This is the Hidden Route

I stared blankly at the window floating before me.

Whoa... for real?

My branches trembled. Evolution. As a web novel reader, I knew exactly how huge that word was.

Evolution wasn't just leveling up. It was a complete change in my very existence.

I need to choose carefully.

I steadied myself and calmly examined the options.

First, option 1: Sapling of Ma Energy.

Ma Energy... that's the power the demons use, right?

As a web novel otaku, Ma Energy evoked one clear image: dark, powerful, and dangerous.

Does that mean I'd wield that kind of power?

I shook my branches slowly. On the offensive side, it seemed incredibly strong. Monsters corrupted by Ma Energy were always ferocious and powerful, weren't they? If I could harness that...

I'd get ridiculously strong.

But there was a problem.

Doesn't Ma Energy corrupt nearby lifeforms?

In that recent read, Kiss at the Saintess's Feet, it led to a bad end with total annihilation because of Ma Energy. Plus, right now, the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠only ones I could talk to were the spirits. Becoming a Sapling of Ma Energy might drive them away.

I didn't want that.

Pass.

I shifted my gaze to option 2 without regret: Sapling of Spirits.

It had a completely different vibe from 1.

This would make me even closer to the spirits, right?

I already had the Spirit Affinity skill, but becoming a Sapling of Spirits would blow that out of the water. Maybe even let me contract with spirits or borrow their power directly.

That doesn't sound bad.

They'd taken such good care of me so far. They'd probably keep helping.

For now, on hold.

Then option 3?

Option 3 was Sapling of Sanctuary.

Sanctuary means better defense or purification, right?

The Sanctuary skill already purified impurities. As a Sapling of Sanctuary, maybe the range expands or purification gets massively stronger.

That's tempting too.

I shook my branches for a good while, deep in thought. None were bad. But none screamed "this is it!" either.

Sapling of Ma Energy felt sketchy. Sapling of Spirits was solid but just... solid. Sapling of Sanctuary had good direction, but...

If I have to pick one, probably Sapling of Sanctuary?

I was just about to lock in on 3 when—

-You're awake! You're finally awake!!

-You're alive!

The spirits came swarming from all directions.

Wh-whoa?!

It was so sudden my branches jolted.

The spirits spun around me, chattering nonstop.

-We thought you were dead!

-Do you know how long you slept?

-Like, forever!

Tears welled up in the spirits' eyes.

Hey, wait. Calm down.

But they kept yelling.

-We fended off those ugly guys coming at you!

-Yeah, yeah! We worked super hard!

The spirits kept babbling.

-But you're huge now!

-Yeah! What happened?!

-Did this happen while you were sleeping?!

-You grew branches!

The spirits poked and prodded my branches curiously.

I know, I know. Calm down.

I waved my branches soothingly.

Thanks for worrying. I'm fine.

The spirits peered at me with red, puffy eyes.

-For real?

-Nowhere hurts?

-You sure?

Yeah. Totally.

Only then did they glance at each other, sigh in relief, and lean against my branches in a row.

-Phew.

-So glad.

Sorry for worrying you guys.

As I comforted them, a window popped up in front of me.

Huh?

I hadn't chosen an evolution yet? Was there a time limit or something?

Nah, no way...

Infinite Growth?

I blinked—or tried to—and the evolution list reappeared.

And at the very bottom... a new option had been added.

My shaking branches froze.

...Primordial Sapling?

I mulled over the word. Primordial... origin. Beginning. Source.

It hit me.

This is the hidden route.

My inner web novel vet screamed. That's the one. Pick that!

The name alone is on another level.

Ma Energy. Spirits. Sanctuary. But this... Primordial.

The scale is totally different.

My branches quivered with excitement. No need to hesitate.

I selected 4 without a second thought.

In that instant, light flooded my vision.

Whoosh—!

A blinding glow enveloped me, swallowing everything.

Pirel Forest. This mana-saturated forest of death had one unbreakable rule since time immemorial: survival of the fittest.

The strong were truth itself. Under that law, Pirel Forest's monsters devoured each other to grow stronger.

And at the bottom of that food chain were the mana earthworms. Worm monsters.

Maybe that's why these solitary worms had started forming packs long ago to survive in Pirel Forest, unlike elsewhere. They even had a queen and lived under her rule.

They foraged in groups at her command, fleeing together from stronger monsters.

And today, the youngest of the pack scattered at the queen's order to hunt for food.

Slither...

One baby mana earthworm wriggled through the soil. It was starving. So hungry.

As it twisted its slippery body through the dirt, it sensed something.

"Grrr..."

A root thick with mana. The scent was different.

The baby worm's eyes widened as it approached. It opened its mouth to eat—

Kwang!

The root shot out.

Kwachak!

It seized the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠worm.

The baby mana earthworm thrashed desperately with its slick skin, but...

"Krr!"

It wasn't enough.

Suuuuck—!

Something pulled at it, and the worm shuddered violently.

Crunch!

It shattered.

Success!

The root's owner—me—shook my branches in glee. Baby mana earthworms were a breeze now. No more frantic trembling as I stretched roots like before. One root was plenty; caught 'em quick.

Meanwhile, I sensed movement on another root.

Sweet, another one.

I extended a root leisurely.

Kwachak. Suuuck. Crunch.

Three-second kill.

Delicious.

This one had a spicy kick too. Feeling full and satisfied, I waved my branches.

Time to check my status window.

I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠pulled up my status.

Already Level 3? And every skill had leveled up once.

No big changes in descriptions, sadly.

But hey, that's something!

Yeah. Sanctuary felt noticeably stronger too. With wider roots, the area expanded, and defense was way better.

But changes weren't just that.

Ma Energy. Spirit Power. Divine Power.

Three new stats in my window. Probably perks of being a Primordial Sapling.

Good choice.

Feeling smug, I pondered.

Ma Energy's probably that demon power.

Currently 0. No clue how to raise it. Fight demons?

Yeah, right. How's a tree supposed to do that?

Next, Spirit Power.

This must be from the spirits.

At 20 already. It jumped right after evolution, so probably rises just from hanging with them.

And this Spirit Power... maybe for contracts or borrowing their strength?

Finally, Divine Power: holy mana from gods. Also 0.

How do I raise this?

Using Sanctuary? Nope.

Guess it'll come with leveling.

That's when—

-Ate more worms?

-Lots?

-Like worm monsters?

-Tasty?

The spirits flew in, giggling.

I waved my branches.

Yeah. Mana earthworms are great.

Not that I loved them... just no other options.

But I stuck to them for a reason. Even as a Primordial Sapling, I was still a little sprout. Other monsters? Unknown attacks.

Mana earthworms? I knew their patterns, how to counter.

Plan: Farm them safely to level up, then tackle others for skill steals. Perfect!

As I schemed, the spirits laughed.

-Your favorite's coming!

-A huge tasty one!

Huh? What?

Before I could parse—

Kukukuku...

The ground rumbled.

What the—?

Weird. Different from baby worms. Heavier, deeper vibrations.

I looked ahead slowly.

Far off, something massive crawled toward me.

What is that.

Big. Huge. Way bigger than the babies I'd eaten. Overwhelming presence even standing still.

And a window appeared.

Oh shit!

Why is that coming here?! The queen?! D+ grade??

My leaves—no, branches—shook violently.

As I gawked at the approaching queen mana earthworm—

-Whoa! Congrats!

The spirits swooped in, beaming.

-Your favorite mana earthworm!

-A super big one!

-Bigger means tastier!

Staring at their innocent smiles, I screamed internally.

That's not it at all!!!