054. Seal Release: Dog Spider Transforms into Golden Cocoon.
Melody Fox collapsed into a deep sleep as if fainting, still humming her song. [Kyuu-kool...]
It seemed the buff from Melody Fox had fully transferred to Dog Spider. Exhausted from the aftereffects, Melody Fox had passed out.
"Can't tell yet if it's evolving or not."
Just as he said. It was still unclear if this was the precursor to natural evolution or something else. It could just be physical enhancement. Or preparation for a race change.
[Dog Spider has received Melody Fox's buff. How envious.]
"You don't know what kind of change this is prep for, right?"
[Correct. From this alone, we can't tell what change will occur. I'm deeply curious what it might be. Even Melody Fox herself, who gave the buff, probably doesn't know.]
What kind of change it was—one way to find out. Wait for that golden cocoon to split open.
The centaurides gently stroked the golden cocoon with her hand and continued.
[Whatever it is, it'll be a positive change. I've heard Melody Fox's buffs never cause negative effects.]
"Good to know."
"Don't get your hopes up too much. Rank might not go up."
"Even evolution doesn't always raise rank."
He might've just thought it to himself, or PpuruRu forgot. Anyway.
With Dog Spider prepping for change, Team 2's exploration was paused for now.
"Dochi."
[Duumba.]
"Your mate's in cocoon mode, so let's pause exploration too."
[Duumba!]
Until Dog Spider awoke, Hedgehog Summoner God would stay on standby. Melody Fox, meanwhile, joined HQ team.
"What?"
"You wanna draw her?"
"Hmm... No big deal, but you any good at drawing?"
"Alright? Do what you want."
If Dog Spider changed form, per PpuruRu's request, her drawing would go in the codex. She wanted to, after all. Had to indulge a supporter's wish.
'Claims she draws well... now I'm curious about her skill.'
Baseless confidence? Or legit? He'd find out soon enough. Even if it was bluff and the art sucked, he'd use it anyway. Couldn't ignore a supporter's effort. The heart behind drawing for Dog Spider mattered more than quality.
'Who among my acquaintances draws well, anyway.'
A few came to mind. High chance it was one of them.
'Might ID PpuruRu quicker than expected. Art style could pinpoint her.'
No issue revealing her identity now. She wouldn't bolt.
"Probably. Why?"
"Got it. Your call."
Naming rights granted too. Fair enough—she'd loved Dog Spider since early broadcasts.
After more chit-chat with supporters, he turned in for the night. Beside the golden cocoon.
Day 28 in the Labyrinth.
No change in the golden cocoon yet. But his body had undergone a shocking transformation.
"...What the hell?"
He knew instinctively. Even the densest person couldn't miss this.
His near-normal human body had overnight surpassed superhuman levels.
He asked the supporters tuning in.
"Can you guys count the seal patterns on my back?"
"Seems like it. One's gone, right?"
His seal was released. Not fully, but one circle gone meant stage 1 liberation.
"B-grade."
"Base power's B-grade."
"Nah. Still B-grade. Explorer's innate power isn't nerfed. Azeras explained last time—forgot?"
"Doesn't seem natural..."
He glanced left. At the soundly sleeping Melody Fox.
Her buff must've reached him too. And unsealed one seal.
No other explanation.
"Probably thanks to Melody Fox."
As Rise said. Melody Fox's songs brimmed with infinite potential. Even Centaurides hadn't known about seal-breaking.
'Does it trigger every beneficial effect possible?'
Not impossible. She was S-grade, after all.
Keep her around, and maybe all seals would lift eventually. Or just to stage 3. Stage 3 made him S-grade like her. Probably.
'Total lotto fox jackpot.'
Anyway, safer now. No more risk of instant death to labyrinth monsters without buffs. Actual S-grades nerfed to B. He was B-grade unnerfed. Could handle most solo.
'Time to test it.'
Celebrate the release with some real power use.
No real combat despite the release. No need risking equal fights.
Sparred with tamed monsters instead.
[Kirik...! Why's your body so tough!]
Psycho Clown superspeeded at his finger—like their first meeting.
But the attack failed. Unlike then, his finger was unscathed.
"Tougher than expected... Can't match Clown's speed yet, but with practice, I can react on approach."
As he muttered, Psycho Clown closed in again with super speed.
He reacted fast, swinging a fist.
Thwack-!
Fist hit Psycho Clown's gut dead-on. The clown bounced off the floor, flying far away.
[Pii! Pii! Piiiii!]
Medical Mushroom rushed over, spraying pink liquid to soak the clown.
Injury wasn't severe.
[Gauntlet's suddenly way stronger. Kirik...]
[Pippi. Pi-ii.]
Spar over. Power check sufficient.
"Clown. Good work."
[Kirik. Gauntlet worked hard too. Spar was fun. Wanna do more.]
Left sleeping Melody Fox and guarding Magma Slime at shelter. Took the rest to the pond for wash-up.
Magma Slime didn't need washing.
'No need dragging Magma Slime everywhere now. Way more mobile.'
After rinsing off, back at shelter, he eyed mattress-bound Melody Fox.
Still asleep. Heavy power drain? No signs of waking today.
Golden cocoon unchanged. No timer since no ticket.
'Taking longer than expected.'
Whatever the time, he'd wait patiently. Longer it took, better the change—his belief.
Day 30 in the Labyrinth.
[Kyuu-haaam!]
Melody Fox yawned awake from deep slumber.
And almost simultaneously—
Riiip—!
The golden cocoon began slowly tearing open.