"Ha... Hahaha!" The white-scaled Monster's chuckling turned into all-out laughter.
[Your Title "Evolving Monster" looks at you with shining eyes!]
[Your Title "Devourer" scoffs at your foolishness.]
'I can't move my body. I haven't grown used to moving it perfectly, even though it feels like I did. I can't move it... The way I want.'
[Your Title "Evolving Monster" nods enthusiastically.]
'That's my Skills Evolved that way. Advanced Kinetic Vision, was it? That extra time... Allowed me to connect better with my body. My eyes... And that was you, wasn't it? That's the reason why it Evolved into this, and not something else, right? You're amazing!'
[Your Title "Evolving Monster" looks away.]
[Your Title "Evolving Monster" feels slightly embarrassed by the praise.]
'Amazing... I didn't know it but... That was exactly what I needed. Well, it was also to keep up with that thing's speed but... Amazing!'
[Your Title "Devourer" is embarrassed by the bootlicking.]
"Oh, shut up." Mark muttered as he chuckled.
'Would you look at that, he's having so much fun alone...' Elisa thought to herself as she looked away.
The white-scaled Monster bent its elbows and stared at its hands as it closed and opened them repeatedly.
'I know how I want my body to move, but it doesn't quite match the image I have in my mind. Mmm... I wonder if that's normal. Ha. Reminds me of that time on the Ninth Floor when I was supposed to jump across a lake. That sure takes me back...' Mark scratched his nape. 'I didn't have a good grasp on how far I could jump, or how... That has to be Linked with the rigid nature of my movement somehow, right? Mmm...'
He stared at his hand for a bit.
'When it comes to acceleration... Sudden acceleration, Insect Monsters win. No doubt about that. Like that... Beetle? Yeah, it was a Beetle. The first Insect Monster I encountered on the Sixth Floor. Insect Monsters, huh? With the number of them that I Devoured, I'm sure I could Evolve into a pretty strong version of them. Spiders and Ants are what I Devoured mostly. Problem is...'n0velusb.C0m
UGHH-
A HUGE BUG-
SQUISH IT-
KRISTA, A GIANT SPIDER, FIGHT IT-
Mark could already picture the scene.
Seeing that reaction would have been pretty fun to him, but he shook his head.
'The picture in my head matching... No. My movement matching the picture in my head. It's not just about thinking faster. It's more about... Yeah. Like when I was using the Berserker Skill. Tsk.' Mark clicked his tongue, and his annoyance was obvious by the expression on his face. 'Back when I could still use it on command. Nia really did give me some huge advantages in there... As a Follower Of Gaavah, I could use it on command because I was in a Territory that was Gaavah's. That was the explanation, wasn't it? Then, the world is against me using it on command. Whatever that means...'
The white-scaled Monster suddenly frowned.
'The world... Fairness... The world...? The world against me using the Berserker Skill, or Reviving Monsters without unknown Conditions attached to it. The world...' Mark brought a hand to the piece of cloth hiding his right eye. 'Is the world against me using this Eye too much then? Huh. If that's the case then... It becomes simple. A bit too simple, actually-'
Mark was suddenly reminded of words he had been told some time ago.
Words that had appeared in front of him.
You've said it yourself-
It is all about sacrifice-
What are you willing to sacrifice-
What will you sacrifice it for-
Your Intelligence for Strength-
Your Strength for Agility-
Your Agility for Mana?-
'With each example that Nia had given, I thought about a different enemy but... It's more general than that, isn't it?'
The shivering coursing through his body grew more intense as his pupils dilated.
'The world against me using the Elven Necklace... The System, the world, same thing. Against me using this Eye. Against me...' Mark extended an arm towards the nearest tree.
'Mm?' Elisa glanced at him.
'Pulling that tree to me... Using only my thoughts.'
Realizing the ridiculousness of its own thoughts, the white-scaled Monster laughed out loud.
'Should I ask? I won't.' Elisa thought.
"Everything is give and take, huh?"
The Princess was thrown off by the question.
"Yes. Of course it is." She answered, bluntly expressing how obvious an observation that was.
"Everything... Costs something. Everything... Is a discussion with the world."
"Huh. You're thinking a bit too deeply about it. That's my job, as teacher."
"And forest-dweller?" Mark chuckled.
"Ugh..."
A silent second passed.
"I think..."
"Mm?"
"I think I quite like it..."
'How this world works.'
"Good? Or... Congrats? I'm not too sure what to say." She truly felt confused.
'Give and take... It's so obvious. Against Yarnha, there were restrictions on her control over the Forest. Zephyr, I'm not sure what that was, but it kept Elisa and Krista out. In exchange, I was Healed. I... Have restrictions too. Not even those newly imposed on me by leaving the Dungeon.'
The white-scaled Monster stopped walking and focused on its thoughts.
'Nothing is free. Everything costs something. To Control the whole Forest, Yarnha takes on the burden of protecting it. Failing to do so leads to a Penalty. Overusing this Eye leads to pain. It's never a one-way thing. Why? Because the world decides... Because the System decides that it would be this way? Imposing it on everyone... Fairly...'
Mark extended his right arm upwards and opened his palm to the sky.
Great Fire Ball-
'Huh... What's that about? Maybe it's time to ask...'
'Magic Skills. In exchange for Mana Points, I conjure up a Great Fire Ball. Exchange... Even moving. To move around, I use up Endurance Points. Huh. It's a bit abstract but, now that I think about it...'
"Elisa."
"Mm?"
"That Great Fire Ball I just shot..." Mark directed his gaze towards the sky above.
"I saw."
"It cost Mana Points, doing that."
"Well, yes. Of course it did. That's how it works."
"Who decides..."
The white-scaled Monster's sole visible pupil was incredibly wide as it stared above.
Elisa also noticed the slight and peaceful smile on its face.
"How many Mana Points shooting a Great Fire Ball costs?"
"Ha!" Elisa chuckled. "Isn't it obvious?"
