Adon opened his Status back up, and he accessed the Evolution Store.
There was no aimless wandering this time. He had clear ideas of the things he wanted, and he looked for them efficiently, almost impatiently. He felt a terrible sense of wasted time. Maybe he was just filled with a burning desire to make some achievement because he still felt a raw wound that had been exposed in his conversation with Goldie.
Mana Manipulation III was available now, for 200 Evolution Points. He added that to his cart along with Mana Manipulation IV for 400.
Wow, he thought. I felt rich for a moment, but I can’t actually afford Mana Manipulation V. And there was a Mana Manipulation V, but it cost 800 Evolution Points. That’s fine. I think III and IV will probably be enough to get started.
He added Mana Perception II and III for 60 and 120 Evolution Points respectively.
He wasn’t going to let the rest of the points sit there right now either. He needed more than just magical power. This extended and painful healing process suggested that Weak Regeneration II, which he had purchased in a mental haze after fighting—and partially eating—the Ladybug Larva was no longer quite good enough for Adon’s needs.
He added Weak Regeneration III for 60 Evolution Points. Then Regeneration I became available for 120 Evolution Points.
Then he threw in Color Change III for 200 Evolution Points. Hopefully it would get easier for him to use with this upgrade. Adon saw a few new options appear when he added Color Change III, but he couldn’t afford any of them if he kept his existing items in his cart. If he put Color Change III back, the new options disappeared.
Oh well. I’ll have plenty of time, right?
Adon used most of his meager remaining points to double down on other existing abilities. Spine Shot III and IV for 48 and 96 Evolution Points respectively, Acid Fangs II for 40 Evolution Points, and Venom Spines IV for 48 Evolution Points.
He decided that he would dump the remaining 21 Evolution Points into Stats. They were slowly but surely increasing as he killed and consumed more high level opponents, but that wasn’t really making them more balanced. Leaving the Evolution Store and going to invest in Stats also allowed him to wait a little while before he locked in the purchases and the painful process of upgrading his body took effect.
He would happily procrastinate in this area. New or upgraded Adaptations were something he had gradually learned to dread.
As he looked over his Stats, he realized that he had almost enough free Evolution Points to bring all of his lower numbers to 100. He invested the 21 free points, and there was a very satisfying change to the Status screen, with his weakest attributes all suddenly tied at 99.
User: Adon, Mystic Toxic Butterfly Larva
Age: 6 days
Sex: Male
Status
Health: 75/100
Mana: 215/355
Strength: 100
Agility: 99
Perception: 99
Dexterity: 99
Constitution: 101
Intelligence: 175
Will: 180
Charisma: 99
Skills: Identify, Impeccable Memory, Mana Manipulation II, Past Life Connection, Shed Skin, Spine Shot II, Spiritual Sight
Evolution Points: 1392
Biomass: 42/75
He felt slightly more confident as he looked over the numbers, and he couldn’t help wondering if that was because he was getting better and more powerful—and therefore had more warranted confidence—or because increased Charisma was associated with increased confidence.
Either way, he supposed he was happy with the result.
Finally, he returned to the Evolution Store and completed his purchases.
This time, the process wasn’t as bad as he had grown accustomed to expecting. Some uncomfortable heat all over his body, as his exoskeleton and spines and mandibles upgraded again. But it was as if he was physically more prepared this time. Perhaps more mentally prepared too.
Adon endured without crying out or losing consciousness.
When he could feel that the Adaptations had all taken effect, he took a break from getting stronger to have lunch with Goldie.
My body still hurts, he thought as he walked up the side of the web. The pain from the spider bites is duller for sure, but it’s not fixed yet. Hopefully after I get some food in me, the regeneration process will speed up.
Adon wanted to practice magic, but he realized he was almost as eager to go hunting again. Catching and killing his next big enemy would bring him another step closer to a summit he could not yet see. And it would help him to improve Goldie’s life and her probable longevity.
If I can do that, then any sacrifice it requires will have been worth it. In some place near the back of his mind, Adon was also aware this would validate his approach to this life.
If his intense way of going after things in his new life ended up extending Goldie’s life, didn’t that mean that Adon was right to live that way? To make those choices?
He and Goldie positioned themselves next to each other on the web and exchanged light telepathic conversation as Adon ate. Goldie had already consumed her meal for that day—she really didn’t need to eat nearly as much as Adon—but she kept him company anyway. He told her about his new purchases, and she seemed pleased that he had upgraded his regeneration and not just magic-related items.
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Soon you will be back on your feet, she thought.
You too, Goldie, he thought but did not send. You too. Hopefully with your next Evolution, the world will open up for you.
To Goldie, he replied, Thanks! I felt like I was taking longer than I wanted to heal. I don’t want you to have to go out and hunt down more food for me.
The spider shuddered slightly. Not certain how I would manage that, honestly. Do not understand how you manage life as a hunter.
Adon felt a bit of pride at that. It was one area where he felt he had a bit of an edge over other insects his own size, and even Goldie was a reluctant hunter. I had no choice at first, he sent. Slowly, a part of me is actually growing to like it—I think? Or maybe I just like to feel competent. Like I know what I’m doing. I’ve been very successful as a hunter, based on the System’s reactions. I don’t know if I’m good at much else. I’d probably be as scared to talk to a group of people as you are of hunting.
Goldie thought about that for a few seconds. But you already talk to me all the time, she thought.
Yeah, he transmitted back without needing to think, but you spend half of the conversation trying to make me feel comfortable. I know that’s not normal. He thought about it for an extra moment. That’s one of my goals, though. To be able to talk to people, even in groups. He looked the spider in the eyes. I bet you’d like that too, wouldn’t you?
Goldie did not need long to consider. She nodded. Definitely. I assume by people, you mean humans?
He affirmed with his own nod. I don’t know if other bugs think like us. My suspicion is that we’re different. I knew you were special from the first time I saw you. He was going to elaborate, but Goldie was excitedly thinking at him, almost in a stream of consciousness.
Good, then. I was a little scared about the prospect of socializing with mantises and scorpions. This tiny world of bugs is scary. Going out and trying to hunt reminded me of that. I am ready to go on this human world adventure with you, Adon. I think I probably was a human once. Though I prefer not to try to dig into the places I cannot remember. But that comment reminds me. I have been thinking about it, and I would love it if you could try to connect me with Red—that is what I have been calling my mate in my mind. I want to see if it is possible.
Adon was slightly surprised. I remember you were reluctant before. What changed your mind?
I was reluctant, Goldie replied. I was worried that we may discover we do not like each other. But you remember the story I told you about what happened when you were asleep?
He nodded. I do.
While we were out looking for food for you, she continued, we were attacked by a lizard. No, not accurate. In truth, I was attacked. Red could have run away, jumped off my back, and he would have escaped. We were saved temporarily when a bird came and scooped up the lizard. But we would have ended up being bird food if the bird started eating the lizard while I was still attached to its tongue. Another chance for Red to escape, though, while the bird was flying. Instead, he climbed onto the lizard’s tongue and cut through it.
Adon was nodding as Goldie spoke. He remembered all of this from her explanation of what had happened. Because of his courage, you both survived, he summarized.
Exactly! Goldie dipped her head up and down fervently. What I realize now is that no matter what his personality is, I like him. If we can talk, I want to talk. Even if he dies tomorrow, I want to know him today. I want to remember him for however long I live. My life can only be improved by getting closer to Red.
Adon wanted to smile. This made perfect sense to him, and in the back of his mind, he felt a little bit of hope that he would make another new friend. He hadn’t wanted to start up a conversation with Red on his own, and he still wasn’t certain whether it would actually be possible or not. But he was excited to make the attempt.
I’m glad you feel that way, he sent. I’ll try to communicate with him.
Adon mentally prepared himself. Some of the old nerves from when he had first spoken with Goldie crept back in, but he was able to quickly quash them. This will be easy, he told himself. Just remember how excited Goldie was to talk to someone for the first time in this life. Assuming Red can talk, he’ll be so happy to finally have someone to communicate with. And when I tell him I can connect him with Goldie—Well, Adon could only vaguely imagine how happy he would be to communicate with his romantic partner for the first time after having a purely silent relationship for weeks. It seemed like a very specific sort of situation.
Finally, before he could chicken out, Adon reached out with Telepathy and aimed at the place on Goldie’s back where Red normally was.
Hello, he sent. Can you hear me?
For a moment, there was silence and stillness. Adon was about to ask Goldie whether Red was actually there in his usual place, or if they needed to go and find him wherever he was hanging out on the web.
Then Adon saw movement. Red’s head poked out from on top of Goldie’s back.
There you are, Adon sent. Red looked around, up and down and sideways, as if searching for the source of the voice.
It’s me, over here! Adon transmitted. He waved his forelimbs to get Red’s attention.
Red finally noticed Adon was the source of the sound in his head and turned to face him.
Can you understand me? Adon sent.
Red just stared blankly at Adon for a long moment.
Then Adon received an image directly from Red’s mind. The picture was of one of the Kleptomaniac Dewdrop Spiders.
He’s wondering why I got his attention, Adon thought. He shook his head at Red. No, there are no enemies nearby. Can you understand what I am saying?
Nothing but another blank stare back.
Adon tried sending an image this time. The image wasn’t something real. It was something Adon had concocted with his imagination. Just a depiction of Goldie hugging Red.
The smaller spider seemed to become alarmed at this. He jumped off of Goldie’s back and scurried up the side of the web, out of sight.
Goldie turned her head and looked after him, alarmed.
Adon, what did you say? she thought.
I couldn’t communicate with words, Adon replied. He figured out how to communicate thoughts back, but he sent me an image of one of the thief spiders. He thought I was communicating because there was a threat. I was trying to tell him there was no threat, and then I sent him an image of you hugging him.
Oh. He probably thought I was going to eat him.
I figured that out after he ran away, yes, Adon replied.
Well, he has not run away so far, Goldie thought, and he knows I have not eaten him. He will calm down eventually and return to where he belongs.
Adon nodded. I think so.
Sad we could not actually talk, though.
Yes, Adon agreed. His heart was a little broken for Goldie. But he supposed it had always been a long shot.
Thank you for making attempt. I will let you return to your wizardry. Goldie patted Adon on the back with one of her front limbs, and she retreated to a different corner of the web than the one Red had run off to.
I hope I didn’t ruin their relationship, Adon thought after he had broken the telepathic connection. But he didn’t allow himself to dwell much on that subject. It was time to dive back into magic.
Adon plunged into the darkness once again.