Reborn As An Evolving Monster

Birds were chirping, flowers were blooming, leaves were dancing with the wind, and Elisa was smiling.

She loved the forest.

But she couldn't really remember why.

[Corruption Magic. What is it exactly?]

"Hmm... How direct. Heavy questions already?"

[How much time did you spend in that tower?]

"Who knows?"

Mark thought her uncooperative.

"Couldn't see the sun in there. Because of that Veil. Couldn't really feel time passing either. To be honest, it felt like I'd been frozen in time for a while." Elisa reluctantly added.

They walked silently.

"Definitely thought you would be fighting by now." The Fire Spirit uttered before appearing.

"Oh, no. We wouldn't. We're playing friends now. Didn't you hear?"

"Stop ogling me with those eyes."

"Can't help it."

"Fight the urge."

"Enter a Contract with me."

"Why should I?"

"It'll be beneficial for the both of us."

"I doubt it."

"Why is that? Wind can turn a weak blaze into hellish flames, you know?"

The Spirit didn't take offense.

"It can also kill that blaze."

"Alala. Can't you show a little faith?"

"Don't see any reason to."

"Ha! The time to dream is now, Spirit. My Wind and your Fire might end up a match made in heaven."

"Mm. I'm guessing your Wind would also redirect my Fire."

"Isn't that what Wind is about? I'll direct it, and you'll be free to go wild ."

The Fire Spirit laughed. He almost seemed tempted by the offer.

"As enticing as that sounds, I'll have to pass."

Elisa didn't hide her disappointment.

"Why? You're a Spirit. I can't see why you-"

"The Contract I have now suits me better. Didn't even have to sign anything too. This guy somewhat understands me. And he interests me, for now. So I'll stick with him-"

"Who are you talking about?"

Only then did the Spirit realize,

"When did he leave?" He whispered to himself.

A good distance away, Mark was walking towards the unmoving Corrupted Dark Elves.

'Watching them talk is irritating. Tsk. Stronger Monsters can talk, for some reason. Plenty will have that ability outside. But I can't. Except if I were to...'

He turned to face the direction in which his Underlings were.

'Devour some who can.'

Mark shook his head.

'Can't do that. Can't do that. Getting Underlings is getting hard and harder. I haven't even had the time to try out my Skill after it's gotten all those Conditions attached to it. Can't do that...'

He sighed and raised his gaze.

'I don't want to do that...'

Mark suddenly remembered, and as if on cue,

[Your Title "Evolving Monster" is looking at you.]

'Think you can do it?'

[Your Title "Evolving Monster" is looking at you.]

[Your Title "Evolving Monster" says that if it's necessary, it will try.]

Chuckle-

His right hand grabbed one of Elisa's past comrades.

His fangs sank into that comrade's skin, as his mind was filled with her words.

And while they've lost their reason, I managed to keep my own.

'She meant they could talk, right? It has to be what she meant. Then, their bodies and vocal cords allow speech... If that's the case, then...'

He was inspired by her words and, therefore, devoured her past comrades.

But Mark didn't know how she would react to that, so he ordered the Fire Spirit to keep her occupied.

The latter didn't refuse.

A minute later,

[Your Title "Evolving Monster" is consuming your Evolution Points!]

Mark's throat gradually went from tingling to twitching, from twitching to aching, and from aching to burning.

It only took a couple of seconds for the burning sensation to settle.

Mark brought a hand to his throat.

It didn't feel any different.

He opened his mouth and took a breath in.

Cough-

It was different.

"Aaah-"

He shut his mouth.

'I can... I can talk...'

Mark wanted to laugh but didn't.

Instead, he resumed devouring the Corrupted Dark Elves and Warriors that lay around him.

Mark tried not to think.

He tried thinking about anything else, from Elisa to the Final Guardian.

But currently, there was only one thing on his mind.

And he couldn't chase it out.

[Your Title "Evolving Monster" is looking at you.]

Mark stared at those words for a bit before he started walking away.

'Thanks.'

[Your Title "Evolving Monster" is laughing proudly.]

Mark started walking towards the forest's exit before stopping.

'I wonder if I'm supposed to apologize in this situation...' He wondered.

Apologizing was something Mark hadn't done for a long time.

...

An hour later, Mark, his Guard, the Fire Spirit, his Underlings, and Elisa reunited in the middle of the Floor, on the grassy plain.

"Isn't this a nice spot? So this is where you all were spending your time while I was doing time? Huh. Can really take in the sun." Elisa added the last part in a quieter voice. "Though, just like the Mana, it does feel fake, just like the Mana."

[You can tell?]

"Is there anyone who can't?"

"I can't." The Fire Spirit admitted.

"Huh? HUH? You're a Spirit, of course, you can. Plus, you're a Fire Spirit... How can't you? That's not just unlikely, it's an impossibility. I was about to sign a Contract with a...?"

"A what? Please continue. Tsk." The Spirit looked up. "I can tell that sun obviously isn't made of flames, but not anything more than that."

Elisa brought a hand to her chin, deep in thought.

'Probably because you haven't experienced the outside. Both the outside sun and Mana?' Mark suggested.

"Oh!" The Spirit pointed at Mark. "That's exactly it! Maybe!"

"What did he say?" Elisa asked.

"You're right. That must be it. But wait... What's outside? And if it's outside then... We must be inside... Of what?"

"Hmph!" Elisa walked away, offended. She hated being ignored, especially after having spent so much time alone.

Meanwhile, Mark quietly and telepathically explained things to both the Fire Spirit and Levi.

Things he had been putting off explaining.

Partly because he wasn't sure it was necessary.

Things about the time before they had joined him, about the previous Floors, and about the Dungeon in general.

"So there's a whole world out there..." The Spirit's eyes shined.

Levi, on the other hand, seemed indifferent.

He was simply pleased to hear things from his Lord.

To hear things about his Lord's future.

Mark took a seat on the vibrant grass.

Elisa walked over and sat a safe distance away.

"You can't remember your past, right? What can you remember?"

[Heavy questions already?]

She chuckled.

"I said that, so I'll argue that using my words against me shouldn't work. If you answer my questions, I might answer yours."

Mark didn't mind answering.

But he also felt no desire to do so either.

'Tsk. You would think that after threatening to kill me, he would open up in good faith. But nooo. I have to do everything...' Elisa thought as she slowly laid her back on the green grass below.

All remained silent for a bit.

Only the relaxing sound of a cool breeze ruled over the grassy plain.

"Corruption Magic..." Elisa started, immediately attracting the group's undivided attention. "Is the worst kind of Magic."

Mark felt like chuckling. The worst kind of Magic had saved him many a time.

He didn't.

"If you ask me, it shouldn't even be referred to as Magic."

Elisa's gaze turned ice cold.

"It's a curse."

"How so?" The Fire Spirit asked.

Being the only one asking questions and not answering any could prove to be a rather unpleasant position.

Which is why Mark was glad to see the Spirit contribute and chime in.

The next second, Elisa started undoing her vest.

None looked away. Why would they?

Mark thankfully noted that she was wearing something akin to a corset beneath the vest. He found the relief he felt both absurd and hilarious.

On her stomach and sides, multiple large spots were visible.

Dark spots.

Mark recognized that color.

Pitch-black.

There weren't many things relating to Magic that had such a shade.

Corruption Magic was the first on his mind.

But there were two other instances he remembered.

The Seventh Floor's Guardian's pitch-black barrier.

And the Calamity Of Minos' attack that could disintegrate Monsters with ease.

'I devoured both... Wish I'd gotten one of those Skills...'

"Corruption isn't something one can recover from naturally. A Healer, able to use Holy Magic, is necessary. No matter how long you wait," Elisa lowered her gaze towards the stomach. "It won't fade away, it won't disappear, it won't run out."

"So Corruption is... Infinite?" The Spirit asked.

"Perverse, isn't it?"

"Right..." The Fire Spirit took a short pause. "Fire is greedy. The greediest..."

Elisa nodded silently.

"Fire would like to burn forever, but it eventually runs out. To burn something, a small braze will have to grow in order to devour that thing. Otherwise, it dies. And you're saying that Corruption Magic isn't like that? That it shows its effect without ever growing weaker? Without... Consuming anything?"

She nodded again.

"Well, it is a Sub-Type of the worst kind of Magic, making it, too, the worst kind of Magic."

"What's that?" The Spirit asked.

"Dark Magic, obviously."

The Fire Spirit turned towards Mark.

He was surprised to find the latter looking away, into the distance.

But how could he do anything else?

Mark had no pelt or hair, so the chills running up and down his body couldn't be seen or noticed.

But about the expression on  his face, he had to do something.

Elisa, just like her comrades, had been hurt by Corruption Magic.

But all that was on Mark's mind, was how glad he was to have obtained such a weapon.