Reborn As An Evolving Monster

'Before choosing...'

Mark ran towards the place where the big skull had been.

He looked around a bit.

Mark noticed a shaking black lizard hidden inside the ribs of a Werewolf's skeleton.

'Would you look at that? Don't be scared.' Mark thought.

An evil smile was on his Weretiger face.

He grabbed the small lizard from its mouth to keep it shut, preventing it from screaming once more.

'So Monsters show up, you scream and those Lower Minotaurs come defend you, huh?'

[You have defeated a Sonic Lizard. 20 Gold Coins and 40 Experience Points earned.]

'Probably survived by eating remains or something...'

Mark devoured the small snack and turned towards Light.

'What were the choices again?'

[Possible Evolutions:

1) Great Abyssal Dark Wolf.

2) Unique Abyssal Dark Wolf.

3) Shadow Wolf.

]

'Aren't you amazing!' Mark thought.

He put his hand on Light's head.

'You're my only Underling to have evolved. Not only that, but this will be your second Evolution...'

Mark brought his hand to his chin.

'Unique Monsters are usually very strong. An upgrade from Elite to Unique means a great increase in Stats. That's an appealing choice. Great Abyssal Dark Wolf would make you bigger, right? Just like those Great Mutated Crocodiles... A very bad choice since you're a stealthy and agile kind of fighter. Shadow Wolf seems like an Evolution from Dark Wolf to Shadow Wolf. Normally, I would not think twice. I would go with Shadow Wolf. But this isn't that easy...'

He scratched his head with his remaining hand.

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'Shadow Wolf. Not Abyssal Shadow Wolf... That means that if you become a Shadow Wolf, I won't be able to use Abyssal Fusion on you... Should I leave you alone too? Kira and Kalès aren't fused either...'

Mark thought about it for a bit more.

'A big increase in Stats is good, but not good enough. Let's gamble a bit. Worst case scenario, I'll get another Underling if need be. Shadow Wolf it is.'

The next instant, Light was engulfed in a dark sphere.

[Your Underling is evolving...]

Once the dark sphere faded, Mark studied his Evolved Underling.

'Mmm...'

Light's body had gotten a bit smaller.

'Your pelt is still the same...Oh. Those red stripes near your eyes are gone. Show me his Status.'

[ Name: Light

Species & Level : Shadow Wolf Lv1 (0/1000Exp)

HP: 350/350

Endurance: 300/300

Stats: Strength: 30

Agility: 85

Sense: 90

Vigor: 35

Endurance: 30

Stealth: 97

Skill(s): Fatal Senses.

Shadow Betrayal.

Surprise Attack.

Shadow Transfer.

]

'You're basically as stealthy as Kalès is strong, huh? Good. Oh. Shadow Transfer gives you the ability to travel between nearby shadows? That sounds handy. Shadow Betrayal gives the ability to attack using shadow claws created with the enemy's shadow. Can only be used if the enemy hasn't noticed you... Surprise Attack is an evolution of Sneak Attack. Fatal Senses an evolution of Acute Senses...'

Mark's eyes widened.

'Shadow Betrayal. Since you're using the enemy's shadow to attack... Not bad. Show me that Shadow Transfer.'

Light obeyed.

The Shadow Wolf displayed swift movements as it ran towards Kalès and jumped.

Once his paws were about to hit the ground,

'Amazing. He really sank into the shadow...'

The next instant, Light reappeared by jumping out of Kira's huge shadow.

'Good. Next up, those Lower Minotaurs... Kalès, throw away that mace.'

The Underling obeyed.

Mark used one of the Lower Minotaur's skulls to make a sharp battle-ax for Kalès.

It was a very big weapon.

For Kalès though, it was just the right size.

'Finally...'

Mark's stomach had been growling loudly for a while.

'I'll enjoy this meal!'

...

Mark and his Underlings walked deeper into the dark floor.

They found groups of three to five Lower Minotaurs, but those were taken care of pretty easily.

After all, Mark and Light had defeated three of them without the help of Kira or Kalès.

It was only after the group kept going for about an hour that they found a stronger enemy.

The group heard loud noises, so they advanced vigilantly.

Four huge Monsters were fighting.

Three of them were Lower Minotaurs.

They faced a fourth Monster.

It was burlier and sturdier.

Taller too.

Its horns were not broken.

They looked fierce and sharp.

'So three Lower Minotaurs and one Minotaur?'

[Correct.]

'Should we go in or let them fight?'

After thinking for a bit, Mark decided to attack.

Immediately, the shadow of one of the Lower Minotaurs moved, as if it had a mind of its own.

Part of that shadow turned into claws.

Slash-

The next second, Thunderbolts, Fire Balls, Corrupting Javelins and spikes made of bones flew towards the three Lower Minotaurs.

'Kalès, you take on the Minotaur. Let's see how strong it is.'

Mark's Underling advanced with the huge battle-ax in his hands.

The Lower Minotaurs were quickly taken care of, as two of them had already been injured by the Minotaur.

Only the latter remained.

It faced Kalès.

A minute later,

'If Kalès wasn't armed, this might have ended differently. The Minotaur is far stronger but a bit less agile. The weapon and armor make up for it though. Maybe I'll fuse Kalès with a stronger Minotaur Monster...'

Mark devoured the fallen Monsters.

He did not take any new Underlings, as not only were the Monsters deemed not strong enough but dividing the Experience Points with Monsters that would probably die early seemed counterproductive.

'Only the strongest will get stronger. Any Monster that can't at least take care of Kalès is not worth having. Since Kalès has a weapon and tough armor, the Monsters will have to be a lot stronger than him to win.'

They continued walking further and further.

Amassing Experience Points and Evolution Points.

'I have a bunch of Evolution Points and I really need to evolve. Being one-armed is...'

As they got deeper into the Eighth Floor, they met more Minotaurs and fewer Lower Minotaurs.