I Can See Evolution Paths

The White Frontier had gone unnaturally quiet. Arthur and the others remained where they were, waiting. Nobody knew what was coming.

The injured Frostfang Wolf became the biggest clue. Instead of trying to attack them or escape, it pressed itself against the snow and began trembling.

Luna noticed first. "It’s afraid."

Arthur crouched beside the Beast. "Of whatever is coming."

Vedas looked toward the forest. "That doesn’t exactly make me feel better."

Sun glanced at him. "You’re a Goblin King."

Vedas looked at him. "And?"

"I thought you were going to say something impressive."

Vedas sighed. "I’m still waiting for the Beast to arrive."

Kong suddenly pointed toward the trees. "There."

Everyone turned. Nothing. Then a shadow moved between the snow-covered trunks. Another followed. Then another.

Eden slowly moved closer to Arthur. "There are a lot of them."

Melo’s tails spread. "They’re surrounding us."

Athena watched the snow carefully. "No. They’re approaching."

Arthur’s eyes brightened. "Let’s see what they are."

A massive white wolf stepped through the trees, its paws sinking into the snow, frost gathering around its claws. Several more Frostfang Wolves emerged behind it.

Eden’s expression immediately changed. "They’re pretty."

Vedas looked at her. "You say that about everything."

Eden puffed her cheeks. "They’re still pretty."

Kong nodded. "She’s right."

Sun looked at Kong. "You’re not helping."

Kong looked at the wolves again. "They’re pretty."

Melo giggled. Arthur laughed quietly. Even Luna’s expression softened for a brief moment.

Then the largest Frostfang Wolf growled, and the snow beneath its paws froze solid.

Vedas raised his spear. "There it is."

Arthur gripped Dusk, his smile returning. "Now we’re talking."

The wolves didn’t immediately attack. Instead, the largest one approached the injured Frostfang Wolf. Arthur noticed something unusual. It wasn’t simply checking its wounded companion. It was studying the group.

Arthur became curious and slowly approached.

Vedas watched him. "You’re going to touch it?"

Arthur looked back. "Of course."

Vedas sighed. "I knew you were going to say that."

Arthur crouched beside the injured Frostfang Wolf. It didn’t resist. He placed his hand against its cold fur, and his Evolution Vision activated.

[Frostfang Wolf]

[Species: Frostfang Wolf]

Evolution Path

[Glacier Fang Wolf]

[Winter Howler]

[Frostmoon Alpha]

[Absolute Zero Wolf]

Arthur froze.

This was the first time he’d seen something like this outside of Goblins. He remembered the different Goblin branches he’d already discovered.

Goblin Warrior.

Goblin Healer.

Goblin Beast Rider.

Different evolutionary directions from the same species. He had known the principle existed, but seeing it in another race made the idea feel much bigger.

Arthur didn’t elaborate. Another notification appeared.

[Evolution Paths Analyzed: 40 → 41]

[Evolution Paths Discovered: 50 → 51]

Arthur’s eyes briefly lingered on it.

Another one.

He looked toward the surrounding wolves. ’How many other species have multiple possibilities?’

Arthur said nothing about what he’d seen and instead, he simply stood and continued watching the Beasts. The group eventually left the wolves behind and continued deeper into the White Frontier.

The landscape gradually changed. The trees became larger. The snow became deeper. Frozen rivers wound between enormous cliffs.

Then the ground shook.

Thoom.

Everyone stopped. Eden looked down. "What was that?"

Another tremor. Thoom.

Kong raised his fists. "Something big."

A huge figure emerged between the trees. An Iceback Bear, its back covered in layers of natural ice, breath coming out as freezing mist.

Sun stared. "That’s definitely bigger."

Vedas looked at Kong. "Still pretty?"

Kong considered it. "...Very pretty."

Sun closed his eyes. "I give up."

Arthur laughed, but his curiosity had already taken over. He approached carefully. The Iceback Bear watched him but didn’t immediately attack. Arthur reached out and touched its thick fur, and his Evolution Vision activated again.

[Iceback Bear]

[Species: Iceback Bear]

Evolution Path

[Frosthide Tyrant]

[Glacier King]

[Winter Mountain Sovereign]

[Absolute Frost Colossus]

[Evolution Paths Analyzed: 41 → 42]

[Evolution Paths Discovered: 51 → 52]

Arthur’s eyes brightened as he looked over the Evolution Path. It was another completely different branch.

He slowly raised his head and looked at the Iceback Bear. Then he looked toward the Frostfang Wolves that had gathered nearby. Finally, his gaze moved across the frozen river, the snow-covered trees, and the strange plants growing beneath the ice.

Arthur’s eyes remained on the Iceback Bear.

Another species.

Another evolutionary branch.

His gaze slowly moved across the frozen river, the snow-covered trees, and the strange plants growing beneath the ice.

A thought began taking shape.

It’s the environment.

Athena noticed his expression. "What are you thinking about?"

Arthur looked across the frozen landscape. "The Beasts here aren’t simply surviving the cold."

He glanced toward the Frostfang Wolves.

"They’re adapting to it."

Athena’s expression became thoughtful.

"You think the environment is influencing their development?"

"I think it’s worth investigating."

Athena immediately reached for her notebook.

Athy leaned closer. "That would explain why the Beasts here seem so specialized."

Athena nodded. "An ecosystem shaped around cold-based traits..."

Arthur smiled faintly. "Exactly."

Athy’s eyes widened. "Which means there could be Beasts here that don’t exist anywhere else."

Arthur’s eyes shone. "Now that’s interesting."

Sun stared at the three of them. "You realize you’re getting excited about something that could probably kill us, right?"

Athena didn’t even look up from her notebook. "That’s usually when research becomes interesting."

Athy nodded seriously. "Exactly."

Sun sighed. "I’m surrounded by lunatics."

The calm didn’t last. A distant howl rolled through the forest. Every Frostfang Wolf nearby immediately became alert, and the Iceback Bear turned its head. Arthur noticed the Beasts weren’t looking at them. They were looking deeper into the forest.

Arthur’s smile faded slightly. "Something’s coming."

A second howl echoed. Then another. Snow suddenly exploded from between the trees as several Frostfang Wolves charged out, and unlike the earlier group, these weren’t cautious. They were attacking.

Vedas raised his spear. "Here we go."

Kong grinned. "Finally."

Mithra tightened her grip on Kusa. "You really enjoy this."

Kong nodded. "Yes."

Arthur stepped forward. "Let’s see how they fight in their own territory."

The wolves disappeared into the snow. Eden blinked. "Where did they go?"

Vedas looked around carefully. "They’re using the snow."

Arthur watched the ground beneath his feet. The snow shifted. "Not just using it," Arthur said. "They’re moving through it."

A blur suddenly erupted beside Mithra. Mithra barely managed to twist away as a Frostfang Wolf’s claws tore through the space where she’d been standing. "That’s fast!" She brought Kusa around and struck the Beast across its side, sending it tumbling through the snow.

Melo’s tails swayed behind her. "They can disappear beneath the surface almost completely."

Sun immediately raised Long. "Then let’s make the surface less useful." He fired [Point Shockwave] into the ground.

BOOM!

Snow exploded outward, exposing several wolves that had been moving beneath it.

Sun grinned. "Found you."

Kong laughed. "Good!"

Arthur watched the wolves regroup. "They really are adapted to this place."

Vedas tightened his grip around his spear. "Then we’d better adapt faster."

Arthur noticed one of the weaker Frostfang Wolves stumble after being struck. He could finish it. Instead he deliberately stepped toward it and struck its side with Dusk, knocking the Beast away without killing it.

Eden immediately understood. Her eyes brightened. "Mine!" She flew forward.

The wolf snapped at her, and she rose sharply, its jaws closing beneath her. Spinning in the air, she dove toward the Beast.

Boom!

Her attack struck its weakened side, and the wolf crashed into the snow.

Eden landed and looked toward Arthur. "Did you see?"

Arthur smiled. "I did."

Eden beamed. "I’m getting better!"

"You are," Arthur agreed.

Eden looked toward the stronger Beasts still fighting the others, her excitement gradually becoming determination. "I’ll keep getting stronger." She clenched her fists. "So I can fight them myself." She looked toward the others. "And so I can fight together with everyone."

Arthur smiled. "Good answer."

The Iceback Bear finally entered the battle, charging forward, snow exploding beneath its paws. Vedas immediately turned toward it.

Kong looked over. "I’ll take that."

Vedas glanced at him. "No."

Kong blinked. "Why?"

Vedas pointed his spear at the Bear. "You had the last big one."

Kong stared. "That’s not a reason."

Vedas grinned. "It is to me."

Kong laughed. "Fine."

Vedas charged. The Bear’s massive paw came down, and he blocked it, the impact driving him several meters backward, his boots carving deep lines into the snow. Vedas looked at the enormous Beast, then smiled. "Now that’s more like it."

The Bear roared, and Vedas rushed forward. Their clash became a genuine fight rather than an easy victory. Vedas used the spear’s reach, while the Bear relied on its weight and raw strength. He slipped around its attacks, waiting for openings, and eventually drove the spear into its shoulder, forcing it backward.

During the battle a freezing attack suddenly spread across the field, a wave of frost racing through the snow. Arthur noticed Star near his feet. "Star!"

The Slime bounced. The frost touched it, and instead of freezing, Star’s body absorbed some of the cold energy. Its translucent blue color changed, tiny white particles swirling inside it.

Arthur crouched immediately. "...What are you doing?"

Star wiggled. Arthur touched its surface. It was colder than before.

Athena noticed. "Its internal structure changed."

Athy’s eyes widened. "It adapted."

Arthur looked at Star. It bounced twice. Arthur laughed. "You really are strange."

One by one, the Beasts began retreating. The Frostfang Wolves disappeared between the snowy trees, and the Iceback Bear finally broke away from Vedas and retreated into the deeper forest. The battlefield slowly grew quiet, snow settling over the footprints and battle scars, and for a moment nobody moved, all of them letting the adrenaline drain out before anyone spoke.

Kong looked around. "They’re gone."

Vedas rested his spear against his shoulder. "That bear was stronger than I expected."

Arthur looked toward the forest. "Everything here seems stronger than expected."

Athena closed her notebook. "Because this environment encourages it." She looked at the frozen landscape. "If cold-based evolution is common here, the entire ecosystem may have developed around those evolutionary branches."

Arthur nodded. "Which means there could be Beasts here that don’t exist anywhere else."

Then the notifications appeared.

[Level Up!]

[Time Fairy]

[Level 20 → Level 21]

Arthur glanced toward Eden.

She was already flying around happily, completely unaware of the notification he’d just received.

A moment later, another notification appeared.

[Level Up!]

[Goblin King]

[Level 17 → Level 18]

Arthur’s eyes briefly moved toward Vedas.

Two of his Beast Partners had grown stronger.

Before Arthur could say anything, Eden suddenly stopped in midair.

Her eyes widened. "Arthur!"

He looked up. "I’m level twenty-one!"

Arthur smiled. "I know."

Eden’s face lit up. "I’m getting stronger!"

Vedas looked over at her with an amused expression. "Congratulations."

Eden turned toward him. "What about you?"

Vedas glanced at Arthur for a moment before answering. "I’m stronger too."

Eden’s eyes widened. "Really?"

Vedas nodded. "Level eighteen."

Kong immediately raised his fist. "Stronger!"

Vedas laughed. "Exactly."

Sun looked between them. "Great. Now there are two of you."

Kong tilted his head. "Two?"

Sun sighed. "Never mind."

Arthur laughed.

After the battle, they continued deeper into the White Frontier. The group settled into a quieter pace. Snow-covered trees stretched in every direction, while frozen rivers wound between the cliffs. Every so often, Arthur caught sight of another unfamiliar Beast moving between the trees, reinforcing the feeling that this region possessed an ecosystem unlike anywhere he’d seen before.

Arthur kept glancing around as they walked. "This place really is different."

Luna looked toward him. "Different how?"

Arthur considered the question for a moment. "The cold isn’t just part of the environment. It feels like it’s shaping everything that lives here."

Athena nodded. "The Beasts and their Evolution Paths certainly suggest that."

Athy added, "If that’s true, then the deeper we go, the more specialized the Beasts might become."

Arthur smiled. "Exactly."

They continued walking. For several minutes, nothing interrupted them except the crunch of their footsteps against the snow, the quiet settling comfortably over the group after the intensity of the fight.

Then Arthur suddenly slowed.

Luna noticed first. "What is it?"

Arthur didn’t answer.

He was looking down.

The others followed his gaze. At first, all they saw was untouched snow. Then Athena’s eyes narrowed. There was a faint depression in the white surface. Another appeared several steps farther ahead. Then another.

Athena slowly crouched. "Those aren’t Beast tracks."

Vedas immediately stepped closer. He studied the marks for several seconds before his expression became serious. "You’re right."

Mithra crouched beside him. The impressions were too narrow for paws, and there were no claws.

They were footprints.

Boots.

Sun stared at the trail. "Those are human."

Nobody spoke for a moment, the discovery settling over the group with a weight none of the earlier battles had carried.

Arthur crouched and placed his hand beside one of the impressions without touching it. The snow around it was still loose. But the footprint itself was clear.

Arthur’s expression changed slightly. "They’re recent."

Luna’s eyes widened. "How recent?"

Arthur looked along the trail. "Recent enough."

Vedas tightened his grip around his spear. "How many people?"

Mithra followed the tracks with her eyes. "At least three. Maybe more. Some of the prints overlap."

Athy rose into the air and looked ahead through the trees. "I don’t see anyone."

Melo’s tails swayed slowly. "But someone was definitely here."

Athena studied the direction of the tracks. "They’re heading deeper into the White Frontier."

Sun frowned. "Toward the second Mirror?"

Luna’s expression immediately became tense. "If they’re searching for the Mirrors..."

Arthur stood, his eyes remaining fixed on the trail. "Then we’re not the only ones looking for it."

Vedas looked toward him. "What do you want to do?"

Arthur smiled faintly. "Find out who they are."

Vedas sighed. "I knew you were going to say that."

Arthur glanced at him. "You know me too well."

"Unfortunately."

Mithra smiled. "At least we’re not bored."

Arthur looked deeper into the snowy forest. The footprints continued between the trees.

Then—

Crack.

A branch snapped somewhere ahead.

Everyone stopped.

Athy immediately flew higher. Kong clenched his fists. Vedas lowered his stance. Luna instinctively moved closer to Arthur. Arthur’s grip tightened around Dusk.

Nobody spoke. For several seconds, there was only silence, every one of them straining to hear whatever might come next.

Then another sound came from somewhere beyond the trees.

A slow crunch.

Step.

Arthur’s eyes narrowed.

Someone was still out there.

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