The green glow that had been emanating from Rumble shifted to a copper hue as the choice was finalized for the evolution. The overall brightness drastically increased, but not the overall amount of light that touched the surroundings. With a rustle of limbs, branches, and leaves, Rumble slowly sprouted a network of vines that slowly encased him in a cocoon of sorts. And when it was finished forming an unexpected box inserted itself into Brads vision.

Your familiar has entered an evolutionary cocoon. This process will reshape its body and improve its attributes. You may enhance the process by integrating another plant of your choice.

Note: Effects will not successfully integrate with a familiar if the traits conflict. You may only integrate a plant during the evolution.

Time remaining: 10 minutes

Having stared slack jaw at the start of the evolution, due to the unique brillance of it, the countdown timer on the notification was already down to 9 minutes before Brad had taken notice and read it. “Uh-oh Mia, we need to find a plant to enhance Rumble with!”

“What? Why? Didn’t the evolution already start?” Mia asked curiously, not quite picking up on the slight urgency in Brad’s voice due to having just witnessed the brilliant display.

“I got a notification that we have eight and a half minutes left to integrate a plant into the evolution in order to improve it!” Brad said with urgency now flooding his voice.

“Eight and a half? Then we are fine, we have everything we need right behind us in the shack.” Mia smirked.

“What? Do you know which plant is best? Did you pick something up in town? Wait, did you know this was going to happen?” Brad started spitting out questions, a little surprised with the girl in front of him.

“No, in fact I could not even find a single mention of your class. Druids are not so common as to have a step by step skill selection guide like some others have.” Mia said chuckling.

“Mia! Then which plant are you talking about? Time is running low.” Brad said somewhat calmer than before, but with notes of anxiousness still obvious in his voice.

“Brad, there is only really one choice. Rumble has been cultivating the peacebloom for a while now. You know how Rumble is, if not out fighting, then the little guy is taking care of that gorgeous flower.” Mia reminded Brad.

“That’s true.” Brad agreed, but after some thought, followed up with another question. “The peacebloom calms people, obviously not something to enhance a warrior archetype… I’m worried that the enhancement will be negated due to conflicting with the warrior selection and Rumble’s personality.”

“That is quite the risk…. But how I view it, Rumble probably would not accept any other choice. It is up to you though, but that is my thought on it.” Mia told her boyfriend.

After a moments thought, Brad nodded his head in agreement. “Okay, so how should we do this? I am thinking that we should try moving Rumble to the flower. I am worried that moving the peacebloom will kill it and weaken the effect.”

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“Agreed, let us see if we can move the cocoon though.”

Upon trying to lift the cocoon, Brad found it to be only slightly heavier than Rumble had been just prior to the start of this evolution.

“Its pretty light, I guess Rumble will emerge roughly the same size as before. Must be why the warrior option still focuses on quick hit engagements.” Brad theorized aloud while carrying Rumble around to the door of the shack.

“Here, let me get the door for you.” Mia said while running around Brad in order to open the shoddy door of their home.

“Thanks. Now the question is, how do we integrate them?”

“No idea. Maybe they just need to touch each other.” Said while clearly trying to think of ideas.

“That is worth a try. Lets sit Rumble down nearby and slightly roll the cocoon into it. I want to be as gentle as possible with it.”

Sitting the egg shaped form, surrounding his familiar, Brad was able to gently rock it into Rumble’s precious peacebloom plant. And upon doing so he was greeted with a new popup asking his he would like to integrate the flower in question.”

You have chosen to integrate

“Peacebloom (Flourishing)(Sentimental to target)”

Do you wish to proceed?

Yes or No?

“It says that the flower is both flourishing and sentimental to Rumble. I’m hoping that means that it will get a bonus during integration.” Brad informed Mia before selecting “Yes”.

“We will see, but I sure hope so. It is good that the system recognizes that Rumble cared so much for that flower!”.

With “Yes” selected, the flower at the center of attention slowly started to brighten its blue glow. With the glow slowly infusing even its stalk, the flower rapidly started to dissolve into a ghostly mist that absorbed up into the evolution structure touching it.

Warning!

Main effect of peacebloom (Calming aura) is incompatible with “Warrior” upgrade.

“Oh no… it says incompatible! Wha….” Brad said worriedly before being stopped mid-sentence due to a new dialogue box appearing.

Secondary trait “Mana Laden” found due to status “Flourishing”

Trait “Mana Laden” enhanced due to status “Sentimental to target”

Trait “Mana Grown” available.

Do you wish to integrate trait “Mana Grown”?

Yes or No?

Having seen her boyfriend go from anxious to stuttering without finish his sentence, obviously due to a new popup, Mia needed answers. “Brad! What is happening!? Do I need to grab something else?” Mia said, now with worry in her own voice.

With a relieved “Huh.” Brad felt his entire set of worries instantly vanish upon reading the window before him. “No Mia, we definitely made the right choice. I can’t see what the trait does, but a secondary trait from ‘flourishing status’ called ‘Mana Laden’ became available then immediately upgraded into ‘Mana Grown’ due to Rumble’s bond with the plant.”

“Oh… well that is good.” Mia said, relief quickly flowing throughout her own mind.

With a selection of the “Yes” button, Brad walked over to Mia, who was still standing next to the door, her having ran there when she thought that they may need another plant.

“Well lets see what happens.” Brad said squeezing the soft hand cradled in his own.

With the selection made, Rumble’s cradle of evolution started to emit a stronger copper glow that soon began filling with ripples of energy pulsing out from the structure itself. Within moments the pulses began carrying hints of a dark green and a pale ghostly blue. The colors not mixing, but obviously in support of one another, the copper aura was quick washed away and replaced with the two newcomers. As it pulsed more, the pressure within the air surrounding the cocoon started to take on an almost physical presence. As it grew solid, it started to form a new barrier roughly five feet across and tall, a barrier of condensed aura. And just as it grew to be completely opaque, the enclosure sprouted branches and leaves across the entire surface, with it also rising up off of the ground a foot due to a great many roots pushing it up.

But as amazing and awe-inspiring as it was, Brad and Mia were not ready for what greeted them in the moments ahead.