Metamorphosis: The Story of a Butterfly

Caelum wriggled through the dense undergrowth, his mind set on one goal: reaching his max level. His body tingled with the anticipation of evolution, and the thought of what new power his transformation might bring kept him motivated. But today was grueling. The forest was quieter than usual, and every effort to find easy prey had come up empty.

He was now at level 22, stronger than ever, but it wasn’t enough. He could feel the next stage calling him, urging him to become more, but without more experience, without more battles, he was stuck. He had learned his lesson from past encounters with dangerous predators, so he was careful, looking for smaller, easier targets to help him level up. But as the hours passed and the sun began to dip lower, his patience began to wear thin.

He moved cautiously, his body low to the ground as he scanned the area with his many eyes, hoping to spot something—a small critter, an insect, anything he could fight. But the underbrush remained still, the forest seemingly empty.

Why is everything so quiet? he wondered, feeling a growing unease.

Despite the frustration gnawing at him, Caelum pressed on, unwilling to turn back without accomplishing anything. The weight of his next evolution loomed over him, making every minute feel longer. His progress had been steady, but today, everything seemed to slow to a crawl. The forest felt different, like it was holding its breath, waiting for something to happen.

Just when he was about to give up for the day, something changed. The air around him grew thick with tension, and a strange feeling crawled up his spine. His instincts screamed at him, and he froze in place, all senses on high alert. Something was out there.

His eyes scanned the surroundings, but nothing seemed out of place. The forest was still too quiet, the usual rustle of leaves and the buzz of insects absent. And then, from the shadows, he heard it—a soft rustling, like something moving through the undergrowth. The sound grew louder, and before he could react, a figure burst from the foliage, moving with blinding speed.

Caelum's heart raced as the creature darted toward him, and he barely had time to activate Appraisal.

[Appraisal Activated]

Name: Shadow Prowler

Species: Lesser Darkfang

Level: 24/30

Rank: F

HP: 25/25

MP: 20/20

Stamina: 35/40

Echo Skills: [Stealth Strike Lv: 5], [Pounce Lv: 4]

Resonance Skills: [Night Vision Lv: 4], [Shadow Blend Lv: 3]

Resistance Skills: [Physical Resistance Lv: 4], [Poison Resistance Lv: 5]

Caelum’s body tensed. It was a Shadow Prowler and from the appraisal, it looked like a predator small enough not to be overwhelming but dangerous enough to be a serious threat, especially since it had the advantage of speed. The creature’s sleek, dark body was built for stealth, its sharp claws glinting in the fading light. Its eyes locked onto Caelum, and he felt a shiver of fear.

Before he could fully react, the Shadow Prowler leapt toward him, its body moving with deadly precision. Caelum scrambled to dodge, his small form twisting to the side just as the creature’s claws slashed through the air where he had been moments before.

His heart pounded, and his body felt heavier than usual. The day’s exhaustion was catching up to him. Focus, he told himself. He needed to gather his strength and fight back.

The creature hissed, circling him, looking for another opening. Caelum knew he couldn’t outrun it—its speed far outmatched his. He would have to fight. Gathering his strength, he summoned a small burst of Fire Magic, sending it hurtling toward the Shadow Prowler.

The creature dodged the flame easily, its lithe body weaving through the trees as it prepared for another strike. Caelum braced himself, trying to anticipate the next move, but the Shadow Prowler was faster than he expected. It lunged again, and this time, its claws connected, raking across his side.

A sharp pain shot through him, and his HP dropped by several points. Caelum gasped, struggling to regain his composure as the creature circled him once more. He could feel the warm blood oozing from the wound, his body trembling from the impact.

HP: 35/40

I have to be smarter about this. He couldn't afford to get hit again.

Caelum’s mind raced as he analyzed the situation. The Shadow Prowler was quick, and his fire magic wasn’t fast enough to catch it. He needed to slow it down, give himself time to land a proper hit. His eyes darted around the forest floor, looking for anything that might give him an advantage. He spotted a small patch of sticky sap on a nearby tree, and an idea formed in his mind.

He lured the Prowler closer, baiting it into another strike. As it leapt toward him again, he threw himself backward, using his Wind Magic to give him a burst of speed. The Prowler, caught off guard, stumbled as its claws sank into the sticky sap patch Caelum had maneuvered it toward.

For a split second, the Prowler was trapped. Caelum didn’t hesitate. He summoned all the energy he could, channeling his Fire Magic into a concentrated blast aimed at the creature’s exposed side. The fire hit its mark, and the Prowler shrieked in pain, its body writhing as the flames scorched its fur.

HP: 20/40

Caelum could feel his magic growing stronger as the fire consumed the creature’s strength. His Fire Magic had increased in level, and it was becoming more potent with each use. But the battle wasn’t over yet. The Prowler broke free from the sap with a furious hiss, its body still smoldering from the fire.

It charged at Caelum once more, its movements more erratic but still fast. Caelum barely had time to react as the creature’s claws slashed across his legs, sending a fresh wave of pain through his body.

HP: 16/40

His vision blurred for a moment, and he could feel his stamina draining. The fight was taking its toll. But he couldn't give up—not when he was so close. Gritting his teeth, Caelum pushed through the pain, summoning one final burst of Wind Magic to propel himself upward, avoiding another swipe from the Prowler.

The creature hissed again, enraged, but Caelum knew it was weakening. He just needed one more hit, one final blow to end the fight. His body ached, his stamina nearly depleted, but he gathered every last ounce of magic he had left.

With a determined roar, he unleashed another powerful blast of Fire Magic, this time aimed directly at the Prowler’s head. The flames engulfed the creature, and it let out a blood-curdling scream as the fire consumed it.

The forest fell silent again as the Prowler’s body slumped to the ground, its charred form barely recognizable. Caelum collapsed, breathing hard, his body trembling from the effort.

Mystic Larva Level increased from 22 to 23

Just as he was about to breathe a sigh of relief, the air shifted again. Something else was nearby. Before Caelum could react, another figure emerged from the shadows, larger and more menacing than the first.

Another predator.

And this one was already closing in.