Sera’s back pressed into the rough bark of a large tree. The bark's rough surface bit into her skin, as she felt the heartbeat of the forest coursing through the roots beneath her.

Her gaze settled on Aermo, who was sprawled on the forest floor. His breaths were deep and each exhalation accompanied by a resonant snore. His beastkin features had softened in sleep, the tension in his muscles dissolved as he reverted to his more human-like form.

Sera's fingers lightly traced the grooves in the bark beside her, the texture a stark contrast to the soft moss cushioning her feet. She considered waking Aermo, yet, curiosity kept her rooted in place. She wondered how long it would take for Aermo to wake up by himself. It would inform me more regarding how much of a toll his transformation takes on his body.

Minutes trickled by, marked by the subtle rustling of leaves as a gentle breeze whispered through the forest. The sounds of insects buzzing about filled the air served as a backdrop to Aermo's breathing.

Eventually, the beastkin's snoring ceased, replaced by a faint mumbling as he tried to open his eyes. A low groan escaped his lips as consciousness seeped back into his limbs.

Sera watched, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips before tapping her foot lightly against the ground. "Finally awake?"

At the sound of her voice, Aermo straightened up immediately, brushing dirt and leaves from his clothes as he stood up. "I… uh, what's up, Boss?"

"Why don't you tell me what you remember instead?"

"Did I… transform again?"

"You did, and don't worry, the humans from earlier have been dealt with."

Aermo shook his head slowly, the motion almost hesitant. His eyes clouded with tears, the shimmering droplets clinging to his lashes. "I remember those uniforms, some of them were working with the soldiers that attacked my village."

Sera moved away from the tree, lightly brushing the rough bark as she stepped forward. She tapped a finger against her chin, her gaze softening as she studied the beastkin man. "Is that why your transformation this time was much stronger than when I first found you?"

Aermo's hand drifted to the back of his head, scratching absentmindedly. "Didn't really think about it that much to be completely honest, but I guess so."

The crunch of footsteps on the leaf-littered ground broke the moment, drawing their attention. Zoha approached with a measured pace, before bowing deeply before Sera. "Forgive me for interrupting, Mistress. But I've finished collecting the remains of all the intruders before placing them in the Spirit Tree's chamber."

"Thank you, Zoha."

Sera then turned her attention towards Aermo, observing the tightness around his jaw and the hard set of his shoulders. She closed the distance between them, stopping just in front of him. "You're still bitter, still seeking vengeance."

"Hard not to be, Boss. If given the chance, I'd love to give those bastards a taste of their own medicine."

"And if I were to take you to Marwood, can you control yourself?"

Aermo took a step back, his eyes widening in surprise. "Boss, you're serious?"

Sera studied him for a moment. She recalled the first time she had encountered Aermo, and how one of the main reasons he joined her was due to the promise of the beastkin maybe finding his wife in the future. Such loyalty is tenuous at best, I should give him an opportunity to make him feel empowered while still making use of him .

Out loud, Sera said, "I trust you, Aermo. This is your chance to prove yourself, to show that you can control your anger and use it wisely. And with luck, we could find details about the whereabouts of your wife."

Taking a deep breath, Aermo seemed to gather himself before he exhaled slowly. "Boss, I promise you that I won't disappoint."

Sera nodded once. Without another glance at him, she turned on her heel. "And, Zoha, follow me to the Spirit Tree's chamber."

The demoness moved swiftly, slipping seamlessly into step behind Sera. "Yes, Mistress."

Just a few moments after Sera had started walking, her keen senses caught movement to her right as she noticed the rustling of bushes. Sera tilted her head, her eyes narrowing slightly as she peered at the shifting foliage. "Little ones?"

Soon, all twenty thornlings emerged from the underbrush. The thornlings quickly arranged themselves in a tight circle around Sera, their collective gaze fixed on her with an intensity that spoke volumes.

The elder dryad's lips curved into a warm smile as she knelt down to their level. "Is there something you all wanted to tell me?"

The thornlings communicated with each other all at once, their high-pitched voices blending into a cacophony of eager sounds. Their excitement was palpable, their tiny bodies vibrating with energy. Sera sighed softly, holding up a hand to calm them. "Calm down, please, one at a time."

Gradually, the thornlings quieted down and glanced at one another. After a brief moment, a few of them nudged two particular thornlings forward, urging them towards Sera. The two hesitant thornlings stumbled slightly before regaining their composure, eyes wide and nervous.

"What did these two do?" Sera asked.

One of the thornlings made a series of high-pitched sounds. Sera nodded in understanding as she stood up and fixed her gaze on the two hesitant thornlings. "Both of you showed great bravery in attacking the humans, follow me."

***

Sera's gaze drifted over each corpse laid out within the Spirit Tree's chamber. Zoha, with her characteristic efficiency, dragged the final body into alignment with the others. There were eleven in total, including the man she had previously interrogated. If only there were more of them, but for now, this will have to do.

Many of the bodies were charred beyond almost all recognition. Their skin was blistered and blackened, the features melted and distorted into grotesque masks that barely hinted at their former humanity. Hopefully, they will still provide decent experience.

The elder dryad moved slowly through the grim assembly as she approached the Spirit Tree. Then, with a deep sigh, she turned her back against it.

She felt the now-familiar sensation of roots from the tree seeking her out, extending toward her like the fingers of a longing parent. They burrowed gently into her spine, an intimate connection that brought her more comfort than it did pain.

[Experience extraction initiated]

Several slender roots emerged from the soil, their movements almost sentient as they stretched towards the corpses scattered throughout the room. Each tendril, thin and sinewy, glistened with moisture as it coiled around the lifeless forms, weaving through limbs and torsos.

Meanwhile, the two thornlings from earlier scuttled closer to Sera's feet, their tiny forms trembling slightly as they tried to avoid the writhing roots. Seeing this, Sera bent down and rubbed both of the thornlings' leaves with gentle strokes. "Be at ease, little ones."

Her fingers moved tenderly, caressing the delicate foliage with great care. The two thornlings relaxed under her touch. Their quivering subsided, replaced by a subtle, almost imperceptible purring sound that resonated from deep within their tiny bodies.

With the thornlings taken care of, Sera stood up and turned her attention to Zoha, who was standing nearby. She noticed a flicker of uncertainty in the demoness’s usually composed features. Her lips parted slightly, as though on the brink of voicing a concern or question that weighed heavily on her mind.

"Speak your mind, Zoha."

"Mistress, with all due respect, I believe that bringing Aermo with you to Marwood is a disastrous idea."

"You're not wrong, and it's certainly not a choice that I would have made under normal circumstances."

"Then why choose him to accompany you?"

"Unlike you, Aermo isn't bound to a magical contract to me. His loyalty has yet to be completely secured, and here is a chance to offer him some agency while still extracting value from him."

"That I understand. But that doesn't change the fact that his powers are still volatile, and also, he's not exactly a strong fighter when not transformed."

"I agree, but I believe that Marwood can be a place where Aermo can develop more control over his powers. The fact is that his transformation is very powerful, even by the standards of a beastkin shifter."

"And what about a worst case scenario, Mistress?"

"Perhaps Aermo will rampage through the slums for a bit until I calm him down. But, I doubt that the nobles of the kingdom would suddenly care about those living in the slums just because of one disaster."

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"But—"

"In addition, between you and Aermo, I'd prefer if you were the one to look after the dungeon. Your abilities are more reliable and for the most part, I'm of the belief that you'll be able to dispatch any future intruders better than Aermo can."

Zoha’s initial resistance was still visible in her rigid posture and the slight tightening of her jaw. Her hands clenched momentarily before she exhaled slowly. "I understand, Mistress."

Sera observed Zoha's subtle shift from defiance to acceptance, lips curling into a light chuckle. "You still don't sound convinced."

"Perhaps, but that doesn't mean I won't accept your decision."

"Don't worry, you will have your chance in due time."

As they spoke, the bodies of the eleven intruders began to dissolve, their physical forms breaking down into ethereal wisps of blue energy. The chamber filled with a soft, pulsating glow as each corpse evaporated, leaving behind nothing but floating mana.

[Experience extraction complete]

Core experience updated to 6000.

Once the last of the corpses had vanished, Zoha retrieved her journal and pen from her cloak. She flipped open to a blank page and scribbled down a few words. "At the very least, I'll write down some useful information for you to take on your mission."

Sera chuckled as she saw the demoness write as if her life depended on it. But then, the elder dryad turned her attention to the small thornling who was idling by her leg. "Little one, I need you to hold still for this next part, alright?"

The thornling bobbed up and down slightly as if in understanding. Its red eyes flaring up more.

With that settled, Sera spoke her next words out loud. "Initiate experience distribution please."

[Experience distribution initiated]

Please select a target.

Sera pointed to the first thornling. "This one."

In response, slender roots snaked their way towards the first thornling, gently wrapping around the small creature.

Would you like to view the entity's statistics?

"Yes, please."

[Processing request]

[Displaying status]

Name: Little One 1

Species: Thornling

Level: 25

Magic: 10 (Rating: F)

Magic Resistance: 20 (Rating: F)

Physical Defense: 25 (Rating: F)

Strength: 15 (Rating: F)

Speed: 15 (Rating: F)

Vitality: 15 (Rating: F)

Overall Challenge Rating: F

Note: Entity is one level away from reaching E-tier.

Sera’s eyes widened in surprise as she absorbed the information displayed before her. She glanced down at the first thornling. "How much experience does this little one need to level up?"

[Calculating experience requirement]

The thornling requires 400 experience to reach the next level.

Turning her attention to the second thornling, Sera repeated the process. "Now for you."

The Spirit Tree responded in kind, roots extending towards the second thornling and gently encircling it.

[Processing request]

[Displaying status]

Name: Little One 2

Species: Thornling

Level: 24

Magic: 10 (Rating: F)

Magic Resistance: 20 (Rating: F)

Physical Defense: 25 (Rating: F)

Strength: 15 (Rating: F)

Speed: 15 (Rating: F)

Vitality: 15 (Rating: F)

Overall Challenge Rating: F

Note: Entity is two levels away from reaching E-tier.

Sera took in the new information, a thoughtful expression crossing her face. "And how much experience does this one need to level up?"

[Calculating experience requirement]

The thornling requires 800 experience to reach the next level.

Sera's gaze shifted to the two thornlings before her. The 6,000 core experience she had accumulated could be used to strengthen the Spirit Tree, and by extension, dungeon itself.

Yet, Sera's thoughts drifted to the thornlings. Leveling them up would not only reward their courage but also enhance their abilities, which would still be minor, but not completely insignificant. I'm also curious as to what they will become once they reach E-tier.

Nodding, her mind made up, Sera spoke with quiet resolve. "Let's proceed with leveling up both of them. Initiate experience distribution, please."

[Experience distribution initiated]

How much Core Experience do you wish to distribute? The current Core Experience to standard experience conversion rate is one to one.

"Enough to level up each thornling to reach E-rank respectively."

This will cost 1,200 Core Experience, are you sure?

"Yes."

The roots tightened ever so slightly around the two thornlings, their surfaces shimmering with slight glow light as the experience transferred over. The eyes on both creatures glowed even brighter, their body trembling slightly as they teetered on the brink of transformation.

[Experience distribution successful]

[Both entities have reached level 26]

[Initiating evolution sequence]

The thornlings’ bodies glowed with an intense, radiant light that enveloped their small forms entirely. The glow pulsed rhythmically, each wave of light causing the creatures to expand incrementally. Their diminutive frames stretched and grew, the vines thickening and the thorns sharpening to fine points.

Eventually, the radiant glow faded, revealing the thornlings’ new forms. They now stood at the height of Sera’s knees, their vines more robust while the thorns gleamed with a sharper edge.

[Evolution sequence complete]

[Displaying status]

Name: Little One 1 & 2

Species: Greater Thornling

Level: 26

Magic: 12 (Rating: F)

Magic Resistance: 22 (Rating: F)

Physical Defense: 28 (Rating: F)

Strength: 18 (Rating: F)

Speed: 18 (Rating: F)

Vitality: 18 (Rating: F)

Overall Challenge Rating: D

Note: Both entities possess identical statistics at this moment. Consequently, their attributes are presented collectively.

The newly evolved thornlings moved around excitedly, their larger forms testing their new capabilities. They examined themselves with an almost childlike curiosity, red eyes gleaming with delight at their enhanced stature.

Sera rubbed her temples thoughtfully. "Perhaps you both deserve names now, to differentiate yourselves from the other thornlings."

Zoha stopped writing in her journal for a moment and looked up suddenly. "What about Valor and Brave?"

Sera’s eyes widened slightly. "That's not bad," she then turned her gaze to the newly evolved thornlings. "What do you two think?"

The thornlings bobbed up and down enthusiastically in a clear expression of approval. Sera felt a sense of warmth wash over her upon seeing this; it was always nice to see her monsters grow and develop.

"Did you gain any new abilities, Valor?" Sera asked the first thornling.

Valor responded by taking a small step back. With a sudden motion, it unleashed a powerful lash from one of its many vines. The vine sliced through the air with a sharp, resounding crack, the sound echoing like a whip.

Zoha clapped her hands, a delighted bounce in her step. "Well done, Valor."

The thornling bobbed happily, facing Zoha and flexing his newly grown vines. The sharp appendages moved with newfound confidence, displaying the creature's enhanced abilities.

Sera turned to the second thornling, her curiosity piqued. "And you, Brave? What can you do now?"

Brave stepped forward, its form radiating a subtle, yet distinct energy. It focused for a moment, and then one of its thorns began to glow with a faint green aura. With a swift, controlled motion, it extended the thorn and tapped a nearby stone, which immediately split into several smaller pieces with a clean cut. The ability to sharpen its thorns to such a degree would be highly useful in close combat.

Sera nodded in approval. "Enhanced cutting ability. Impressive, Brave."

The two thornlings seemed to swell with pride, their red eyes glowing brighter. Sera couldn't help but smile at their enthusiasm.

"You've both done exceptionally well. Remember, with greater power comes greater responsibility. Use your strength wisely."

Valor and Brave bobbed in unison, their agreement evident in their glowing eyes and poised stances. Sera chuckled softly at the sight but then turned her gaze toward Zoha, her expression becoming more serious. "This might be sudden, Zoha, but have I registered your presence to the Spirit Tree before?"

"No, you haven't, Mistress. However, I'm ready if you wish to do it now."

"Much appreciated, just stay still."

A series of thin black roots silently emerged from the ground, snaking their way up Zoha's body. The roots wrapped around her legs and arms, and the demoness didn't react in the slightest.

[Entity analysis initiated]

[Processing request]

[Displaying status]

Name: Zoha

Species: Greater Swarm Demon

Level: 280

Magic: 280 (Rating: S)

Magic Resistance: 200 (Rating: B)

Physical Defense: 200 (Rating: B)

Strength: 120 (Rating: D)

Speed: 200 (Rating: B)

Vitality: 120 (Rating: D)

Overall Challenge Rating: S