I Can See Evolution Paths

Chapter 6: Run!!

Arthur was still staring at the water when Mithra’s hand touched his shoulder.

"Arthur?" she said. "Are you okay?"

"Something was watching us," Arthur said, without looking away from the surface. "From inside the water. It looked at me, and then it was gone."

Mithra was quiet for a moment. "Like a monster?"

"Maybe." He stood up. "It turned around to stare at me."

He waited for her to ask him to explain what that meant. She looked at the pond and then at Arthur.

Finally, she nodded.

"You believe me?" Arthur said.

"You’ve said strange things twice today and both times you meant them." She adjusted Melo on her shoulder. "I’m starting to notice the pattern."

Arthur laughed. Mithra smiled briefly before she turned back toward where Vedas was waiting at the edge of the clearing, and Arthur took one more look at the still water before he followed her.

The second Evolution Mark was at the bottom of the pond, exactly where Melo had led them, and retrieving it took less time than the conversation about the reflection. Arthur turned the crystal orb over in his hand as they moved away from the water, watching the two glowing marks inside shift with each rotation.

Two. One more and the Entrance Evaluation was done.

Melo suddenly leaped from Mithra’s shoulder onto Vedas’. She curled up behind one horn as if she’d lived there forever. Vedas blinked and tried lifting her. She slapped his hand away with one fluffy tail.

He tried again.

Same result.

Arthur gave him a thumbs-up.

Vedas sighed. "...Fox stubborn."

Melo opened one eye and then closed it again. Mithra was laughing quietly somewhere behind them, and Arthur was still smiling when the forest ahead went quieter than it had been.

He slowed.

Voices carried through the trees, multiple people, close enough to hear but too far to make out the words. He moved a low branch aside and looked through.

Five students stood in a clearing ahead. Four arranged loosely around a fifth who stood slightly in front. Around them were their beasts; he saw a deer, a crocodile with flames over its back, a black hawk, and a spiky ape.

Behind all of them was a minotaur that made the forest look smaller just by being in it. The creature’s axe rested on one massive shoulder. And a boy with brown hair stood in front of it.

"Hm? Cassian, look. It’s the kid with the Goblin."

"And trash talent."

Two of the people around Cassian pointed out with a chuckle.

Cassian’s gaze shifted over Arthur before freezing at Mithra, and a light blush appeared on his face. Then his gaze continued before stopping when he saw Vedas. He blinked before rubbing his eyes and looking at the armor, shield, and spear on the taller Goblin.

"That goblin," Cassian said.

"Vedas?" Arthur agreed.

"It evolved," Cassian said.

"Into a Goblin Warrior," Arthur said. "It’s pretty amazing, right?"

Cassian stared at him. "H-How–"

"By working pretty hard." Arthur smiled. "Your Taurus is really strong. I’m sure it’ll surprise everyone too."

The clearing went very quiet.

Cassian’s jaw tightened. "My Taurus," he said slowly, "is not comparable to a goblin."

"Oh, I know," Arthur said. "I’m just saying it could probably handle a boar. That’s a compliment."

"It is not a compliment!"

Mithra, standing just behind Arthur’s right shoulder, turned her face away. Her shoulders moved once. She was looking at a tree.

"Is she laughing?" one of the followers said.

"I’m not laughing," Mithra said, at the tree.

She was laughing.

Cassian pressed on. "You evolved a Goblin Warrior this morning," he said. "A goblin."

"Yes," Arthur said.

"In a few hours."

"The boar was very cooperative," Arthur said. "And Vedas learned rocks fast." He looked at Vedas. "You were very fast with the rocks."

"Thank you," Vedas said.

"For what it’s worth," Arthur said to Cassian with a helpful smile. "I’m sure you will get there eventually; I believe in you."

Total silence.

Cassian trembled and bit his lip while glaring at Arthur.

One follower whispered, "...Did he just encourage Cassian?"

"You are..." he said, "rooting for my Taurus?"

"Yes," Arthur said.

The tall follower made a choking sound.

Another grabbed his arm before he could speak.

A third stared into the forest as if seeking answers.

Cassian’s face went red. But then he began calming down when Taurus moved towards Arthur. "You need to be taught a–"

Vedas instantly stepped in front of Taurus and stared at it. The Taurus let out a huff but took another stop, then froze. A spear was being pointed at its chest.

The Taurus’s nostrils flared. It recalled a trembling and scared little goblin almost an hour ago. But now? Stood a taller and maybe even stronger one that was acting like it was comparable to it.

Ridiculous..

It held the stare for another moment before it stepped back and turned its head, which was not a retreat but was close enough.

Cassian uncrossed his arms. His face twitched through several emotions before settling into a blank expression.

"Cassian Taurus just—" one started.

"I saw," Cassian said.

"It backed down from—"

"I saw."

"A goblin just—"

"I SAID I SAW."

Cassian gripped his sword. "You–"

One of the followers stepped forward. He looked like he had just solved a problem. "There’s an Evolution Mark ahead," he said. "Ten minutes. Four monsters guarding it."

He wasn’t trying to help. He was saying it with his chin up and his eyes on Arthur and the tone of someone laying down something that was meant to settle things.

"Both groups need one more mark," he said. "So let’s make it interesting. Your group against ours. Whoever reaches the mark first takes it." He spread his hands. "Let’s see how your goblin does against real competition."

Cassian’s group straightened.

Finally, they had something they could win.

"You better accept..." He said with a glare. "Because if you don’t, everyone here will know exactly what that means."

Arthur looked at Vedas. "You scared?"

Vedas looked at Cassian and then Arthur. "...No."

Arthur smiled. "Then let’s win us a challenge. If we are lucky, this might be pretty easy."

The clearing went extremely still.

Then it became very loud. "EASY WIN?!"

Mithra walked forward and placed herself between both groups. She looked at Cassian’s side before looking at Arthur and chuckling.

"Alright," she said before stepping between both of them. "Let’s do the competition. Your group against ours." She gestured between them. "The goal is simple, the first group to get the mark wins. Is this clear?"

Cassian’s group nodded. The clearing slowly grew quiet.

No one moved.

The challenge had been accepted.

Arthur adjusted his spear before something on the ground caught his attention.

"...Hm."

He crouched.

Mithra looked over.

"What?"

Arthur pointed.

"Footprints."

Everyone instinctively looked down.

Silence followed.

The tracks were enormous.

Each hoofprint was almost as long as Arthur’s body.

The dirt around them had been compressed so deeply that rainwater had collected inside.

Cassian folded his arms.

"Probably a Silver-Rank monster."

Arthur’s head snapped up. "A Silver Rank?" His eyes practically sparkled.

"Wait..." Mithra already knew that look.

Arthur picked up a rock.

Mithra looked over. "...Arthur."

"I’ve never seen a Silver Rank."

"No–"

He smiled. "I’ll just say hello."

And threw it.

Thunk.

The stone disappeared into the bushes, but nothing happened after.

Arthur rubbed the back of his head. "I guess it—"

A crystal chime echoed through the forest. The birds stopped singing, and then the wind vanished.

And then the branches slowly parted as a deer stepped into view.

It was magnificent. Silver-white fur shimmered beneath the sunlight. Dozens of translucent blue crystals grew along its back like a mountain range. Tiny flowers bloomed between the crystals.

Each step caused petals to drift lazily through the air.

For one brief second...

Everyone forgot to breathe.

Arthur’s eyes became brighter than ever. "...That’s so beautiful. I’ve never seen a beast like it before."

The deer lowered its head, and one crystal antler lightly touched the earth.

Nothing happened.

Then...

BOOOOOOM!!

The entire forest exploded.

Colossal roots burst into the sky, tearing through trees and stone before blooming into crystal-covered branches.

Everyone stood frozen.

Cassian’s face went white. "Silver Rank?"

One of his followers whispered.

"H-How can one of them be here!?"

Another slowly backed away. "We are so screwed."

The deer lifted one foot again.

Arthur stared with shining eyes.

"...That’s amazing."

Mithra grabbed the back of his uniform.

"Arthur."

Arthur didn’t hear her.

"It controls the entire forest..."

The deer gently tapped the ground again.

BOOOOOOOM!!

Another forest of roots erupted.

One root pierced straight through a massive boulder like paper.

Another split an ancient tree completely in half.

Arthur took one step.

Mithra grabbed the back of his collar. "No."

Arthur sighed. "...Fine."

Mithra sighed in relief.

Then...

The deer’s ears twitched, and it slowly turned. Its crystal-blue eyes locked directly onto them.

Everyone was frozen.

Arthur blinked. "Too late, it saw us."

The deer lowered its head, and the crystals along its back began glowing.

Cassian whispered, "...Run."

Nobody argued.

Everyone exploded into motion.

...

"ARTHUR!!"

Mithra practically dragged him away.

Vedas sprinted beside them. "WHY THROW ROCK?!"

"I wanted to see it!"

"YOU SAW IT!"

"I DIDN’T KNOW IT COULD DO THAT!"

"You threw a rock at it!"

"I WAS CURIOUS!"

Cassian roared, "HE’S ACTUALLY INSANE!"

One follower looked like he was about to cry. "WHO THROWS ROCKS AT A SILVER RANK BEAST?!"

Melo’s fur puffed into a giant ball. "KYYYYUUUUUU!!"

The deer took one step, and the earth exploded again. Roots erupted everywhere. Entire sections of forest vanished beneath crystal-covered vines.

Arthur laughed despite everything. "This is incredible!"

"STOP ENJOYING THIS!"

"I CAN’T!"

"I’M NEVER GOING EXPLORING WITH YOU AGAIN!" Vedas shouted.

"You said that five minutes ago!"

"...I KNOW!"

Suddenly, Melo leaped from Vedas’ shoulder.

All three eyes opened, and the air shimmered. A wave of illusion spread through the forest.

The deer stopped.

Its ears flicked.

Instead of following Arthur’s group, it charged in another direction.

BOOOOOOOOM!!

The forest exploded far to their left as roots continued erupting in the distance.

Everyone finally stopped running and began breaking heavily.

Arthur looked at Melo. "That was amazing."

Melo blinked.

Arthur scratched gently behind one ear. "You saved everyone, Melo."

Melo’s tails wagged once.

Cassian slowly turned toward Arthur. "...Promise me something."

Arthur blinked. "What?"

"If you ever see another interesting monster..."

Arthur smiled. "I’ll probably throw another—"

"NO!"

Everyone shouted together.

Arthur scratched his cheek. "...Worth asking."

Vedas buried his face in both hands. "I’m already tired..."

Mithra sighed toward the sky. "...We’ve known him for less than a day."

Cassian looked completely defeated. "...How is he still alive?"

Arthur looked toward the direction the deer had disappeared. "I hope we see it again someday."

Mithra slowly looked at him. "You’re impossible."

Then—

The ground trembled.

Everyone froze before looking to see the trees ahead suddenly explode outward.

Countless boars rushed towards them.