Chapter 26: 24 – A River

"I have levelled up three times today. No more for a while."

"What!? Three times?" I exclaimed.

"Yes. I killed two monsters much stronger than me. I'm happy."

Damn, kill steal works? This system is broken. God, fix it!

When I checked her status, a new trait had shown up.

[Level 37 Winged Beast;

Species: Fa-Noda;

Physical: 201/201;

Spiritual: 124/124;

Traits: Keen, Enhanced Senses, Slayer;

Abilities: Forest Song, Tracker, Enchantment, Rapid Transport;

Description: A type of winged beast that loves to sing.]

[Slayer], huh. That sounds like a good trait. I wish I could have new combat abilities and traits.

"Haelley, eat up," I handed her a cup of nectar only to remember that if she tried to hold it between her wings, the cup would stick.

Her frown returned when I reminded her of the food crisis. However, she didn't complain. Instead, she directed me to a opening in the insect's abdomen that she had cracked open with her legs. Once I poured the nectar onto the exposed insect flesh, she slurped and gobbled up the monstrous insect's flesh without hesitation.

"Haelley, don't you wish you have hands like us?" I asked.

"Hands are nice. I wish I could be like you. I will try to gain unique evolution too!"

"Smoothie, is that possible for her?"

"From what [soothsayer] is telling me, it's possible for her fourth evolution but the option is definitely available on her fifth evolution. For winged beasts, the fifth evolution is a double evolution."

"What's a double evolution? Do you evolve twice?"

"Kind of. It's like when you evolved into Strawberry Imp (lesser), you also evolved from a plant into a fey plant."

"Oh, that's what you mean. I'm interested to see what she'll evolve into!"

"Remember that lizard like demon? He evolved from a reptilian into a demon."

"Oh boy, I don't want to evolve into a demon! Haelley, be a good girl and don't evolve into a demon."

"Why not? Demons are strong!" Haelley replied while still chewing on insect flesh.

"Mother, you're more at risk of evolving into a demon than Haelley," Smoothie chided, "You should be more concerned about yourself right now."

If I remember correctly, in my previous double evolution, my "type" automatically changed when I confirmed my evolutionary path. Moreover, my base level was reset to one while all other status fields were unaffected. I wonder, is that how someone was able to gain more stats?

"Smoothie, one quick question, is there a maximum to levels and stats?"

"Yes and no," she answered quickly.

"What do you mean?"

"That depends on the type of evolution. It doesn't concern us at the moment because we won't reach it any time soon. So, not telling!"

"Don't be stingy!" As I tried to grab onto her.

She dodged my attempt at physical contact.

"No!"

"Pretty please?"

"I can give hint. If you want to break the first limit, you need the final evolution. The exception is if you are a fey plant."

Oh? There are more than one limits? As for that exception, she probably meant taking the "easy" path of growing stats year after year for possibly hundreds of years. Still, I want to see what this she will evolve into. Her options are definitely going to be different from mine.

"Hmm... Smoothie, we should get you to level up faster somehow, I want to see what you'll evolve into," I expressed my interest.

"Mother, I'm a real plant fey unlike you faker."

"You brat! What's that supposed to mean?"

"I can't kill things with [absorption] unlike you. The only way for me to level up is to have nutrients applied to my plant body."

"By the way, can I check my evolution options yet?"

"Don't you want to do more good deeds? Patience is a virtue, no?"

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It was just so tempting! I wanted to evolve as soon as I could. I wanted to get stronger, much stronger.

"Fine, I'll go look for a water source tomorrow," I replied grumpily.

That night was one of the longest nights ever. There really much we did other than wait for the sun to rise again. Honestly, I wasn't comfortable roaming around this dead forest without Haelley around. Even if she couldn't fly, her pure physical abilities were miles above mine.

"Smoothie, is there any way for you to create clones?"

If only I could put your plant body in a flower pot...

"I knew you care about me!" She grinned while hugging my arm.

"Hmmph! It would be inconvenient for me if anything happened to you. That's all!" I turned away from her absolutely adorable face illuminated by cool moonlight.

"Hehehe... I know," as she rubbed her soft cheeks on me.

"Well? Is there a way to create clones for you or not?"

"Not yet. It might be possible after you gain new abilities or traits."

Goddess of Luck, if you exist, I want ultimate abilities and traits please!

At the break of dawn, we began our search for a water source, or rather, I began searching for a water source. With transformation, I had altered my wings to pure black. In this getup, I almost looked like a black demon. Anyway, this was a preventive measure from being easily spotted from afar.

Water, where are you?

I flew up higher and higher into the sky until I nearly reached halfway to the clouds above. From where I could see, a big chunk of the forest around here was completely ravaged by that insect swarm.

To the northwest, with a few degrees difference from the direction the swarm headed was a glimmering flat surface. I was very sure that it had to be some sort of lake. I found it quicker than I expected, in a good way.

"I found a lake, I think. We're heading northwest!"

"Safe?"

"No idea but I'll check again once we get closer," I shrugged.

I didn't know how far away but if I had to guess, it was at least a hundred kilometers away. I thought about it and ran some calculations.

Wait a second, it would take us days to get there. Crap, I better find another one.

"Actually, let me go look again."

I shot up into the sky before they could respond. This time, instead of only toward the northern directions, I did a 360 degree turn. A few kilometers west was a noticeable slit between the trees running south to north.

Aha! This should do. Please be a river, please be a river!

I dove back down.

"Actually, I think there's a river nearby to the west. Let's head west!"

"Mother, have you seen a river before?" Her gaze bored into me.

"Rude! Of course I have. Who do you think I am?"

"Did you actually see the river?"

"Uhh... No. But it should be a river," I replied.

Once Smoothie confirmed that it was highly likely to be a river after checking my memory, we changed our direction westward. Within three hours, we reached a shallow meandering river hidden between towering evergreens.

"See? It's a river!" I declared.

"I didn't doubt you," she pouted.

"Sure you didn't, sure you didn't. How about let's all take a bath here! It's been so long since I washed myself."

Splash.

It was no fun only watching Haelley wash herself. So, I dipped myself into the cold and refreshing water. For someone like me who used to be a plant, the feeling of having running water beneath me was revitalizing to say the least.

Splash, splash.

"Teehee."

Smoothie stuck her tongue out at me.

"Hey!"

I splashed some back at her.

"Ahhh!" She giggled.

Suddenly, out of nowhere, the sound of gunshot echoed. Three more shots immediately followed.

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