Theo had a lot on his mind; he still hadn't figured out how the mantis killed the slime when it was completely stuck.
But before him was a message he least expected.
'Evolution potential?' he thought as a shiver ran down his spine. This was what he had wanted to find all this time, yet he knew it would take time or apparently not.
He quickly opened the status of the mantis, only to see that so much had changed.
"Young master… so this is why you tamed this Iron Mantis…" Clara stated with deep pride. "It seems I was wrong to doubt you," she continued from the side, and when Theo looked at her, she was bowing toward him in apology.
"Don't worry, Clara. Doubting me was feasible, but now that you have seen that it can do something, I hope you will change your mind," Theo said, yet his eyes were entirely focused on his system.
He quickly raised his palm so Clara would understand to wait, and after that, she didn't say anything, simply waiting for him.
======
Evolution Potential – Detected
Evolution Information:
Next Evolution – Moss Carapace Mantis [Optional]
Requirements –
Absorb 10 Moss Slime Cores (0/10)
Defeat an enemy at least a grade higher (1/3)
Evolution Traits –
Regenerative Moss – Slowly heals with the help of moss growth on its carapace.
Spore Lash – A rapid whip strike that releases spores on impact, stunning the enemy.
======
Theo looked at the information with plain delight. The word 'Unknown' had disappeared, replaced by a proper set of details.
'Moss Carapace Mantis… I don't think I've ever heard about this species…'
Just as he was looking at the system, a slight metal-breaking sound—CLANK—came from the ground, making Theo's neck snap aggressively toward it.
The Iron Mantis had bitten off a big chunk of the core on the ground and was eating it as if it were normal food.
"Young master, does your mantis have waste disposal abilities?" Clara asked while watching the mantis munching on the core furiously.
"No, it doesn't have an ability like that." Theo returned his focus to the details again. He didn't understand what triggered this evolution potential to appear this time. Nothing happened when it killed the rats so why now?
Yet one thing was clear—something was a catalyst for triggering this evolution.
"Usually, beasts don't like eating things like the Moss Slime Core because it's like bitter medicine for them. Even if they swallow it without any processing, indigestion is a common symptom," Clara explained, catching Theo's attention.
He nodded for her to continue, as the information didn't seem like much.
"This core, if preserved properly, can be used by potion makers and chemists to craft beast medicines. What this mantis is doing is unlike anything I've seen before."
Theo observed Clara's face, which seemed a little too excited since the slime's defeat.
He quickly returned to the system. 'Was killing the slime the catalyst for the evolution potential… or the core itself?'
There was yet another word—'Optional'—beside the evolution name, and Theo couldn't help but wonder about it.
He focused on the optional part, and another small screen opened over the status.
[Discard the evolution potential?]
'What the actual fuck…' Theo's head started to hurt now. Not only did he receive the evolution potential randomly, but he could discard it too? But at what cost? Did it mean he could get more options?
These questions irked him. Theo looked at the mantis, which had already eaten a quarter of the core.
"You really are a glutton, Mantis," Theo stated, moving his hand forward for it to come back.
The mantis looked at Theo once before going back to eating the core.
Theo only sighed and got up. "Clara, I want to fight some more slimes of this level."
"As you wish, young master. My tame just found a small pack of slimes near this clearing. We will have to check if there are any at this level among them."
With a nod, Theo went back to watching the mantis, which was eating so ridiculously fast that only a few small pieces of the core were left.
Just as the mantis finished the last few crumbs within a minute, Theo saw the 'Eat the Moss Slime core' mission increase by one.
"Let's go, then."
Theo and Clara walked in the same formation as before, with the boar staying very close to Theo to protect him.
In a few minutes of careful travel, they reached another clearing, and Theo stopped moving as soon as he saw the slimes.
The direwolf cub quickly ran up to Clara with a smug face, as if boasting about its accomplishment. A small smile formed on Clara's face, yet she didn't react much more than that due to being on duty.
"There are five of them, young master. Let us see if there is any within your level range."
Theo checked the status of all the slimes too.
"All of them are above level three, except that small one," Clara clarified while pointing at one of the slimes in the group.
They were all just blobbing around in the clearing, as if searching for something.
"How do they level up, Clara?" Theo asked curiously.
"They either eat each other or hunt small creatures foolish enough to come near them. The watery layer around their core is highly potent in digestion when the slime is alive. If a creature gets stuck inside, it's only a matter of minutes before it is fully dissolved into food. Much like how it tried to do with your mantis, young master," Clara explained.
Theo nodded in understanding. They really were fascinating creatures.
"My mantis has an advantage against them. Even if it gets stuck inside the slime, its metallic exoskeleton is unlikely to get digested. The only problem is the mantis's breathing."
CREAK. CREAK. CREAK.
Just as Theo was about to get up from the bush they had hidden under, a strange sound reached their ears—something heavy being dragged across the ground.
Theo looked at Clara and was shocked to see her face had gone pale.
"Wh—"
He was interrupted by Clara's hand suddenly covering his mouth.
Clara shook her head as if telling him to quiet down, her complexion ghostly white.
It seemed they were already in trouble.