While the innocent Magical Tree is jumping with glee―― the red cocoon behind Treant slightly twitches.
Before I realized it, the bundle of red webs had solidified.
Something's about to come out soon.
As I stare at the twitchy cocoon, a crack is formed and a black tentacle comes squeezing out of it.

I was taken aback at first, but then a white face comes out and turns left and right.
The crack on the red cocoon's surface widens, revealing a large spider within.
Two times...... no, she's three times bigger than before.
The inside must've been really cramped after evolution.
Her total length is around 3 meters, huh.
There was cuteness in her before, but now she just looks outright menacing.

C-Could she be even stronger than Treant?
Let's check her status......

【〖Nightmare〗: Rank Ｃ+ monster】
【The final evolution of a rare specimen that has been continuously living around a harsh environment and a strong magic interference.】
【Capable of hiding its presence and taking lives under the darkness of night, it truly befits its name of Nightmare.】
【In places where a〖Nightmare〗appears, there's a common saying that one should immediately flee upon spotting a white mask.】

‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐
Species: Nightmare
Status: Normal
Lv: 1/70
HP: 122/122
MP :18/115
Attack: 111
Defense: 69
Magic: 118
Speed: 97
Rank: Ｃ+

Characteristic Skills:
〖Dark Element: Lv—〗〖Automatic HP Recovery: Lv3〗〖Poison Sash: Lv5〗
〖Presence Sense: Lv3〗〖Cat Eyes: Lv—〗〖Stealth Step: Lv5〗

Resistances:
〖Physical Resistance: Lv3〗〖Magic Resistance: Lv2〗〖Poison Resistance: Lv4〗
〖Curse Resistance: Lv4〗

Normal Skills:
〖Poison Fang: Lv3〗〖Spider Web: Lv5〗〖Call Ally: Lv1〗
〖Web Wrap: Lv3〗〖Poison Web: Lv3〗〖Neck-hanging Web: Lv3〗
〖Sneak Attack: Lv3〗〖Curse: Lv2〗〖Human Transformation: Lv3〗
〖Self-Regeneration: Lv1〗〖Dark Sphere: Lv1〗〖Clay: Lv1〗

Titles:
〖Evil Dragon's pet: Lv—〗〖Web Expert: Lv5〗〖Malicious: Lv—〗
〖Mutation: Lv—〗〖Tenacious: Lv5〗〖Cunning: Lv4〗
〖Abyss Eater: Lv2〗〖Assassin: Lv3〗〖Final Evolutionist: Lv—〗
‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐

T-Those stats are really high......
Even though they have the same rank, I feel bad for Treant.
Other than in defense, Treant loses in all other aspects......

There's also a bunch of useful skills mixed in there too.
〖Stealth Step〗and〖Presence Sense〗...... with these two together, it'll be easier to hunt while avoiding danger.
As for〖Dark Sphere〗, the Chimera Lich made us witness firsthand how strong it is...... and that〖Self-Regeneration〗...... that's good stuff right there.
Now we don't have to worry about Nightmare losing a limb or two.

But, that〖Cat Eyes〗and〖Human Transformation〗she has......
〖Cat Eyes〗was something the Manticore had.
I remember how frustrated I felt when I found out it can reduce the ridiculous MP consumption that〖Human Transformation〗has.
Just like Treant, why do the skills I've been wanting to have end up with you guys.
Well now I know it's a skill that's not only restricted to cats, meaning there's still a chance I can obtain it someday.
Let's hope I evolve into a cat dragon next.

...... Wait a second.
She got a〖Final Evolutionist〗title......?
N-Nightmare's evolutionary line ends in C+?
Or, maybe that's just normal for monsters like her?
U-Umm...... looking at it from another point of view, C+ is already a pretty high rank on its own, and I may have just been overestimating the system, but......
If Treant evolves into a Rank B, won't she end up falling behind?
I kinda wanna see that happen, but at the same time, I feel sorry for Nightmare......
Maybe Alo will reach her final evolution next too......?

Nightmare looks at Partner, wondering what's going on.
Partner responds by instantly dropping her face down to avoid eye contact.
Nightmare then looks at me next.
I inadvertently look away as well.

If Treant were to evolve again, Nightmare would become luggage......
No wait, I don't really know much about the upper limit of evolution...... but maybe there's some way to lift it up.
Even I got more evolution options due to my many title skills.
It's too soon for me to be pessimistic about it now.

A-Anywho, with this, Alo, Treant, and Nightmare are all C+.
Their skills have leveled up a lot, and other than Alo, our fighting styles can become more versatile now.
If we keep this up, exploring those ruins will no longer be a dream.

Alright then, now that they've evolved...... let's take this chance to establish a base on this Great Tree.
It doesn't look like those Adams are gonna climb up here anytime soon, so now's the perfect time to catch a breather.
If another Chimera Lich-level opponent shows up, I alone can shoo it away.
I've thought about attacking the Adams while they're asleep, since it's now possible with everyone's upgraded status, but I just can't picture ourselves succeeding.
Adam and Eve, that team up has got to be the strongest one I've ever seen so far.

And then, just when I was thinking that I found a suitable hollow in the Great Tree's bark for our base...... I heard a "Haa... Hraa..." heavy breathing of a monster.
A pink slender dragon slamming its tail left and right...... the slut dragon, Giver, is seen approaching towards us in the distance.

A troublesome foe has appeared! Argh, I forgot that thing resides on this Tree!
I should've settled our base further up!
Let's pull back for now. It's not an opponent I can't win against, though if I can, I'd rather not fight it.
It may not be displaying any kind of hostility, but I just don't want to get involved with it......

"...... I won't let you"

Alo utters softly while raising a hand towards the Giver.
Then, green light gathers around her hand.

"Wind magic, Ga-......"

Cutting her off, I lower my neck, open my mouth and scoop Alo up into my mouth.

"――!? ――!!"

Alo struggles inside my mouth.
I know that you want to level up, but...... let's just stay out of that thing's way.
Rather...... let's look for something that's actually an enemy.

I pick Treant up with both of my front claws and take off from the branch we were standing on.
Nightmare spits a web on my tail and gets pulled up after us.
Alright you guys, let's bail. Our destination, the treetops.

As I raise our altitude and fly higher, Giver extends its long neck and gazes at me with a forlorn expression.

"Ku~oooon! Ku~o~o~ooon! Ku~on! Ku~ooon!"

Unlike its usual cry, Giver lets out a saddened howl while looking at my flying figure in heartbreak.
Then it lies down on its back, revealing its underbelly, and rolls itself side-to-side, like a baby flailing about.

Stay that way for the rest of your life! You're not my type!