"Think about it long and hard, okay?"
"Yeah, yeah." Mark nodded.
He scratched his head.
'After all this time, I can't believe that fact that I couldn't... Move too much would be something that could be picked up on...'
"Mmm. Walk while you think?"
"Sure. Krista." Mark called out.
The two started walking, and the Moonlit Feline followed them.
"You need to be more explosive. More dynamic. Like BAM! Get it? Get it?"
"Uh..."
Krista stared with wide eyes as they argued and talked.
She loved watching them together. Watching them talk, smile, and laugh.
Don't stand in my way-
Move-
If Krista had moved out of the way as she had been ordered to, none of this would have happened, right?
It's all thanks to her, right?
It's thanks to her that Master is laughing this way, isn't it?
That thought only made the Moonlit Feline feel happier and more proud.
Krista couldn't protect her Master the same way the others could. But this counts too, doesn't it?
The Moonlit Feline was really proud of that.
Which made the feeling rising feel worse than it, perhaps, should have.
She had brought them together.
But now that they were standing side by side, that they were walking together in the front, that they walking towards...
Towards what?
Krista wasn't sure, but fear did start rising within her.
The Moonlit Feline shook its head.
No, it wouldn't happen. It won't.
I am special after all.
I am!
That's why Master chose me back in that place, why he took me with him, why he took care of me even when I challenged him.
I can trust Master. And Master can trust me.
But what if...
The Moonlit Feline shook its head.
Master wouldn't leave me.
But he did leave the others.
No. He didn't leave them. They were taken away.
But he didn't fight for them.
Still, he would have fought for me.
Master would fight for me.
He has done it multiple times already.
Master would fight for me.
Master wouldn't leave me.
Master wouldn't forget about me-
A floating bit of dirt fell onto the Moonlit Feline's body.
It brought its head towards it.
Gotta keep that fur clean.
'If it's acceleration that I need then... Which Monster I Devoured had the highest rate of acceleration? The Corrupted Dark Elves were the fastest, but it's not Agility we're talking about here. Mmm...' Mark thought as he walked silently.
"Think long and hard-"
"Can you stop?"
"Fine." Elisa rolled her eyes.n0veluSb.C0m
'The higher up the Dungeon I got, the faster they got. But that's just a difference in Stats, isn't it? The Berserker had the greatest acceleration, but that was during its final moments. From no motion to top speed. That's what Elisa does. That's...'
"Oh."
"Found something?"
Mark didn't answer. Perhaps his mind hadn't even registered the question.
'What the Seventh... No. Sixth Floor's Guardian could do. Take a slow step, then accelerate with insane speed. But it wasn't just that. There definitely was a Skill used by the Guardian. That's why it couldn't move that fast continually. Aha. If I think about that Guardian, it becomes a bit clearer. Flowing movements and acceleration. Mechanical... Whose movements seemed mechanical inside the Dungeon?'
'Oh. Looks like it might actually lead somewhere. Hehehe!' Elisa chuckled internally. 'Who knew I was such a good teacher!'
The white-scaled Monster rubbed its chin as it stared at the ground and walked.
'Mechanical... What does mechanical mean? Which ones looked mechanical? If the opposite of it is the Sixth Floor's Guardian and the Dark Elves then... The Fourth Floor's Guardian? That snake covered by stones, huh? Yeah, that works. But the epitome of Mechanical Movement has to be Golems, right? Golems... Slow? No, that's not it. Awkward... And uncoordinated. So tense that losing their balance is a death sentence for them. Golems... Anything else? Awkward and uncoordinated...'
"Huh."
"Mm?"
"That Guardian. The... Harpie?"
"Yes?" Elisa nodded.
"Its movements were... Mechanical, right?"
"Oh, yeah. Definitely. But that's to be expected. Since it was made by mashing together a bunch of different Beings that had nothing to do with one another, you know? That's why there was no synergy, no... Ah." Elisa suddenly looked away. "Sorry."
"For what? That made perfect sense. Synergy. Yeah, its movements were... Rigid? That's what you mean, right?"
"Mm." Elisa nodded as she pressed her lips together. "Rigid, yes. That works..."
'Synergy, huh? That's something I should think about too. Synergy...'
Elisa peeked at him repeatedly while trying her best not to get caught.
She sighed internally.
That's to be expected-
Since it was made by mashing together a bunch of different Beings that had nothing to do with one another-
'Thought he would get mad by thinking was trying to compare the two. Glad he didn't think that. Or maybe he just doesn't care...?'
Elisa simply shrugged it off.
'Rigid... That's certainly how it was in the past.' Mark thought. 'Couldn't move my body, as if my muscles had turned into rocks at some point. Truly like a Golem, haha!' He couldn't keep the chuckle internal. 'Make better use of my Agility. Somehow, I feel like this should make me mad or something. But it's the complete opposite.' Mark noticed his right hand shiver. 'It feels so good... Being told that I am weak this way.'
It didn't take long for the shivering to get stronger and spread to the rest of the white-scaled Monster's body.
'Ew... What the hell did I do?' Elisa asked herself. Mark wasn't doing a good job hiding his shivering and excitement. Well, he really wasn't trying to hide it anyways. He was too busy being excited over the possibilities in front of him.
"Mechanical... Rigid... Acceleration... Full use of my Agility..." The white-scaled Monster muttered. "You..."
[Your Title "Evolving Monster" is looking at you.]
[Your Title "Devourer" is looking at you.]
"You're the best."
[Your Title "Evolving Monster" smiles widely!]
[Your Title "Devourer" scoffs.]
"That's right, the two of you..."
Elisa looked away as the white-scaled Monster's whispering continued.
She did her best not to eavesdrop.
