Empress' Evolution

Chapter 26: Debt IX

"Congratulations on your evolution."

"Thank you, boss."

"You have grown stronger, I am impressed, to see such a massive change."

[Oh, why thank you, I worked quite hard with her evolution.]

'Shut up, Alpha.'

"Yes, I can feel my strength surging and I gained new skills, would boss like to see?"

"No, I can see it without you showing it to me."

Thanks to her connection to Dhampy, Lilith could thankfully see her status, and it made Lilith freeze up for a few seconds after catching a glimpse of her status.

[Dhampy Qurenara: Dhampir > Blood Lord

Lv. 20

HP: 4000/4000

MP: 2000/2000

STR: 124 > 150

DEF: 54 > 30

VIT: 154 > 200

AGT: 114 > 150

MAG: 64 > 100

PER: 54 > 70

Loyalty: 50/100

Passive Skills: High-Regeneration (S), Heart of Life (SS), Dark Heart (S), Hemomancy (A), Swordsmanship (S) (restricted), Nether World (B) (NEW)

Active Skills: Life Steal (1000 MP) (A), Blood Manipulation (500 MP per minute) (S), Skeleton Soldier (2000 HP) (A) (NEW)]

Seeing her stats and her newly obtained skills, Lilith was in doubt.

'Am I the apostle or are you? You're worthy of being called an OP MC, if she has my free points you'll probably earn the title of Shadow Monarch. Damn those skills strong.'

Lilith complained in a sweet smile, but seeing Dhampy's Loyalty increased by five points, she didn't think much of it other than being more careful around her.

Whilst Lilith was focused on Dhampy's newly gained status, the first follower approached Sylva's white cocoon and touched its smooth surface. She had just been inside a cocoon like this earlier and she could still remember the comfort she had not felt for a long time.

It was as if she was brought back in a time when she knew not how to wield a weapon.

She looked down on herself as she felt the fabric of her cloak.

This cloak was as dark as the night, it covered her entire body. Her neck, her arms to her wrist, it also goes down all the way to her ankles showing only a part of her feet. She could feel it connected to her.

'This is oddly comfortable.' It was tailored for her, that's why. 'I wonder, is this Sylva's curtain?'

The baggy cloaked may seem to be hard to move around in when in reality it was the exact opposite as it reacts to Dhampy's thoughts. It was like Lilith's kimono, it was a dress created from mana.

While moving and testing the limits of its stretchability, and mobility, Dhampy heard a call.

"Dhampy, follow me, we're going to find a good place to test your newly gained skills."

Lilith woke Dhampy up from her daze; Dhampy followed without complaints. Like before she was silent and did not say anything unless it was needed.

Walking down the pathway of the front garden, Lilith and Dhampy passed through the four Ogres sprawled on the ground, sleeping. Dhampy carefully drew her sword out from the baggy sleeves of her cloak.

Lilith noticed and simply said, "Stop, they are not our enemies."

Dhampy stopped as she was informed who's who. Keeping her sword in her sleeves, she became apologized as she lowered her head.

When they stepped out of the mansion, the two of them ran in the direction of Section 5. But Lilith did not have any intention of heading back to the village just yet, she stopped as soon as she found a good target.

[Night Owl LVL 12 (common)]

Lilit pointed at the Night Owl that was perched on a tree of unknown origins. Dhampy had no further questions, she kicked the ground and killed the Night Owl in a matter of seconds. The Night Owl fell on the ground with a thud.

The Night Owl had its body stabbed, it died almost instantaneously. Dhampy waited for no instruction and did what Lilith and herself wanted to see...

"Rise."

'That command is oddly familiar.'

Dhampy did not know what was going on in Lilith's mind and watched the Night Owl's body tremble as bones escaped out of its body until the whole skeleton came out.

"Caw!"

Is what Lilith expected for it to say, but it had no means of making a sound as it was only bones and even if it could it was not a crow.

The Owl moved around and walked towards Dhampy and lowered its head with absolute obedience. Dhampy smiled despite her exhausted expression on her face.

'The 50% decrease on her HP is rather severe. Her fatigue also even shot up to 70%, but this shouldn't be a problem for her. To not be affected by the fatigue and life draining cost, this girl has a strong mind.'

Lilith observed Dhampy and she could not help but notice these subtle things. Lilith really didn't care much about the skill, it was a strong ability indeed but it had strict conditions and limitations.

But still, a question still remained...

"Can your summoned undead become stronger?"

"No, they are stuck at this level and they are weaker than when they were alive making them weaker."

"So it's useless?"

"Not exactly, boss. If I can collect more soldier and amass an army, their sheer number will be a lot of help to us."

"How about the place where you store and cultivate their number? The more we collect the larger the area we will need, where will we keep them?"

"I already have such skill and it lets me keep up to 20 Soldiers."

With a wave of her hand, blood-red smoke came out of the ground and dragged the bones of the Night Owl down to the ground.

It must be the Nether Realm skill. Yup, this girl is dangerous.' Lilith retracted her previous statement.

Dhampy showed Lilith a skill that astounded her little boss.

"The number of times I can summon such a monster is the same as the World's limitations," Dhampy added, slightly giving Lilith peace.

But then, Alpha decided to shake her core...

[Just so you know, her skills can also improve, right? If she trains her Skeleton Soldier skill, it might improve to a level enhancement kind of skill. Though if they could gain the chance to level up, they would forever be capped to a certain degree.]

Lilith imagined a set of LVL 40 Skeleton Soldiers and shuddered. It was too much for her current state.

The night was still long and a lot of things were to be done, Lilith observed Dhampy's improvements and made sure to never make this undead betray her. She was a good asset and a terrifying enemy so it's a wise move not to create an antagonist.

While she and Dhampy were on the move, Lilith would occasionally look to the left and then the right to scan the area for Pixies. She even transformed into the Nightmare Dragonkin to increase her vision.

She stopped her tracks as Dhampy continued to kill and collect daemons. Not that Dhampy didn't feel their presence, it was just that she left it to the one and only boss. Though she would move if Lilith tells her to.

Lilith was silent atop a tree observing the movements of three or so Pixies. These Pixies were sneaking around like annoying bugs, observing Dhampy with watchful eyes.

Also, the Pixies did not know much about Lilith because every daemon that met her was either dead now or saw the Newt. No one knew about the little boss, they only knew Dhampy.

Dhampy stayed away so that Lilith would not become a target.

Lilith did not know if they were hostile or not, but she didn't take the proactive approach of killing them. Now that she was aware of different tribes existing in this Forest of Beast, Lilith would not kill their kin without reason.

'The Pixies are the rulers of Section 4, they are not nocturnal Hunters, they are not Death Elves. Why are they moving around like this? And Dhampy is their target for surveillance? Killing them would alert the ones who sent them here, considering the Berserker's strength, their Lord must also beyond anyone present.'

There's only a single time when Lilith recalled her involvement with Pixies, Sylva's rescue. And from what she could tell, they identified Dhampy as an opponent who took their "sacrifice" and is trying to monitor them?

'If that's the case then why are they not attacking Dhampy? Are they waiting for something? Reinforcement perhaps? If that is so, then, we have to get out of here. Tsk, I didn't bring the Berserker to avoid alerting them and having their elite move against us, but it seems like I was in the wrong.' Lilith knew she fucked up.

Considering the situation, she deemed it necessary to prioritize retreating.

She turned into a yellow feline and channeled her mana to her legs. Boom*, the branch she was resting on exploded and the Pixies were alarm and so was Dhampy.

For the Pixies, there's a possible enemy, for Dhampy it was the signal to book it. Dhampy caught on fast, she turned around and left for the mansion, the place where they talked they would meet if such a thing happened.

Dhampy ran and the Pixies had no chance of catching a being of the night. Pixies were not too adept at moving around during the night making Dhampy's escape pretty easy.

Haul-assing like a madman, Lilith reached the mansion, and a couple of minutes later, Dhampy also arrived. She had already lost her pursuers and the two entered the Mansion to ensure their safety.

"Did anyone managed to follow you?"

"No, I managed to avoid them all by moving through the shadows. This cloak is pretty useful in hiding."

"What are the Pixies doing here, exactly?" Lilith asked, but no one could answer her inquiries.

Morning came.

In the end, everything was thrown in the back of her head. Lilith played with the Shop while waiting for Sylva to come out. She looked out the window and saw the four Ogres and Dhampy conversing with one another.

'I didn't expect for them to get along and that cloak of hers is really handy.'

Looking at the five, Lilith was satisfied. Earlier today when Lilith woke up, the five were already together, talking to one another smiling and laughing. Except for Dhampy that is.

But despite Dhampy's disposition. She seemed disinterested with them but the Ogres kept accompanying her nonetheless. Lilith liked seeing her people getting along, she didn't want them fighting against one another because it would too much of a headache.

'But Dhampy ought to fix her way of socializing with others...'

[You do know you're no better, right?]

'At least, I am much better compared to her.'

[..can't argue with that. But at least she doesn't make contingencies the moment she meets someone new.]

'Hey, look here. Contingencies are necessary, you don't know when they would turn against you and when you would have to kill them and'

Lilith didn't know this, but Dhampy actually liked their presence around her. It was nice being together with them.

While they were all laughing, Eve suddenly raised an interesting question.

"As the Priestess' first follower how what does she usually do? Oh, please keep in mind that the ones asking me are our people who wish to get to know the Priestess." Eve spoke of the truth, but what she didn't say was that, like the others, she too wants to know more about the Priestess.

Scarface saw Eve doing her best gathering information and he too nodded to her words, "I can attest to her claims. The warriors and the Ogresses of our village know little about the Priestess so they want to understand her best. The only thing we know about the Priestess is that she traveled to this island with a group and she was the only one who managed to survive and reach the island... her parents died on the way."

Dhampy listened closely to their words, she was surprised to hear something about the Priestess she didn't know about from these Ogres who knew Lilith just a few days ago.

A fire lit under Dhampy's eyes, as she proceeded to tell a story of her own, "Well, the Priestess is a very kind and intelligent person who cares about her people. Sylva, one of the boss' followers, and I was saved by the boss. After she gave me a name first, she named Sylva, and then she proceeded to help us increase our level. She even hunter daemons far stronger than her and evolve. She also"

Dhampy's story went on and on, as she spoke about how she was the one who followed Lilith first and how she was her first follower. She also said how Lilith was kind and responsible but it was mostly Dhampy's experience with Lilith.

The Ogres enjoyed her story despite everything else and the more they listened, the more they became amazed by their Priestess.

'She's rather talkative about the Priestess.' Killa noted and her view on Lilith quickly shot up. Seeing such loyalty to their Priestess from someone of another race gave Killa a much better impression of Lilith.

But it was not just him, but the others who grew to like their Priestess even more.

The passage of time moves quicked as Lilith fell asleep at around noon. The loli woke up three hours before Sylva gets out of her cocoon. She looked over the window and saw the Ogres and Dhampy was nowhere to be found.

Without anything to do, Lilith head out, she reached the second floor and began to hear faint shouts. By the time she reached the first floor, Lilith could clearly hear loud exclamations.

Following the sound to where it originated, Lilith found herself at the back of the mansion watching the four Ogres handling what seemed to be tree trunks. They were swinging these trunks as if they were swords, in front of them was Dhampy, watching them like a drill instructor from hell.

Like before, Dhampy noticed Lilith, but this time around, Lilith didn't hide and came out from the shadows. She stood before the lined Ogres who were sweating as if they had just taken a bath.

They looked like they were struggling but they continued the swinging of the tree trunks.

It was a fascinating sight, especially after noticing their smiles.

"Are you teaching them?"

"I am not, boss. I am merely watching if they are compatible in wielding a weapon, I have yet to see the essence of their form. But, soon, I'll be able to see it."

"Is that so..."

Without anything better to do, Lilith looked at the Ogres and smiled. Dhampy watched them, and after thirty minutes, did she only shouted the magical word.

"Stop!"

The four ogres collapsed, they have been swinging those trunks for a very long time.

"Ahhh, that was tough, aiya, Priestess, when did you arrive?"

"The Priestess is here? Priestess, Big Sis Dhampy is too brutal, she has no conscience."

Lilith watched them complain but seeing their still smiling faces, she knew that they were satisfied with what was happening. Remembering how Eve was complaining about her brutal methods and then still finished it all the way made Lilith think that ogres might just like "tough love".

"Okay, I got your data, I'll be announcing the suitable weapon for you, first, Killa..."

Dhampy was acting like she was above them all, and Lilith found it odd that the four Ogres were not complaining even a little.

'When did such hierarchy form?' she was unsure.

Once again, Lilith waited, and then, when only ten minutes remained, she stood up from where she sat and went to Sylva's cocoon.

The five other daemons followed behind her without saying anything. The Ogres were too tired to speak and Dhampy was her usual self.

"Have you packed up everything you need?" Lilith asked Dhampy.

"I have."

"Good, we're abandoning this place. The Pixies are eyeing us, we need to head for another safe haven so we can prepare for their assault."

Lilith confirmed the important stuff to Dhampy. They were going to leave and head to the Ogre Tribe after this.

The neutral area was becoming more dangerous for them, unknown variables were appearing and the only reason why Lilith stayed was because of Sylva. If not for Sylva, she would have already left after getting Dhampy.

She can't have Sylva dying on her so Lilith was forced to stay.

Their wait bore fruit as the ten minutes end. The white cocoon began to spin and show cracks. Mana entered these cracks and a blue appeared. The blue meant one thing, her evolution was successful.

It was the usual sight, Lilith nodded her head in satisfaction. She smiled, but that very smile was wiped off when she saw something distressful.

In front of her was a dashboard regarding Sylva.

[Sylva Qurenara: Silberofer > Silver Wanderer (ERROR)

Error: @&^$@@(!)

Hidden affliction detected; passive Life Transfer and Silver Soul detected.

[Gold Moon Soul Seed] has been found to be the affliction...

Golden Moon Soul Sead (EPIC-TIER ARTIFACT)

The affliction is causing a malfunction in the evolutionary path the system has created... commencing the affliction's destruction...

Destroying affliction.....FAILED.

Life Transfer and Silver Soul merging as one, destroying the affliction cause ...FAILED

Life Transfer and Silver Soul merged...Golden Soul Transfer...

The affliction successfully merged two passive abilities into one... a foreign variable has been added in Sylva's evolution...

...Evolution Mutation...

Silver Wanderer > @!$!@#!$ > optimizing shape and form > processing... failure has been met... commencing absolute complete > New Species has been created

Name this Species...]

An error, an unexpected error appeared one after another. Before Lilith could even react, Alpha had already done so much to override this said error. The blue appeared again, this time, more resplendent than before.

The blue light wrapped around the cocoon turning it a bright azure, such a thing did not happen before.

Other than Lilith, no one had seen an evolution process due to the system so no one reacted to this sight. However, Lilith knew that such a sight was, indeed bizarre.

And from the azure cocoon came a golden light that beamed straight to the sky destroying the crumbling illusion surrounding the mansion.

A portion of the mountain disappeared as the illusion lost its effect.

Dhampy noticed this also and her face warped.

"The illusion broke!" Lilith's voice was in full alert mode.

[Lilith, that light just now was the Golden Moon Soul Seed activating its second effect!]

'What's the effect?'

[A marking... for tracking.]

Lilith raised her head, she felt something was wrong, and Alpha's words just confirmed it. Opening the Shop she bought a [Low-Tier Spatial Transportation Scroll].

"Everyone gather around me! Alpha, set the destination to the Ogre Village!"

[Negative, it can only transfer you 50 kilometers away, I can't take you anywhere near the Ogre Village!]

"Then take me to the place closest to the village."

[Understood!]

A parchment appeared on her hand and she immediately ripped it into two pieces.

[Timer: 60s]

A Low-Tier Spatial Transportation Scroll had this annoying loading time before it activates, it was only 60 seconds but it was enough to make Lilith extremely frustrated.

Only a [High-Tier Spatial Transportation Scroll] could use instantaneous transfer. But it cost 500,000 SP so Lilith could only buy this one. She now only had 3,000 SP and some change.

Lilith didn't intend to use her SP in this kind of thing, but it was needed so she did not hesitate to spend it all.

Lilith touched Sylva's still hatching cocoon. The Ogres gathered around her, everyone that was ten-meters around her would be transferred to another place.

"What's wrong Priestess?" Luck asked as he saw Lilith's expression.

"Something's amiss." Lilith answered.

Dhampy and the rest have seen Lilith fight before, but never had they seen her acting this serious. She was more laid back and didn't stress things out, yet right now she was the exact opposite.

45s

'Hurry, Alpha!'

She was in a hurry to leave, something was telling her that something was indeed about to come.

30s

Impatience and anxiety blossomed from her heart.

25s

'Quickly...huh?'

"I let you get away to evolve and hopefully gain [Golden Soul Transfer] but I did not expect it to be this fast. But still, not pursuing you and letting you get away was the right choice, isn't it Rawa?"

Lilith's eyes widened and her alertness reached the roof right after hearing an unfamiliar man's voice. It was husky and pleasant to hear, but Lilith felt something that whoever that voice belonged to, he's dangerous.

She hesitated, but still turned her head to the side and saw a man wearing a white robe. The man seemed to be around his late-20s. He was handsome and had a well-defined jaw-line. But against his harmless appearance, his true prowess made Lilith speechless.

[Pixie Lord LVL ??? (Epic)]

From the entrance of the Guest Hall, everyone watched as the Pixie Lord enter and walk towards them, and soon, he was right before Lilith and the rest. Everyone felt their hearts sinking.

"Are you the one who helped her achieve this? I don't know what you did but I can feel the Golden Moon Seed Soul has finally bloomed and created the legendary Golden Soul Transfer, thank you for completing the Rawa for me, undead."

17s

He caressed the azure cocoon and looked at Lilith's crew. He specifically turned to Dhampy. He didn't look at the Ogre because he was aware these Ogres would not help a member of the Pixie race, the little girl was out of the question and the only plausible answer would be the undead.

But then, Dhampy's eyes wandered to Lilith whose brain was calculating the situation for the answer with insane speed.

What action she should take and what was the next best thing to do. She was wishing for the

[ERROR, hostile has been detected, it will be transported with you if you try to escape.

It is advisable to back off, if you are to continue with the transfer, a fight would be inevitable once reaching the destination and your life will be compromised.]

15s

Seeing Dhampy's eyes traveling to Lilith, the Pixie Lord looked at the loli and then back to Dhampy.

"I won't make things harder for you, I will not kill any of you here if you just give me this one?" he pointed at Sylva's cocoon.

12s

Dhampy wished to open her mouth but then, Lilith finally decided on what she wished to do.

"No, I don't think I will.."

The four Ogres flinched whilst Dhampy smiled. The Pixie Lord looked down on Lilith and frowned...

When Lilith spoke, the Pixie Lord finally registered Lilith's existence. He smiled at the amusement he was having of seeing Lilith try and stand up against him.

Chuckling, he covered his mouth, but after that, his eyes were then laced with venom as his tone grew cold, "Kid, you may not know what is happening here, but I am not negotiating with you, I am giving you the chance to negotiate with me."

His words were true. He could kill everyone here if he so wishes to do it, but he didn't as a way to thank the ones who unknowingly helped him

The Ogres' hearts were in trepidation. The rational way to deal with this would be to give Sylva away and hope for the Pixie Lord keeps his word.

But then, Lilith smirked.

"I refuse."

The Pixie Lord's brows were raised as he was left astounded by the tiny one's answer.

"You need to be punished, young one." and with his smile still present, the Pixie Lord made his arms as flexible as a whip and tried to take Lilith by the neck.

But...

10s...Transportation Cancelled!

[2,000,000 SP loan has been given to the Apostle]

Mid-Tier Mana Barrier (SOLD)

Mid-Tier Mana Barrier (Activated)

BOOM!

An invisible wall stopped the Pixie Lord's hands and his advance. Lilith looked at the Pixie Lord with a smile whose shock could not be understated.

"Do you think you control the situation here?"

Lilith jumped up and her feet landed on top of Sylva's cocoon.

Wind Cannon (SOLD)

Wind Cannon (Activated)

A large gathering of wind appeared in front of the stunned Pixie Lord.

"I am Lilith, I'm always in control, little moth."

BOOM!

The Pixie Lord's body was sent flying ten meters away.

A parchment appeared on Lilith's hands and she tore it apart.

Mid-Tier Transportation Scroll (SOLD)

Mid-Tier Transportation Scroll (Activated)

"To the Ogre Village!"

[It will take 30 seconds, can you blow him away with that amount of time?]

30s

Lilith looked down upon the Pixie Lord from above Sylva's Cocoon.

"Don't worry, I'll make sure to make him suffer as I send him flying."

Lightning Hammer (SOLD)

The Pixie Lord collected himself he raised his head and looked up to Lilith. Lilith's natural arrogance showed as she looked down upon him without so much as a hint of fear or respect. To Lilith, he was nothing but a bug right now... a bug who made her take a MASSIVE FUCKING LOAN!

25s

The Pixie Lord gathered wind around his hand and let out a wind slash at Lilith.

The wind slash bounced off the

The Mana Barrier circling Lilith and the others showed cracks. Seeing this, the Pixie Lord dashed forward and with a swing of his hands, he clawed at what remained of the Mana Barrier and destroyed it.

15s

The Pixie Lord smiled, "DIE!" he shouted aloud.

[Lightning Hammer can now be activated.]

Raising her hands, Lilith spoke as calmly and coldly as she could, "Keep dreaming."

BOOM!

Without any telegraphed motion, lightning came down from above, destroying what remained of the mansion before striking down the Pixie Lord.

The Pixie Lord's body stiffened as the Lightning Hammer momentarily paralyzed him and he fell on the ground, twitching.

The Pixie Lord lost the ability to even open his mouth.

Lilith did the talking for him, "Do you think I'll let you kill my Sylva? You're dreaming...no one can take my Store away." Lilith's voice became sharper with every word.

10s

Punishment Blow (SOLD)

Punishment Blow (Activated)

BANG!

The Pixie Lord was trying to stand up when he saw a red light appearing in front of Lilith and as she waved her hand, some invisible force struck him.

His chest caved in and he was sent flying a hundred meters away.

Lilith stared at the Pixie Lord who was glaring at her with red eyes, still struggling to stand up from the ground.

5s

The Pixie Lord kicked the ground and when he was about to reach her, another Mana Barrier got in between them.

Tiger Dragon's Roar Activated!

Lilith felt something coming from deep within and as a young child, she unleashed the roar of a tiger and dragon.

A loud roar burst out from Lilith's tiny mouth blowing the Pixie Lord away sending him out of the crumbling mansion.

0s

A light appeared from seemingly out of nowhere and everyone, together with Lilith disappeared from where they stood.

The next thing they knew, was that they were in the middle of the Ogre Village. The Ogres nearby were startled by their sudden appearance.

A commotion rang out, but Lilith couldn't hear it. No, she ignored them.

Lilith got off the cocoon and that very same cocoon finally finished its optimization of a new body and soul.

The light shot up to the sky and Sylva who now had golden hair emerged. She was but a mere child, but her cuteness was ethereal and captivating.

"Boss he...heeee, Ogres!" She was startled by seeing Ogres on the time of her awakening and she looked around, trying to find the oh-so-reliable boss head.

"Calm down, Sylva."

"Boss head!"

Sylva went in the hug Lilith and the loli did not fight it, but after a couple of minutes, Lilith pushed Sylva away.

"That's enough, Sylva."

"Yes, boss head."

Sylva was fidgeting as she waited for something.

"You did a good job evolving."

"Thanks, boss head!" She celebrated.

Lilith the turned around and saw the Chief coming their way.

The Chief stopped in front of Lilith.

Lilith looked at him and smiled while nodding her head.

"Good, you're here. Berserker, we're going to war against the Pixies."

Right now, Lilith's situation was not so good. She was uninjured but she was now in possession of a glorious 2,000,000 SP debt.

Lilith thought being broke would be the end of it, but it would appear that nothing was impossible.

'I am now, in debt.'

[Correction, crippling debt.]