The Mutate was different from the Evolve in the sense that now he could guide the plant to a desired outcome. He quickly found out that more than one application of the skill was necessary and it wasn’t uncommon to end up with dead ends. However, the mix of magical plants was further improved.

He had successfully mutated the decorative CageBush into a TrapBush. In the middle of the plant, there was an enticing nut. The white nut, the size of an orange, dangled seductively from a lone branch. Now and then it would tremble and hum in a low buzz, calling for attention. But as the name implied, if anyone even touched the fruit, the branches hidden in the ground would spring up and fold forming a cage-like structure. Those were only wooden sticks, but somehow they were sturdy, they even had the characteristic sheen of metal.

Of course, when he curiously inspected the plant he had trapped himself in it, and even he, the King of Spiders, struggled to get out of the cage-like structure. But hey, the nut was really tasty, invigorating even.

[Perk Enhanced Poison Immunity activated], he shrugged at the message, it didn’t change his mind. The nut was tasty!

To get out of the cage, he had to use a fiery axe, even if somewhat metallic the plant remained weak to fire.

“With or without the enticing TrapBush Nut, this plant will serve me well.” He called for White Sprigans to [Heal] the damaged TrapBush.

The TrapBush could either be used to trap unsuspecting trespassers or just to trap forest animals. That, and its metallic branches, if harvested, would make perfect fences for his Enchanted Boars. By the way, when he fed the TrapBush Nut to one of the squirrels they promptly fell asleep. Yup, even the nuts it grew were traps!

He also tried to Mutate the otherwise failed plants like the FaultyCabbage. Considering its bitterness, that one was also clearly poisonous, so he worked to enchant that trait. The result was the WitheringCabbage, it remained ashen white but even sadder and sickly looking than before. That, and there was an unpredicted mutation: now and then the cabbage would produce a puff of ash which would eventually settle on the ground. The ash killed small weeds and grass, but the bigger plants seemed unaffected. If anything it could be used to make poisons or a weedkiller of sorts.

Of course, he didn’t need to make all plants sinister; he wasn’t a Demon Lord or something. He used the new perk to further enhance the nutritious properties of BerryNut and EarthenYam. The berrynuts were more bountiful and yams grew even bigger. And, moreover, he didn’t need to mess with all the plants. AshenClover seemed to be good in its natural state; no need to mess up something that is near perfect.

So, Mutate and his other Farming perks did wonders in enhancing the plants. And he didn’t need to stop at plants.

“Do you mind?” He asked the Wisp.

“I do not.” It buzzed.

In his hand was an unsuspecting squirrel. He didn’t want to evolve it, not yet, because he was scared of potential consequences since these critters bred quickly. So, “[Mutate]” he tried it on a living creature for the first time. Indeed, mutating an animal was more difficult than mutating a plant, but at that point, his other perk [Comprehend] had triggered.

“Hmm, so I can use my other Classes here.” He’d realised something he should have had sooner. “[Reinforce]” He applied a Building perk.

Normally that didn’t work on living beings, only on items, but somehow Mutate had overridden that soft lock. The squirrel emitted sparks of purple motes as he was guiding its DNA towards a more robust form. His comprehension perk made it so much easier. But, he didn’t just want to make this squirrel tougher, from the very start he had a different idea in mind. He wanted to make this squirrel a predator, this was what he was trying to mutate it to. Well Evolve would achieve similar results, but he had a hunch that mutated animals, unlike the plants, wouldn’t be able to reproduce.

His remaining mana was draining rapidly. “Come on, work!” He encouraged the perk to finish.

And it did. In his hand, he held a squirrel, slightly bigger than its former form. The white pelt had two streaks of purple on a side, and it had grown even bigger and sharper claws plus two long fangs in its mouth. The squirrel scratched at his hands trying to escape.

“A feisty bugger.” He dropped a bigger and tougher squirrel on the ground.

It didn’t idle and as soon as it was free it tried to chase one of the other squirrels. The wisp flew over the ‘improved’ critter and cast some spell showering it with green light. The anger left its red eyes and the squirrel predator mellowed.

The Mutate + Reinforce had worked but, “You aren’t angry, are you?” He asked the Wisp.

“Why would I?” It buzzed. “You made something breathtaking once again. Like all of your creations, this creature is beautiful. I shall keep it.”

The Wisp was as silver-tongued as ever. “You can keep it if you want. I don’t want it.” After all, this was just an experiment.

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“I’ll ask you to make more of them later. That is if you don’t mind.”

“I don’t.” He nodded.

The Wisp expanded buzzing a happy buzz.

Thus the magical forest received another addition of magical but mutated life, some sinister some not. In retrospect, it was neither good nor evil aligned, if he had to pick he would say it was Chaotic. Or even better, it was just life, doing what it can to survive in this new ashen environment. The White Sprigans worked hard to further expand the forest, so there was no need for him to get stuck here.

It was time to head back to MegaFarm, “I’ll be going home.” He waved the Wisp goodbye. “[Shadow Walk]”, he disappeared leaving only thin wisps of shadows.

…

His mana was low and he wanted to carry out yet another experiment. To top it up he could either take a dip in the Mana Spring or he could…

He went to look for the one who took it upon herself to help him with the potion business. Well, he didn’t need to look hard or long, because he knew exactly where she was. Indeed he found her lounging on his throne, eating and drinking some food he didn’t even know he had here. Imported from the Human Kingdom, perhaps? Actually, the proper name was the Aurelian Kingdom but never mind that.

“Did you receive the potion samples?” He asked.

Her long white tail twitched ever so slightly. “Is-sss that how you greet your Wife?” She hissed.

She was right, he greeted her properly and then, “So?”.

“I did.” She gave him a wicked smile.

“Awesome, where are they?”

“It will cost you, sss.”

He paid the price.

“S-s-s.” She hissed mischievously. “Follow, me.” She slithered off the throne.

He followed the lamia to a newly erected building. Like all buildings, this one was dome-shaped and spider-like. The only difference was that the entrance hole had a gate made out of IronOak, and two Lamia guards standing by the sides.

“Is the security necessary?” He asked because there was literally zero crime here. The spiders were just too well-behaved!

“Yes-sss. S-s-s.” She made a hissing laugh. “Try to enter.”

Well, he couldn't there was a closed gate. The two Lamia guards gave him apologetic looks. Clearly, the girls were roped into this against their will.

“I can’t.” He said the obvious.

“Exactly, sss.” She gave him an expectant look.

Well, he could command the two to just open the gate, but whatever the Lamia Queen was playing he decided to indulge her. These games would often happen if he ignored her for too long, and the easiest option was just to indulge her.

“How do I open the gate?” He asked.

“You need to pay a price. S-s-s!”

He paid the price and the gate opened. The small building was filled with crates.

“Wow, your business partner must be amazing to produce so much in a so short time. I expected only a sample.”

“Lady Crimson, she is-sss amazing. Might be better than you.”

She probably was, because he was only a beginner Alchemist, level 1.

“Speaking of which, sss, she made a request.” She looked at him expectantly.

He decided to cut the game short and just paid the price.

“She wants-sss more of your magical plant-sss for ingredients.”

“She’ll have them if she keeps making new potions. Actually, I’ve just made a lot of new variants.”

“Then, I’ll sss-shall sss-see sss-she receives-sss them.”

Wow, this one was awfully hissy.

The Lamia Queen continued. “Would you like to try the potions-sss?” She offered a crystal flask.

“Why are you giving me a Fertility Potion? I don’t need to test that, I’m here for advanced Mana Potions.”

She clicked her tongue making a ‘tch’ sound.

“Here they are.” He found a box filled with potions. The bottles were packed neatly and even labelled.

He uncorked them and ingested Reinforce Mana, Regenerate Mana and a few of Mp+ potions in that order.

[Toxicity +5], the message informed him.

“Ups, I should have taken Mitigate Toxicity first.” That one was really useful because it would lower the toxicity he would receive. “But then again,” He drank Reduce Toxicity and lowered the count to +4. Unfortunately, it worked only once a day.

The lamia was staring daggers at him, so he just paid the price.

“I need to run an experiment.” He gave her an apologetic look. “I’ll be back before bed.”

“Hmm, you better be. SSS!” She gave him another mischievous look.

Yup, it meant that he would need to pay the price in full. “Hum-mmm, I know what you’re up to... So just grab a few Stamina Potions for me.”

“S-s-s, the potions won’t save you, King.” She grabbed them anyway and slithered away.

“[Shadow Walk],” he phased through a wooden wall. Yes, he could have done that all along, that is, as long as it wasn’t a thick layer of solid rock.

He reappeared at the clearing where his spider warriors liked to do their fighting drills. Even now they were sparing with one another.

“Greetings warriors.” He called to get their attention, it was met by a sea of yellow eyes. “I need a volunteer.” An entire forest of arms volunteered. “Unfortunately, only one. Eeny, meeny, miny, moe; Catch the spider by the…” he picked a lucky spider.

The spider raised its head and walked tall and proud towards him.

“Congratulations, you have won a mutation, [Mutate].” He invoked the perk without hesitation. “[Reinforce],” and then another.

“It is. My honour. Ki…” The spider didn’t get to finish and instead curled up into a ball and began glowing in purple.

Everyone watched with baited breaths. The mana drained and the mutation was finished. The result was the same spider but with thicker and sturdier chitin. Well, not just that, the spider grew obsidian plates all over its body. It uncurled from the ball position.

“Reinforced plus one?” He asked.

“No, Obsidian Armour.” The spider chirped out the new perk it obtained.

“Hmm, I guess that works too.” Whatever made them harder to kill was a bonus. “I still have plenty of mana. Any more volunteers?” Again, he gazed upon a forest of hands, but this time it swayed like under a storm; the spiders were jumping and waving in giddiness.

It continued until…

A shadow slithered right next to the form of the King of Spiders, then it coalesced into something more tangential but still very black. “Apologies.” The Trusty Advisor bowed.

“[Mutate], [Reinforce].” He finished and turned to look.

“Strangers. Approach from the west.” It chirped simply.

“West?” There was nothing in the distant west but an endless jungle.

“Yes, spider scouts detected a presence. A good thousand of souls.”

“Hmm… Should I go and meet them?” He wondered out loud.

“We don’t know their intentions. I say, let them come to us. And let’s see what they bring.”

“Mhm.” He hoped it was trade and not war, but considering the numbers… “Yeah, I guess there is no point in ambushing them, we have numbers here. You’re right let's wait for them.” But that didn’t mean he won’t be preparing.

“Sorry, wife, I’ll pay you in full next time.” He whispered to himself.