『★ (Unnamed) Seed LV10 (Evolution Capable) 0 Years ♀』
【Statistics】
HP: 2/28
MP: 28/28
Attack Power: 0
Magic Power: 10
Defense: 39
Magic Resistance: 39
Agility: 0
【Skills】
「Detection LV6」 「Blood Absorption LV7」 「Freeze Resistance LV1」
【Traits】
[Inferno Stigma] [Mickel’s Encouragement]
‘Level 10? Capable of evolving? It didn’t feel like that at all?’
All the isekai novels I have read so far were filled with exaggerated depictions.
Whenever leveling up, characters would be enveloped in brilliant light, or feel immense power surging through their bodies…
In Shadow Symphony too, the characters would level up in dazzling displays of blue light.
But the growth I actually experienced was different.
As I absorbed Drake’s blood, all I felt was the sensation of life itself. With every nutrient drawn through newly grown roots, I felt stronger, and my stem grew longer little by little.
That was all there was to it.
There was no flashy visual effects, no sudden explosions of power. It was a quiet, natural growth.
‘That must have been leveling up…’
Rather, I preferred this simple, grounded reality.
Perhaps the grand displays in games and novels were nothing more than illusions crafted to fulfill humanity’s fantasies.
‘Yeah, this isn’t a game-inspired world… If anything, it’s the other way around!’
Status windows, levels—these would naturally exist in any otherworld. It’s just that their visualization varies from game to game.
Unrealistic settings where one is revived if health runs out, or the dramatic visual effects when growing… these were probably exaggerated depictions in games and novels.
That’s what I believe.
I’m not just a fragment of data!
‘Nope! Not data at all. This is a reincarnation into another world!’
Through leveling up, I came to understand the truth of this world.
‘Hmm… does that mean, if I sprout, it will count as evolution?’
I could almost picture the status window displaying: ‘Evolved!’ when the sprout appeared.
Just like with leveling up, evolution would likely feel like an ordinary process of nature.
‘No! In another world, evolution can cause major changes!’
Anyway, what I said is right.
While checking the status window anxiously, I noticed something unusual.
‘Mickel’s… encouragement…?’
‘[Mickel’s Encouragement]
– The compassionate Light God Mickel supports you♡’
‘Eh? When did this appear?!’
Even as I diligently prayed and kept an eye on the status window, I had no memory of obtaining this trait.
‘Ah! Was it when I nearly froze to death? The time when the status window was going off like crazy!’
That seems right.
Now it made sense why my freeze resistance had climbed so quickly.
‘Compassionate Light God Mickel, I’ll never speak rudely again! I’m truly, genuinely grateful. I’ll grow to be a good plant!’
I promised myself never again to harbor any impious thoughts.
Once again, I reviewed the explanation for Mickel’s Encouragement.
‘Hmm? A heart…?’
As ridiculous as it might sound, I really liked the heart.
It felt like it was offering warmth and love to my lonely existence as a reincarnated seed.
Even from a deity.
‘Could the Frost Drake have been sent by Mickel!?’
Though it might seem odd to credit the Light God with a gruesome mass of blood, to me, now a devout follower of Mickel, this too was a divine blessing.
‘Ah… Lord Mickel, was the drake part of your plan?’
Empowered by Mickel’s blessing, nothing could restrain me. Overwhelming confidence surged within me.
‘Time to head above ground!’
As my sprout finally broke through the surface, a flood of sensations overwhelmed me.
Fresh sensations, unimaginable while underground, poured through my body.
A cold, dry breeze caressed the surface of the sprout. Dim blue light from the icy cave walls filtered into the leaves. Everything was sharp and vivid here on the surface. Vibrations in the air carried a subtlety incomparable to anything detectable underground.
As I scanned my form through Detection, a wave of astonishment swept over me.
‘Um… Is this me?’
A sprout glowing faintly with a mix of red and pink stood on the ice.
Like a berry sculpted into a sprout. Was it because I grew drinking blood? I never imagined my former melon-seed shape would evolve into this.
Two leaves shimmered like thinly spread rubies. The stem was translucent pink, luminescent like ice crystals.
The roots, thin as black threads, ended like sharp red needles. They felt controllable, responding naturally like arms and legs. A chilling sound echoed as the sharp tip of the root scratched the ice.
‘Oh! Ohhh! This is evolution!’
Though not a grand change, this was certainly more than a minor one.
While I marveled at my new form, the status window finally caught up with the situation.
『Evolved into a Bloodbud.』
『Abilities have changed.』
『Acquired Skill 「Photosynthesis LV1」』
『「Photosynthesis」
– Absorbs sunlight to grow.』
『Acquired Skill 「Toxicity LV1」』
『「Toxicity」
– Contains toxicity.』
『Acquired Skill 「Root Projection LV1」』
『「Root Projection」
– Attacks with protruding roots.』
‘It’s too late!’
Nevertheless, there seemed to be quite a few things I had been unaware of.
‘Alright, let’s check the status window again!’
『★ (Unnamed) Bloodbud LV10 0 Years ♀』
【Statistics】
HP: 34/60
MP: 60/60
Attack Power: 60
Magic Power: 60
Defense: 60
Magic Resistance: 60
Agility: 0
【Skills】
「Detection LV6」 「Blood Absorption LV7」 「Freeze Resistance LV1」 「Photosynthesis LV1」 「Toxicity LV1」 「Root Projection LV1」
【Traits】
[Inferno Stigma] [Mickel’s Encouragement]
I quickly glanced over the updated status window.
Bloodbud it says – not particularly enlightening.
Just a blood-colored sprout, right?
Even after evolving, the level stayed the same.
Still an isekai thing though; if it were a game, the level would’ve reset.
And with everything, except agility, set to 60.
The attack power, formerly stagnant at zero, now alive due to my controllable roots, along with all other stats significantly boosted. Apparently, evolution really does shake things up.
Moreover, the HP that decreased to 26 hasn’t recovered.
Still, this is an isekai.
Finally, skills.
The Photosynthesis will be useless in the dungeon, for now, but Toxicity and Root Projection seem to be quite effective as both offense and defense.
‘This must also be Mickel’s grace, right?’
I prayed gratefully with a devout heart.
An adventurer might say these are standard skills for any plant monster.
After finishing my prayer, I finally took a look around.
With a clearer view, my Detection range has expanded significantly.
The underground remains the same, but thanks to being above ground, I can sense everything around me, as if I have eyes on all sides.
In the far distance, a large ice wall shimmered with a smooth blue glow. Deep fissures marked the walls, from which cold vapors oozed like mist.
Beautiful, yet daunting, this expansive cavity encircled by ice walls contained me, alongside the Frost Drake’s corpse.
『 ☆☆ Frost Drake LV77 』
Though I wanted to ignore the repulsive mass, I recalled how the status window had appeared when I viewed a Protone Stone. Suppressing rising nausea, I stared intently at the Frost Drake’s corpse, demanding it reveal its information.
’Ugh… so revolting. Status window, why so slow? When will you pop up!?’
As if responding to my words, the status window appeared.
『 ☆☆ Frost Drake LV77
– Frost Drake: Danger Level A-Rank. A drake inhabiting the lower levels of the Shia Kalt Ice Cave.
Possessing the formidable ice breath characteristic of dragon subspecies and potent physical attacks. Freezing upon contact with its breath, bodies are instantly and completely frozen. Its scales are premium materials for ice-attribute equipment. 』
Though I had wanted the information, the human-centric details about its danger level A-rank and its scales as equipment material felt unnatural to me.
As if written for a player instead of me, making me feel like mere data again in this so-called isekai.
‘Uh… no, don’t overthink it.’
The status window is probably designed this way because humans will often see it, so it makes sense in this isekai.
‘In games they’d label it a monster, but here it’s called a beast. Come to think of it, danger levels didn’t exist originally.’
Quickly rationalizing, I focused on analyzing the new information.
For me, a plant that cannot flee upon encountering enemies, one point was key.
‘Oh… so I am on the lower level then…?’
Typically, dungeons become progressively more dangerous the further inside one goes. If I’m on the lower level and there are beasts like this drake…
‘No! This must be Mickel’s gift!’
Surely I am on the upper level, and this is a present from Lord Mickel. Even if this is a Grand Dungeon, it seems doable on the upper floors.
…
‘Plop.’ ‘Plop.’ ‘Plop.’
Tiny black roots emerged on the ground surface, repeatedly skewering the vile drake corpse.
Though all the remaining blood was frozen and could no longer be absorbed, this served as training for future encounters with other beasts.
『「Root Projection LV2」 Skill Level Increased.』
‘That’s right!’
‘Plop.’
The speed of the root emergence slightly increased. Though not a dramatic change, when it reaches LV10, it will surely evolve into a stronger skill.
‘But why hasn’t anyone come here yet?’
Just then, I sensed something at the edge of my detection range.
‘Huh? What’s this?’
『 ☆☆ Snow Hyena LV31 』 『 ☆☆ Snow Hyena LV28 』 『 ☆☆☆ Snow Hyena LV33 』
‘Yikes!’
Wandering into unnecessary thoughts seems to have drawn some unwanted visitors.
