Looking at the back of his hands, Yves spoke softly. "Tomorrow morning, Taro, we're going to start your evolution process at last. It's been a long wait and you've been patient, buddy. Thanks for sticking around."
Yves opened his visual interface, he noticed a countdown timer in the upper right corner of the screen – 20 minutes left before his allotted time would run out. Thinking about his experiment, he said. "That should be enough time to test it. If it works, I might make some big cash."
Heading to the search section, he typed "Pet Monster Exchange Post" and selected it. Tapping the teleport button beneath it, his surroundings started to change once more, and within seconds, he found himself in a different location.
The view was quite something – a bustling marketplace with numerous users and vendors. They lined up along a stretch of stalls, each displaying a variety of glass cages. Inside these enclosures were pet monsters of different shapes and sizes.
This place functioned as the central hub for trading and selling pet monsters. In this virtual space, the transportation of pet monsters was made possible all thanks to an artifact called the "storage space ring". Users equipped these items, and with the help of VR pods, they could transport the captured pet monsters to this virtual marketplace.
Yves stood steady, looking around. People were doing all sorts of stuff. Some were carefully checking out the pet monsters, looking at their appearance and details. Others were deep in negotiations, discussing prices and potential deals.
Feeling excited, he decided to take the next step. "Alright, let's start," he said, walking towards the nearest stall. As he approached, he focused his eyes on the pet monster inside one of the glass enclosures.
The creature had the appearance of a frog, adorned with two elegant short horns and vibrant red bumpy skin. It also had round red eyes that added to its unique and captivating look. In terms of size, it was quite substantial, measuring as large as a basketball, significantly surpassing its typical size.
Suddenly, as if responding to Yves' presence, a holographic screen slowly materialized in front of the frog monster. This sight brought a wide grin to Yves' face, confirming the validity of his theory. In this virtual realm, his unique talent still proved effective and could be utilized on pet monsters.
A triumphant "Yes, it works!" echoed in Yves' mind. "I wasn't entirely sure at first, but my talent truly exceeds my expectations. It's not restricted by the virtual space."
He shifted his attention to the holographic screen displaying details about the pet monster before him.
⋖ ⸻ +++:-:+:-:+:-:+:-:+++ ⸻ ⋗
⊂ Flaming Twin-Horned Toad ⊃
Grade: Black Iron-order
Realm: ☆☆☆
Species: Pyrohornus/Bufonidae
Special Trait: Tough Skin
Affinity: Fire
Ability: Blaze Barrier, Scorching Lick
Evolution Route: Pyro Twin-Horned Toad
⋖ ⸻ +++:-:+:-:+:-:+:-:+++ ⸻ ⋗
After Yves finished reading the information, another question in his mind found its answer. Not every pet monster, it seemed, had a unique evolution path like his Softstep Tanuki, Taro. His talent could only be used to reveal existing evolution paths, and if there were none to begin with, of course, there would be nothing to see aside from the creature's standard evolution route.
Yves nodded thoughtfully. "Hmm, so that's what it does, huh? Fair enough."
He continued to examine more creatures in the stall, focusing on each one. True to his talent, every time he observed a new pet monster, the holographic screen appeared, revealing its details. Yves repeated this process several times to be certain. His conclusion was solid – his talent worked flawlessly in this virtual realm.
As Yves glanced over all the creatures displayed in the store, he noted that every one of them had only a standard evolution route. There was nothing particularly unique or out of the ordinary that caught his eye.
Just as he was lost in his observations, the owner of the stall, a middle-aged man approached him with a friendly smile.
"Hello, Mr. Crow! I noticed you've been standing there for a couple of minutes. Are you looking for something specific, or is there anything particular that caught your interest?" he asked.
Yves returned the smile. "Ah, not really. Just curious about these creatures. Thanks for checking in, though.
The vendor's expression changed when he realized Yves might not be there to buy. "Just browsing, then?" he asked, a bit impatient.
"Well, feel free to look around. There's a lot of good stuff.... for those who are actually shopping. of course." The friendly smile vanished, replaced by a hint of rudeness, hinting that Yves should go elsewhere if he wasn't planning to make a purchase.
Yves understood the man's message and chuckled inwardly, thinking, "Good stuff? You only have regular pet monsters, mister! There's nothing special to look for."
But he didn't express that thought. Instead, he replied politely. "Thank you! I'll do just that. Have a great day!" and decided to explore other stalls of the marketplace.
As he moved to another stall, Yves found himself standing in front of a display filled with plant-type pet monsters. Curious, he began inspecting their information, looking for something extraordinary. After almost examining everything, he finally spotted one that caught his interest.
With a bark adorned in reddish-brown shades, the plant's leaves were simple ovals, showcasing a glossy, dark green hue. A closer look revealed delicate serrations along the edges, providing a unique appearance reminiscent of a blueberry plant.
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⊂ Blueberry Blood Shrub ⊃
Grade: Black Iron-order
Realm: ★★
Species: Vaccinium Sanguinium/Shrubus
Special Trait: Tasty Berry
Affinity: Plant
Abilities: Enchanted Harvest, Petal Shield
Evolution Route: Blueberry Thorn Sentinel
⋖ ⸻ +++:-:+:-:+:-:+:-:+++ ⸻ ⋗
As Yves observed the plant, a voice interrupted his thoughts. A woman, presumably the stall owner, greeted him.
"Hello, Mr. Crow! Are you interested in this plant?" she asked.
Yves looked back at the Blueberry Blood Shrub and nodded. "Yes, I'm interested. Tell me more about it."
A spark of enthusiasm appeared in the woman's eyes. "Great pick! Let me share some info about this plant."
Yves listened intently as the woman began her explanation. "This is the Blueberry Blood Shrub, a unique plant monster that feeds on the blood of other creatures. It has the remarkable ability to produce four to six fruits every day. What makes it even more special is that the berries produced are not only always delicious but also incredibly healthy due to the plant's special trait."
In his mind, Yves connected the dots. "Oh, that's the deal with the 'blood' in its name. It literally sucks blood to survive."
Yves found this Blueberry Blood Shrub intriguing because, normally, plant creatures that can bear fruit don't have a path of evolution. This implies they usually stay the same, even as they become more powerful. However, the Blueberry Blood Shrub was an exception, defying this common pattern. Its distinctiveness grabbed Yves' attention, making him wonder about its potential for unexpected growth.
Suppressing his excitement, Yves chose to inquire about the price of the Blueberry Blood Shrub. He maintained a stoic expression, careful not to reveal any emotions on his face, as he feared that displaying interest could result in a higher cost.
With a neutral expression, he calmly asked the stall owner. "I'm considering purchasing this one. How much is it?" His eyes fixed on the woman, devoid of any discernible signs of emotion.
The woman, maintaining her enthusiasm, responded confidently. "The Blueberry Blood Shrub is indeed a splendid choice. For you, Mr. Crow, we can offer it at a special price of $1000!"
Upon hearing the woman's answer, Yves' mood shifted, and a trace of disappointment flickered across his face. His brows slightly furrowed, and his shoulders slouched, conveying a subtle sense of concern.
Yves was aware that revealing a touch of disappointment could be a strategic move. The shift in his expression was deliberate, a tactic to negotiate for a lower price. Beneath the surface, he also genuinely believed that the initial offer was a bit too high for his budget.
The woman, perceptive to Yves' reaction, noticed the change in his expression. She hesitated for a moment, realizing that perhaps the price was a bit too high for his liking. Sensing an opportunity to make the sale, she quickly added. "But Mr. Crow, for a valued customer like yourself, we can certainly consider a more reasonable offer. How about we bring it down to $900?"
Yves, still wearing a carefully projected sad expression, looked up at the woman.
"Hmm, $900, you say? It's a bit more reasonable, but I was hoping for something a bit more budget-friendly, considering the market rates."
The woman, understanding Yves' concerns, tried to strike a balance. "I understand, Mr. Crow. How about this – if you decide to make the purchase within the next 10 minutes, we can lower the price to $850. That's the best we can offer, considering the exclusivity and potential growth of the Blueberry Blood Shrub."
Yves, keeping up the act, nodded thoughtfully. "I appreciate your consideration. Let me take a moment to think it over."