Chapter 136
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 136
Chapter Title: White Night
[Afterglow Crow] can evolve into:
1. [Storm Crow]
2. [Argentavis]
3. [Giant King Crow]
4. [Simurgh]
5. [Nightfall Crow]
6. [Lesser Hresvelgr]
Three new options had appeared.
Simurgh, Nightfall Crow, and Lesser Hresvelgr.
Each of these names was outrageously impressive.
First, the Simurgh.
Just as an imugi could become a dragon after a thousand years of cultivation, it was said that a hawk could become a Simurgh after a thousand years.
A spirit beast that appeared only in legends, it was said to possess a deadly poison so potent that merely flying overhead turned the land below into a barren wasteland where not a single blade of grass could grow.
No predator would dare challenge a Simurgh, thanks to its overwhelmingly powerful venom—a ferocious force capable of exterminating entire species just from the poison leaking as it soared through the sky.
If I evolved into this species, I wouldn't need to invest in attack power anymore.
Going full poison build didn't sound bad at all.
This option must have unlocked because I defeated the cockatrice and gained Immunity to Hundred Poisons.
There was another advantage to choosing the Simurgh.
It would allow me to land effective strikes against the Snow White Witch I'd eventually face.
Even cockatrice-level poison could counter Snow White's abilities to some extent.
Of course, that was only possible because it wasn't her true body, but when it came to subduing Snow White, poison akin to the poisoned apple was inevitably the most effective.
If I evolved into a Simurgh and continued growing my power, I could even have a fair fight against her true self.
The next option was Nightfall Crow.
Once again, a crow bearing the name of night.
Having used Night Feather once, I had a slight grasp of what a true Night Crow's power might be like.
It started with Twilight, then Afterglow. Next came early evening.
The endpoint of this evolution path was obvious.
Night Crow. The crow of night.
I could walk the same path as that one.
Knowing how powerful abilities named after times could be, sticking to this path would guarantee success without fail.
I didn't yet know what "early evening" symbolized, but considering Twilight and Afterglow, this power was sure to be extraordinarily strong.
Moreover, with my Night Summoning skill, collecting traits from various times of day synergized perfectly.
In other words, my heart leaned more toward Nightfall Crow than Simurgh.
If the options ended there, I'd have picked Nightfall Crow, but one more remained.
Lesser Hresvelgr.
Like Simurgh, the "crow" name was gone.
And it had "Lesser" prefixed.
What did "Lesser" mean?
Usually, it indicated something smaller or weaker.
Think panda versus lesser panda.
So, Lesser Hresvelgr meant a smaller, weaker version of Hresvelgr.
Still, it was incredibly tempting.
Because even with "Lesser," the word after it was none other than Hresvelgr.
I knew that name well.
It was one of the spirit beasts from Norse mythology.
Norse myths featured an astonishing array of fantastical beasts.
Fenrir devoured Odin, Jörmungandr took Thor down with it.
Sköll was the wolf that swallowed the sun, Hati the one that devoured the moon.
Mythical beings like these achieved unbelievable feats and possessed commensurate strength.
Nidhogg, the red dragon dwelling at the roots of the World Tree.
Its power would rival those legendary existences.
And the nameless eagle at the World Tree's peak was the one that confronted Nidhogg.
Hresvelgr was a distinct being from that eagle, yet legends often equated them.
In short, Hresvelgr was no ordinary spirit beast—it was powerful enough to earn a name in the Norse myths where monsters ran rampant.
That's why I nearly cursed in shock.
I never imagined Hresvelgr would appear. No matter what else, not this.
It had "Lesser" attached, but it was still Hresvelgr.
A chance to leap into mythical spirit beast status.
Growing from there might shed the "Lesser" and make me a true Hresvelgr.
Nightfall Crow over Simurgh.
And Lesser Hresvelgr seemed equal to or above that.
Guessing from names alone meant little, but the dilemma stemmed from another reason.
I knew these choices weren't just about evolution forms.
The Night Crow and Snow White were competing.
The Night Crow offered Nightfall Crow; Snow White countered with Lesser Hresvelgr.
Each urging me toward their path.
Snow White had clearly warned me not to trust the Night Crow.
There was no malice in her words, but blindly siding with her felt wrong too.
After all, I'd received the Night Crow's help so far.
I'd come this far by walking its path.
And there was no reason to trust Snow White over the Night Crow.
Snow White and Night Crow.
They weren't good or evil; some clear conflict of interest existed between them.
Me following the Night Crow's path harmed Snow White, and heeding her would hurt the Night Crow.
Nightfall Crow, Lesser Hresvelgr.
Like previous evolutions, this one was a crucial turning point.
"Walk the Night Crow's path."
"Don't trust the Night Crow."
I chuckled faintly at the opposing advice.
Snow White's words struck me as a bit funny.
Why assume I'd trust the Night Crow?
I didn't particularly trust it.
I'd simply thought for myself and pursued the best outcome.
Back out now on her word alone?
That wasn't the path I'd walked so far.
I trusted no one's words.
The only things I trusted were my choices and my companions.
The Snow White Witch and Night Crow likely wielded near-transcendent power.
Even so, how could they meddle in someone else's evolution?
The Night Crow had some connection to me, and the Snow White Witch had implanted a snowflake, making it possible, but such interference required conditions—and it wouldn't be easy.
They were beings befitting transcendence.
They undoubtedly had ulterior motives, but I had no way to uncover them now.
I'd learn only after growing stronger, standing as their equal.
So, the choice now was the path to the strongest being.
[Will you really evolve into [Simurgh]?]
Neither Snow White's nor Night Crow's.
It unlocked because I defeated the cockatrice.
I didn't know their schemes, but they'd hate me picking this.
That's why they dangled Nightfall and Lesser Hresvelgr.
Of course, Simurgh was less likely stronger than those two.
They offered it confidently, knowing I'd see its worth.
They presented options, so they knew what I'd do.
I chose Simurgh, and one more press into empty air would trigger the evolution.
A choice neither Night Crow nor Snow White wanted.
"Caw, cackle."
I spoke in a calm voice.
Your options aren't enough.
Give me something better.
Or I'll become the Simurgh.
That was the meaning behind my action.
[Heh... This damn bird.]
A familiar voice echoed in my mind.
The Night Crow's.
[Daring to bargain with me, eh?]
Despite the tone, its mood seemed surprisingly good.
As if intrigued, it even rumbled with laughter.
[Hahahaha! Right, one isn't enough. You want both, is that it?]
Nightfall Crow and Lesser Hresvelgr.
Both great, but I wanted better.
I'd have accepted normally, but now I had intel.
The Night Crow and Snow White were scheming, and I was involved.
So, I went all-in.
Impossible normally, but knowing their rivalry made it viable.
If the Night Crow hadn't responded first, Snow White would have.
[A being with the power of Command Roar must demand this much.]
Fwaaaah!
Black energy erupted.
Simultaneously, white light laced with cold aura burst forth.
Kwagagagak!
Just like before, the two forces clashed in competition, rapidly diminishing.
The white light was pushed back.
The black energy swallowed the white light.
But not completely—traces of white leaked out intermittently.
The black energy that absorbed the light shrank, morphing into a familiar shape.
Plop.
A single black feather.
And a slightly smaller white feather.
I instinctively knew what they were.
My gamble paid off.
My next evolution wouldn't be Simurgh.
Nor Lesser Hresvelgr.
Nor even Nightfall Crow.
Snow White's option fused with the Night Crow's.
White feather and black feather.
Power of Command and power of early evening.
A being wielding paradoxical, opposing forces.
[Nightfall Crow - White Night]
The Night Crow's power devoured Snow White's, presenting a new option.
[No third time.]
A low, sinister voice resounded.
The two options merged into one.
As the Night Crow said, this was the last.
Demand both again next evolution, and its supreme chicken kick would fly.
"Caaaaw!"
[Will you really evolve into [Nightfall Crow - White Night]?]
Yes.
No reason to refuse this.
When choices are tough, just fuse them.