Little Spider Evolves

Cold sweat ran down his back, as the echoes of his heart threatened to alert the other creatures beside him.

'Play it cool.'

Bian chimed to himself, well aware that his recent increase in strength meant nothing in front of sacred-blood and Mutant creatures.

Just as he suspected, everyone was looking for the bat. And once they didn't find it, the atmosphere became tense.

"You, what is that thing?" The chainmail spirit asked him, pointing to the cocoon of webs in his room.

"That? That's the small black spider that weaves silk clothing. He seems to be undergoing an evolution after consuming the goods he got for weaving."

Bian answered without a single fault in his voice. He also added where the spider had gotten the nutrients needed for its evolution from.

He could at least reduce the suspicion on both himself and the spider that way. The spirit recorded his response and left.

A moment later, he heard a female voice that could be called anything but feminine. The regal voice carried an air responsibility.

"This is quite serious. Somebody has killed the Screecher and is using its geno core to steal blood from others.

This is a serious offense punishable by death, but we have no way of identifying the culprit.

For now, all tubes will be fixed with metal mesh to prevent geno cores from traveling through them.

I advise at least one creature in every room to stay alert during the night. These are just minor inconveniences, and our time of departure draws nearer.

To prepare everyone for the journey, I will hand out special pills that will elevate our fitness. No one will be left behind."

Ash Princess took measures against future troubles, then she used the momentum to give out the pills she had been preparing all along.

Once a creature swallowed the pill, its increase in strength was clearly noticeable.

Claws became like swords, muscles like steel cables, and horns like battle sieges.

Unfortunately, when it came to Bian's turn, the spirit avoided him. This was because he had already swallowed a poison bead earlier on.

It was obvious that the fruits she planned to give him regularly were less useful than what these pills were made up of.

"Ah, I need to collect one for the black spider."

Bian thought quickly and said.

"There's no need. Once it is out of its cocoon, it can come and collect one itself."

The spirit retorted and completely ignored Bian.

She handed one pill to Bao'er and watched intently as the little girl popped it into her mouth.

'Well, at least they didn't figure out anything.' Bian comforted himself while giving Bao'er an eye signal not to swallow the pill.

Not that there was a need to anyway. Bao'er was a special little girl and knew the pill was as dangerous as it was beneficial.

Bian waited for the impromptu meeting to be over before he walked back into his room.

Creatures with fire-type geno cores and abilities were already welding meshes in the other rooms.

It would take at most an hour before they reached his room.

Blergh!

Bao'er spat out the pill onto Bian's palm. As the warm saliva dripped between his fingers, Bian turned to face Bao'er, who was whistling and facing another direction.

'Nasty.'

He wiped it on his tunic and swallowed the pill whole, poison be damned.

[Primitive Geno Points +1]

A surge of electricity flowed through his body, jolting Bian to his feet. It ran through his limbs and up his spine, relaxing his body.

"That's really good. It's no wonder the other ordinary creatures saw a significant increase in strength."

Bian muttered, feeling the power flowing through him.

But if this was the power he felt from one geno point, then Primitive creatures were definitely not to be trifled with.

Thinking about it, that eagle undead that almost caught him was most likely a Primitive creature.

There was no way he could have avoided a Mutant creature without the body pillar.

He was just thankful that those undead couldn't use geno cores, or he might not be alive today.

'I was thinking that I went overboard with the blood syringe, but with the way things are going, it was probably for the best.'

Ash Princess seemed to have entered a crucial stage for her schemes. Now wasn't the time to be conservative.

After a spirit led by some creatures welded the pipes in his room, Bian was informed by the spirit that Ash Princess was calling him.

Meeting the spirit always put his nerves on edge. It was especially so for today.

Swoosh!

The three-armed giant gorilla stepped aside, allowing Bian to enter the spirit's chambers.

"Your geno core is quite unique, it worked faster than I expected." Ash Princess said.

"Than—"

Before Bian could respond, he was rudely cut off.

"Now that I'm done with it though, I see it's nothing more. Take it and leave."

Bian: "???"

Bian knew for sure something must be wrong with her brain. He had spent time with women, and they certainly did not behave like Ash Princess.

He unsummoned the bronze cauldron and walked to the door, pausing for a moment before he left.

Bian took in a deep breath and said as lightly as he could, "What of my payment?"

Ash Princess seemed stunned by his audacity and took a moment to respond.

"The agreement was once every three days. Did I use it for up to three days?"

'Shameless!' Bian screamed in his mind.

He finally understood why people delayed works that could be completed in minutes to days.

Wasn't it to avoid such shameless people who would feel cheated once the task was completed very fast?

If Bian could control the rate at which the cauldron could refine, he would have definitely set it to the lowest value.

Suddenly, he felt his hair standing on edge. He didn't waste any more time and ran out from her chambers.

"Shameless, so shameless." Bian spat as he entered the room.

"Who is shameless?" A voice asked.

"Who else, it's that..." Bian paused and looked at the person who had spoken.

It was the small black spider who was not so small anymore.

After coming out from the cocoon, the spider had changed size to become as large as a dog.

It was still on the smaller side of beasts, but its darkened purple fangs told a different type of story.

Its body was made up of black armor-like carapace that covered it entirely, save for its joints, eyes, and mouth.

"You've become Primitive." Bian said in shock.

It was very difficult for creatures to rank up in the sanctuaries. It wasn't just about resources, they also needed good genes.

This meant the little spider was quite the talent and must have already been near evolution when he met it.

"Yes, I can also speak telepathically without eye contact now." The spider said, though its mouth did not move.

Bian nodded, he could hear the spider regardless of eye contact or not.

Then a long winding dart appeared in front of the spider. It looked like an earthworm with a pointed tip.

"My geno core can paralyze a handful of primitive creatures and dozens of ordinary creatures now."

The spider said with pride. It was obvious that it intended to continue its slow and steady blood-thieving ways.

Unfortunately, Bian had to be the bearer of bad news and tell the spider about what had happened while it was evolving.

"So we can't steal blood again?" The spider said disheartened.

Who wouldn't like to get stronger in secret?

"Not necessarily, I have another way. Firstly, go get your pill from the princess, but remember not to swallow it."

Bian warned the spider that something was off about the pill. He couldn't exactly tell the spider what, but he told it to bring the pill back to him.

As the spider went to collect its pill, Bian watched it nonchalantly. Whether the spider brought back the pill or not wasn't of much concern to him.

He had bigger things planned out.