Extra Eyes (Part 2)

We reached to the forest that leads to the Nuen Mines. There are monsters like Gray Wolves, Dim Owls, Leaf Mantises, and Horned Rabbits.

What I'm looking for is a Dim Owl and a Gray Wolf, so I can evolve them. Dim Owls are nocturnal, but they're not always stationary in the daytime. They're just sluggish.

In the game, their Dark Magic and Curse Magic are doubled in the night, but halved in the day due to the Nocturnal skill.

A Gray Wolf who was walking around went in front of us and saw Gris who is a Silver Wolf. It lowered itself as a sign of respect when Silver Wolves were some kind of royalty other than Dire Gray Wolves.

"System, check its stats."

[Checking...complete.]

A female wolf, huh? Females have a brighter underbelly than males do. I walk towards the wolf and began petting her.

She wagged her tail as a sign that she likes it. She may have no skills, but I can work with it.

"I'm going to name you, Noire." I said.

[Gray Wolf has been named to Noire.]

Noire howled as she liked the name I have given to her. To make it more sensible, I'll evolve her.

"System, I like to evolve Noire to Black Wolf."

"Noire. Evolution!"

[Acknowledged. Now evolving Noire.]

At that moment, Noire closed her eyes and gray wisps swirled around her as a sign of an evolution. The dome that surrounded her grew bigger and the color turned from gray to black.

The black wisps disperse to see a wolf clad in black fur and the eyes shined a blue light. Noire howled triumphantly for the new evolution she experienced.

[Evolution complete. Noire has evolved to Black Wolf.]

[Due to evolution, Noire's rank has risen to F.]

[New Skills acquired for Noire. Dark Magic-II, Dark Resistance, Tenacity, Intimidation, Concealment.]

[New Unique Skill acquired for Noire. Shadow Blend]

Shadow Blend allows the user to blend in the shadows, making them hidden from all senses. This makes them pretty nasty when it comes to ambushes unless, there is Light Magic to counter them.

"Rank up Noire."

"Do it."

[Acknowledged.]

Noire's hairs spiked up and a mysterious force erupted from her body as she gained more power before.

[Noire is now Rank E.]

"Another companion. Will you bring Noire to Noltia?" Ezo said.

"Yeah. Also, I'm gonna add another one." I said. I look at the trees to see a Dim Owl. I slowly approached the owl and the owl's eyes are barely open.

The Dim Owl is dark brown

"System, check its stats."

[Checking...completed.]

"I will name you Schwarze."

[Dim Owl has been named to Schwarze.]

"Evolve Schwarze."

[Fetching Evolutionary paths for Schwarze.]

"Shade Owl."

"Schwarze. Evolution!"

[Acknowledged. Now evolving.]

At that moment, Schwarze opened his eyes wide and spread his wings and wisps surrounded him. The wisps then turned black and then dispersed, showing a new form of Schwarze.

His feathers are now black with a hints of gray and white, his eyes became green along with his beak, and his wings are wider.

Schwarze screeched as a sign of triumph of his newfound form.

[Evolution complete. Schwarze has evolved to Shade Owl.]

[Due to evolution, Schwarze's rank has risen from I to F.]

[New skills acquired for Schwarze. Dark Magic-III, Dark Resistance, Wind Resistance, Concealment]

Wow, three ranks!? That's huge! Usually, monsters gain skills from evolution and rise up a rank. Two if you're lucky, but three!? That is massive.

I gestured Schwarze to come fly to my forearm. He spread his dark wings and flew towards me gracefully, carefully landing on my forearm. His talons made contact with my skin at an angle where it could pierce my skin, but since I have Thick Skin, there's no worries.

I pet Schwarze to welcome him to the family.

"Okay, let's get started." I said, walking through the forest.

"Kain, what is the reason to have these two?" Ezo said.

"Noire and Schwarze will be scouts. If anyone were out to attack us, these two will let us know." I answered. There are also times where I have to assassinate someone, but I'll get to that later.

We reached the Nuen Mines, a location where resources are abundant. This is also a beginner's mine where they can mine for stone, coal, iron, copper, silver, and at times gold. There are also Mana Crystals ranging from Tier I to IV.

As of now, it is closed off by a wooden gate, preventing any monsters from entering and leaving. Especially Black Serpents. Guards are stationed to take out any monsters straying to the mines to attack, but they were outnumbered and outclassed.

"Kii!" Paura screeched out to me as soon as he arrived.

"Paura, just in time!" I said, kneeling down to him. Now that all my monsters are here, I should start what I got.

"First, Noire, I need you to hide anywhere in these bushes to ambush any bandits and those who wish to harm us." I said to Noire. To make sure she survives, I try to rank her up to C.

[Noire has risen to rank C.]

[New skills acquired for Noire. Dark Magic-IV, Perception.]

I did the same with Schwarze.

[Schwarze has risen to rank C.]

[New skills required for Schwarze. Dark Magic-V.]

"I also want to evolve Schwarze."

[Fetching evolution paths...complete.]

"Dark Owl."

"Schwarze, evolution!"

[Acknowledged. Now evolving...]

With my command, Schwarze became shrouded with black wisps. The black wisps turned darker and faintly glowed a blue light. The black and blue wisps grew bigger and exploded in a black and blue plume of smoke.

Schwarze is shown in a bigger, darker version of the previous Shade Owl. His feathers are pitch black with shiny blue at the very ends of his wing and tail feathers. His talons are also longer and sharper. His eyes are blue instead of yellow.

[Evolution complete. Schwarze has evolved to Dark Owl.]

[Due to evolution, Schwarze has risen to Rank B.]

[New Skills acquired for Schwarze. Dark Magic VI, Dark Nullification, Wind Magic-II.]

[New Unique Skills acquired for Schwarze. Curse Resistance, Curse Magic-III, Traceless*]

With this, they can either scare them off while alerting me or deal with them quickly. They can also hunt bigger monsters as well. I look up to see multiple platforms above the entrance of the mines perfect for Schwarze to get a better view.

"Schwarze, go to that rocky platform to be on the lookout." I said, pointing to that location above the entrance. It's about 80 feet from the entrance, but that's nothing for Schwarze. Schwarze spread his wings and flew over my head to the location.

"Noire, hide and wait for intruders." I said to Noire. She nodded and ran to the bushes where it is thick enough to cover her black fur.

We opened the wooden door to see inside the mine where it has torches illuminating the dark cave. Inside were multiple ores of various materials and Mana Crystals also illuminating the mine with the torches.

We entered inside and closed the wooden door behind us.

"Paura, use your web to seal the exit." I said. Paura skittered on to the walls of the cave and swiftly deployed web from one wall to the other.

"Kain, why did you block the exit? That's our only exit." Hyoran said.

"I did it so if both Noire and Schwarze are overwhelmed, they'll have to deal with the webs and us." I said. "Paura, move back and make two more."

We went ahead as Paura stayed behind to make another web wall to delay any invaders. We continued on to the beginning of the cave and already there is 8 Black Serpents waiting for us.

"Check it's stats."

[Checking...completed.]

Although Black Serpents are not too threatening alone, but their poison can make adventuring harder without preparations.

Paura skitters between my legs as I pull out my Daggers. Hyoran pulls out her shortsword, preparing for battle.

"Alright, let's begin."