Chapter 19
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: Second Evolution
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【Little Night Crow】 can evolve into:
1. 【Kiwi】
2. 【White Crow】
3. 【Twitter】
4. 【Giant Black Crow】
5. 【Ghost Crow】
6. 【Shadow Crow】
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Let's take a look at each one.
First up, Kiwi.
You know the one. We all know that kiwi.
The bird with the plump, jiggly butt and that deep, resonant voice.
The deep voice might be unique to the weka, but that chubby rear is standard for all kiwis.
It reminds me of the Sage for a second there—nice nostalgia—but no way am I evolving into one of those.
Why would I turn into a pudgy, wingless bird?
Hold on. Does that mean kiwis are actually a higher species than me?
Is there a clear superior-inferior relationship between Little Night Crow and Kiwi?
I can't accept that.
Moving on.
Second, White Crow.
I've seen this one before.
Well, precisely, I saw the "Little" version.
Now the plain White Crow has shown up, without the "Little."
I compared it to the Night Crow line and settled on Little Night Crow in the end.
The fact that Night Crow isn't an option now suggests it's even higher up than I thought.
Night clearly trumps White, so pat myself on the back for that past choice and move along.
No reason to backtrack to White now.
Unless it could shoot ice blasts like a white dragon or something, but just a white-colored crow? Nah.
Third, Twitter.
Why are you back again?
Without the "Little," you look even more obnoxious.
Go away nicely while I'm asking, bluebird.
Fourth, Giant Black Crow.
As the name suggests, probably big and black.
And that's it.
Bigger size is nice, but just getting bulkier with no flair? Pass.
Honestly, those first four were just for show.
Making sure I wasn't missing anything.
But nothing caught my eye.
What I'm really focused on are the special evolutions down below.
Ghost versus Shadow. The difference there.
Both unlocked after acquiring the Phasing trait, so they'll have some similarities.
Of course, all I can do is speculate from the names—not exact—but still worth thinking about.
Ghost first.
Probably turns me into something like a ghostly crow.
Like that whooshy ghost or the Lace I took down earlier.
Seems super handy at a glance.
Physical attacks probably won't land, and I could float without flapping.
Up until now, I've just been a smart crow. From here on, I'd really feel like something out of a fantasy world.
But I have a feeling there's a fatal flaw.
Probably dies to a single Turn Undead spell, can't handle sunlight...
And worst of all, touching silver might roast me golden-brown?
I already have this habit of snatching shiny things on reflex. Evolution won't fix that.
Steal a silver candlestick and end up barbecued myself.
In summary, it'd give me the Lace's strengths but likely its weaknesses too.
If I only hunted at night like the Laces, maybe it'd work, but let's check the other options first.
Shadow Crow.
Shadow crow, I suppose.
This popped up after Phasing too, so it probably inherits Ghost Crow's perks.
And being shadow-based, sunlight shouldn't be lethal.
Don't they say stronger light makes stronger shadows?
And no reason silver would hurt a shadow specifically.
Of course, judging by name alone—my guess could be way off.
Still, between one with obvious downsides and one without any visible yet...
Obviously the latter.
I'm going with Shadow Crow.
[Are you sure you want to evolve into 【Shadow Crow】?]
Above all, Shadow Crow—what a name packed with masculine dreams and romance.
My eyes drift shut smoothly.
Crunch.
The sensation of my entire skeleton reconstructing. I've felt it before.
Crack.
No pain, but it feels weird.
Still, gotta embrace it happily.
This means my body's growing that much.
Congratulations! 【Little Night Crow】 has evolved into 【Shadow Crow】.
The welcome message popped up, and I let out a triumphant cry right away.
"Kyaak!"
Reviewing the options is fun, but this is the real payoff.
Confirming my choice was the right one!
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【Shadow Crow】
A rare crow with feathers like shadows.
An excellent hunter that hides in shadows and preys on impure existences.
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Looks like I nailed it.
The description is no joke.
As a male crow, how could I not love this?
Hiding in shadows!
Even more thrilling than preying on impure existences.
[You have acquired Extraordinary Potential.]
[Additional rewards will be granted.]
[「Lace's White Feather」 melts into the shadows.]
[「Phasing」 is permanently consumed.]
「Phasing」
Concentrate your spirit to briefly phase through most targets, increasing movement speed.
"Kya-aak?"
This isn't a reward!
I never even got to use it once?
[As compensation, you acquire 「Shadow Meld」.]
This is the reward!
[Trait Slot +1]
"Kek-kek-kek."
The crow is laughing.
"Kek."
Kek-lols.
📊 Status:
「Hunger」
「Slight Fatigue」
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「Crow's Eye LV2」
「Bird's Wisdom LV1」
「Feather of Night LV1」
「Sturdy Beak (Mountain Eater)」
「Shadow Meld」
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「Shadow Meld」
Concentrate your spirit to briefly slip into shadows.
While hidden in shadows, you are unaffected by most attacks.
Not quite a full upgrade over Phasing in every way, but superior in most aspects.
Above all, that shadowy cool factor is incomparable.
A few tests confirmed this trait is also tied to a feather.
A single shimmering, shadow-like feather on my chest—pluck it, and Shadow Meld vanishes.
So, it shares the slot like the others.
But evolution gave me an extra slot, so no issue.
Overall, a satisfying evolution.
Shame there's no puddle to check my new look, but I'll make time later.
"Kyaak."
Stretching my stiff body, I went looking for Whooshie.
This guy was supposed to watch the nest. Where'd he go?
A quick lap around the nest, and there he was—patting his plump belly—our eyes met.
"Shwoong?"
He spotted me and perked up his head area a bit.
Wait, has he always been that big?
He used to look like a handkerchief draped over him, but now it's more like a pillowcase.
He grew overall.
"Shoo-woong."
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【Little Lace】
A slightly larger young ghost draped in cloth.
Immune to physical strikes.
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What? You evolved too?
The white cloth scrap by his mouth says it all.
This guy ate the Lace I caught?
Absorbed it, more like.
"O-oong?"
He fluttered toward me excitedly, then tilted his head.
"Shwoong!"
Probably shocked by my evolved form.
Fair enough.
I've bulked up quite a bit myself.
Enough that my dear comrade Sir Acorn might have to retire.
Thanks for your service, Sir Acorn Helmet.
I'm too big to wear you around anymore.
"Shoo-oong!"
But perfectly timed—a successor for my helmet has appeared.
"Chirp-chirp."
Wanna take this on?
"Shoo-woong!"
I nudged the acorn helmet with my beak, and he nods like crazy.
"Ooo-ooo!"
I plopped it on his head myself, and he zips around happily.
He's a ghost immune to physical attacks anyway, but this'll be useful.
Equipping a weapon on a guy with zero offense besides ramming.
Fly high and drop it—solid attack right there.
"Ooo-woong...!"
Whooshie stared at his new acorn helmet, then back at me.
"Shwoong!"
He came over and rubbed against me wildly.
Am I using Pheromone Manipulation?
Why's he so clingy?
Maybe grateful since I basically fed him that Lace.
"Shoo-oong."
After rubbing his cloth all over my feathers for a while, Whooshie stretched his stubby arms out, gesturing to head outside.
"Kek?"
Post-evolution, dusk had settled nicely.
This time of night, even he could go out without worry.
But night is dangerous.
Laces might swarm in groups like before, or we could run into other threats.
"O-oong."
I stayed put, so he fluttered to my beak.
"Shwoong!"
Pretended to get pecked and flopped dramatically.
Like the reaction you'd get from an Osaka local faking a gunshot.
"Shoo-woong!"
Sprang right up and zipped around the nest.
His antics reminded me of those words from earlier.
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【Shadow Crow】
A rare crow with feathers like shadows.
An excellent hunter that hides in shadows and preys on impure existences.
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An excellent hunter that preys on impure existences.
What counts as "impure"?
Probably things like the ones roaming at night.
Whooshie's little act was basically, "Master, you can eat ghosts with that beak!"
"Chirp."
I took Whooshie and headed out of the nest.
Perfect timing to test my new ability anyway.
The sun had set, moon risen.
Eternal Night hadn't kicked in yet, but it wasn't bright out.
The dead walked the ground again, white-cloaked ones flew the skies.
Watched by one crow and one ghost.
Borrowing a certain hunter's words:
Tonight, the crow and little ghost go hunting.
"Kyaak, kyaak."
"Ooo-ooo!"
Basically "Leveled up all over today," but I added some flair.
I'm a Shadow Crow now, free of "Little."
Gotta act the part.
"Ppi-yak."
"Oong?"
"...Kek-kek."