The air seemed to freeze, no monster daring to make a sound or move under the overwhelming killing intent. After a moment of tense waiting, the next development arrived.
Once the evolution process was complete, the embryo encasing Ruminas began to shrink, like an empty husk drained dry by the energy within her.
Then it cracked open.
The cocoon trembled, its slimy membrane tearing apart. From within, a jet-black hand emerged, with slender, elongated fingers tipped with sharp claws.
Then her entire body emerged from the shell, the embryonic fluid sliding off to reveal Ruminas's new form.
Ruminas… still bore the same face, but now it was markedly different.
Her body had grown slightly taller, her features sharpening into a more majestic and imposing presence. The skin she once had was gone, replaced by a smooth, ashen-gray layer with a faint metallic sheen, faintly reflecting the dim light of the cave.
Her eyes were no longer the same—now a deep crimson, blazing like glowing embers, with vertical pupils reminiscent of a predator's gaze. As she shifted her eyes, streaks of red light sliced through the darkness, as if piercing through everything. Her ears had transformed into sharp, pointed tips, like those of mythical creatures from fantasy tales.
Her hair retained its original color, but some strands had turned into delicate, spiderweb-like white threads—soft yet eerily menacing. They moved slightly on their own with each of her motions, as if possessing their own consciousness.
Two gently curved horns protruded from the sides of her head, sharp as blades, extending outward like a demonic crown. They weren't overly large, but they exuded an aura of grandeur and lethality.
Her hands and feet had changed as well. Her nails had grown longer and sharper, taking on a dark hue like the claws of a wild beast. From her elbows downward, her skin transformed into a thin layer of scales that glittered metallically when light hit them.
On her back, two small bony spines ran from her shoulders down to her lower back—not massive, but enough to suggest she was no longer an easily vulnerable being.
Behind her, a long tail extended from her hips, black with a purple sheen, flexible like a small snake. Its tip was encased in a hard shell that could retract or extend into a razor-sharp blade when needed.
"You're back."
The Parasol Lady appeared beside her, but Ruminas regarded her with a cold, unfamiliar gaze, as if they had never met.
Suddenly, Ruminas reached out to grab her, but The Parasol Lady deftly dodged.
"Have you forgotten who you are?" The Parasol Lady asked, then answered her own question. "I suppose it's to be expected. Your body was too heavily assimilated. Even though I protected your brain, I couldn't preserve your consciousness entirely—but it's not beyond saving."
She chuckled lightly, treating the situation with casual indifference.
Ruminas remained silent, continuing her attacks. After several attempts, all of which The Parasol Lady elegantly evaded, the surrounding monsters could only watch, still dazed by her transformed appearance.
Though she had undergone significant changes, Ruminas still retained a fundamentally human form. To the monsters, this represented a remarkable evolution—one they had long coveted.
Then, all the monsters suddenly knelt, bowing to Ruminas.
"It seems they've accepted you," The Parasol Lady remarked.
Ruminas paid no attention to her surroundings, focusing solely on The Parasol Lady, intent on catching the prey that had been taunting her.
"Do you truly remember nothing?" The Parasol Lady sighed, though her smile never faded.
Ruminas didn't respond.
She acted instead.
Her arm shot forward, her sharp claws tearing through the air toward The Parasol Lady's neck. But just as they were about to connect, The Parasol Lady's body dissolved into a cloud of black smoke, drifting away while maintaining her relaxed demeanor, as if this were merely a game.
"Quite fierce, aren't you?" The Parasol Lady shook her head. "But unfortunately, your speed still isn't enough."
Ruminas didn't stop.
She charged forward, her wings flapping lightly to generate a powerful thrust, propelling her toward The Parasol Lady at an even greater speed.
But The Parasol Lady dodged again.
"It looks like I'll have to get serious," The Parasol Lady said.
As soon as the words left her mouth, an invisible force erupted—an explosion of demonic energy that was no longer just playful evasion.
Ruminas was pushed back several steps.
She froze, looking up at The Parasol Lady with her blazing red eyes.
Then, for the first time since her evolution—
"Who… are you?" she asked, her voice unsteady, like that of a newborn child.
"You can still speak? That makes things less troublesome. You can still understand me, can't you?" The Parasol Lady replied.
Ruminas remained silent but nodded after a moment.
"Good. It seems you've forgotten a lot, but that's fine—I'll help you remember. You can trust me," The Parasol Lady said, slowly stepping closer.
Ruminas didn't reply, her predatory gaze fixed on her, as if ready to tear her apart at the slightest hint of aggression. Yet The Parasol Lady had no intention of attacking.
She drew near, lowering her parasol, then unexpectedly embraced Ruminas.
Ruminas was caught off guard by this action. Her memories and rationality were nearly gone; though she retained a human form, she was now driven purely by instinct to hunt and kill.
Her body tensed.
The sudden contact ignited her instincts, and her claws rose instantly, poised to pierce The Parasol Lady's back with the slightest push.
But—
She stopped.
A strange sensation flooded her mind.
Not fear, not anger.
But… something else.
Ruminas's chest tightened, as if something familiar had brushed against the depths of her lost memories—a vague familiarity she couldn't name.
"It seems there's still a human part of you in there," The Parasol Lady said.
Ruminas didn't understand.
"A human part… is… what…?" she asked.
"Hmm, your voice sounds pretty funny," The Parasol Lady chuckled before continuing. "If you don't remember, no need to force it. I'll teach you from scratch."
"You… are… who?"
"Me? I'll be the one to teach you everything. Remember that. You'll have to repay me later," The Parasol Lady said.
Ruminas didn't respond, seemingly struggling to process her words.
"Do you remember your name?" The Parasol Lady asked.
"My… name… what…?"
Her name?
Who was she?
A cold void stretched across her mind.
"…I… don't know."
The Parasol Lady sighed but kept a gentle smile on her lips.
"No problem, that can wait. I won't tell you. You need to remember it yourself—only then will this upbringing be effective."
Ruminas opened her mouth to speak, but at that moment, a voice rang out above her head, accompanied by a flood of notifications.
[Evolution Process Complete]
[Your rank has increased to three stars]
[Evolution Rewards: 1500 EXP, 15 Free Stat Points, 2 Skill Points, 1 Skill]
[Due to external interference during the evolution process, your body has transformed into a different species. All stats are increased by 20. You have gained the species-specific skill Blood Sacrifice [S]]
[You have unlocked a new class. Please select one of the following classes: Dark Witch / Cold-Blooded Carnivore / Elite Assassin]
[Note: Each class offers unique abilities, and you cannot change your class until your next evolution, so choose carefully]
[Please select one of the following skills: Black Magic [S] / Malevolent Thought [S]]
"Ah…"
Ruminas clutched her head and collapsed, the barrage of notifications overwhelming her mind. The Parasol Lady knelt beside her, concern flashing across her face.
"Are you alright? Is it because you can't adapt to your new body?" The Parasol Lady asked.
Ruminas didn't respond.
"Calm down."
The intense headache made it impossible for her to think clearly. The flood of notifications hammered her brain, making her feel as though she was being torn apart.
After a while, the chaos began to stabilize.
"Tell me, what's wrong?" The Parasol Lady gripped Ruminas's hand, both of their hands icy cold.
Ruminas looked up at The Parasol Lady, her gaze still wary as before.
"Truly a wild beast—but I love taming wild beasts," The Parasol Lady said with a grin.
She suddenly yanked Ruminas's hand forward, causing her to lose balance, and both of them tumbled to the ground.
"Trust me. I'll help you with everything," The Parasol Lady said earnestly.
Ruminas hesitated, but she knew nothing about this world, about herself, or anything else. Yet her instincts carried a curiosity about her former self.
And right now, this woman was the only one who could help her.
"You… won't… betray… me… will you?" Ruminas asked.
"I won't," The Parasol Lady replied firmly.
"Alright…" Ruminas agreed.
The Parasol Lady smiled, reaching to pat Ruminas's head, but she quickly dodged, her instincts rejecting such contact. She pulled away from The Parasol Lady, stood up, and cast a glance at the monsters still kneeling before her.
The Parasol Lady rose as well, smiling. "They obey you now."
Ruminas stepped toward one of the monsters, her piercing gaze making it tremble even more, though she did nothing further.
"You're the ruler here now. You need a proper place to stay. They'll take care of that for you," The Parasol Lady whispered into her ear.
A faint smile curled Ruminas's lips as she looked at the monsters with evident delight.