Chapter 35: Evolution! Evolution!

In the unfolding plot, Roddy and those two, just like now, were among the first to arrive at this secret underground base. This place had once been nothing more than an ordinary subterranean cave, but after being discovered by that organization, an enormous amount of resources was poured into transforming it. They planted a sapling of the Tree of Life here, and its vast derivative effects allowed countless plants to thrive more vigorously than those above ground, all without sunlight.

The Tree of Life’s offspring emitted a mysterious energy, connecting with other saplings and serving as the only “signal base station” in Fearn County. Because of this, two second-tier Spiritmasters were permanently stationed here—both powerful figures with multiple second-tier totems, constantly patrolling and guarding the area.

Only someone as unfathomable as Roddy could have forcefully broken through this place, thus destroying the Tree of Life and obliterating a vital base for the enemy, which in turn provoked the most terrifying pursuit by that organization.

Alas, the protagonist was like an unkillable cockroach; instead, those pursuers became mere monsters providing experience and loot, accelerating his growth. In just half a year, his main totem underwent its ultimate evolution, making him a third-tier Spiritmaster.

At last, Roddy was stunned to discover he was actually the illegitimate son of Harrison, the reigning emperor, abandoned among the common folk. The plot was perhaps a little melodramatic, yet it was so: the emperor sent people to retrieve him, hoping he would return to the imperial capital of Grom.

Only then did he realize that Neil and Cassie had known his true identity all along; they had feigned a chance acquaintance to become his most trusted friends, eager to follow him to the capital and bask in its glory and wealth.

People like this demanded caution. Charles, steadying the turmoil within his heart, replied softly, “It’s nothing. I’m just a little injured and need to rest.”

“Injured? Are you alright? I happen to have some medicine for external wounds. We both have the protection of Guardian Radiance—did your totem get hurt as well?” Neil asked, his voice full of feigned concern as he stepped closer, seemingly worried about Charles’s condition.

A chill spread through Charles’s heart as he realized he had been careless. With the protection of Guardian Radiance, Spiritmasters had a defense three times stronger than that of their totems. This meant that unless the totem was harmed, the Spiritmaster himself would remain unscathed.

In just a few words, he had revealed his situation!

The approaching footsteps sounded like the ominous toll of a bell, growing closer as his adversary neared the tree hollow, soon coming into view.

Neil, still the epitome of noble courtesy, paused briefly upon seeing Charles sitting in the hollow. His gaze dropped to the little white fox in Charles’s arms. “Charles, what kind of monster did you encounter? How did you get so badly hurt that even your Guardian Radiance disappeared? Don’t tell me your main totem died?”

“No, just scratched by a monster’s claw. Firefly got a little hurt, that’s all.” Charles’s face was pale, but he forced a smile, trying to shift the topic. “By the way, where’s your sister? Isn’t she with you?”

“Cassie and I got separated. That foolish girl—I'm worried she might have run into some kind of monster.” Though he spoke with concern, his face betrayed no emotion, as if speaking of a stranger.

Then his gaze fixed intently on Charles’s chest, where a faintly colored halo glimmered. “Charles, what is that? Why is it glowing with so many colors?”

Charles’s smile didn’t falter as he pulled from his pocket the seed shaped like a multicolored pinecone. On closer inspection, it merely resembled a pinecone; in truth, it wasn’t composed of individual seeds, but rather seemed like a layer of colored scales.

These scales were crystalline, refracting inner light, and when held in the palm, one could sense a faint, rhythmic pulsation, like breathing.

Anyone with eyes could see this object was extraordinary. Neil’s eyes grew brighter, naked greed flickering within them.

He had joined Roddy on this mission precisely to forge a bond in life-and-death situations, ensuring that when Roddy returned to the capital, he would never be forgotten.

Given his meager talent and status as a destitute noble from a declining house, he could scarcely hope to evolve his main totem on his own in any reasonable span of time.

It was far more practical to find a powerful patron to ride on their coattails. Once he discovered Roddy’s true identity, he couldn’t wait to draw near.

Otherwise, why would someone as proud as he pay any attention to an unknown, luck-driven novice Spiritmaster?

Now, from this multicolored pinecone, he sensed a peculiar allure—so much so that the little bird perched on his shoulder trembled, yearning to get closer.

Clearly, this was a treasure beyond his wildest imaginings, perhaps even more valuable than following Roddy back to the imperial capital.

“Charles, toss that thing over here and let me have a look. I’ve never seen anything like it,” he said, suppressing his excitement, still unwilling to take any risks.

After all, the other was the son of a lord—who knew what desperate tricks he might have up his sleeve? Better to coax the prize with words.

“Neil, I think I might have figured out a little of what this thing can do, though I’m not sure. Do you want to see?” Charles replied, holding the pinecone with a smile.

“What can it do?” Neil asked hastily, his curiosity piqued.

“I’m not too sure. It seems it might help fostered creatures grow stronger.” Charles casually reached over and grabbed a dark green lizard.

The lizard, less than thirty centimeters long, had a rounded snout and looked anything but fearsome—more clumsy and adorably dumb than threatening.

“Let me see what it actually does!” Neil’s eyes were glued to Charles’s next move. An ordinary reptile, even if something odd happened, couldn’t possibly threaten him, causing his tone to take on an imperious edge.

He watched as Charles placed the multicolored pinecone atop the lizard’s head. A shimmer of colored light flowed from the pinecone, enveloping the lizard completely.

What Neil couldn’t see was the virtual panel that appeared before Charles’s eyes, displaying lines of numbers and text:

“Jungle Lizard: Special Totem, not yet evolved, can be enhanced, evolution success rate 50%, cost: 1 evolution point;
Ability: Feeding.”

With a thought, Charles focused his mental strength on the “+” sign. A warm current surged from the center of his brow, rushing into the lizard.

“Huh? What’s happening? Why isn’t anything changing?” Neil stepped closer, puzzled.

The colored light faded, and the lizard appeared unchanged, still just as dumb and endearing as before.

But as Neil reached out to snatch it for himself, eager to discover its use, a sudden transformation occurred!

The lizard began to swell like a balloon, and under Neil’s horrified gaze, it grew from barely the length of a forearm to more than three meters long.

A mouth lined with jagged teeth opened wide, and its long, cold eyes glared at him with dreadful intensity!