I teleported back to My Home.
Time to try that fruit I just got.
Evolution?
That can wait.
Right now, I’m pouring all my energy into savoring this spider’s first-ever sweet treat!
Taste Enhancement at max output!
Smell Enhancement too, for good measure!
First, I’ll gaze at it lovingly.
And Appraise it.
『Dried Krikta Fruit』
『Krikta: A plant native to the Kasanagara Continent. It blooms and bears fruit periodically. The fruit is sweet and has a slight MP recovery effect.』
Huh.
So this fruit isn’t just a snack.
It recovers MP.
If I’d taken this as payment for healing that near-fatal wound, I might have done something wrong.
But well, I did heal a serious injury, so I think it’s fair to accept it as payment.
Consider the debt fully settled.
Now, a deep breath.
One, two.
Okay!
Itadakimasu!
…Sweet.
Oh, so sweet.
It’s sweet.
Compared to the fruits I ate in my past life, it’s astringent and not particularly delicious.
Since it’s dried, it lacks that fresh juiciness.
But it’s sweet.
The first sweet thing I’ve eaten since becoming a spider.
So sweet.
So delicious.
I’m so happy!
I eat it slowly.
I savor it thoroughly.
All the way to the very last crumb.
Whew.
That was delicious.
Truly, good sweets are in a league of their own.
If it’s delicious, you have to be able to say «It’s delicious» without overthinking it.
No matter how tasty it is, if eating it makes you feel complicated, that’s no good.
Right then.
I’ve wallowed in the afterglow. Time to evolve, I guess?
This time, unlike when I evolved in the Middle Layer, I’m completely prepared.
I’m in a safe place and I have food.
No problems whatsoever.
If I had to pinpoint one issue, it’s that Taboo will probably hit its cap during this evolution.
Taboo, huh.
If it maxes out, I suspect something will happen, but even with the power of Wisdom, I can’t figure out the details.
What will it be?
Well, at this point, avoidance is impossible. I’ll just have to accept whatever happens.
My only prayer is that it’s not instant death or some irreversible penalty.
Hmm.
Well, while it’s scary, I also feel it probably won’t be *that* brutal.
So far, mysterious Skills like Pride haven’t had any drawbacks.
Maybe I’ll just get a super upgrade with no downsides.
As unlikely as that is, I don’t think D, the practical joker, would suddenly impose a death penalty just because I maxed out Taboo.
Knowing that guy, he’d definitely choose to watch me live through it for his own amusement.
Huh?
If that’s the case, I might face something worse than death?
…Let’s not think about that.
It’s pointless to worry now.
When it comes to Taboo, it’s all or nothing.
This is the only way.
I have three candidates for evolution.
The Greater Taratect is just reverting to the original Taratect family tree.
It’s the one I saw in the Lower Layer.
I’m sure it’s strong, but I have zero interest in this evolution.
It gets huge, for one.
Also, one of the evolution conditions for Arachne is being a small or medium-sized spider Monster. Becoming a giant Greater Taratect would make it impossible to evolve into Arachne.
So, Greater Taratect is a no.
That leaves two.
Ede Saine and Orthocadinat.
『Ede Saine: Evolution Condition: Zoa Ere LV 20. Description: A small spider-type Monster, also known and feared as the Symbol of Death. Possesses exceptionally high combat abilities and Stealth.』
『Orthocadinat: Evolution Condition: Spider-type Monster with stats above a certain threshold and magic-type Skills. Description: A spider-type Monster proficient in magic. High intelligence, capable of setting traps and employing various tactics.』
Orthocadinat is magic-focused, while Ede Saine is an advanced evolution of Zoa Ere.
However, Orthocadinat isn’t all that important.
It’s an evolution unlocked thanks to my Master of Magic and Star Magic Skills, but frankly, it’s a dud.
Even if it’s smart, it’s by Monster standards.
It uses traps from the moment it’s born, anyway.
Plus, Orthocadinat’s evolution line stops here.
That says it all.
Looking at the Evolution Tree, it doesn’t seem to rank very high among Monsters, and it’s just not that appealing.
In comparison, Ede Saine is amazing.
It still has further evolutions, but based on the Evolution Tree, it’s one rank below the Queen Taratect, which I believe is the species of Mother.
The Evolution Tree indicates a Monster’s rank by where its name is placed.
According to its position, Ede Saine is one evolutionary stage before the Queen Taratect, a Monster that stands as a peer to it.
So, its rank as a Monster is far above the other candidates.
Therefore, the only choice is Ede Saine.
If I didn’t have Wisdom’s Evolution Tree, I’d be torn.
Wisdom, you’re really something else.
Incidentally, Arachne is a special evolution, separate from the Evolution Tree.
Its evolution conditions are: possessing Pride, being a small or medium-sized Monster, and being Level 50 or above.
That’s an insane demand, isn’t it?
The fact that I’m seriously aiming for it is probably crazy too.
《Individual Zoa Ere is evolving into Ede Saine》 Now, begin evolution!
《Evolution complete.》 《Species changed to Ede Saine.》 《All basic ability values have increased.》 《Skill Proficiency Evolution Bonus acquired.》 《Proficiency has reached a certain level. Skill『HP High-Speed Recovery LV1』has become 『HP High-Speed Recovery LV2』.》 《Proficiency has reached a certain level. Skill『Magic Power Enchantment LV4』has become 『Magic Power Enchantment LV5』.》 《Proficiency has reached a certain level. Skill『Destruction Enhancement LV4』has become 『Destruction Enhancement LV5』.》 《Proficiency has reached a certain level. Skill『Cutting Enhancement LV5』has become 『Cutting Enhancement LV6』.》 《Proficiency has reached a certain level. Skill『Poison Enhancement LV9』has become 『Poison Enhancement LV10』.》 《Condition met. Skill『Status Ailment Enhancement LV1』has derived from Skill『Poison Enhancement LV10』.》 《『Poison Enhancement LV10』has been integrated into 『Status Ailment Enhancement LV1』.》 《Proficiency has reached a certain level. Skill『Status Ailment Enhancement LV1』has become 『Status Ailment Enhancement LV7』.》 《Proficiency has reached a certain level. Skill『Ki Arts LV6』has become 『Ki Arts LV7』.》 《Proficiency has reached a certain level. Skill『Ki Power Enchantment LV3』has become 『Ki Power Enchantment LV4』.》 《Proficiency has reached a certain level. Skill『Universal Thread LV3』has become 『Universal Thread LV4』.》 《Proficiency has reached a certain level. Skill『Dark Magic LV7』has become 『Dark Magic LV8』.》 《Proficiency has reached a certain level. Skill『Dimensional Magic LV1』has become 『Dimensional Magic LV2』.》 《Proficiency has reached a certain level. Skill『Destruction Resistance LV3』has become 『Destruction Resistance LV4』.》 《Proficiency has reached a certain level. Skill『Blunt Resistance LV3』has become 『Blunt Resistance LV4』.》 《Proficiency has reached a certain level. Skill『Slashing Resistance LV3』has become 『Slashing Resistance LV4』.》 《Proficiency has reached a certain level. Skill『Petrification Resistance LV3』has become 『Petrification Resistance LV4』.》 《Proficiency has reached a certain level. Skill『Acid Resistance LV4』has become 『Acid Resistance LV5』.》 《Proficiency has reached a certain level. Skill『Pain Nullification LV3』has become 『Pain Nullification LV4』.》 《Proficiency has reached a certain level. Skill『Life LV1』has become 『Life LV2』.》 《Proficiency has reached a certain level. Skill『Shunpo LV4』has become 『Shunpo LV5』.》 《Proficiency has reached a certain level. Skill『Endurance LV4』has become 『Endurance LV5』.》 《Proficiency has reached a certain level. Skill『Taboo LV9』has become 『Taboo LV10』.》 《Skill『Corrosion Resistance LV1』has been acquired via Evolution.》 《『Corrosion Resistance LV1』has been integrated into 『Corrosion Resistance LV4』.》 《Proficiency has reached a certain level. Skill『Corrosion Resistance LV4』has become 『Corrosion Resistance LV5』.》 《Skill『Death Scythe Eye LV1』has been acquired via Evolution.》 《Skill Points obtained.》 《Condition met. Activating Taboo’s effect. Installation in progress.》 《Installation complete.》