Speeding up our pace, Crystal, Sakura, and I continued toward Joe's place. I left most of the fighting to Crystal and Sakura, wanting them to gain more battle experience. While they both had natural instincts, they needed to learn how to work together effectively. Sakura's strength lies in controlling the battlefield; her vines are perfect for restraining zombies and weaker mutant beasts. Crystal, on the other hand, excels in delivering the finishing blows with her lightning-fast speed and ferocious attacks.
As we moved through the streets, their teamwork steadily improved. During one intense encounter with a Slasher, they showcased their best performance yet. Sakura struggled to keep up with the Slasher's speed, while Crystal was quick enough but couldn't get a clear shot to charge up a powerful attack.
Crystal eventually managed to paralyze the Slasher briefly using her *Lightning Fang*, which gave Sakura the opportunity to wrap her vines around it and attempt to strangle it. Meanwhile, Crystal focused on charging her claws with lightning for a more devastating strike. The moment the Slasher broke free from Sakura's vines, Crystal launched a frontal attack at lightning speed, tearing the Slasher's head clean off its body.
By the time they finished off the Slasher, I had already taken care of the other 30 or so zombies in the area. With all the experience we gained, we leveled up significantly. Crystal reached level 8, and I was closing in on level 9. Sakura, however, was the first to cross the threshold, hitting level 11—and that's when things got interesting.
Sakura's body began to emit a gentle glow, the soft light gradually intensifying until it enveloped her entirely. Her small form was soon cocooned within a radiant sphere of light that pulsed rhythmically, almost like a heartbeat. The cocoon shimmered with hues of pink and green, the colors swirling and blending in a mesmerizing display. As I watched in anticipation, I could feel the energy in the air shift, growing denser as her transformation took place.
The process was quick, but each moment felt like it stretched on, filled with tension and curiosity. The light around the cocoon grew brighter before suddenly contracting inward, like it was being absorbed into Sakura's body. The cocoon cracked open, and as it did, the light shattered into sparkling fragments that floated away like tiny fireflies, leaving behind a completely transformed Sakura.
What emerged left me utterly stunned.
Sakura now looked like a delicate, miniature person, standing no more than a foot tall. Her hair was a vibrant shade of pink, flowing down her back in soft waves, with strands that seemed to catch the light like silk. Her eyes, large and shimmering with intelligence, glowed faintly with a touch of ethereal energy. The most striking feature, however, were the translucent wings fluttering gently on her back. They were iridescent, catching the light and reflecting a spectrum of colors with every subtle movement, like those of a butterfly. The wings were intricate, with veins of glowing energy running through them, giving off a faint magical aura.
Sakura's outfit had also transformed. She now wore a dress that seemed to be made entirely of leaves and flower petals, perfectly fitted to her tiny frame. The green dress swayed gently with every movement, and it had a natural elegance to it, as if it was part of her being rather than just clothing. The dress seemed alive, almost like it was growing and adjusting to her every move. Her bare feet hovered just above the ground as she fluttered her wings to maintain her balance.
For a brief moment, she wobbled, trying to adjust to her new form. With a few awkward flaps of her wings, she managed to stabilize herself and flew over to me. Her small figure landed lightly on my shoulder, where she perched comfortably. I was still processing her dramatic transformation when I heard a sweet, melodic voice right next to my ear.
"Master! Look, I did it! I'm a pixie now!" she exclaimed with a joyful giggle, her voice now carrying a musical quality that made it sound like chimes in a gentle breeze.
Snapping out of my shock, I realized that Sakura had taken on the appearance of a pixie or fairy after her spiritual body fully formed. She was no longer the simple bonsai tree she once was—she had become a sentient being with a spiritual form, one that was full of life and magic.
Still amazed, I quickly pulled up her stats to see just how much she had changed.
---
**Name:** Sakura
**Tamer:** Dwayne
**Race:** Pixie
**Bloodline:** Dryad 1%
**Level:** 11 **Exp:** 0/2000
**Rank:** Bronze (11-21)
**Ability:** Plant
**Strength:** 25
**Speed:** 21
**Vitality:** 49
**Intellect:** 44
**Luck:** 20
**Charm:** 25
**HP:** 490 (Vit × 10)
**MP:** 440 (Int × 10)
**Attack:** 230 (Str + Spd × 5)
**Defense:** 370 [(Vit + Str) × 5]
**Active Skills:**
- *Strangle (LVL 1)* - Uses vines to restrain enemies. 10 mana per use, drains 3 HP per second.
- *Whip (LVL 1)* - Attacks enemies with vines. 15 mana per use.
- *Drain (LVL 1)* - Absorbs nutrients from enemies, refilling 5 HP per second. 25 mana per use.
**Passive Skills:**
- *Telepath (LVL 1)* - Communicates mentally with others.
- *Growth (LVL 1)* - Speeds up plant growth within a 50x50ft radius.
- *Fly (LVL 1)* - Allows flight using wings.
---
Sakura's strength had nearly doubled, and she had gained a new passive skill: Fly. It explained why she had struggled with her wings earlier. Even more surprising was her transformation into a pixie with a humanoid appearance, though she was still quite small.
"Sakura, can you still transform into your bonsai tree form? And before your rank-up, did it automatically start after you leveled up, or did you have a choice?" I asked, eager to gather important information.
"Master, after reaching the level required for a rank-up, I chose to evolve on the spot because I knew Crystal and Master were nearby, so I felt safe. I can still take my bonsai form anytime—it's my main form. I just wanted to look more like Master," she replied in her baby-like voice, speaking directly into my ear.
"Alright, Sakura. Next time, let me know beforehand so we can find somewhere safe. Anything could happen, and being in the middle of the road with zombies or beasts nearby isn't exactly ideal. Even with Crystal and me here to protect you, it was a risky choice."
"Yes, Master. Sakura is very sorry for not considering her surroundings," she said, her tiny voice filled with regret.
"Crystal, the same goes for you. When it's time for your rank-up, don't start it until we're somewhere safer or until you're in the independent space."
"Woof woof!" Crystal barked in acknowledgment.
The System had informed me that level 11 marks the first rank-up, followed by levels 21, 31, 51, 76, and 100. According to the System, I didn't need to worry about anything beyond that since I was still too weak for it to be relevant. Each rank-up brought qualitative changes, making us more powerful or intelligent. Zombies undergo these changes too, evolving into stronger variants after their rank-ups.
Excited to see what Crystal might evolve into, I let her handle the rest of the fighting along the way, knowing she was only a couple of levels away from her first rank-up.
We continued our journey toward Joe's place, with me practicing with my new spear while Crystal and Sakura took care of the zombies and beasts that appeared. Fortunately, there were no overly powerful enemies, making it easy for them to handle.
Noticing that Sakura's combat skills were lacking, I gave her some pointers during the trip. I taught her how to use her roots like a whip, not just to strangle her opponents but to attack them directly. It didn't take long for her to get the hang of it, and soon I received a notification:
[Plant - Whip: Able to use roots as a whip to attack foes. 5 MP per use.]
Sakura was thrilled with her new skill, becoming more confident and assertive in battle.
After taking down the last zombie, Crystal finally reached level 11 and began her rank-up. Sakura and I watched closely, ready to protect her during the process while I took notes for my own future rank-up.
Crystal was soon enveloped in a soft, radiant cocoon of light, reminiscent of Sakura's transformation. The glow pulsed gently, almost as if it was breathing, with faint tendrils of energy swirling around her form. The transformation process was swift, yet every moment felt charged with anticipation. I watched intently as the light intensified, reaching a peak of brightness before gradually dimming and fading away.
When the light finally dissipated, what emerged was nothing short of awe-inspiring. Standing before me was a massive white wolf, her presence commanding and majestic. Her fur, once simply sleek and pristine, had taken on a more lustrous sheen, almost shimmering like fresh snow under moonlight. The tips of her fur crackled subtly with residual energy, hinting at the power now coursing through her.
Her paws, once unmarked, were now encircled with jet-black markings that pulsed rhythmically with arcs of blue lightning. It was as though the very essence of the storm had been branded onto her, giving her an aura of both beauty and menace. The lightning flickered and danced around her paws, illuminating the ground beneath her with sparks as she took each step.
Crystal's fangs had elongated, now sharper and more formidable, designed to pierce through even the toughest of foes. The sheer length and gleaming sharpness of her teeth were a clear indicator of her enhanced predatory prowess. Her eyes, now a brilliant shade of electric blue, crackled with energy, exuding both intelligence and fierce determination.
Her overall size had changed dramatically as well. No longer the medium-sized wolf she once was, Crystal now stood at a towering height of at least eight feet long from nose to tail, her muscular frame rippling with newfound strength. She had grown not only in stature but also in presence, radiating an air of dominance and protection. Her new size made it clear that she could easily carry me on her back, turning her into both a fearsome companion and a swift, reliable mount.
The transformation was more than just physical; I could sense a deeper connection between us, a resonance that had grown stronger with her evolution. It felt as if we were now in sync on a whole new level, with her thoughts and intentions clearer in my mind.
As I took in the sight before me, I couldn't help but feel both pride and excitement. Crystal was no longer just a powerful beast—she had become a force of nature, a creature infused with the elemental power of lightning itself. This transformation was proof of her potential, and I knew that with her by my side, there was little we couldn't overcome.
Before I could fully process the extent of her transformation, I heard a voice in my head, soft yet brimming with joy and excitement, but also laced with a new confidence. It was Crystal, now able to communicate telepathically.
"Master, look at me! Do I look awesome now? I can even talk to you like Sakura does!" Her voice, though still carrying that familiar warmth, now had a more mature tone, like that of a teenager—bright and full of energy. Her tail wagged furiously, sending sparks flying as she excitedly licked my face with her enormous tongue.
"Crystal, stop with the licking! You're going to drown me in your spit!" I laughed, pushing her massive head away gently. "But yes, you look incredible. You're so big now that I can ride on your back. This way, we can cover more ground faster and skip over the weaker zombies and beasts. But first, let's check out your new stats."
As I pulled up her status screen, I couldn't help but marvel at the growth she had undergone. Her transformation was not just a visual upgrade—it was a complete enhancement in every way possible.
---
**Name:** Crystal
**Master:** Dwayne Storm
**Race:** Beast
**Breed:** Wolf
**Bloodline:** Raijin 1%
**Level:** 11 **Exp:** 0/2000
**Rank:** Bronze (11-21)
**Ability:** Lightning
**Strength:** 52 (+2)
**Speed:** 70 (+2)
**Vitality:** 46 (+2)
**Intellect:** 48 (+2)
**Luck:** 15
**Charm:** 18
**HP:** 480 (Vit × 10) (+20)
**MP:** 500 (Int × 10) (+20)
**Attack:** 610 (Str + Spd × 5) (+20)
**Defense:** 490 [(Vit + Str) × 5] (+20)
**Active Skills:**
- *Lightning Fang (LVL 1)* - Channels lightning around the fangs before biting. Costs 10 mana per attack with a 5% chance to paralyze.
- *Lightning Step (LVL 1)* - Channels lightning mana through the feet to increase speed. +5 speed, 10 mana per second.
- *Lightning Claw (LVL 1)* - Channels lightning mana into the front claws for a powerful attack. Costs 50 mana per use with a 10% chance to paralyze.
**Passive Skills:**
- *Danger Sense (MAX)* - Perceives incoming danger.
- *Lightning Absorption (LVL 1)* - Absorbs lightning to recharge MP with a small chance to heal 5% HP.
- *Telepath (LVL 1)* - Able to speak mentally with others.
---
Crystal's stats had nearly doubled, and her new abilities made her even more formidable. Her transformation into a Raijin Wolf was impressive, and I couldn't wait to see her in action.
With both Sakura and Crystal having completed their rank-ups, we were ready to push forward at an accelerated pace. I climbed onto Crystal's back, feeling the surge of power in