Infinite Evolution: My Idle Evolution System - Chapter 438

Chapter 438: Rank 3 Dwarf Willow Tree, Shadow Tree Soldiers
— 3 Months Later —

During this period of time, Necro had been constantly absorbing the Spiritual Energy in the atmosphere. Moreover, the Lifespans of any nearby critters were siphoned by him, permitting further EP acquisition.

On top of all that, a couple of poorly dressed humans had walked by the rubble he was planted on. And though he couldn’t drain them of their Lifespan due to insufficient power, he gradually started to learn more of their language.

Figuring out how to better organize his own thoughts also came as a result of constant human exposure.

*Ding!*

[You have successfully accumulated 20+ Evolution Points!]

[Would you like to open up your Evolution Tree Interface and see what you can purchase?]

‘…Yes…’ Necro answered slowly, still adapting to the way humans spoke.

BLING!

{[Evolution Tree]}

[Rank: 2 (Plant)]

[Roots (Lvl 0) (15/15)] – (0.4 EP each Root)

[Stem (Lvl 0) (1/1)] – 2 EP to upgrade

[Evolution Points: 20.4]

With his still-developing brain, Necro ordered the Idle Evolution System to spend all the EP it needed to make him stronger.

This was something that he noticed some time ago. His urge and yearning to acquire greater strength. It was his driving force, the reason behind his motives—his only purpose right now.

And oddly enough, Necro wasn’t even sure what he required this concept called ‘strength’ for. He just had to have it—no matter the cost.

[One of your Lvl 0 Roots has been upgraded!]

[Two of your Lvl 0 Roots have been upgraded!]

[Three of your Lvl 0 Roots have been upgraded!]

[Four…]

[All 15 of your Lvl 0 Roots have been upgraded!]

SHA!

Every single one of Necro’s multi-colored roots immediately enlarged to thrice their previous sizes. Additionally, numerous small thorns poked out of them, making it easier to remain rooted in the rubble pile.

[Your Lvl 0 Stem has been upgraded!]

Without giving Necro a breather to process the pain that came about from the rapid mass-upgrades to his Roots, his Stem was upgraded.

This one created an even bigger commotion!

SWOOM!

Shooting out of the ground was a larger section of Necro’s stem. It made him stick out more than a foot, with his vibrant colors adding to his already impressive appearance.

[You have successfully upgraded all of your Evolution Tree components, thus fulfilling all requirements for an evolution to be made possible!]

[For the low, low cost of 10 Evolution Points, you can evolve to the next Rank! Would you like to follow through??] – [Y/N]

‘That’s almost all my EP…’

Even so, Necro clicked the yes button with his mind.

OOOM!

An Evolution from Rank 2 to Rank 3!

Very colorful!

Necro’s body mass multiplied several times over, with his color scheme becoming far more prominent. Furthermore, his total number of Roots increased from 15 to 25, all of which were at Level 1.

As for his stem, there was still only one, but it had gotten a lot bulkier and longer.

Then there was the appearance of something new…

Branches.

[You have acquired five Lvl 1 Branches!]

Extending out the side of his colorful stem base were branches of a similar color scheme. They shone a little under the bright rays of the sun, giving off a slightly dangerous feeling.

[You have successfully evolved from a Rank 2 Plant to a Rank 3 Dwarf Willow Tree!]

{[Dwarf Willow Tree (Rank 3)]}

[Skill 1 ‘Lifespan Absorption’]: Everything within a ten-meter radius is now subject to the draining effects of this terrifying skill. (Strength of target must be below the Host, else absorption effects will be severely reduced, and possibly open to countering)

[Skill 2 ‘Shadow Tree Army’]: Summon up to 3 Shadow Tree Soldiers using negligible/recoverable amounts of your Yggdrasil Essence. (Each has power equivalent to the Skin Stage of Body Refinement)

‘Shadow Tree Soldiers?’ Necro thought as he curiously activated the Skill.

WAAA!

A small explosion of blackish-green light occurred as something began to emerge from underneath the soft soil. Tendrils of black and red fluctuated as a 4-inch-tall figure with hollowed-out eyes made its appearance.

{[Shadow Tree Soldier (‘Skin’ Body Refinement Realm)]}

[Skill 1 ‘Shadow Punch’: Punch out with a fist coated in shadow energy to deal extreme damage.]

[Skill 2 ‘Unlimited Regeneration’: As long as the Yggdrasil Creator—you—never runs out of Spiritual Energy, all your Shadow Tree Soldiers will forever regenerate from taken damage.]

[Skill 3 ‘Lifespan Absorption Vassal’: Like the Host, all of your Shadow Tree Soldiers can absorb the Lifespan of other living organisms. They are, after all, direct extensions of yourself.]

‘As long as I never run out of Spiritual Energy…?’

Necro examined his reserves of Spiritual Energy, wondering if this stock that took him months to gather would be enough for a few Shadow Tree Soldier revives.

*Ding!*

[Would you like to command your Shadow Tree Soldiers to scatter and begin absorbing Lifespan separate from where you’re located?]

‘…Is there danger…?’

[Naturally!]

‘Then no—’

[Just not to you! No matter what happens to your Shadow Tree Soldiers, you won’t in any way be affected. Moreover, nothing can trace them back to you, thus avoiding unnecessary trouble!]

Silence…

‘Okay. Command them to scatter.’

[Very well!]

The motionless doll-like creatures of wood and shadows started to move. Their eerie hollowed-out eyes honed in on certain directions before they flitted against the ground, disappearing in small storms of wind and leaves.

After all three of the Shadow Tree Soldiers were spawned in and sent out, Necro suddenly felt a wave of exhaustion wash over him. He checked his insides and realized that the extraction of Yggdrasil Essence had left his Spiritual Energy Reserves at near-zero.

There went all that he had saved up…

‘Creating Shadow Tree Soldiers takes a lot of Spiritual Energy… Noted.’

And Spiritual Energy was used up to supplement the loss of Yggdrasil Essence. This was also something he kept to the back of his mind as he let himself fall asleep.

The Shadow Tree Soldiers were autonomous beyond their initial command directives, which meant that Necro didn’t need to worry about monitoring them.

So into a deep slumber he went, passively refilling his Roots with the atmospheric Spiritual Energy…