Chương 28: Sprout Evolves

As the Lesser Spirit Anchor skill activated, a flash of colors enveloped Maximus until everything around him was covered in shifting rainbow light, then suddenly small wisps began darting at immense speeds, whirring and buzzing until a deep crimson orb froze behind him and dove into his body, sinking into his spirit seed and merging with the red cycling orb of light. Alert: Lesser Fire Spirit contracted. [Lesser Fire Spirit] – Call forth a fire spirit to guide your way.

While active, the spirit grants you a fire spirit's blessing, increasing fire damage and resistance by 15% and overall damage by 10%. This boon can be shared with those you deem worthy. In battle, the fire spirit will use the skill Fireball to fight by your side and grant Lesser Fire Enchantment to melee weapons. Maximus smiled, his eyes widening as he grasped the power granted by the spirit. Just a lesser spirit can grant such boons? Imagine what a true spirit could do.

He thought as he summoned the spirit outward. The world had already returned to normal as a small, burning red wisp emerged from within Maximus. It floated playfully around him before settling in front of him.

"Hey, buddy, I'm Maximus. Do you have a name?" He asked, but the spirit said nothing, only whirred rhythmically.

"Alright then, I'll name you Embi. What do you say?" Maximus asked. The elemental buzzed and shot into the sky, flying in excited circles before returning to Maximus, its form slightly larger and more stable than before.

"Looks like naming you helped you anchor yourself to the real world… Or at least whatever this place is. Glad I could help. I'll be counting on you moving forward as well, buddy." Maximus patted the small orb of flames, sensing a pleasant warmth. He then turned to Silex and shouted, "Silex, we got a new member of our family, you better say hello!" He ordered. Silex opened his eyes lazily and yawned just as the spirit floated down and settled onto his head.

Silex stiffened in surprise before warmth embraced his form, and he hissed happily, wagging his massive tail like a puppy.

"Look at you, making friends." Maximus teased Silex as he walked toward the woods, circling the cavern, and began planting Scorching Lilies. Better to be safe while we recover. He thought as he littered the ground with explosive plants. Once he was done, he returned to check on the odd pair.

"Embi, come with me, let's show you off to my friends. Silex, if you like the heat, you can come with too, you know." Maximus teased as the spirit floated toward him. Seeing this, Silex let out a low roar and hurried after them, trying to keep up with the spirit, making Maximus chuckle. Found another way to motivate him. He noted.

Oscar and Felix sat on the opposite side of the cavern, the emerald light shimmering over them as their wounds healed and their bodies grew stronger than before.

"This place is a godsend," Felix said as he felt his body healing and strengthening at an astonishing rate.

"Tell me about it. Look at the size of me! I'm gonna be built like a brick outhouse soon!" Oscar said, grinning broadly. Felix shook his head, smiling, as Maximus approached with a glowing fireball drifting around him.

"Bloody hell, mate, what's that all about?" Oscar asked, amazed.

"Hey, you two. This is Embi, he is my new fire spirit. He will help us fight." Maximus said simply.

"So, that was the surprise, huh?" Felix asked, staring at the spirit.

"Indeed, but I've got one more interesting skill you'll like," Maximus said, a hint of secrecy in his tone, barely containing his eagerness to test Lunar Flare. He even found himself hoping something would attack them soon just to try it in combat.

"Bloody hell, now I cannot wait to see what else you're hiding," Oscar said as the spirit landed gently in his palm.

"He likes you," Maximus said.

"Probably because of your affinity with fire mana. He should make you stronger as we fight. You'll be our secret weapon now." Maximus added, winking at Felix, who cracked a small smile.

"Ha! Little legend knows the score, doesn't he? Recognized greatness straight away, he did!" Oscar said, chuckling like a child. Maximus shook his head just as Silex nudged him aside and rushed toward Oscar, snapping his jaws and knocking Embi out of his palm.

"Oi! You absolute muppet! What was that for?!" Oscar bellowed, as Silex hissed and Embi floated up, settling on his head as if to calm him down.

"Looks like he got jealous." Felix laughed loudly at the sight. This novel's true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.

"For some reason, the spirit seems to like Silex. They are even of opposite elements, so I'm not certain why." Maximus said, puzzled.

"Some things you just cannot explain," Felix said simply.

"I don't think so. I'll find an explanation in time." Maximus replied calmly as he turned toward Sprout's cocoon, which was glowing even brighter now. Sprout, my old friend, I hope you are alright. He thought as he placed his hand over the cocoon and channeled some of his spirit along with a sliver of water numina, trying to help speed up the process. The cocoon rippled, drawing in even more spirit from the surrounding crystals, but the remaining time did not decrease.

It still needed a little more than an hour and thirty minutes.

"Any news?" Felix asked, clearly worried about Sprout.

"Nothing conclusive yet. I just hope he doesn't push himself too far." Maximus sighed as he sat in the empty spot beside Sprout.

"Are you guys hungry?" He asked.

"For some reason, no," Felix said.

"Tell you what, I thought I'd be absolutely starving by now, but I'm stuffed, and my energy is through the roof!" Oscar said.

"It's the abundant spirit energy in this place; it's feeding your body directly. You should even notice your body growing sturdier and stronger. Well, not as much as me due to my druidic nature, but still. After this whole ordeal, we should all come out stronger, regardless of our levels." Maximus explained.

"How long should we stay here?" Felix asked.

"You should heal fully within a day under these conditions, but I advise we stay here for at least three more days to take full advantage of this place. We won't be able to find anything like this again, even if we tried." Maximus explained.

"Spot on! If this is what 'training' looks like now, I'm never leaving this spot." Oscar cheered.

"Of course you wouldn't, lazy bum." Felix shook his head.

"Alright, let's stay here for a while then." He added.

As they waited for Sprout to emerge, they rested and spoke about life back on Earth. Maximus learned that there were multiple continents and hundreds of countries. He also learned that each continent had its own separate planes. Just what is this Astrae? Is it a god? But what kind? It should be far stronger than Mother or the faceless one that attacked. Is it on the level of those who gave me this life? He began to brainstorm, a single pressing question forming in his mind: Why? Why create all of this?

What was the purpose? Just as he was about to ask more, a ripple of energy surged through the cave like a wave from behind them, and a sharp crack echoed in the wake of the sudden burst. They turned and saw the cocoon split and crumble, dissolving into motes of fading energy, revealing Sprout. He now stood at nearly ten centimeters tall, his size doubled, his roots twisted and reshaped into four beast-like legs.

His body remained plant-like, yet now resembled a small deer, and his head stayed the same, with its tiny mouth intact. Upon his head, two additional leaves had sprouted, with a small, tightly closed bud nestled between them. Skill Seedling Companion (F) has evolved into the skill Plant Spirit (E) The [Seedling Spirit] has evolved into the [Guardian Plant Spirit] Plant Spirit (E) – Commune with Mother Nature and the spirit realm and summon the spirit of nature to help you in your adventure.

The higher the skill level, the stronger the companion. Growth Potential: S? Spirit Skills Unlocked: Spirit Tunnel (S) – Influenced by his contractor's knowledge of spatial magic, the spirit has learned to open small portals between the Spirit Realm and the physical world, allowing it to traverse short distances instantly with a mere thought.

Parasitic Control (A) – Driven by his contractor's instinct to survive, the spirit has awakened the ability to dominate and control plant life with lower intelligence than itself. This ability has significant potential for further evolution. Vine Whip (E) – Sprout sturdy vines and lash at your opponents. Enhanced Detection (D) – The spirit's senses have strengthened, allowing it to find even rarer and deeply hidden treasures of the world.

Metamorphosis (C) – The spirit has evolved in a way that allows it to adapt to different environments more easily. Due to the effects of its strong connection with the contractor, the spirit can switch seamlessly between two forms.

Sprout jumped into Maximus's lap and squealed a melodic tune before erupting with surging energy, filling the place with a refreshing minty scent, his body twisting like living roots writhing and reshaping, and moments later, he stood on two long legs, with two vine-like arms sprouting from his body, while the leaves on his head shifted to mimic Maximus's hairstyle.

"I'm dying! It's your double, it is! Absolute spitting image!" Oscar roared with laughter.

"Look, it's green Max." Felix teased.

"You can change forms now? Only these two?" Maximus ignored them, focusing entirely on Sprout. Sprout nodded and shifted again into his plant-like doe form with beast-like root legs. He jumped around the cavern before stopping in front of Silex and Embi.

"Oh, yes, that's your new spirit friend called Embi," Maximus said. Sprout squealed before two vines sprouted from his back and lashed toward Embi, who responded by spitting a small tongue of flame, nearly setting the vine ablaze.

"Hey, you two! Behave! You are to work together, I want to see none of that, you hear me?!" Maximus shouted, pulling Sprout away. Embi flared brightly as if gloating before settling back onto Silex's head.

"Sprout, you are still my first spirit, no need to be jealous, alright? And I'll need you two to work together. You are the older brother, after all, so you need to take care of him, understood?" Maximus lowered his voice as if speaking to a small child. Sprout nodded before shifting once more into his human-like form and jumping onto Maximus's shoulder, rooting himself into place against his armor.

"He really likes you," Felix said, a hint of jealousy in his tone.

"Don't you worry, mate, your time will come! There's a shrub out there with your name on it, I'm sure!" Oscar teased, forcing Felix to strike him over the head. Like that, they spent another day resting and absorbing the abundant energy, while Silex, Sprout, and Embi began spending more and more time together, with Silex somehow becoming the voice of reason between the two. Then, on the night of the second day, an explosion shook the ground outside, sending a wave of hot air rushing into the cavern.

"What's all this about?!" Oscar shouted, jumping to his feet. Felix grabbed his sword, icy armor enveloping his body.

"I'll go check, stay behind, alright?! I've set traps before; it could just be an animal." Maximus said as he rushed outside into the night, with Sprout, Embi, and Silex following close behind.

Outside of the cavern, the Scorching Lilies were detonating one after another as a group of ten hobgoblins emerged, wounded, scorched, and furious. By the heavens, what is going on here? Maximus paled. He took out his new staff, Sprout shifting into his beast form at once, while Embi began circling rhythmically around the head of the staff, and Silex positioned himself firmly between Maximus and the hobgoblins.

The hobgoblins, upon spotting Maximus, began screaming as if consumed by pure rage, their voices raw and feral. They lunged at him, some barehanded, others gripping crude spears as they charged forward. ‎