Chapter 89: Dryad’s Evolution

FLUOSH!

Dryad consumed the entire Nightmare Tree and quickly triggered her evolution. Unlike Mongrel, who was a Nightmare Spirit, Dryad was a Nightmare Beast, so the way she developed and grew was fundamentally different. Although the process was still somewhat similar in nature.

Dryad required proper evolutions by ingesting enough physical matter. She could not simply absorb nightmare energy or eat small high-quality materials and Chaos Energy alone. She needed a truly massive meal, and this enormous tree happened to be ideal, especially because it had mutated enough to leave a solid physical carcass behind.

Elizabeth managed to retrieve the core, since it did not seem necessary for Dryad’s evolution. She decided to purify one half of it and feed those pieces to Ariel and Asmodeus while Dryad continued evolving.

Dryad began growing steadily. From a small sapling, her base form expanded without needing to be temporarily boosted by Elizabeth’s Chaos Energy, transforming into a proper Nightmare Tree Beast.

RUMBLE!

However, she suddenly stopped growing larger and instead started compressing her form, wrapping herself into a giant wooden cocoon for some reason.

Elizabeth was taken aback as she watched the unexpected change unfold right in front of her.

Reinhardt was nearby, finally managing to catch his breath and stand up properly. He realized only then that they had truly won, after he had literally passed out on the spot earlier.

“W-What’s happening…?” he wondered aloud. “Huh?! Is that another nightmare?!”

“No,” Elizabeth walked forward and gently touched the cocoon. “It’s my Familiar. She’s evolving… Hm?”

Elizabeth felt Dryad’s steady heartbeat pulsing within the cocoon until new system notifications appeared before her eyes.

[Your Familiar: [Nightmare Tree Seedling: Dryad – Rank 1: Level 100/100] has started the process of Evolution. However, there’s more than one Evolution Option for her.]

[Please choose which Evolutionary Path do you wish her to take.]

[Obsidian Nightmare Tree – Rank 2]

[Miasmic Swamp Dryad – Rank 2]

[Dark Nether Treant – Rank 2]

There were three options! Elizabeth had not expected this at all. It seemed that even for her Familiars to evolve, they possessed multiple possible paths they could take.

Dryad was currently unconscious, so she could not help with the decision.

Mongrel, however, was present and floating beside Elizabeth to observe what she was doing.

“Oh, so you’re trying to choose her evolutionary path,” he said with an understanding nod. “What do you have in mind?”

“I don’t know. I should check them first, I guess,” Elizabeth shrugged and began reading carefully.

[Obsidian Nightmare Tree – Rank 2]

An evolved form of the Nightmare Tree Seedling that has specialized in defense and the evolution of its bark into the ultimate armor.

The wood and bark of the Obsidian Nightmare Tree has become hundreds of times harder than before, becoming metallic and capable of shapeshifting into sharp weapons, chains, and anything metallic with enough mastery.

Obsidian Nightmare Trees, however, have poor mobility and usually are stationary creatures. But their defense, shapeshifting abilities, and metallic bark are top notch, especially the bark which can be harvested and used for the creation of Nightmare Weapons.

[Miasmic Swamp Dryad – Rank 2]

An evolved form of the Nightmare Tree Seedling, originating from the Miasmic Swamps of the Nightmare Dimension. These creatures have the shapes of beautiful women, luring mortal men into their swamps once they invade their dreams and ultimately devouring their souls once they fall into their domains.

Miasmic Swamp Dryads have incredible, alluring beauty and charming abilities, illusion and manipulation magic to make foes attack one another or even join you if they aren’t smart enough to resist. They have great mobility, speed, and agility, leaving behind their tree-like appearance to become more humanoid. They specialize in magic conjuration and have low defense.

[Dark Nether Treant – Rank 2]

An evolved form of the Nightmare Tree Seedling, originating from the Dark Nether Regions of the Nightmare Dimension. These Treants are moving trees that devour people or undead that walk too close to them. Their preferred meal are undead; their rotten bodies and decaying souls are exquisite to their palate.

They have a decent mobility and great defense, while also being able to conjure more magic than the Nightmare Tree Seedlings, and possess greater intelligence and curse casting abilities. Their Fruits can either transform into monstrous creatures to help them collect prey or be eaten to gain Nightmare Essence and Soul Energy.

Their Nether Sap is a prized delicacy in some regions of the Nightmare Dimension and other Connected Realms, and it is a precious material for Lesser Nightmares seeking to advance in their growth.

“Huh, wow… they all sound great on paper…” Elizabeth nodded slowly. “The first one… I am tempted, but if it’s too slow, Dryad is going to end up kind of useless in fights. I like her quick mobility and everything… the metal being good for making weapons sounds great too! But… well, I can also make weapons in other ways. The second option sounds sexy, but I think it would be too on the nose to evolve into a Dryad while already being called Dryad, right? Also she’ll become too frail! I want her to remain as good as she already is, only better… Mongrel, do you think the third option is the best?”

“Certainly,” Mongrel nodded. “It seems to merge aspects of the Vampiric Tree of Sinners with her current form.”

“Alright,” Elizabeth nodded and tapped the third option, choosing for Dryad to evolve into that path.

FLUOSH!

As she confirmed the choice, the cocoon grew even larger for a moment, then shattered apart completely. Growing branches stretched out in every direction, longer roots resembling spider-like legs extended from the base, and a stronger, more robust trunk formed. She no longer needed to be boosted by Chaos Energy to maintain her size.

Dryad slowly opened her red eyes across her bark. For some reason they still looked small and cute. She glanced around in clear shock.

“Eh?! Master, why didn’t I…! I wanted to be a Dryad! W-Why am I a Treant?! Don’t you know those are males?!”

“Huh? Is that so?” Elizabeth wondered aloud. “Well, don’t most plants have both sexes most of the time anyway? It doesn’t really matter~”

“Grrrr! It matters to me…” Dryad sighed in resignation. “Well… this isn’t half bad either, I suppose…”

Ding!

[Your Familiar Dryad has evolved into the [Dark Nether Treant – Rank 2]!]

[All of her Stats have increased greatly.]

[She has learned the following new Abilities: [Demonic Fruit] [Nether Sap] [Vampiric Roots]]

“You got some new Abilities, Dryad,” Elizabeth said with a smile. “Make sure to learn how to use them properly.”

“Yes…” Dryad sighed again, then looked over at Reinhardt, who was still staring in surprise. “What?!”

“N-Nothing…!” he muttered quickly, stepping back and turning toward Elizabeth. “S-So what now?”

“I can detect where the rest of them are,” Elizabeth said. “Unless you don’t want to help me anymore, in which case I’ll throw you inside my pocket dimension. It might be a little uncomfortable in there, but you can at least breathe… I think?”

Reinhardt blinked several times after hearing her say “I think?”

“…I’ll stay outside,” he sighed reluctantly. “Let’s move. I am worried about everyone else…”

Elizabeth nodded. “I can detect a large group of people in the distance. Let’s move.”

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