“Huh? What is this…?”
Suddenly, a hot surge of energy rose within my body.
The stem tips began to glow red, and this change rapidly spread throughout my entire body.
Between the two ruby-like leaves, new leaves began to sprout.
These round, expanding leaves displayed a more vivid crimson color than before.
Then they darkened even further, soon blazing like molten lava.
The transformation was not stopping as the rounded leaves started to spread apart and rise upwards.
Between them, a new bud revealed itself.
As the six petals slowly opened, an eerie beauty akin to blood was uncovered.
“Wow… Is this even possible?”
The reflection in the ice crystals was simply shocking.
Similar to a red Narra tree but without leaves, only a flower at the end of the stem.
The deep purple stamen, resembling red mist, stretched long and moved gently like a snake’s tongue.
The stem connecting the ground to the flower was pitch black.
The completely black stem looked like a piece of night sky draped down, capturing the viewer’s gaze.
The flower blooming on it was nothing short of miraculous.
It shone brilliantly like a single flower made from red moonlight, with each transparent petal sparkling like a jewel.
It was a pure and beautiful form that was hard to believe contained deadly poison.
“It almost resembles a begonia.”
The faint blue light of the ice cave seeping through the petals looked mysteriously moonlike.
However, the fatal poison hidden within this beauty was making me even more dangerous.
The roots also underwent significant changes.
The previous black thread-like roots became darker like stems, thicker, and multiplied to dozens.
Like spiderwebs, they dug into the ice floor, longer than before with needle-sharp tips.
When I tried moving these dozens of roots, they all simultaneously pierced the ground, splitting the solid ice like glass.
“Me… I must have become ridiculously stronger?”
I am no longer the adorable little bud but have become a flower with deadly beauty and formidable strength.
Even though I couldn’t transform into a human, this beautiful and dangerous appearance is quite pleasing.
“Lord Mikel… Thank you.”
I silently prayed.
What started as a simple prayer for water has now become filled with genuine gratitude.
Would I have been able to be reborn as such a strong and beautiful existence without Lord Mikel’s support?
『I have evolved into a Blood Flower』
As expected, the status window has belatedly started to reflect the changes.
『My stats have dramatically changed』
『「Deadly Poison LV1」「Toxicity LV2」 skills have evolved』
『「Deadly Poison」– Possesses deadly poison』
『「Black Root Protrusion LV1」「Root Protrusion LV3」 skill has evolved』
『「Black Root Protrusion」– Attacks strongly with protruding black roots』
『「Pollen Dispersal LV1」 skill acquired』
『「Pollen Dispersal」– Releases pollen』
『「Pollen-Allure LV1」 skill acquired』
『「Pollen-Allure」– Alluring properties dwell in the released pollen』
『[Dark Charm] trait acquired』
『[Dark Charm]– The charm of darkness!』
『★ (Nameless) Blood Flower LV20 0 years ♀
[Stats]HP : 244/244 + (46/200)MP : 144/144
Attack : 244Magic : 144Defense : 144Magic Resistance : 144Agility : 0
[Skills]「Detection LV7」 「Crimson Reserve LV2」 「Freeze Block LV1」 「Photosynthesis LV1」 「Deadly Poison LV1」 「Black Root Protrusion LV1」 「Pollen Dispersal LV1」 「Pollen-Allure LV1」
[Traits][Inferno Stigma] [Mikel’s Support] [Dark Charm]』
“Wha… Wha… Wha…”
My mouth won’t close.
Not that I have one but…
First, the changes in my stats were tremendous.
All my stats ending in 44 have now exceeded three digits, with HP and Attack soaring to 244.
This is clearly an impossible number for a level 20.
While it varies by monster species, recalling my memories from Shadow Symphony, a level 20 hobgoblin had average stats around 100.
“Is this seriously how strong I am? My HP and attack feel almost troll-level at around level 50!”
There’s still more to be surprised about.
The evolved Deadly Poison and Black Root Protrusion skills.
While the power of the Deadly Poison is still unknown, the Black Root Protrusion demonstrated its power when I tested out the roots.
And the Pollen Dispersal and its enticing properties gained by becoming a flower.
This skill to lure monsters is perfect for me who cannot move.
“This is perfect! Surely there will be further evolution soon!”
Though I wanted to immediately lure in monsters, there was still one element I hadn’t thoroughly examined.
『[Dark Charm]– The charm of darkness』
“Hmm… Is this also some kind of allure?”
Remembering the trouble I had from the inadequate explanation of dormancy, I deeply considered, but nothing else came to mind.
As someone who’s seen countless plant photos on plant galleries, I knew that I was somewhat… no, very attractive.
“Yeah! Even looking at myself, I must be incredibly beautiful!”
I was startled by the unintentional villainess-like dialog but reasoned it was fine since it was about the flower being beautiful.
“Now that I’ve seen everything, shall I try a growth spurt?”
Having evolved, I’m confident I could handle ten incoming ice hyenas easily.
Applying force to the flower part of my “head” and slightly shaking it, red pollen scattered everywhere.
“Oh…”
Contrasting with the icy blue walls, the floating red pollen created a mysterious scene.
As I mentally hoped the monsters would be lured by the hovering pollen, they began gradually glowing pink.
At this, I felt “something” being drained from within me.
『 MP : 140/144 』
“Ah!”
For the first time ever, my mana which had never decreased before, has now diminished.
The Pollen-Allure seems to be different from the other skills I’ve used.
While skills with no consumption cost are good, the fact that mana is being used suggests this will have significant effects.
“I’ll go all out with the mana since it’s useless for anything else besides allure!”
『 MP : 20/144 』
I spent the mana generously since it’s not going to be used for anything else besides alluring.
The pastel-colored pollen, riding invisible winds, rose spiraling.
Meeting the ice crystals falling from the cave ceiling and momentarily transforming into sparkling starlight, they gently descended, dancing in the air.
Together with the whispers of the ice from the depths of the cave, the pollen spread to wider areas.
The sight resembled magic created by winter meeting spring.
The pollen, drifting between ice columns as if time had stopped, slowly but ceaselessly moved, coloring the entire cave in a fantastical ambiance.
…
The deepest part of the cave.
A single pollen, from a long journey, reached and touched the tip of the nose of the dungeon’s ruler, solemnly guarding the deepest layer of the Dami Palace.
『「Pollen Dispersal LV2」 skill level increased』
『「Pollen-Allure LV2」 skill level increased』
『「Pollen-Allure LV3」 skill level increased』
『「Pollen-Allure LV4」 skill level increased』
“Huh?”
Just as I was startled by the continuous skill level-ups, one or two monsters were detected on the radar.
The number of detections began increasing rapidly, becoming countless.
“Ehh…”
『「Detection LV8」 skill level increased』
『☆☆ Elemental Salamander LV31』 『☆☆ Glacier Flopper LV28』 『☆☆ Elemental Salamander LV27』 『☆☆☆ Frost Wolf-Ling LV34』 『☆ Ice Goblin LV16』 『☆☆ Ice Goblin LV17』 『☆ Ice Goblin LV15』 『☆☆ Snow Hyena LV29』 『☆☆☆ Ice Troll LV39』 『☆☆☆ Flying Reindeer LV33』 『☆☆ Crystal Snake LV40』 『☆ Ice Horn-Rabbit LV11』 …
“No! Wait! Someone save me! Lord Mikel! Save me!”
My desperate cry resonated within.
The monsters seemed to pay no heed to me as they charged at each other.
“Whew! Lord Mikel! I trusted you!”
Though the Light God couldn’t possibly have the ability to control monsters, the timing was just too perfect.
The scene unfolding before my eyes was nothing short of an experience point extravaganza.
Ice Horn-Rabbits were being crushed under troll’s feet, Snow Hyenas were toppling over while biting each other’s necks, Salamanders and Floppers repeatedly froze each other, and the Frost Wolf-Ling was wreaking havoc in the middle of the fight like a frenzied beast.
I quickly extended my roots to absorb blood and dealt the final blow to the dying monsters.
“I can’t believe it, I can’t believe it!”
The cold icy hollow began staining crimson with corpses and blood.
『★ (Nameless) Blood Flower LV26 0 years ♀』
『「Crimson Reserve LV3」 skill level increased』
『「Black Root Protrusion LV2」 skill level increased』
『★ (Nameless) Blood Flower LV31 0 years ♀』
『★ (Nameless) Blood Flower LV37 0 years ♀』
“Woohoo! The level ups won’t stop!”
Do plants have dopamine too? Waves of pleasure washed over my consciousness.
While absorbing blood and checking the status window, I could see my level increasing in real time.
The rich blood of the Crystal Snake tasted surprisingly sweet, and the blood of the Elemental Salamander tasted like a refreshing soda.
“This is what a real party is like! Indeed! Indeed! Lord Mikel!”
Watching the fierce battle among the monsters, I was filled with unintended faith and exhilaration.
This kind of fun fight was the first.
Simply by staying put, experience points were pouring in!
Moreover, I didn’t need to kill them myself.
I just needed to watch them tear each other apart and deliver the final blow.
“Lord Mikel enjoys bloodshed, it seems!”
Though it’s probably something a priest would choke on hearing, I only believe in what I have seen and experienced!
『★ (Nameless) Blood Flower LV42 0 years ♀』
『「Black Root Protrusion LV3」 skill level increased』
『「Deadly Poison LV2」 skill level increased』
『★ (Nameless) Blood Flower LV45 0 years ♀』
『「Crimson Reserve LV4」 skill level increased』
『★ (Nameless) Blood Flower LV47 0 years ♀』
“Ah! Kill more! Fight more! It’s a Burning Max!”
It was as if a 1000% Experience Event had begun in a game, growing at an unbelievable speed.
The splatter of blood accompanied by the dying cries of monsters was as beautiful as it could possibly get.
With this, it seems the next evolution won’t be far behind.
…
A loud rumbling shook the entire ground.
The epicenter wasn’t detected on my radar.
“Huh?”
The cold air grew heavy.
As if the festival had suddenly stopped, the cave was enveloped in a deathlier stillness.
An indescribable pressure weighed down on my whole body.
A heavy presence that made it hard to move even a petal was approaching.
As if time had stopped, or rather, as if eternity had gained weight, it felt.
“Save… me…”
Instinctively, I wanted to run, but being a plant, all that was just a vain hope.
In front of this unknown entity, my detection ability was useless, and the previously proud stats felt like mere numbers.
Just then,
『☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ 【Prostia】 Ice Dragon LV□□□』
My consciousness froze at the information that was finally captured on the detection radar.
…
