Rapid Growth: "No More Scary Thoughts..."
After Nis and my owner left, I shook off all the anxious thoughts filling my head. Better to think about the polymorph and all the related traits I'd gained instead. I was originally supposed to wait 700 years, but thanks to absorbing the knights' mana, it got shortened to 5 years, right?
Maybe I could do it now, after just 5 years?
My chest suddenly started pounding at the thought. My petals quivered with excitement.
Should I give it a try?
Flutter flutter! Spotting my intent, Miel was the first to fly onto my petals. Then the bugs started gathering one by one. Their antennae perked up as they watched with eager curiosity—it was adorable. Cecilia spread her flame-like wings wide, buzzing with excitement. Lote orbited me steadily, like the moon around the Earth. But Glessia... she was still lounging lazily in the corner. What a bunch of unique personalities... Whatever, fine.
Alright! Watch closely!
A mix of thrill and tension bubbled inside me as I slowly began preparing. First, I activated my radiance skill, making my body glow brightly. The light pouring from me illuminated the entire cavern.
Hehe. Prep seems perfect! I shouted energetically in my mind.
Polymorph!
...Nothing happened.
The bugs kept staring at me with their bright, sparkling eyes. Miel just tilted her antennae slightly, like she was thinking What?
Try again? This time, I yelled louder in my head.
Polymorph!!
I vividly imagined a human form—long legs striding gracefully, hands grasping objects, a mouth speaking words...
...But still, no change. My petals just shimmered a bit more.
I could feel the bugs' gazes shift from anticipation to pity. Miel flew closer and tapped my petal gently with her thin legs, as if saying Keep going...
Don't pity me!
My petals drooped in disappointment. Was this not the way? I tilted my body this way and that, shook my petals vigorously, even twisted my roots around—but nothing.
If only I'd asked Nis or my owner how before they left...
Suddenly, a flash of insight hit me.
Hmm... Just gather power! Transformation's all about spirit! Like when I evolved!
I clenched my petals tight and poured all my strength into my roots. Recalling my evolution, I focused every bit of power in my body.
Hnnngggggh!
I gathered all my mana into one spot, trembling even my stamen!
Yaap!!!
Suddenly, my body heated up. Like basking in hot sunlight, my whole form grew feverish.
Wh-what!?
Red light began seeping from my body like smoke from embers. The bugs' eyes lit up with full-blown excitement again. Miel's wings beat faster, and Cecilia's flame wings shone brilliantly.
This is it!
The light enveloping me grew stronger, a warm energy spreading to every corner.
Yes, this is polymorph!!!
I'm finally becoming human! I'll walk side by side with my owner! Talk, dance...
Uh, uhh?
But something felt off. My body was getting heavier. My petals were growing larger, my stem elongating. I felt my roots digging deeper into the ground, hardening.
The bugs circled me in surprise, their wings fluttering wildly, antennae twitching with joy. Even Glessia had gotten up at some point, staring with wide eyes. When did she wake up?
But now wasn't the time for that!
This... isn't polymorph—I'm just getting bigger!
Dominant Thanatos Crown
What!? No evolution indicator in the status window? What kind of Easter egg is this!?
All Stats +400
Huh? Checking the status, every stat had risen by 400. That's 40 levels of growth in one go!
This is great...
Getting stronger is awesome, but...
Hng... I still hate getting bigger...
Petting's gonna be harder now... My petals wilted slightly in regret. Remembering my owner stroking my weak spots made me even sadder. Joy at growing stronger mixed with sorrow at my new size in a weird bittersweet feeling.
Then the bugs swarmed me excitedly. With my bigger body, there was more space for them. The crawling bugs settled at the base of my stem, while the flying ones danced in circles on my petals. It was like a little village forming—everyone claiming spots and moving with organized bustle.
I've become the bugs' apartment now...
Still, seeing them so happy lifted my mood too.
But I can't stay like this!
I wanna shrink again! Let's try!
Shrink!
I poured all my mental energy into it, but nothing.
Wither!
I folded my petals as tight as possible—no dice.
Reduce! Miniaturize! Loli beam!
I tried every word I could think of, but my body stayed the same.
Sigh...
Guess I'll live like this... At least until polymorph. No more weird tries—just wait the 5 years like Nis said.
My petals spread wide with new resolve.
5 years will fly by!
And if more knights come offering mana, it'll be even faster!
I wasn't thrilled with my new size matching my owner's, but oh well. The bugs gleefully explored my giant form, claiming more territory. Miel bounced around my petals, drawing something with her antennae. Up close, it looked like a picture of me.
Huh? You can draw too?
When I scratched letters into the ground with a root, Miel flapped happily.
…
And so time passed. It had been about two weeks since my owner and Nis left. Every day, the bugs started their diligent routines like faithful apartment dwellers. Our bug apartment grew more organized by the day. Some cleaned every corner of the cavern, others patrolled the labyrinth for external threats. Glessia was a total freeloader, though... And Lote kept orbiting me at steady speed like a black satellite, serving as a barrier. The bugs had gotten used to him now, sometimes resting on his back.
Crunch crunch! Ever since losing to Lote last time, Cecilia had been passionately munching my petals. Like an athlete training at the gym, she ate regularly every day and practiced flapping her flame wings to fly faster.
Today, though, a strange energy emanated from her. Her flame wings glowed brighter than usual, then intense flames suddenly enveloped her body.
Hot!
Her form shifted within the blaze. Wings spread wider, body slightly larger. And the most shocking part... she grew another pair of wings!
☆☆ 【Cecilia】 Celestial Flame Trinity LV140
Ooh! She evolved!
Forgetting the heat, my petals glowed with joy. Cecilia was now a gorgeous flame butterfly with three pairs of wings. Each shimmered with red-and-orange flames dancing like captured suns—larger, more vivid.
Trinity... like the Holy Trinity? Because of the three pairs?
Celestial Flame Trinity—such a cool name.
Cecilia looped around me proudly, trailing brilliant fiery arcs like a fireworks show. All the bugs gathered to watch her dazzling flight. Miel flapped along, but couldn't match the intensity. Glessia lounged lazily, but her compound eyes sparkled at Cecilia. Even Lote slowed his orbit a bit to watch.
Wow, she was pretty before, but now she's stunning!
I gently stroked my proud daughter's wing with a root tip. A warm energy flowed from it—precious hot pack in this icy cave.
I was so proud of Cecilia. She'd grown so much, hitting LV140 with awesome three-pair wings... Even if it was from eating me...
Flutter! With confident wingbeats, she sliced through the air—then dove straight at Lote!
Eh? Not again?
Sure enough. She spewed gorgeous flames, her three pairs engulfing Lote completely.
Ugh.
But the result was the same. Lote emerged unscathed—his surface even shinier from the flames. Cecilia wasn't bounced back as hard as before, but still no effect.
As expected from Nis's...
Cecilia returned dejectedly, her larger wings drooping pitifully.
It's okay—Lote's defense is cheat-level.
I comforted her with my root tip.
Just being pretty is enough for you!
Flutter! She settled softly on my petal and rested, folding her three pairs gracefully. It was beautiful.
Suddenly, I thought of my owner. Cecilia had evolved, and so had I—though mine was just getting bigger.
Owner... when will you come back...
Time seemed to crawl slower now.