Chapter 135

Translator: MadScientist

Chapter: 135

Chapter Title: Fifth Evolution

The Witch of White Snow vanished in a burst of white light.

Watching her go, I couldn't help but think she didn't quite fit the image of a Night Witch.

Her power seemed far too pure and pristine for a witch.

Of course, I'm not defending her character or anything—I'm talking about the source of that power.

That power was intriguing enough, but something else gnawed at me even more.

It was the warning she left behind just before disappearing.

Don't trust the Night Crow.

What the hell did that mean?

I understood the words themselves—they were straightforward enough.

But the information didn't sit right.

For starters, she knew about the Night Crow's existence and that it had some connection to me.

The truth was, I'd never actually met the Night Crow.

I only glimpsed it in dreams during my evolutions.

Neither Moona nor Swungswung knew I'd encountered it.

How could anyone find out if I kept my beak shut?

Sure, if she knew about the Night Crow, it wouldn't be hard to guess we were linked.

We were both crows, and I had the power to shift through time periods.

Fine, I could accept that much.

I could buy that the Witch of White Snow knew about the Night Crow and suspected a connection to me.

But telling me not to trust it? What context made that make sense?

She and I were enemies.

She might have seemed somewhat friendly without attacking me outright, but she'd originally ordered Dabih and Vega to take me out.

Why would she give friendly advice to someone like that?

It was unlikely.

She was probably just trying to sow confusion and turn me against the Night Crow.

That was what my rational side told me.

But in that final moment when she spoke, there wasn't a trace of malice.

It felt like she truly meant it, regardless of whether we were foes or allies.

The source of my power was undoubtedly tied to the Night Crow.

Denying its help in getting me this far would be a lie.

In a way, the Night Crow and I were on the same side.

While the Night Witches were my enemies.

Hearing something like that in this situation muddled my head.

Who should I trust?

What should I do?

Mulling it over, I approached Black Wolf and Red Cloak.

First things first, I needed to wake these two up.

"Yaaawn... Huh...?"

Before long, Black Wolf and Red Cloak stirred from their slumber.

"What the...? Did I seriously fall asleep?"

"Caw."

Unfortunately, yeah, you did.

"And I'm still alive? Crow, it must've been you!"

Black Wolf wrapped her massive front paw around my body in a hug.

"Caw... Caw..."

The soft sensation of jelly-like fur felt nice, so I let it happen.

"Shuuaaaak!"

Swungswung, freshly awake, wasn't so calm.

"Heh... Hehehe..."

Red Cloak laughed.

I had no idea why.

"Caw!"

Still, there was one silver lining.

Red Cloak over there, laughing it up.

She knew the Witch of White Snow to some extent.

If I could get some info on her from Red Cloak, it might help me sort out my thoughts.

"Impressive as ever, White Snow. Putting even me to sleep... ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠No, putting me to sleep, nyang!"

She seemed shocked that she'd passed out just like Black Wolf.

"Caw caw caw."

Yeah, yeah.

Tell me about the White Snow you knew.

Then I'll put in a good word for you with Gretel.

I poked at her with that nuance using my beak.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"Hmm... Honestly, that wasn't the White Snow ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Witch I knew."

Red Cloak glanced at me sideways as she continued.

"I figured she was at best on my level, maybe a smidge stronger..."

"Caw."

Have some self-awareness.

How could she be on your level?

Even a hundred of you couldn't beat her.

"If only I still had the Unquenchable Flame of Revolution..."

Even with that, same story.

"But something's off... No, it's weird, nyang."

Her mana must be low; she slapped on the nyang speech in a hurry.

"She definitely wasn't this strong before, nyang. I can't wrap my head around it, nyang. Even as a high witch, she was at the tail end... But that power she just showed rivals the top one or two among all witches, nyang. Not that I saw her full strength..."

The Witch of White Snow's display was undeniably extraordinary.

And that wasn't even her main body here.

The Witch of the Deep Sea sent a single tentacle, but the Witch of White Snow had only sent a mere illusion via contract.

To wield that much power in such a state meant her true form was unimaginably mighty.

"Going from around my level to this in such a short time..."

"Wasn't she always that strong and just hiding it?"

Black Wolf said, kneading my cheek.

"What was that, nyang?"

"Come on, logically, it's more likely she had that power all along and kept it under wraps than suddenly powering up short-term, right?"

She had a point.

From what Red Cloak said, White Snow's growth rate was abnormal.

Did she get power from someone?

That would make things even stranger.

It'd mean some entity above the Witch of White Snow was involved.

Logically, it made more sense that she'd always had this power but concealed it.

"Hmmm... Even if we stretch it and say that's true, nyang, what's the point of hiding it, nyang?"

"Maybe she had some job to do on the Night Witches' side?"

Sharp as ever—wolf instincts, I guess.

It wasn't easy to speculate with so little info, but Black Wolf's theory held water.

The Witch of White Snow had infiltrated the Night Witches, hiding her power to accomplish something.

"Hmmm... Could be...? No, why should I trust a dog's words, nyang?!"

"What're you talking about?"

"Woof! I don't trust dogs, nyang!"

"Wait, first you mimic cat speech, and now you're turning into a real cat...?"

Black Wolf wasn't even a dog.

And Red Cloak wasn't a cat either.

Gretel's... no, her reeducation seemed to have worked wonders.

We chatted about all sorts of things, trying to piece together the current situation.

But it didn't clarify much.

"Caw caw."

Instead of brooding like this, it'd be better to ask directly.

And right now, I had a way to ask the Night Crow.

You guys have some time before heading back, right?

"Caw. Chirp, peep peep."

I'm gonna evolve real quick, so keep watch?

I pecked and flapped my wings with that intent.

Of course, since they couldn't understand, I had to resort to my sweet songbird voice.

"G-G-G-Go ahead, nyang..."

"Caw caw."

Good, these guys will keep me safe... Now for the main event.

I sat up straight and opened the evolution menu.

Three options appeared.

Standard choices, but unlike before, I actually liked all of them.

First: Storm Crow.

The name alone was killer.

Pick this, and I'd probably become a crow that commands storms.

Enhanced wing-generated winds, or maybe spewing tempests from my beak.

And with Twilight Feather linking into something like Twilight Storm, it'd be a huge boost in future fights—no doubt.

Second: Argentavis.

A real bird that existed.

Known as the largest flying bird ever.

With a wingspan pushing eight meters—an absurd size.

Overwhelming bulk meant overwhelming combat power.

A tiny airplane soaring overhead, then dive-bombing with feathers as explosives...

Most foes wouldn't even spot me before dying.

Third: Giant King Crow.

Giant and King right there.

Probably the pinnacle for regular crows.

I'd become a massive crow, plain and simple.

With "King" attached, maybe I'd gain command over other crows.

All three had their merits; any choice would satisfy.

But right now, special evolutions were waiting.

The Cockatrice kill was supposed to unlock special options guaranteed.

"Caw!"

Yes! That's it!

Show yourself, special evolutions!

I was about to check the new options excitedly when—

"Caw?"

A new option appeared below the choices.

The moment I focused on it—

Whoosh.

A chill burst from the top of my head.

The spot where White Snow's snowflake had touched.

"Caw... Caaaaw...!"

What the actual fuck...

I nearly cursed out loud.

Not just the unimaginable names, but I could guess what had just happened.

The Witch of White Snow and the Night Crow.

Each had thrown in an option.

As if they were competing with each other.