Chapter 18
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: Special Evolution Beats Regular Evolution
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"Kihihit!"
Walking right into the tiger's mouth with my own two feet.
Water's already spilled, so time to gear up with crow mentality.
I can do this. If it's me!
【Skills】
「Soul Drain LV2」
「Dreadful Grasp LV4」
【Traits】
「Physical Attack Immunity」
「Fluidization」
「Levitation」
A short time, but let's sum up what I've gleaned about this thing in the meantime.
Traits are pretty much like Fluffball's.
Difference? Physical Attack Immunity.
Unlike Fluffball, which I smashed flat under my body, this means it takes zero damage from physical hits.
Next, skills.
Soul Drain's gotta be like the whooooosh Fluffball did.
Except not cute—this'll suck me dry for real.
Last one's Dreadful Grasp...
Ssssh.
Yeah, it's showing off.
Lace looks like a human torso draped in a huge sheet of cloth.
Its arm section stretches out grotesquely.
From that puffy shape, the hand splits into five long tendrils.
Vmmm.
A dark crimson aura swirls around it.
Shraaaaa!
Sharp claws flying at me.
Can't block this.
Acorn helmet might tank it, but my instincts scream dodge.
I can picture it: claws piercing just the helmet, then smashing my skull.
So, dodge it is.
Somehow!
Swoooosh!
I fling my body left, evading the incoming talons.
Craaaack!
Like it's demonstrating what would've happened—a massive crack splits the wall behind me.
"Kihihit!"
Lace laughs creepily.
Figures it'll think it's got the upper hand now.
Dodging closed the distance, and escape routes are shrinking.
"Caw."
If I wanted to run, I'd have bolted already.
Flap flap!
Wings fluttering, I charge straight at it.
Of course, with just these downy feathers, I can't fly freely yet.
To take to the skies, I need to glide from high up.
Am I flapping like a maniac for no reason?
Nope.
Wings are to draw its eyes.
Keep it from spotting the silver coin in my beak.
Naturally shift direction mid-charge.
From straight ahead to spinning in place.
Stopping one wing doubles the spin.
It's watching my every move intently.
Centered on my flapping wings.
Prep complete.
Pang!
Using the spin, I hurl the gripped silver coin at top speed.
Whiiiistle!
James, prove you lived a righteous life!
The speeding coin smacks its head dead-on.
Crackle crackle!
Its body blurs in an instant.
"Kieeeek!"
Yes!
James was an upstanding coin minter!
But one coin won't finish it.
If it did, those adventurers would've been hunting Laces like crazy.
Thud thud!
I dart in quick, snatching the rebounding coin off its body.
"Keeeaak!"
Lace cheers wildly—must love quality silver.
White cloth's got scorch marks; solid effect.
But now the real trouble starts.
It knows I've got silver gear, so no more easy openings.
"Kihiiik..."
Wary of the coin in my beak, but lunging for gaps anyway.
Thud thud thud.
I know what's coming—I've seen it once.
Swoooosh!
Dreadful Grasp!
I roll aside, barely dodging.
"Kihihit!"
But that's not the end.
Recognizing my dangerous weapon, it's going all-in, no mercy.
Swoooosh!
Claws lash out again.
Craaaaaack!
I twist mid-air, evading just in time.
But bad vibes incoming.
I've rolled, twisted hard—vulnerable now.
Can I dodge the follow-up?
"Kyahaha!"
No chance.
That's what it was aiming for.
Swoooosh!
Dreadful Grasp, three-hit combo.
Unfairly fast, powerful strikes to bisect me.
Tzzzzzt!
Didn't connect, though.
"Ki, kiiieeeek!"
No face, but I feel its panic.
Sorry, but my Flexible Bones trait.
Tough to dodge openly, but perfect for twisting in tight spots.
Body bent at impossible angles.
Perfect evasion demands razor-sharp counter.
Clang.
Crackle cracklecackle!
"Kieeeek!"
Flash erupts where coin touches its arm.
"Guh, kieeeek!"
That was a toss; now it's clamped in my beak.
Meaning I can stay latched till it drops.
Crackle!
Dodge its flailing arms, keep silver contact—won't last long.
Crackle crackle!
Victory's all but mine.
Pfsh!
And complacency hits hardest then.
Strength drains from my body.
I was guarding both arms—how?
Crackle.
"Kiik, kiiieeeek!"
The hem of its white cloth touched me somehow.
I flinched in pain, and that's when the fabric grazed me.
My mistake—thought arms were the only threat.
"Kihit... kiwuukhit!"
It laughs creepily, spotting my glitch amid the agony.
This must be Soul Drain.
Who vanishes first— it or my soul?
Crackle.
"Kihihit!"
It's feeding off me, so time's on its side.
Staring contest? I lose for sure.
Own up to the blunder, retreat fast.
Pull back with silver play, escape to sunlight somehow.
Right as I try reclaiming my touched limb.
"Shuuuung!"
Familiar sound hits, then.
Thoom!
Tiny ripple crashes.
Fluffball's body slam connects with Lace.
It staggers; I and coin break free simultaneously.
"Kiaaaak!"
Silver coin floats mid-air.
Lace's posture crumbles.
Last chance handed to me.
Drained bad—if I fail, counter-killed.
Clamp beak, lunge forward big.
"Jaeaeaeak!"
Target: floating silver.
Not just bite—smash through it.
Crunch!
Coin can't take it, deforms.
Meaning?
Silver coating now sheathes my beak.
Whiiiistle!
Slams right into Lace's body.
Fwoooosh!
Crackle crackle!
Massive hole tears through white cloth.
It wobbles a few times, then flops lifeless to the ground.
Enemy general, defeated!
"Jaeakhuu..."
Panting raggedly, I slump to the floor.
"Shuung, shuuung!"
A bit toasty-roasted Fluffball rushes to me.
Contact with Lace singed it some.
"Cluck cluck."
Thanks, Fluffball.
We're sorta same species, yet you took my side.
"Shuuu..."
Fluffball rubs cheeks on me, then rolls on the ex-Lace cloth.
Ghost stuff I don't get?
Yeah, play there for now.
I gotta handle...
Sparkle sparkle.
"Cawk!"
Gimme that first, then play!
[Lace's White Feather]
A feather imbued with some of Lace's traits.
Grants 「Fluidization」 while equipped.
"Caaawk..."
Got me an ominous feather.
Can I really use this power?
And that's not all.
Battle netted me 2 levels.
Meaning?
【Little Night Crow LV10(+)】 has reached max level.
Max level reached! 【Little Night Crow LV10(+)】 can now evolve!
Max level—evolution time!
Neatened the scene, scanned surroundings.
Danger?
None.
Food?
Plenty.
Space?
Fine unless I turn albatross.
Strike while iron's hot, right?
Night'll be riskier—evolve now.
Time to shed Little Night Crow.
Just Night Crow next.
【Little Night Crow】 can evolve into:
1. 【Kiwi】
2. 【White Crow】
3. 【Twitter】
4. 【Giant Black Crow】
Huh?
No Night Crow?
Maybe Night Crow's higher-tier than I thought.
[Extraordinary Potential confirmed.]
"Cawk!"
What, what?
[Special evolution conditions met.]
Yes!
This is what I needed!
Handing out extras like this—what's left over?
[New options unlocked. Condition: 「Fluidization」 acquired.]
Finally, Night Crow's mine!
【Little Night Crow】 can evolve into:
1. 【Kiwi】
2. 【White Crow】
3. 【Twitter】
4. 【Giant Black Crow】
5. 【Ghost Crow】
6. 【Shadow Crow】
...Who dis?