CHAPTER 94: EVOLUTIONS

Puddle blinked as her glow spread further. For a moment, her body wavered—like water trying to hold too many shapes at once. She looked down at her hands as her small slime-like form rippled, colors shifting.

"Master..." her voice trembled, softer, but also clearer than ever.

Light burst from her, casting rainbow reflections across the broken ruins. When it faded, she was no longer the formless Slime that had followed him from the rivers.

Instead, she stood—still small, but with a body shaped like a girl made of living crystal and jelly, her hair flowing like liquid light, her skin a translucent swirl of rainbow hues. Her halos floated above her head, whole and gleaming, no longer cracked.

[System Notice:

Puddle has Evolved → Ancient Pseudo Slime Empress.]

— Evolution unlocked through Archive’s Reach.

— Current Form: Ancient Pseudo Slime Empress (Legendary)

— Retains shapeshifting ability: can revert to slime body at will.

— Unlocks Growth Path: Ancint Slime Empress.]

Puddle swayed slightly, looking at herself, her rainbow-hued hands glowing faintly. Her eyes filled with light, wide with wonder. "I... I can feel everything more clearly. Like I’m not just flowing anymore... I’m alive."

Rhys stared, stunned, before smiling through his exhaustion. "Puddle... you’ve grown."

Beside them, Bounce lifted his head, body trembling with change. His silver mane flared, brighter than moonlight, until it burned white-gold. His form stretched, muscles tightening, his claws glowing like polished blades. The silver patterns on his body twisted and locked into runes, his frame broadening into something more majestic—less like a beast, more like a guardian.

His back shimmered, and from it rose plates of hardened aura, forming a protective carapace along his shoulders and spine—like a turtle’s shell, but forged of silver crystal. His presence radiated both ferocity and unyielding defense.

[System Notice:

Bounce has Evolved → Silver Moon Aegis Beast(Legendary rank).]

— Evolution unlocked through Bond Resonance.

— Gains hybrid traits of guardian and predator.

— Unlocks Growth Path: Ancient Moon Argent Warden.]

Bounce roared, the sound deeper now, shaking the stones beneath their feet. He lowered his head toward Rhys, golden eyes gleaming not only with stubborn fire but pride.

Rhys laughed weakly, his voice cracked but warm. "Good. Both of you... you’re becoming more than I ever hoped for."

[System Notice:

Companion Evolution Complete.]

[Updated Status – Puddle]

Name: Puddle

Race: Ancient Pseudo Slime Empress (Legendary)

Level: 205 (same as master)

Passive Skills

— [Prismatic Flow]: All elemental spells are 30% stronger. Damage taken is reduced by 20% when in humanoid form.

— [Slime Empress Body]: Can freely change between humanoid, slime, or hybrid form. High resistance to physical and magical attacks.

New Skills

— Duality Halo II: Stronger regeneration and resistance, now affects an area instead of just single targets.

— Elemental Assimilation: Can copy an enemy’s elemental affinity for a short time.

— Rainbow Veil: Creates a dome of shifting colors that blocks 50% of damage for 5 seconds.

Growth Path: Ancient Slime Empress → ??? (locked)

Puddle blinked as the system messages flowed into her mind. She touched her glowing chest, looking at her rainbow-colored body. "So many new paths... all open."

Rhys placed a hand on her shoulder and gave a small grin. "Then we’ll explore them together."

Another chime followed.

[Updated Status – Bounce]

Name: Bounce

Race: Silver Moon Aegis Beast (Legendary)

Level: 205 (same as master)

Passive Skills

— [Aegis of the Moon]: Allies within 20m gain +25% defense and magic resistance.

— [Runed Carapace]: Once per battle, an attack that would normally kill him instead leaves him at 1 HP.

New Skills

— Lunar Fang: A piercing strike that ignores defenses.

— Moon Aegis Wall: Creates a shield that protects allies and reflects 20% of absorbed damage.

— Guardian’s Roar: Stuns enemies nearby and increases allies’ attack and defense by 20% for 10 seconds.

Growth Path: Ancient Moon Argent Warden → ??? (locked)

Bounce slammed his claws into the ground, the silver runes on his body glowing. His roar shook the area—not out of anger, but as a declaration of his new strength.

Rhys took a long breath. He still felt the pain from battle, but now the bond with his companions gave him strength. They were stronger, and so was he.

The ruins of Avernus were finally quiet. The monsters were gone, and only rubble was left behind. But Rhys knew this wasn’t the end.

He gripped Verdant Scholar, the green light faint but steady, and looked at his partners.

"Let’s go," he said. "The trial is done, but we still have more to face."

Rhys stepped out of the Trial Gate. The system light faded, and he found himself back in the Awakening Hall of Avernus City. The trial was complete.

His body felt heavy, and his mind was exhausted. He guided Bounce and Puddle back with him, the bond threads still glowing faintly as if confirming the changes were real.

Instead of staying in the hall, Rhys went straight to the inn. He rented a private room, dismissed his beasts into rest mode, and laid down himself.

[System Notice: Do you wish to log out?]

"Yes," he muttered, and the world went dark.

Outside the game, Rhys sat back in his chair. His body in the real world felt stiff after so many hours inside. He stretched, drank water, and took a long break. For the next few days, he focused on his work and real-life responsibilities—company matters, meetings, and rest. The trial had been long and draining, and he needed the downtime.

But after several days, the itch returned.

He sat at his desk again, logged into the capsule, and connected.

[Welcome back, Rhys.]

[Syncing with character data...]

[Resuming at Avernus City – Player Inn.]

The world of the game lit up again.

Rhys opened his eyes in the inn room, the faint glow of dawn slipping through the window. Bounce rested curled at the side, his silver mane dim but calm. Puddle, in her new humanoid form, was asleep on a chair, her rainbow hair glowing faintly like soft lantern light.

Rhys smiled. "Back to work."

He stood, equipped Verdant Scholar, and prepared to see what awaited outside the inn.

After checking over his gear, Rhys didn’t head for quests right away. Instead, he remembered something.

The Millennia World Auction.

It was an event announced months ago—something all major guilds and top players had been preparing for. Rare items, ancient artifacts, even unique class skills were said to appear there. Unlike normal trade markets, the Auction only opened once every few months, and the entry fee alone was massive.

Rhys smirked. 10,000 gold just to enter. What a money grab.

Still, he knew he couldn’t skip it. If he wanted to keep up with the rising powers across the server, this was the place to find hidden treasures.

He left the inn and headed for the Merchant Guild. The building was easy to spot—golden banners, polished stone, and a steady flow of carriages carrying players and NPC traders alike.

Inside, a receptionist in fine robes greeted him."Welcome to the Merchant Guild. Are you here to register for the Millennia World Auction?"

"Yes." Rhys placed his guild-certified coin pouch on the counter.

The clerk checked the weight, nodded, and counted out the payment."10,000 gold entry fee confirmed. Here is your Auction Seal."

[System Notice: You have gained Auction Seal – Entry Access.][Teleport Gate to Millennia World Auction unlocked.]

A golden token appeared in his hand, faintly glowing with runes.

The clerk bowed politely."Please use the Auction Seal at any transfer stone. The Auction will remain open for seven days. We recommend preparing funds if you wish to compete in the bids."

Rhys slipped the seal into his pouch. Ten thousand gold? To him, it was pocket change. His company made that amount in an hour, and his guild treasury overflowed thanks to the operations Mia ran in his name.

The guild—Wild Whispered—was technically his, though Mia handled all the paperwork, recruitment, and management. She wore the title of Guild Leader on the surface, but the real ownership was Rhys’s. He preferred it that way. It left him free to move however he wanted, while she managed the grind and the politics.

He smirked to himself. Whether in the company world or the game world, money was no longer his problem. It was just another tool.

"Bounce, Puddle," he said as he stepped outside, "let’s see what treasures are waiting to be picked up."

Rhys activated the seal and felt his body pulled into the teleport stream. A flash of light later, he was standing on white stone docks, the sea glittering gold under the sun.

[Location: Island of Golden Fortune]

This was no normal zone. Normally, only Rank 7 or 8 players dared to step foot here. The monsters in the wilds could crush weaker players in one hit, and if you died, the reset penalty was brutal. Most players never risked it.

But today was different. For the auction event, the gates of the Golden Fortune City were opened to everyone. A massive safe zone was established, guarded by Rank 10 Knight Kings and Rank 8 Holy Knights. Nothing short of a calamity monster could breach those defenses.

Rhys walked forward, Bounce and Puddle close at his sides. The docks were packed with players arriving from all over the world—merchants, top guild elites, rogue players hoping for luck, and rich whales flaunting their gold.