[Dungeon floor “Crawling Caves” has been successfully invaded. Dungeon space is now shared between both dungeons. Floor theming has changed to “Elemental Battleground”. Successfully evict the remaining rival dungeon to gain complete control of the floor.]

[Elemental Battlegrounds: Grounds where monsters of two opposing elements clash once again in their endless battle. The battle still wages, all invaders beware.

Inhabitant bonus: Gain levels much faster than normal, monsters generously boosted on both sides.

Invader bonuses: No bonuses are gained, avoid fighting as much as possible!]

When I went to check on my monsters outside the dungeon, it turns out they were a lot more successful than initially planned. Edwin and the drake had proved even enough with each other, neither one breaking the stalemate.

That is, until Merry returned.

With a knife in the back, the drake was critically injured, and by the combined efforts of Merry and Edwin, the drake was defeated. The drake apparently had some sort of buff ability that it was using to power up its small fries. (As in the general use of the phrase, not the specific monsters). So after its defeat, all the others were easily scattered by my forces.

At that point, they were waiting for my signal to fall back, but since I was preoccupied in the Judgement Zone, Edwin and Merry made the executive decision to keep pushing. Together, they ended up purging most of the caves of the fire monsters, with a couple of exceptions where, ironically enough, my troops had forced some fire monsters into their own siege. They even managed to get far enough to actually conquer up to the exit Merry had led Xylia out of! Even though it wasn’t planned, I was all for driving the fire freaks out of my sight entirely, so I was behind this every step of the way.

Although that exit was apparently a highly contested area, as just outside of it, the fire monsters regrouped and held the line. This happened again not too far off on another path that likely led up the mountain.

With a stalemate back in action there wasn’t really much either side could do. Luckily we did have some new evolutions to hopefully turn the tides. Although, strangely enough, of the three, only one of them came from the frontline forces. Two of them actually came from the fish!

[Saint Bernardfish: A saintly fish who wishes to save others is so powerful, it gave a middle finger to evolution and grew legs! Now with the power of legs it will go anywhere from tropical waters to frigid mountains in order to save others! Requirements:Have another fish inhabitant grow legs. Have a very strong desire to heal others.]

[Snow Angel: A graceful and elegant magic user. Gone are its days of water, now it exclusively fights in snow or in the air with powerful ice and light attacks. The attacks from its core are incredibly powerful, but it needs to expose it to fire, making it more valuable to attacks. Requirements: Have a “Frosty Forest” theme somewhere nearby. Have an inhabitant with Aurora affinity. Have ice and light affinity.]

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The Saint Brenardfish were essentially just regular Saint Brenards but with a big ol’ fish tail. My family used to train Saint Bernards to work as rescue dogs, so seeing them again was a real unexpected treat. Despite the description haggling on their legs, they were perfectly normal Saint Brenard legs. Unlike the Jellyslimes, who, although not evolving, have decided to start copying the Saints and grow their own legs. Most didn’t grow dogs legs though, as 4 of the 5 how grew legs made them thick and veiny human legs. I’m not even sure where they got the idea for that, as they’re no legs that I’ve ever seen. And I refuse to explain the monstrosity legs that the other fifth grew.

It was quite terrifying seeing them run around aimlessly in the dark tunnels. And frankly, I needed to look at something else.

Luckily the Snow Angels provided an easy solution to that. They didn’t look too much different from their sea counterpart, aside from being much bigger and thicker, ending on something that looked like a mantaray. But they way they floated about in the air, it was heaven on the eyes. The way they twirled about like ballroom dancers, leaving faint after glows wherever they went, it was as gorgeous as Christmas lights. And I don’t say that lightly.

What was also interesting was that Snow Angels apparently had a habit of sneaking into other floors, as there were quite a few in the first and second floor blending into the background to look like creatures far off in the distance. They were beautiful everywhere they went.

But the real crème de creme was the north star of my own dungeon, Merry. At least, she will be. The alert I had gotten whilst I was in the Judgement Zone went as follows:

[Inhabitant “Merry” has broken the bonds of its heart! In doing so, a legendary evolution path has become available! Dungeon confirmation required before evolution.]

[Warning! Proceeding with legendary evolution path will remove all unobtained evolution paths for clothlings. Including but not limited to: Dollkins, Wizrobes, and Fabreapers.]

If I remember correctly, the aurora kelp didn’t have this same restriction. I wonder if that’s because they were already at a threshold from evolving or if it’s because kelp are flora as opposed to Merry, who is a monster.

Regardless, I was able to at least check what the three clothling evolutions were. Simply put, they didn’t appeal to me. Dollkins seemed more like mannequins than dolls, copying what others do, and generally having a creepy vibe that felt like it would continue into what they’d evolve into. Something I wasn’t really into. Fabreapers were mini reapers with human skulls, long cloaks and very sharp scythes that focused on dark affinity. They interested me, but the requirements were simply too intense to realitically get anytime soon. Plus it was also a legendary , so I’d be left in the same situation.

Wizrobes were worth considering, but they traded the utility of clothlings for a full focus on magic, and magic’s cool and all, but Merry was better at sword fighting; I’d be limiting her if I made her a wizrobe.

Granted, I didn't actually know what the legendary evolution was, but I’d rather take my chances with something Merry unlocked herself then holding off for something potentially better, if such a thing existed.

So, with what little fanfare I could muster, I summoned Merry to the most ceremonial room I could think of, which was just the pool room. But something about it just didn’t sit right with me. Maybe it was because the pool room already had a purpose, in holding the pool, whatever that pool may be.

So I got a new idea. While I had ideas for the third floor, it wasn’t much besides my core at the moment. I decided to build a little shrine right in what I planned to be my center for the third room.

It was basically just a pedestal, and while I wanted to add fancy engravings, that would take a bit too long. I summoned Merry to this pedestal to begin the evolution.

[Begin Legendary Evolution?]

I clicked yes and a glow like the aurora developed around Merry.