The ground trembled again.
Not a light tremble. Maybe it is just the wind trembling.
No.
This was the kind of tremble that said something big was coming, and it would definitely ruin his day.
Kaede, newly evolved and glowing like a magical nightlight, tried very hard not to panic.
His Shroom Rat, Unit 01, did the opposite. It panicked aggressively, running in frantic circles like a terrified Roomba.
"CHEEP CHEEP CHEEP!!"
"Calm down," Kaede tried to think reassuringly. It did not help. Even he was not calm.
Another tremor. Leaves fell. Pebbles bounced. Somewhere in the distance, a bird screamed and fled.
The bushes parted.
A hulking creature limped out, its body covered in scratches, bite marks, and dripping patches of blood.
A boar. A very large, very angry, very injured E rank Forest Boar.
A system window appeared:
New Creature Detected:
Forest Boar (E rank, wounded)
Behavior: Irritated, hungry, in pain
Interest in you: Moderate
Reason: Glowing food item??
Kaede's core sank.
'Moderate interest is too much interest,' he muttered internally. 'I do not want any interest. Zero interest. Total disinterest.'
The boar sniffed the air. Then it locked eyes with him, or rather, locked eyes with the glowing blue mushroom that definitely looked like an easy snack.
It stomped forward.
Thud… Thud… Thud.
Kaede kicked his brain into action.
'Okay, think think think. Spore Puff? Useless. Hyphal Bind? Works only if it steps ON me. Spore Pulse? On cooldown still eleven seconds. Running away? Ha ha, I am a plant.'
His Shroom Rat stepped in front of him bravely, shaking, but determined.
Kaede's nonexistent heart squeezed.
'Oh no. I am emotionally compromised. I care about the rat.'
The boar snorted, lowering its tusks.
This was it. This was how he died. Again. As a glowing mushroom snack for an injured pork tank.
A system window flashed.
Emergency Support Protocol Activated!
Criteria: Newborn myconid under lethal threat
Granting temporary skill: "Mycelial Surge (Prototype)"
Duration: 10 seconds
Warning: After effect includes extreme fatigue
Kaede blinked.
'I do not like how this sounds.'
But he did not get to complain, because the skill activated instantly.
Mana surged through him so violently he swore the forest lit up. His hyphae exploded outward, ripping through the soil like glowing blue roots. Dozens. Hundreds. The ground around him cracked in a perfect one meter ring.
The boar stepped forward, and the roots lashed upward.
They entangled its legs. Then its torso and its snout.
The boar squealed in panic, thrashing wildly as the glowing threads wrapped tighter, feeding him a flood of sensory feedback.
Warmth. Blood. Energy. Biomass.
Too much biomass.
His system chimed again:
"Hyphal Bind (Basic)" EXP boosted!
Temporary State: Hyphal Frenzy
Absorption Rate: 200%
Target Weakening: Rapid
Kaede panicked even harder.
'Stop! I did not mean full power!'
The boar shrieked as the hyphae drained it faster than intended. Its legs buckled. Its movements slowed. Its eyes glazed.
After a final groan, the creature collapsed into a dry, drained husk.
Silence.
Then a new message:
Absorption Successful!
Genetic Sample Extracted: Forest Boar
New Trait Gained: "Boar Stamina Fragment"
New Spawn Unlocked:
"Shroom Boar Bruiser (Tiny)"
Mini tank unit. High durability. Low brain activity. Extremely loyal.
Skill Progression:
Hyphal Bind → Hyphal Bind (Improved)
Range increased. Stability increased. Less horrifying… slightly.
Kaede sat there in stunned silence.
His Shroom Rat ran excited circles around him.
"CHEEP! CHEEP!! CHEEEEEEP!!!"
"I know, I know," Kaede groaned. "I am terrifying. I scare myself."
The adrenaline rush faded. His glow dimmed. His entire body slumped with exhaustion.
Another window popped up:
Mycelial Surge ended.
Fatigue Level: Severe
Recommendation: Enter Recovery Meditation.
Kaede sighed.
'Fine. I will meditate. Anything for one minute of peace.'
He spread his roots comfortably and initiated the meditation state.
The forest darkened. Crickets chirped. His Shroom Rat curled beside him like a loyal guard dog.
For the first time since reincarnating, Kaede felt mellow. Calm. Almost safe.
'Maybe I can finally rest.'
A new system window appeared.
Notice:
You now possess 2 subordinate capable genome templates.
Automatic behavior triggered:
First Council Meeting — Initiated.
Kaede froze.
'What?'
Soil around him bubbled. Roots twisted. Little blue mushrooms sprouted suddenly, forming a perfect circle like a mini version of an ancient gathering hall.
His Shroom Rat sat on one stump. A tiny newborn Shroom Boar popped out of the soil, snorted once, and sat on another.
A glowing fungal projection manifested in front of Kaede like a holographic elder.
Council Meeting: Session 001
Topic: Future Territory Management
Participants: CAP (Myconid Bud), Unit 01 (Shroom Rat), Unit 02 (Shroom Boar)
Kaede stared in horror.
'Why do I already have a council? I do not even have a house!'
The Shroom Boar snorted proudly. The Shroom Rat raised its paw like it wanted to speak.
Kaede felt his soul collapse.
'I am literally a level one monster and I already have government responsibilities.'
He wanted to scream. He wanted to cry. He wanted a break.
But instead, he sat in a glowing mushroom circle while a holographic fungus narrated his life choices.
Somewhere far in the forest, something massive howled.
Kaede's glow dimmed even further.
'Oh, good. New problems.'