I Can See Evolution Paths

For several seconds, nobody spoke.

Athena was the first to recover, although even she seemed to have trouble processing what Luna had just revealed. Her fingers tightened around her notebook before she slowly raised it again, almost as though writing something down would help organize her thoughts. "The World Tree..."

Athy looked toward her. "You know about it?"

Athena shook her head. "Not enough. Most of what we know comes from fragmented records. Some of them don’t even agree with each other." She looked toward Luna. "But if your grandfather was telling the truth, then the World Tree wasn’t simply some enormous tree that existed in the Secret Realm."

Luna slowly shook her head. "My grandfather said it was much more important than that."

Athena’s curiosity immediately returned. "How important?"

Luna thought for a moment before answering. "My grandfather said the land itself was connected to it. The mana flowing through the Secret Realm was said to originate from the World Tree, or at least be greatly influenced by it."

Athena’s eyes widened. "That would explain so much." She glanced around the forest as though she were seeing it differently now. "The strange Beast habitats. The unusually dense mana. Even the way completely different environments can exist so close together..."

Athy leaned closer. "You think all of that comes from the World Tree?"

"It’s possible," Athena said, her voice becoming more thoughtful. "If the World Tree really is connected to the land, then it wouldn’t simply be a giant plant. It could be part of the Secret Realm’s entire mana circulation."

Luna nodded. "My grandfather said it nourished the land, strengthened Beasts, and helped keep the Secret Realm alive."

Athena slowly lowered her notebook. "And if that’s true..."

Arthur had been listening quietly. He finally asked, "Then why is everyone so afraid of bringing it back?"

That immediately brought Athena’s excitement to a halt.

Luna’s expression became serious. "Because they don’t want to restore it." She looked toward the Fire Mirror. "They want to control it."

That immediately changed everyone’s mood.

Luna explained that the people searching for the Five Mirrors believed restoring the World Tree would give them control over the Secret Realm. "They don’t want to simply restore the tree," she said. "They want to control what it provides."

Arthur’s brows lifted. "Control the Secret Realm?"

Luna nodded. "They want the World Tree to grow again and use its power to make the Secret Realm expand beyond its current boundaries."

Arthur looked toward the forest. "Expand outside?"

"That’s what my grandfather believed."

Athena’s expression slowly darkened. "So they could bring the World Tree’s influence into the outside world."

Luna nodded. "And then they could control everything connected to it."

Sun let out a tired sigh. "Can people who always want to rule everything ever learn?"

Mithra shook her head. "Apparently not."

Arthur smiled before looking back toward Luna. "So they’re basically trying to turn the World Tree into their own personal power source."

Luna’s expression became uneasy. "Yes."

Arthur’s smile faded.

That was when the ancient memories began falling into place. The golden tree he’d seen in the trial. The five Mirrors surrounding it. The people carrying the artifacts. Even the strange trials they had encountered beneath the cavern.

They hadn’t been unrelated fragments.

They had been pieces of the same history.

Arthur’s expression became more serious as another thought entered his mind. He turned toward Luna. "Then are they responsible for the barriers too?"

Luna’s expression changed. For a moment, she didn’t answer. Then she slowly nodded. "Yes."

Athena immediately looked up. "You’re certain?"

Luna’s fingers tightened. "I don’t know everything they did. But something happened in my village before it was destroyed." She looked toward the forest. "They did something to the land."

Arthur remained silent. "What happened?"

Luna swallowed. "Purple mist began spreading."

Athena’s expression sharpened immediately. "The same purple mist?"

Luna nodded. "It came from the direction they were working. At first, nobody understood what it was. Then the Beasts began changing." Her fingers tightened. "They became violent. Their bodies twisted, and they stopped recognizing the people they’d lived beside."

Arthur’s grip slowly tightened around Dusk.

He remembered.

Sun remembered.

Mithra remembered.

Even Athy lowered her head as the memory of attacking Athena returned to her. Nobody moved to interrupt the quiet that settled over the group as each of them sat with that memory for a moment.

Luna continued quietly. "My grandfather knew we couldn’t fight it. He sent me away with his Light Frog..."

Arthur’s eyes widened. "That’s why you were knocked unconscious."

Luna nodded. "The Light Frog protected me from most of the mist, but I had already been exposed."

Arthur slowly connected the final piece. "And that’s how we found you."

Luna gave a faint nod.

Athena’s expression became cold. "So the purple mist wasn’t a natural phenomenon."

Luna looked toward her. "No." She took a breath. "They caused it."

Nobody spoke for several seconds.

Sun was the first to break the silence. "And that mist..." His hand tightened around Long. "That’s what happened to our partners."

Mithra looked down at Kusa. "They weren’t themselves."

Athy lowered her head. "It felt terrible even after we got saved. To know that we could have—"

"It’s fine," Athena said, rubbing Athy’s head, making her tremble.

Arthur asked softly, "And those people did that to your village too?"

Luna nodded.

His expression immediately hardened. "I don’t like them."

Mithra nodded. "Neither do I."

Athena closed her notebook as the excitement that had filled her expression earlier was gone. "If they gather all five Mirrors, they could potentially reproduce whatever caused the purple mist."

Athy’s eyes narrowed. "And if they revive the World Tree..."

Athena finished quietly. "They could spread that influence much farther."

The thought settled over everyone. This wasn’t just about an ancient artifact anymore. Their Beast partners had already suffered because of these people. And now they knew the people responsible wanted even more power.

For a while, nobody spoke.

The revelation had left a different kind of weight hanging over the group.

Sun’s hand remained wrapped tightly around Long. Mithra’s fingers rested against Kusa, while Athena stared at the ground with her notebook closed in her hands. Even Athy had become unusually quiet.

Arthur looked around at them. Everyone had the same conclusion. The people searching for the Mirrors weren’t simply chasing an ancient treasure. They had already hurt their companions, destroyed Luna’s village, and unleashed the same corruption that had nearly taken their lives.

Arthur’s gaze eventually settled on the Fire Mirror. Then his familiar grin slowly returned. "Soooo..."

Sun immediately looked at him. "I don’t like that tone."

Arthur pointed toward the Mirror. "Are you guys up for collecting all five Mirrors?"

Everyone looked at him.

Arthur shrugged. "We bring them back to the professors." A small pause followed. Then his grin widened. "And rub it in those guys’ faces."

Sun stared at him for a moment before a laugh escaped him. "Normally, I’d say no." His smile faded as he looked down at Long. "But it’s because of those bastards that my partner suffered."

Mithra nodded, her expression hardening. "They hurt our companions. After everything they’ve already done, I don’t think we can simply ignore them."

Athena’s gaze became cold. "Then we make sure they don’t get the Mirrors."

Athy nodded. "And I’d rather we find them first anyway. We’re already involved now."

Arthur laughed softly. "Then it’s settled." He turned toward Luna and gently patted her head. "Now then, Luna. Let’s go grab the next Mirror."

Luna looked up at him, her eyes trembling. "You’re really willing to do this?"

"Of course."

Mithra smiled. "We’re already in this together."

Athena nodded. "And now we know what’s at stake."

Athy smiled. "Besides, I want to see what the second Mirror can do."

Sun shrugged. "At this point, I’m curious too."

Luna’s eyes began filling with tears. "Thank you..."

Arthur noticed and glanced toward Star. "Star, I think Luna needs some encouragement."

The little Slime wiggled. Then it bounced out of Luna’s hands and gently pressed itself against her chest.

Luna blinked before a small laugh escaped her.

Arthur smiled. "See? Even Star agrees. We’re going together."

Luna hugged the little Slime against herself. "Yes."

Once everyone settled down, Arthur pulled out the compass. The needle remained still for a moment.

Then with a click, it suddenly turned.

Everyone looked down to see the needle wasn’t pointing toward the exit. It was pointing deeper into the Secret Realm.

Luna’s expression changed. "The second Mirror..."

Arthur grinned. "Looks like it knows where we’re going."

Luna looked toward the direction. "It’s much farther away."

Arthur’s eyes brightened. "Good."

Sun sighed. "You really enjoy hearing that something is farther away."

Arthur laughed. "It means there’s more to discover."

Athena shook her head. "Of course that’s your response."

Arthur looked around at the others. "We should probably tell everyone what happened."

He raised his hand and began resummoning their Beast partners. Golden light gathered beside him, and Eden appeared first. She immediately noticed Luna and flew toward her. "Luna! Are you okay?"

Luna gave her a small smile. "I’m better now."

Vedas appeared next, followed by Melo and Kong. Vedas took one look around the forest and noticed the serious expressions on everyone’s faces. "Something happened."

Arthur nodded. "Quite a bit."

He gave them the short version, explaining what had happened in the cavern, how he had obtained the Fire Mirror, and how Jakō had appeared. He then told them about Luna’s past, the people responsible for destroying her village, and the purple mist that had corrupted their Beast partners.

Finally, he explained what Luna had just revealed. "They believe the Mirrors can revive the World Tree."

Vedas’s expression gradually became more serious. "The World Tree?"

Arthur nodded.

Sun looked toward Kong. "You heard all that?"

Kong nodded slowly. "Bad people."

Sun sighed. "Yeah. Very bad people."

Melo’s tails lowered slightly as she looked toward Luna. "So they’re the same people who caused the corruption?"

Luna nodded.

Mithra’s expression hardened. "Then I understand why you want to stop them."

Eden looked toward Luna as well. "We’re going to get the other Mirrors."

Luna smiled faintly. "Yes."

Arthur was about to continue when Eden suddenly noticed something blue bouncing in his hands. She tilted her head. "What’s that?"

Arthur looked down. The tiny Slime wiggled happily. "This?"

Eden flew closer, her eyes widening. "It’s a Slime!"

Arthur nodded. "We found it after escaping from Jakō."

Vedas stared at the little creature. "Found it?"

Kong looked at Arthur. "You mean you picked up another Beast?"

Sun shrugged. "It helped us escape."

Melo slowly approached, her five tails swaying with curiosity. "It looks harmless."

Kong leaned forward and sniffed it. The Slime suddenly bounced toward him.

Kong blinked. "It likes me."

Sun stared at him. "You haven’t even done anything."

Kong nodded proudly. "Exactly."

Mithra laughed and gently touched the Slime with one finger. "It’s adorable."

Athena looked toward Star with a more analytical expression. "It also has a very unusual ability. It concealed our mana signatures from Jakō."

Vedas’s eyebrows rose. "A Silver Rank Beast Tamer couldn’t detect you?"

Athena shook her head. "Not while the Slime was covering us."

Vedas looked at Star again with renewed interest. "Then this little thing might be more useful than it looks."

Arthur smiled. "That’s what I thought."

Eden reached toward Star. "Can I touch it?"

Arthur handed the Slime over. Eden immediately held it against her chest, and Star flattened itself happily against her.

Eden’s eyes lit up. "It’s so soft!"

Arthur laughed. "I said the same thing."

Mithra smiled. "So you two already agree on something."

Sun crossed his arms. "Great. Now we have another creature for everyone to spoil."

Kong nodded. "Good."

Sun looked at him. "You agree?"

Kong nodded again. "Very good."

Melo laughed while Star bounced happily between Eden’s hands.

Luna watched the scene with a small smile. Seeing everyone gathered around Star, arguing over whether the little Slime was useful, cute, or somehow both, made the forest feel strangely normal again.

For the first time since Jakō had appeared, the group felt like themselves. Nobody rushed to move past the moment either, letting the small, ordinary warmth of it settle in before the road ahead pulled them forward again.

Arthur eventually looked toward the path ahead. "Alright. As much as I’d like to keep playing with Star, we should probably keep moving."

Star bounced happily in Eden’s arms.

"I think that’s approval," Athy said.

Arthur laughed. "Then let’s go."

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!