I Can See Evolution Paths

The enormous crystal-horned Beast took another step toward the shore, the ground trembling beneath its weight.

Arthur raised Dusk, but he didn’t attack immediately. He continued watching the creature.

For the past several minutes, it had followed the same strange cycle as the other Beasts. Whenever the river froze, it became completely motionless. Whenever the water returned, it continued along the same path.

Yet now it had stopped following that path.

It had turned toward them.

Arthur’s eyes narrowed slightly. "That’s new."

Vedas tightened his grip around his golden spear. "You noticed too?"

"It wasn’t looking at us before."

Luna took another cautious step backward. "Then why is it coming toward us?"

Arthur looked at the creature’s glowing crystal horns. "I suppose we’re about to find out."

The Beast suddenly lowered its head. A deep rumble escaped its throat as the crystals growing from its horns began to glow brighter. Snow shifted beneath its feet, and the entire cavern seemed to tremble in response.

Eden quickly flew closer to Arthur. "Arthur..."

"Stay close."

Star pressed itself tightly against his chest, its small body trembling as the Beast gathered strength.

Then it charged.

The enormous creature crossed the distance in an instant, its four legs hammering against the stone with enough force to send vibrations through the cavern.

Vedas stepped forward without hesitation. "I’ll take the front."

Arthur moved beside him and lowered Dusk. "Then let’s stop it here."

The Beast crashed into them. Vedas thrust his golden spear forward while Arthur attacked alongside him with Dusk. Both weapons struck the Beast, and for a moment the attacks actually pushed it backward.

Arthur and Vedas struck almost simultaneously. Dusk pierced toward the Beast’s shoulder while Vedas drove his spear toward its chest. The combined force was enough to make the enormous creature stagger backward.

For a moment, Arthur thought they had found an opening.

Then the river began to freeze.

A pale blue glow spread across the water, racing from one end of the cavern to the other. The moment the ice reached the Beast, the creature’s entire body began radiating the same blue light.

Arthur’s spear struck its hide.

Clang!

The force rebounded so violently that his arms went numb.

Vedas suffered the same result. His spear struck the Beast’s frozen body and bounced away, forcing him several steps backward across the stone. "What?"

Arthur stared at the creature. It had stopped moving completely, its enormous body glowing with the same pale blue light that now covered the frozen river. It almost looked as though someone had carved the Beast from a single enormous piece of enchanted crystal.

Before Arthur could examine it further, Sun rushed forward with Long already raised. "Let me try!"

Long came crashing down with a powerful shockwave. The force struck the frozen Beast and spread across its entire body, but instead of breaking through its defenses, the energy simply dispersed across the blue surface and vanished.

Sun stared at his weapon in disbelief. "You’re kidding."

Athena immediately raised Aegis and stepped closer, her eyes fixed on the strange blue glow surrounding the Beast. "Don’t attack it again."

Arthur glanced toward her. "Why?"

"Look carefully," Athena replied. She studied the mana flowing across the creature’s body. "The energy isn’t simply freezing it. Something is forming around its body at the same time."

Arthur narrowed his eyes as he followed her gaze. Beneath the blue light, countless streams of mana were moving across the Beast’s hide and continuously reinforcing one another.

"It’s creating a defensive layer," Athena said.

The Beast remained completely motionless beneath the glow, seemingly unaffected by everything they had thrown at it.

Then a deep crack echoed through the cavern.

The ice beneath their feet began to fracture. Water suddenly burst through the frozen surface, rushing across the cavern as the river returned to its previous state. At the same time, the blue light surrounding the Beast faded away.

Its eyes opened.

Before Vedas could react, the creature swung its massive head toward him. Vedas quickly raised his spear and blocked the impact, but the force still sent him sliding backward across the stone.

Arthur’s eyes sharpened as the pieces finally came together. "The moment the river returns..."

Athena nodded. "The defensive layer disappears."

Sun looked between the Beast and the flowing river, slowly understanding what they had discovered. "So they’re only vulnerable while the river is flowing?"

Arthur smiled faintly as he tightened his grip around Dusk. "That’s what we’re going to find out."

Another group of Beasts emerged from the riverbank before anyone could say more. Their enormous bodies crashed through the shallow water, sending waves across the stone as they charged toward the group.

Athena stepped forward and raised Aegis just as the first Beast slammed into her shield. The impact shook her entire body and forced her boots backward, but she managed to hold her ground. "Athy!"

Athy immediately climbed higher into the air, her golden eyes sweeping across the battlefield. "Three more are moving behind you!"

Athena didn’t take her eyes off the Beast in front of her. "Analyze them."

Golden light flashed across Athy’s eyes as she examined the approaching creatures. She quickly noticed the mana gathering around their bodies and immediately understood what was happening. "Their mana is gathering again!"

Athena glanced toward the river. The water had begun slowing. "The freeze is coming."

"How long?" Athena asked.

Athy watched the river for another moment before answering. "A few seconds."

Athena immediately called toward the others. "Everyone, pull back! They’re about to enter the frozen state!"

Arthur understood at once and moved away from the approaching Beasts. The others followed, and moments later the river began freezing again. Blue light spread across the water, covering the Beasts as they became motionless once more.

Arthur looked toward Athena. "Good call."

Athena lowered Aegis slightly while continuing to observe the creatures. "If we can predict the cycle, we can control the battle."

Athy flew beside her and nodded. "Then I’ll watch the river. You watch the Beasts."

Athena gave her a small smile. "Deal."

The ice began to crack again.

As the river thawed, the Beasts came alive almost immediately.

Mithra vanished. Her figure blurred across the battlefield as she moved around one of the creatures at incredible speed, leaving several afterimages behind her. Melo’s dream mist spread through the area at the same time, filling the Beast’s vision with false images of Mithra moving in different directions.

The Beast turned toward one illusion, then another.

Mithra was already behind it.

Her golden sword flashed through its exposed side, followed by another precise strike and then a third. The Beast attempted to turn around, but Mithra had already disappeared from its reach.

Melo’s five tails suddenly pierced through the mist and struck its legs, causing the enormous creature to stumble.

Mithra immediately took advantage of the opening. She accelerated forward, becoming little more than a blur as Kusa flashed repeatedly. Her strikes landed across the Beast’s body so quickly that the creature barely had time to react before its frozen armor cracked apart and its body shattered.

Mithra landed lightly in the snow and glanced toward Melo. "That was because of you."

Melo’s ears perked up as her tails swayed behind her. "I know."

Mithra laughed. "You sound proud."

"I am."

Their exchange lasted only a moment before another roar echoed through the cavern.

More Beasts were coming.

Athena raised Aegis again as one charged directly toward her. The creature crashed into the shield, forcing her backward several steps, but she remained standing. "Athy!"

Athy immediately looked toward the opposite side of the battlefield. "Two behind you, and another one is approaching Arthur!"

Athena turned her head just enough to see the approaching danger. "Arthur!"

Arthur heard her warning and spun around just as the Beast lunged.

He raised Dusk.

The spear moved differently now. Mana flowed naturally through the weapon instead of requiring him to deliberately force it into the blade. The golden edge remained faintly illuminated even after the initial burst of energy had passed through it.

Arthur thrust.

Dusk pierced directly through the Beast’s armor. The creature roared as Arthur pulled the spear free, and for a moment he glanced down at the weapon. "You’re definitely different."

Vedas, who had just driven another Beast away from the group, glanced toward him. "Your spear?"

Arthur gave Dusk another swing, feeling the mana respond almost instinctively. "It feels easier to use."

Vedas nodded. "Then make use of it."

Arthur smiled. "I was planning to."

Another Beast suddenly leaped toward him. Arthur stepped backward, then his attention shifted toward the Frostheart Bow.

Sun noticed the movement. "You’re using the bow?"

Arthur reached for it. "I figured I should try."

Sun stared at him. "Do you actually know how?"

Arthur calmly drew the bowstring. "Nope."

Sun’s expression went blank. "You’re using a weapon you don’t know how to use in the middle of a fight?"

Arthur looked toward the approaching Beast. "I’ll learn."

Vedas glanced over while keeping another creature at bay. "You really are strange."

Arthur released the arrow.

It flew wide of the Beast’s chest and only grazed its shoulder.

Sun watched the arrow disappear behind the creature.

Arthur lowered the bow slightly. "Too much."

Sun frowned. "Too much what?"

Arthur looked at his grip and the angle of his arm. "Force. I pulled harder than I needed to."

He adjusted his stance and drew another arrow.

Sun stared at him. "You figured that out from one shot?"

Arthur released the second arrow. This time the arrow flew straight and struck much closer to the center of the Beast’s body.

Arthur’s eyes brightened. "Better."

He immediately drew a third arrow. The Beast turned toward him, but Arthur released before it could fully face him. The arrow struck directly beneath its shoulder.

Sun slowly lowered Long. "...You really are learning this in the middle of the fight."

Arthur looked at him. "I told you I would."

Vedas glanced toward Arthur while continuing to fight. "I stopped being surprised by this a while ago."

Sun looked toward him. "I haven’t."

Kong, who was standing beside Sun, nodded solemnly. "Arthur strange."

Sun pointed toward Kong. "Exactly."

Kong looked pleased with himself.

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