Author's note:-

Well, sir, you deserve it. It was your idea after all.

.

Enjoy.

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(D-M-Y) 6-01-01: Morning.

Rocky's P.O.V:-

Yes, no matter how or how much I think about it, I am bound to return to the starting line over and over again. So, I asked her, my world and random specialist and this was her answer.

“This is not evolution. I had also at first thought the same thing that it was an evolution, but no, it’s not.”

No, no matter how you look at it, it's a completely changed monster from his predecessors or is this the result of having an ant born from an egg, instead of directly buying them as workers from the system.

I needed to find out the reason, as this information could prove to be really important.

“Then what is it? It clearly says it’s a unique monster.”

“You read its status too and the information provided clearly stated, that because of the chaotic atmosphere where it lived as a larva its genetics changed to help him survive.”

Oh! Yeah, I guess I’ll have to keep in check every small thing from now onward. But which chaotic environment was it telling about?

“Yeah, so does the environment, it states, is our dungeon? No, it can't be. Otherwise, humans would have also sensed something wrong with it, but they obviously didn't. So...”

A glowing light ball ignited my mental fortitude and ideas started emerging. Then things connected and everything became clear, but before I could say anything, Minie spoke.

“So, the energy released by the spells used by both you and the humans changed the atmosphere of the room and made it chaotic. Then that environment changed and influenced his growth leading him to get changes which you are observing.”

“So, even things like this are possible, huh. But if this is not evolution, then what is?”

Yeah, isn’t that what is called Evolution. Isn’t it the changes that one species or a single life form goes through to better accentuate themselves to cope with the changing environment. To my aching head my helper came as a relief who took my questions and worries away, like fleeting clouds.

Minie looked at me and when she felt my mind giving distressed and confused waves, she sighed and explained about evolution to me in a more depth and detail, which left me thinking.

“Evolution is more like the unlocking of one’s suppressed or lost genes, which comes with a change in their structure and abilities. It is more of a qualitative change, which happens from inside a person at microscopic levels. While what happened to him was nothing, but the influence of environment! So, that is why it’s forced evolution at most or half evolution at the best and not a case of proper evolution.”

Yeah, this kind of information was not something which a novice with no former information or knowledge could understand. So, too, a little frustrated, but eager Minie I said,

“Yes, I understand. Though most of it went over my head, but I understood something’s, like he is unique, not normal and he can fight, but he is born to be a worker.”

But when she heard me say he was born to be a worker, her brows rose. Though I also understood that the phenomenon had more to do with intuition control and will, but I still explained my reason to her. I don’t know why I did that. Maybe, I fear her. Fear that she would understand me wrongly and that would affect our relation in the long term.

“I mean, look at his body, his dense muscles, if the huge bulges around its joints really can be called muscles that is. And his skill-mandible shovel, it’s clearly telling what his real use is. He might be a fighter, but he is more of a worker than his name suggests.”

Her eyes wavered as if thinking not about my reason, but why did I explain my thoughts to her. Then, as if she remembered something, she released her folded arms and stood in the air silently while her small paper wings kept on fluttering behind her. Then her lips parted and a smile grew on her face and she said in a light girly tone.

“Right, so let’s go, if only this surprised you, then what I am going to show you will probably take your soul to heaven.”

I wanted to lighten the mood that for some unknown reason had gotten heavier. So I made a joke.

“Then let’s go back. I don’t want to die yet.” And like I thought she would do; she laughed, though just a little.

“ Fufee, Don’t worry, It’s just a figure of speech, anyways, follow me.”

SO, I followed her to wherever she was going. Well, I was having a jittery feeling, like my expectations had raised a lot from the way she conducted and her eagerness to take me that place also added some charm to it. So I followed her with both drive and desire and hoped that she won’t take me to a corner and say, just kidding.

But then I noticed that we both were flying towards the entrance and not only that we were already nearing the second intersection.

“Is the surprise that you are flaunting about, waiting for me at the entrance of our dungeon?”

To my question she behaved… questionably. Instead of answering me she increased her speed and continued to fly towards the outer corners of our dungeon. It felt really fishy to me, but what could I do, now that I was already following her.

“Hey, come on and tell me.”

“Don’t be like that!”

“Hey, At least give me a clue!”

But to all of my persuasion and rumble, she answered with a simple sentence.

“Just see it with your own eyes.”

Though it was risky and I had really thought that she would flair if I continued to ask her the same thing, but she handled it quite well. That proves it. She had forsaken her anger and changed to a fun loving pixie. I just hope she won’t turn back, but some part of me miss being talked down by her.

Then after some seconds of travelling through those familiar, yet unfamiliar tunnels we arrived at our destination.  The first look explained everything.

“Woah” my response came directly from the soul and why would it not, the view was beautiful.

I now, understand why she was so eagerly trying to bring me here.

It was an ocean. Blue, light colored and truly marvelous. The entrance to our dungeon which once looked like the aftermath of a hard fight; changed to look like a soul cleansing, mood soothing, mind relaxing, tourist spot.  

“How? How did it change so much?”

“Rain, while we were sleeping it rained. The clouds that covered thousands of miles of sky quenched the thirst of these barren lands. The rain ha not only changed the look inside our dungeon, but the rest of lands near our home which were once barren and had nothing to boot are now once again living and life is also slowly returning to them.”

So, it was actually not the result of any sudden mysterious or spiritual occurrence but a natural phenomenon.

*sigh*

“I never knew a simple rain could change a completely devastated area into something encouraging.”

“Yeah, this could very well turn into a heaven for adventurers to relax at.”

Her eyes were shining and I am sure if I had eyes, then they would be shining too. She was holding her hands in front of her chest and staring at nature which was at full bloom, amazing us both.

“Yeah, we need to make sure that no monsters emerge from this pond or any ants come to attack here from the deeper parts of our dungeon.”

It was decided that this place really needed to be converted into an attractive spot. We both knew that if a meta-monster and a fairy liked it this much, then normal humans with their sensitive and run the mill emotions would surely love it.

And that would also help us with our money/credit problem, though not by much, but every single credit is useful to us.

Why were we both so frowning at a water filled pit? It was simple, because it was not just a water filled pit, but much more than that.

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Just after arriving at the entrance, I had understood that this water filled hole was not what she wanted to show me. Yes, surely, its presence was making the picture complete, but there was actually something much, much more beautiful than just that.

If the falling light on a still water surface could make it look mystic and enchanting, then those ovate things which were radiating that blue light really were out of this world.

The pit from inside to the out, the walls, floor almost everything is covered by blue glowing patches of some kind of a plant.

There was a big ovate shape head stuck on a slim pole made of the same organic stuff which it was made of. The head was blue in color and was covered in shining white dots unnaturally by equally spread on it.

It’s not that they are glowing because of sunlight, which is falling from above and lighting the entrance, but because they are literally radiating and giving out light.

They are light blue and radiating a somewhat bright radiance which has covered the whole cave entrance in a beautiful blue color.

I got so engrossed in looking at them that words came running out of my mouth on own, as if, even my inner self wanted to know what in the world could be so eye opening.

“What is this!?” And because the reaction was sudden and my voice held a questionable tone, Minie flinched when she heard that and she hurriedly asked me.

“What don’t you like it?”

“Like… I love it. But what are these? There is no mention of these things in my borrowed memories.”

“These are mushrooms. They grow in dark and humid places. But I don’t know what kind these are. I ran back  to wake you up just as fast as I saw them, so I didn’t even use the interface to look at their aspects. I was so mesmerized by them that I completely forgot about that and when I came back to my senses, I ran towards you.”

“Really? Don’t become a devotee of them, okay. If the humans really liked it and decided to camp here, then I don’t think you would be able to visit this place much. Then you will have nothing other than me to look at.”

“Ha-ha, yeah, you are right about me being a devotee, but you are forgetting something. If you decide some of your mana to reserve for them, then they would be able to grow as much as you want them to and they will be able to cover our entire dungeon.”

I saw a strange light pass between her eyes. I am sure they are of no harm to her, but they will probably harm me. Girls are really like that, if they want something then they will find reasons to get it and if reason doesn’t work they would try to go with emotions and that always works.

“So come on now, let’s see what these are.”

There was no need for her to say that, because I was also thinking of looking at the information which my interface would provide about them.

So, I answered her with an “Okay” and then opened the dungeon interface to see what kinds of a name something so beautiful would have.

Blazing Frost MushroomBlazing frost mushroom are a rare variant of light mushrooms. They grow in a dark and humid space, but the most important thing needed for them to grow is abundant mana.Ingredient Rank : ASpecies : FungiGrade : RareGrowth Area : 25mPrice : 1Dc/Mushroom

I was checking their information when Minie at my side started laughing.

“HAha, Yes, they are exactly like what their name implies.”

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“I am talking about its name. The word blazing can also be interpreted as light or bright light and frost as its color which is blue. Together, these words form Blazing frost meaning bright blue and that is the color of these mushrooms and the light which they radiate.”

Ah, that. Good catch, I do say good catch. If it was me alone, then I wouldn’t have given much thought to their name, but it’s the first name which I am hearing that make sense.

“Well, you are right. Looks like whoever named it as such, went with the simplicity rather than to try and name it with complexity.”

She nodded her head, in conformation to my thoughts.

Everything was alright, but I couldn’t agree with her plan to cover the whole dungeon with these light sources. I have my own plans and I don’t want them to go haywire and blow up on my face just because of some material happiness. So I couldn’t help but convey my thoughts out loud to Minie.

“But there will be a problem, if they kept on growing and covered all the inside of our dungeon.”

I thought she would refute me and would try to use emotions over reason, but actually all the reasons which she gave were enough to make me think hard.

She said, “Won’t it be okay. The adventurers will feel at peace walking in our dark, but dimly lightened tunnels and would not have to bring their torches that would threaten their lives. Then they would be able to enjoy themselves in our dungeon. Other than being surrounded by the danger of the darkness they would be able to have fun fighting and then dying from their own carelessness. Like this our dungeon will become popular and we will be able to enjoy a constant increase in dungeon currency and happiness brought by dungeon improvements.”

“You are right. Though I was thinking of making our dungeon a descent into the dark kind, but what you are saying is also not bad. At least that would give us enough time to deploy and enhance our dungeon.”

“So what’s next? This surprise was really beautiful and relaxing, but we are not out of danger yet. Do you have anything planned to do now that we have some calm after the storm.”

Ah! I shouldn’t have said that. I understand that Minie’s small character change started after those humans invaded. I don’t know what happened to her that she became so vulnerable and weak, but whatever the reason, is it related to them?

After she heard me say that her body shook once and then she clenched her small hands into fists. Even though I couldn’t see her face because of it being in the opposite direction and couldn’t read her mind because she always keeps it locked from outside interference, but I was easily able to feel her trembling soul and fluctuating emotions, which were spilling out of her locked mind like a tidal wave.

I hoped that she wouldn’t get too sad over something which has no relation to her.

I was just thinking about her deteriorating mental condition, when her trembling stopped. She took control over her fluctuating emotions and looked at me. She smiled at me before saying, “Let's first go to our room, we have a lot of things to upgrade” and then she went flying past and away towards our room.

I followed behind Minie who was hurriedly making a bee line, straight to our room. While going back, I saw our ~Buff Ant~ diligently working out… I mean, digging the room, but the scene of him digging was nothing less than a beast running wild. It was surely out of this world, but for some other reasons.

He was working like a raging bull.  If I compare him with his now dead predecessors, then if the humans were in awe after looking at them, then he would probably leave them scared witless. They would give the same reaction like when they saw the queen.

I stopped for a minute and went passed him thinking that Minie would be eagerly waiting for me and I shouldn’t let her wait, not after our little scene that happened at the entrance.

I was just thinking that maybe she would open her heart and would tell me all, which is depressing her that we would have a long and maybe depressing talk after entering the room, but who knew that there would be another surprise waiting for me there.

Call it a surprise or a stomach churning scene, but what I saw left me light minded.