I Can See Evolution Paths

The faint light at the end of the underground passage grew brighter until the group finally realized it wasn’t another chamber. It was an opening. The current carried the Guardian Shield violently through it, and suddenly the darkness disappeared as they burst into open air.

Trees stretched across the surrounding cliffs, their leaves catching the sunlight filtering through the canopy. Beyond them was a massive forested ravine, filled with mist and distant vegetation. After spending so long trapped beneath the Everglades, the sight of the sky left everyone momentarily stunned.

The Guardian Shield slammed against a rocky wall and finally came to a stop. For several seconds, nobody said anything. They simply remained where they were, breathing heavily and staring at the world above them.

Arthur slowly looked around before a relieved smile appeared on his face. "We’re out."

Sun remained sprawled against the inside of the barrier, barely moving. "We’re actually out."

Kong slowly raised his head. "Finally."

Mithra exhaled in relief. "I thought we’d never see the surface again."

Luna sat quietly, still trying to process what happened.

Athena looked around the forest, her eyes moving across the unfamiliar landscape. "So this is another part of the Everglades."

Arthur looked upward. Sunlight filtered through the leaves overhead, warm and almost peaceful after everything they’d endured underground. For a moment, it was difficult to believe that only minutes ago they’d been fighting their way through a cavern filled with boiling water.

"I could get used to this," Arthur said.

Sun immediately closed his eyes again. "Don’t say that."

Arthur glanced toward him. "Why?"

Sun opened one eye. "Every time you say something like that, something terrible happens."

Mithra laughed softly. "He’s not wrong."

Vedas gave an amused smile. "We should probably enjoy the quiet while we have it."

Arthur leaned back against the barrier. "Agreed."

For the first time since entering the cavern, everyone allowed themselves to relax. Eden floated around the barrier, fascinated by the trees beyond them, while Luna quietly watched the birds moving between the branches.

"There are birds," Eden said.

Luna smiled. "That’s a good sign."

Even Athena allowed some of the tension to leave her shoulders. The cavern was behind them, Jakō was nowhere in sight, and for the moment, it truly felt as though they had escaped.

Athy was the first to notice that something ahead had changed. Her golden eyes narrowed as she stared through the trees, following the direction of the current.

"Everyone..."

Arthur looked toward her. "What is it?"

Athy didn’t answer immediately. She rose slightly higher, trying to see beyond the canopy. A faint mist had begun appearing between the trees, and the sound of rushing water was growing louder by the second.

Her expression slowly changed. "We’re moving toward a waterfall."

Everyone turned toward the direction she was looking.

At first Arthur could only see trees. Then the forest abruptly dropped away, revealing a massive waterfall ahead of them. The current beneath the Guardian Shield was carrying them directly toward the edge.

Sun slowly sat upright. "...You have got to be kidding me."

The current accelerated as they approached the waterfall.

Athena immediately moved toward the front of the barrier and studied the terrain beyond it. "We can’t let the shield go over the edge."

Arthur nodded. "And we can’t touch the water."

Everyone understood why. The underground water had already shown that it could devour magic, and there was no guarantee the Guardian Shield would survive being dragged over the waterfall with the current.

Vedas looked toward the grassy bank on their right, then at Athy. "Can you get us there?"

Athy spread her wings and measured the distance. "I can reach it, but carrying everyone while fighting this current will be difficult."

Arthur thought for a moment before his expression changed.

"Then we don’t carry everyone."

Athena immediately understood. "The Mana Realm."

Arthur nodded. "Exactly. If most of us return, Athy only needs to carry the few people who actually have to remain outside."

Vedas gave an approving nod. "That should make it possible."

Athy took a breath. "Then let’s do it before the current decides for us."

Everyone quickly began preparing. Arthur reached toward Eden first, and golden light surrounded her.

Eden looked reluctant to leave. "Be careful."

Arthur smiled. "You too."

She disappeared into the Mana Realm.

Vedas followed soon after. Mithra gently rubbed Melo’s head before sending her back as well.

"Stay safe."

Melo smiled. "You too."

Sun gave Kong a pat on the back. "Try not to miss me."

Kong snorted. "Impossible."

Sun laughed. "That’s what I like to hear."

Kong disappeared.

Soon, only Arthur, Vedas, Athena, Mithra, Luna, and Athy remained. They positioned themselves around Athy so she could get everyone to the bank as efficiently as possible. Arthur kept one arm around Luna while Vedas steadied Athena and Mithra held onto Arthur.

Athy stretched her wings and looked toward the waterfall.

"When we get close, I’ll release the barrier," Arthur said. "The moment I do, the current will take us."

Athena nodded. "Then Athy has to gain altitude immediately."

Athy gave a small nod. "I know."

Arthur looked at her. "You can do it."

Athy glanced at him. "That’s a lot of confidence."

"You’re going to need it."

She smiled despite herself.

The current pulled them closer to the edge.

Arthur released Guardian Shield.

The golden barrier vanished, and the current immediately seized them. Athy reacted first, spreading her wings and driving herself upward while Arthur tightened his grip around Luna. Vedas caught Athena before the current could separate them, while Mithra held firmly onto Arthur’s other side.

The waterfall was already approaching.

Athy’s wings beat harder as she fought against the rushing air. For a moment, they managed to climb above the worst of the current, only for a column of steaming water to erupt beside them.

"Right!" Arthur shouted.

Athy twisted sharply, and the boiling stream blasted past where they’d been a moment earlier.

Luna cried out and instinctively clung tighter to Arthur.

"I’ve got you," Mithra reassured her.

From the Mana Realm, Sun’s voice echoed faintly through their connection. "That was close!"

Arthur laughed despite the danger. "You aren’t even outside!"

"I can still tell when something is trying to kill you!"

Vedas chuckled. "He’s got a point."

Athy gritted her teeth as another gust pushed against her. "Less talking! More holding on!"

Arthur laughed. "You heard her."

They continued toward the grassy bank, but the waterfall was far more violent than they’d expected. A massive surge of steaming water suddenly rose from below and swept sideways across their path.

Athy’s eyes widened.

"Hold tight!"

She folded one wing and dropped beneath the surge. For a terrifying moment the mist swallowed them completely. Luna squeezed her eyes shut while Arthur kept one arm around her, trusting Athy to find a way through.

Then Athy burst out of the mist beneath them, water streaming from her feathers.

"Still alive!"

Mithra laughed in relief. "That’s good to hear!"

Athy barely had time to smile before another burst of steam erupted directly ahead. There wasn’t enough room to go around it.

"I’m going under!"

She dove.

The heat washed over them as they passed beneath the eruption. Luna cried out when the edge of the steam brushed her arm, and Mithra immediately covered the burn with a healing spell.

"Almost there!" Athy shouted.

The grassy bank was finally within reach. Athy pushed herself forward with the last of her strength and cleared the rushing water.

They crashed onto the grass and rolled several meters before finally coming to a stop.For several seconds, nobody moved. Everyone was too exhausted to even complain.

Arthur finally pushed himself upright and looked around at the forest.

"We made it."

Athy remained sprawled across the grass, her wings spread wide.

"You’re all heavy."

Sun’s voice immediately came from the Mana Realm. "Stop lying. You can easily carry a building!"

Arthur laughed. "Doesn’t that mean we’re heavier than a building to her?"

Mithra chuckled. "I doubt that."

Athena groaned as she sat up. "Can we please stop discussing everyone’s weight?"

Luna laughed softly, and even Athy managed a tired smile.

She closed her eyes again. "Can we rest now?"

Nobody objected.

For the first time since entering the Everglades, the group simply sat there and breathed. The forest was quiet, the waterfall was behind them, and there was no sign of Jakō anywhere in the sky.

Arthur looked toward the distant cavern.

"I think we finally lost him."

Athena glanced toward the sky. "If he followed the same route, he may still be searching the cavern."

Vedas nodded. "Which means we should have some time."

Arthur relaxed slightly.

"Good."

Then the sky exploded.

A thunderous explosion erupted from the direction of the cavern.

Everyone immediately looked up.

An azure streak tore through the trees before bursting into the sky. Water spiraled around the enormous body of the Water Long Serpent Dragon as it rose above the forest.

Jakō stood calmly upon its head.

The dragon released a roar that shook the surrounding trees.

Luna’s expression immediately changed.

Arthur’s relaxed smile disappeared. "...Never mind."

Jakō didn’t seem to notice them at first. His eyes moved across the forest while the Water Long Serpent Dragon hovered above the trees.

Athena watched carefully. "He’s searching."

The dragon suddenly turned.

Its enormous head pointed toward their general direction.

Luna’s fingers tightened. "Can he sense us?"

Athena’s expression became serious. "Probably."

Sun groaned. "Of course he can."

Mithra was already getting to her feet. "Then we should move before he confirms it."

Arthur nodded. "Agreed."

Everyone got up and began running through the forestThey hurried deeper into the forest, weaving between thick roots and enormous trees while the distant roar of the Water Long Serpent Dragon continued to echo behind them.

Arthur kept glancing over his shoulder, trying to find somewhere they could disappear from Jakō’s senses.

He turned forward again—

and immediately stepped onto something soft.

Splat.

Arthur stopped.

A tiny blue Slime sat beneath his boot.

It slowly wobbled free and stared up at him.

Arthur stared back. "...What?"

The Slime tilted its body to one side.

Luna looked down at it. "A Slime?"

Sun’s voice came from the Mana Realm. "Arthur, please tell me you’re not stopping to investigate a Slime while a Silver Rank Beast Tamer is chasing us."

Arthur crouched anyway. "It doesn’t seem dangerous."

Athena studied the creature carefully. Unlike the ordinary Slimes they’d encountered before, this one’s mana signature was difficult to perceive. "Its mana signature is unusual."

Arthur’s curiosity immediately increased.

He reached toward it.

The Slime bounced once, almost as if it were responding to him.

Then Jakō’s roar thundered through the forest.

Everyone looked back.

Arthur straightened. "We need to go."

They started moving again, but after a few steps Arthur noticed something.

The Slime was following them.

He glanced over his shoulder. "It’s following us."

Mithra smiled. "Maybe it likes you."

Arthur laughed. "That would be convenient."

The roar grew louder.

Athena’s expression tightened. "He’s close."

Sun sighed. "I really wish we could hide our magic."

Mithra shook her head. "Not from someone at Silver Rank."

Arthur frowned. "How annoying."

Before anyone could say more, the Slime suddenly expanded.

FWOOOOSH!

Blue slime rushed over Arthur first, then spread across Vedas, Luna, Athena, and Mithra.

Everyone froze.

Arthur looked down at himself. "...What are you doing?"

The Slime continued spreading until it completely covered them.

A strange sensation passed through Arthur’s body. Then Jakō appeared between the trees. The Water Long Serpent Dragon passed directly over them.

Arthur held his breath.

Jakō never looked down.

The dragon continued forward, carrying its master deeper into the forest. Nobody moved until the roar finally began fading into the distance.

Arthur slowly looked down at the tiny Slime still attached to his leg.

Athena’s eyes widened. "It hid us."

Arthur looked toward her. "You think so?"

Athena nodded slowly. "It must have masked our mana signatures."

Arthur’s eyes brightened.

He carefully picked up the little creature.

The Slime wiggled happily in his hands.

Arthur laughed. "Amazing." He studied it for another moment, his curiosity growing. "I wonder what else you can do."

The Slime bounced in his hands.

Arthur smiled. "Would you like to come with us?"

The Slime blinked.

Then it wiggled even harder.

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