Metamorphosis: The Story of a Butterfly

The moment Caelum made his decision, he felt a strange tingling sensation course through his small, segmented body. It was time. His evolution into the Scholar Pupal Larva had begun, and there was no turning back.

His body grew warm, almost uncomfortably so, as the forest around him began to blur and shift. His vision swam as his tiny limbs stiffened, locking him in place. He could feel the energy surging through him, twisting and shaping him into something new. The evolution was beginning, and the sensation was unlike anything he had ever experienced.

As the transformation took hold, Caelum felt an odd sense of expansion, like his very being was growing beyond his small larval form. His mind buzzed with new thoughts, a strange clarity sharpening his senses. He could feel his body changing, reshaping itself. His limbs grew stronger, more defined, and his soft, vulnerable form became firmer, more solid, as though his entire body was being refined.

Suddenly, a pressure built in his core, and his body pulsed with energy. His soft, delicate exterior began to toughen, yet remained flexible, retaining its mobility. He wasn’t locked in place, but he felt sturdier, more resilient. His small antennae twitched as he sensed the subtle changes taking place within him.

He felt his mind open—like a door had been unlocked somewhere deep inside him. Knowledge flooded his senses. It wasn’t just physical strength that surged through him; there was an intellectual power there too, an increased ability to understand the world around him in ways he never could before. It was as if the world itself whispered secrets to him, and he could now hear them more clearly.

As the glow of the evolution faded, Caelum slowly wriggled forward, testing his new form. He felt... stronger. Not just physically, but mentally. There was a sharpness to his thoughts now, a quicker processing of information. His mind was clearer, and his body felt more balanced, more capable. He had evolved into something new.

Time to see the results.

He took a deep breath, still adjusting to the changes, and activated Appraisal.

[Appraisal Activated]

Name: Caelum

Species: Scholar Pupal Larva

Level: 1/35

Rank: E

HP: 20/25

MP: 35/70

Stamina: 18/40

Echo Skills: [Bite Lv: 7] [Movement Lv: 8] [Camouflage Lv: 5] [Instinctive Dodge Lv: 8] [Telepathy Lv: 6][Clumsy Tumble Lv:2] [Gathering Lv:1] [Absent-Minded Search Lv:1] [Cooking Lv:1] [Arcane Insight Lv:1]

Resonance Skills: [Appraisal Lv: Max] [Fire Magic Lv: 9] [Wind Magic Lv: 3] [Earth Magic Lv: 2] [Light Magic Lv: 3] [Water Magic Lv: 1] [Memory Archive Lv: 1]

Apex Skills: [Knowledge Lv: 1]

Resistance Skills: [Poison Resistance Lv: Max] [Hardened Carapace Resistance Lv: 4] [Mental Pain Resistance Lv: 3] [Physical Pain Resistance Lv: 4]

Titles: [Earth-003 Reincarnator] [Survivor] [Leaf Connoisseur] [Named] [Giant Slayer]

Status Effects: None

Caelum blinked as he read the updated screen, eyes landing on a few key changes. The first thing that caught his attention was the new Arcane Insight skill. He felt a twinge of excitement at the idea of it—something related to his mental prowess. His mind buzzed as the skill seemed to hum within him, giving him a deeper connection to his growing magic arsenal.

Arcane Insight allowed him to tap into the elemental magics more efficiently. He could sense the flow of magic in the world around him, making it easier to manipulate and harness his abilities. This would make him much more adaptable in battle, able to react faster and smarter.

But it was the next part that truly stunned him.

Memory Archive Lv: 1 had been consumed by his Apex of Knowledge, and now, his Knowledge skill had jumped to Level 3. A rush of understanding washed over him as the Memory Archive merged seamlessly with the Apex of Knowledge, allowing him to access information about this world at an even deeper level.

A small screen flashed before him, explaining the transformation:

Apex Skill: Knowledge Lv: 3

The Apex of Knowledge now holds the power of both Wisdom and Ignorance, granting unparalleled understanding of the world. At this level, it allows the user to store, retrieve, and master complex information at an accelerated rate. Additionally, it improves memory recall and experience gain, allowing the user to grow and evolve faster.

New Feature Unlocked: Memory Recall

Caelum can now access past experiences with perfect clarity, reliving moments to analyze and learn from them with heightened understanding. The skill can be used to anticipate future threats based on past encounters.

Caelum’s eyes widened as the screen blinked away. The Memory Archive had not only been absorbed, but its essence had been refined into something more powerful. Now, not only could he learn and adapt faster, but he could also review his past memories in perfect detail to make better decisions.

I can relive past battles, analyze my mistakes, and improve, Caelum thought, the potential of this new ability slowly dawning on him. He could already feel the influence of Knowledge Lv: 3 enhancing his thought processes, allowing him to quickly analyze the skills he’d gained, how to combine them, and the paths of evolution ahead.

But there’s still one glaring problem, Caelum mused, a bitter taste in his mouth.

His attention shifted to the Pupal evolutions, specifically the Cocoon forms. They were powerful—he knew that much—but they left him defenseless during the process. The thought of being stuck in a vulnerable cocoon, unable to defend himself for several days, made his stomach churn.

“I’m definitely stronger now, but... why are cocoons so dangerous? Why would the evolution system push me toward them?”

He bit down on a leaf to distract himself, grinding his mandibles together in frustration. It didn’t make sense. The cocoons had a much longer potential for growth, offering higher levels and more powerful skills, but the risks were far too high.

I’ll have to use one eventually, Caelum realized, but I’m not ready yet.

His mind flickered back to the Stoneweaver and Emberheart cocoon options. Both would make him considerably stronger, but the idea of being trapped in a defenseless form for 7 days while predators lurked was enough to freeze his blood. He wouldn’t survive if he wasn’t careful.

With a deep breath, he decided to set aside the worry for now. He was still a Scholar Pupal Larva, and for the moment, he needed to focus on mastering his new form and skills.

“I’ll figure it out when the time comes,” Caelum muttered, shaking off the anxiety.

He wriggled forward, feeling the sharpness of his senses heightened by his new evolution. Every step felt deliberate, controlled, as though his body and mind were in perfect sync.

As he wriggled through the dense undergrowth, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of anticipation. But there was also one big truth. He had been focusing on the knowledge aspect since he opened eyes in this world and this skill had helped him in gaining a lot of skills quickly, but to be honest, he still didn’t know the full extent of this skill.

He can ask the apex skill itself about its features in detail, but he just didn’t know where to start.