don’t."

Arthur looked toward Eden. Then toward Vedas. Then back toward Eden. A smile gradually spread across his face. "Interesting."

Vedas closed his eyes. "Arthur."

Arthur walked over and casually placed a hand on Eden’s shoulder. "Congratulations, Eden."

Eden smiled. "Thank you!"

Arthur slowly turned toward Vedas.

Vedas immediately noticed. "No."

Arthur tilted his head. "No?"

"Whatever you’re thinking, don’t."

Arthur looked toward Eden, then toward Vedas and then back toward Eden. A smile gradually spread across his face. "Interesting."

Vedas closed his eyes. "Arthur."

Arthur walked over and placed a hand on Eden’s shoulder. "Congratulations, Eden."

Eden beamed. "Thank you!"

Arthur then looked toward Vedas. "You know what this means?"

Vedas sighed. "I’m still a higher evolution."

"For now."

Eden’s eyes immediately brightened. "I’ll pass you!"

Vedas looked down at her. "You have a long way to go."

Eden puffed out her chest. "I’ll do it!"

Arthur nodded solemnly. "That’s the spirit."

Vedas narrowed his eyes. "You’re enjoying this."

Arthur smiled. "A little."

Sun laughed. "A little?"

Arthur turned toward him. "You’re right." He looked back at Vedas. "I’m enjoying this a lot."

Vedas’s lips twitched. "You’re unbelievable."

Kong crossed his arms. "Eden strong."

Vedas looked toward him. "Even you?"

Kong nodded. "She’ll pass you."

Vedas stared at him. "Really?"

Kong shrugged. "I’m honest."

Melo’s tails swayed. "I agree with Kong."

Vedas looked toward her. "Why?"

Melo glanced at Eden. "Because she’s cute."

Athy flew down beside them. "I support Eden too!"

Vedas stared at her. "Athy..."

She smiled innocently. "What?"

Mithra finally laughed. "Vedas, you’ve already lost."

Vedas looked at her. "You’re supposed to be on my side."

Mithra smiled. "I am." She glanced at Eden. "But I’m also on her side."

Luna covered her mouth, giggling. "I’m cheering for Eden too."

Vedas looked at Luna in disbelief. "Even you?"

Luna nodded. "You’re the big brother, right?"

Eden immediately pointed at him. "Then I’ll surpass you!"

Vedas slowly looked around the group.

Everyone was smiling.

He sighed.

"This is bullying."

Arthur nodded. "Correct."

Vedas stared at him. "You admit it?"

Arthur smiled. "Of course."

Eden raised both hands triumphantly. "Level fourteen!" Her voice echoed through the cavern.

Arthur laughed.

Even Vedas couldn’t completely hide the smile pulling at the corner of his mouth.

The laughter gradually faded, leaving the cavern quiet once again. Eden was still smiling as she walked beside Arthur, occasionally glancing at the level notification as though she expected it to disappear.

"I’m really level fourteen," she murmured.

Arthur looked down at her. "You are."

Eden smiled. "I’m going to catch Vedas."

Arthur nodded. "I believe you."

A few steps behind them, Vedas heard it. He shook his head, but there was no irritation in his expression anymore. "She’s becoming ambitious."

Sun smiled. "That’s probably your fault."

Vedas glanced at him. "How?"

"You’re the one she wants to surpass."

Vedas considered that for a moment before looking ahead. "Then she’ll have to work for it."

Eden turned around. "I will!"

Vedas’s lips twitched again. "I know."

Arthur smiled.

Then the group continued deeper into the cavern.

The Steam Beasts became less frequent. The laughter disappeared and slowly, the cavern became quiet again.

Arthur noticed the change. "We’re getting close to something."

Athena checked the compass. The needle remained pointed forward. "The Fire Mirror is still ahead."

Luna walked beside Mithra. Then she suddenly stopped.

Mithra looked back. "Luna?"

Luna didn’t answer. She was staring at the cavern wall. There were carvings across the stone. At first Arthur thought they were ordinary symbols. Then Luna slowly approached, her expression changing.

"I’ve seen these," she said.

Arthur looked at her. "Where?"

Luna raised her hand toward the carvings. "My grandfather’s house."

Everyone became quiet.

Athena approached.

The carvings showed the same symbols associated with the Five Mirrors. But one image stood out among them. A mirror surrounded by flames.

Luna’s face paled. "He had a mural that looked like this."

Arthur’s expression became serious. "What did your grandfather tell you about it?"

Luna shook her head. "Nothing." She looked deeper into the carving. Then quietly said, "But I remember him telling me never to follow the path shown in this picture."

Arthur looked at the mural. The path led directly toward the deepest part of the cavern. His eyes narrowed. "Then that’s probably exactly where we’re going."