Chi      

"Guys, where are you?!" Rain shouted, worry rising in the pit of his stomach and threatening to overwhelm him.

He had only been in the real world for a few hours, so he couldn't have been away for more than half a day in the Spirit Realm.

Could a beast have stumbled upon his troops and devoured them all in the few hours he was gone?

N-no way . . .

~chirp!~

Rain's legs almost gave way with relief at the sound of that familiar chirp.

"Everyone! My troops, you're alright—!" Rain's words halted when he saw his troops and . . . something else.

The little chicks were so happy to see him, but there was something — someone — in front of them.

She appeared to be a girl, but Rain wasn't sure. She was standing on two feet, her hair golden and straight, her skin blue, and she was donned in shiny blue armor from head to toe.

She almost appeared human, but half of her face was replaced by a beak.

~chirp!~

[CONGRATULATIONS! Troop #1 has successfully evolved into a LIGHTBRINGER!]

[You can now give a name to Troop #1]

[Please choose a name]

". . ." Huh? Rain crossed his arms and pondered for a moment.

He had evolved Troop #1 not long ago. The evolution process had taken some time, with silk threads wrapping around Troop #1 to initiate the transformation.

Since Troop #1 couldn't do much in that state, Rain had decided to return to the real world to run some errands and bring water and food to them.

It was like taking care of a pet.

"Could it be . . ." Rain pointed at the humanoid chick. "Troop #1?"

~chirp!~

"Y-you . . . you evolved?" It was a silly question. Of course, she evolved because he was the one who initiated it.

There was a chance it could have failed, though, if their Synchronization wasn't high enough, and all those evolution points would have gone to waste.

Troop #1 nodded enthusiastically and even twirled around for him to see.

A noise halfway between a laugh and a grunt escaped Rain's mouth. "This . . . this is . . . a Lightbringer?"

She almost appeared human, if not for her beak and the chirping way she spoke.

The forum said that Aasimars could only evolve into Crusaders, their light infantry class, but if so, what was this Lightbringer class?

The forum and the library didn't dwell on troop evolution because little was known about it. The process of evolution was still a mysterious thing, after all.

Could it be because of their Synchronization?

Rain had a theory about how this had happened. He read that the higher their Synchronization, the higher the chance that a troop could evolve into something else –– something better.

There was also the fact that the way you treated your troops contributed to their evolution. Maybe most players treated Aasimars as nothing but disposable and even traded them. Knowing that they were initially weak, players got rid of them or didn't care for them, so that's why they could only evolve into the Crusader class.

That was just Rain's theory, but he didn't know he was indeed right.

Most players abandoned and traded Aasimar units for something better. However, troops who were sold or abandoned by their original owner rarely evolved into something more, and most of them would remain Crusaders, a light infantry troop.

~chirp!~

~chirp~

The other troops danced with Troop #1, applauding and celebrating her evolution.

Rain's brow furrowed and crossed his arms. Troop #1 is a girl?

So, the name must be a girl's name, right?

Chickens . . . Chicks . . . Chick . . .

"Oh! I got it!" Rain snapped his fingers. "Your name will be Chi!"

Chi blinked and then dashed towards Rain, hugging him tightly with her hands. She could even lift him in the air!

[Chi's affection increased!]

[Your Synchronization Star increased!]

Rain gently patted Chi's head, still in a daze because she now have hands. That felt strange and good at the same time. She still couldn't talk, though, but they understood each other perfectly.

"I guess you like the name?"

Chi nodded.

|| C H I ||

Race: Aasimar

Synchronization: ★★★

Class: Lightbringer, Range Unit

Skills:

● Heal

 - Heals small wounds (single target)

● Area Heal

 - Heals small wounds (multiple targets)

● Sword

 - Could equip swords

● Bows

 - Could equip bows

● Celestial Armor

- Immune to radiant and necrotic damage

|| E N D ||

"Oooh! You can equip swords and bows now!" Rain was ecstatic. Someone in his troop could finally fight.

~Chiii!~

". . . Egh?" Rain tilted his head to the side. He must have heard it wrong, but instead of the usual 'chirp,' he heard a 'chi.'

~Chiii!~

Oh, so he wasn't hearing it wrong.

Rain stared at Chi in amazement. She liked her name so much that she had changed her words. This was the first time he heard her say another word.

It brought a tear to his eye. For some reason, it felt akin to a father hearing his daughter speak her first word.

So this is what it felt like.

"By the way, what happened here? Why's the tent destroyed?" Rain asked.

Chi's happy face turned sour. She then directed Rain to look at his [Diary], which was like a logbook of what happened in his territory while he was away.

"Ah, good idea. While I read the [Diary], you guys can eat this first." Rain handed them the water and bread, and the others were so happy that they started jumping nonstop and quarreling over who would get food and water first.

Chi quickly put them in place with a few kicks and pecks.

Rain watched as the others eagerly ate the bread and drank the water Chi distributed equally.

Rain felt guilty and bad about their situation. He wished he could give them more.

The burning desire to better their situation blazed inside his heart.

"Don't worry, guys, your father will surely think of a way to get us out of this situation."