However, with the golden silk having grown to two meters, one more evolution should be enough.
To evolve safely, a secure place was essential.
His eyes scanned the tree trunk in front of him. The large tree's thick roots intertwined, forming small spaces here and there. It looked alright, but merely alright.
To evolve in peace, he needed to dig a hole.
Taking a step forward, he squeezed into the crisscrossing tree roots. They weren't too crowded, making it easy for Sethe to fit into the middle of them.
Perhaps because it was under the roots, the soil was moist and fluffy.
[Hiss~]
A faint hissing sound emerged.
A black shadow suddenly sprang up from the wet soil in front of him. Instinctively, Sethe put his claws in front of him.
Some liquid seemed to be sprayed on his body, followed by a sharp pain as something bit his paw. Looking down, he saw a snake, emerald green, biting his paw. Its fangs tried to pierce the scales on his paw.
Strangely, Sethe didn't feel threatened by the snake. He reached out with his right paw and held down the snake's head, pulling it off his left paw.
Examining the bitten paw, he saw yellow venom staining the scales, along with faint scratches. If he had let the snake bite longer, it might have penetrated the scales.
A pungent smell reached his nose. The venom had a terrible odor, which Sethe now noticed. As time passed, the smell intensified. If not for wanting a temporary shelter under the tree roots, he would have already fled.
He wanted to rub the venom off his claws on the tree trunk but stopped. Since the venom's smell disgusted him, other forest beasts might feel the same.
Looking at the snake coiled around his right paw, an idea sparked in Sethe's mind. This snake was useful. Sprinkling its venom around would enhance the security of his shelter.
Holding the snake's head, he pressed down lightly, making it spray venom. The venom landed on the tree trunks and soil, making the pungent odor more intense. It was an unpleasant smell, but it increased safety.
Spraying the venom around the roots, Sethe felt the snake's grip loosening. After a dozen sprays, the snake became limp.
Sethe aimed the snake's head at the spot it had emerged from. One more spray, and he'd let it go. The snake didn't respond to his presses and became softer.
Is it exhausted?
The snake, drained and listless, hung from his paw. Seeing its condition, Sethe decided to let it go.
Placing the snake on the ground, it slowly twisted its body and crawled away, not wanting to stay near the big lizard. Even exhausted, it struggled to escape.
Watching the snake leave, satisfaction rose in Sethe's heart. +1 for security at the temporary shelter.
The golden threads inside him grew again.
After a pause, Sethe looked at the ground. The moist soil seemed loose. He decided to dig a hole for extra safety. Despite the venom, a beast might still intrude while he was evolving, and he wasn't sure how long the venom's scent would last.
So, he began digging.
[Dig a hole, bury some dirt, count one, two, three, four, five.]
Sethe hummed merrily while digging, even though his throat could only produce monotonous sounds.
"Spindle~"
Covered in dirt, Sethe made strange cries as he dug, expressing joy. The soft soil was easy to dig, and within half an hour, he had created a small pit five meters deep with a three-meter-wide space at the bottom.
Blocking the entrance with his body, Sethe lay on the ground. It was a bit wet, but he didn't mind, being a big-headed lizard now. His body adapted well to the environment.
Thinking about Jin Si, a three-meter-long golden thread appeared in the air, emitting a faint golden glow that dispersed the darkness in the cave.
[This time I'll strengthen my front claws.]
With this thought, the golden silk thread in front of him began to extend towards his claws. Sethe watched as it disappeared into the scales of his right paw. In a few seconds, the thread had fully merged with his claws.
Just as he wondered what would happen to his left paw, a wave of drowsiness overwhelmed him. His eyelids grew heavy, and his thoughts became dizzy.
His big head slumped to the ground, and Sethe quietly closed his eyes.
[Click~]
"I'm home~"
Cecilia pushed open the door, greeted by four little ones. They pounced on her, three of them instantly.
She caught them one by one: Ella on her head, Nora on her shoulder, and Mia in her arms. The largest, Carl, rubbed against her calf.
After interacting with them, Cecilia walked upstairs.
"I'm..."
Seeing the empty room and the open balcony door, she understood. It wasn't the first time this had happened. She had picked up many magical beast cubs, and they often had two choices upon waking: stay or leave.
Sethe had chosen the latter.
Putting down the bag of roasted meat, Cecilia walked onto the balcony. It was night, and the moon was full and bright.