The white light grew brighter and brighter.
The entire cave was illuminated.
My body began to change.
Could feel my bones reorganizing.
Muscles reshaping.
But there was no pain.
Instead, a wondrous sensation.
Like my body was "ascending."
From one level, leaping to another.
Suddenly—
I "saw" a different world.
Not with my eyes.
But a completely new perception.
Space.
Was no longer empty nothingness.
But had "texture."
Had "layers."
Had "thickness."
I could see the "folding" of space.
Could sense the "strength and weakness" of space.
Some places had very "solid" space.
Some places were very "fragile."
This perception range—
50 meters!
A full 50-meter radius.
All spatial structures clearly visible.
Not only that.
I could also sense everything within this range.
Trees.
Rocks.
Soil.
Even the flow of air.
Could sense it all.
Like opening a massive radar.
The light began to recede.
From blinding white light.
Gradually dimming.
Finally disappearing completely.
I opened my eyes.
Looked down at myself.
Changed.
Body size had increased somewhat.
Though still rodent-shaped.
At least a third larger than before.
Fur had changed too.
From the original gray-brown.
To silver-gray.
And carried a faint luster.
Would reflect faint silver light under illumination.
I raised my paw.
Claws were sharper.
Gleaming coldly.
The edges of the nails seemed to have space warping around them.
I walked to a puddle at the cave's edge.
Looked at the reflection in the water.
Eyes had changed too.
Pupils seemed to have starlight flowing within.
Deep and mysterious.
Overall feeling more "spirited."
No longer that weak appearance from before.
But carried a unique aura characteristic of spatial-type magic beasts.
I opened my panel.
[Dimension Walker] [Gray]
[Level: 1/50]
[Experience: 0/100]
[HP: 280/280]
[MP: 250/250]
[Strength: 28]
[Defense: 22]
[Speed: 35]
[Luck: 16]
[Rodent-type magic beast that has grasped the essence of space, can perform short-range spatial teleportation, manipulate spatial rifts, understanding of space has reached a new level]
[Traits: Spatial Control, Dimensional Perception, Spatial Affinity, High Sensitivity]
[Skills: Spatial Teleport, Spatial Mark, Dimensional Rift, Spatial Dodge (Proficient), Leap (Skilled), Bite (Skilled), Dimensional Cheek Pouch]
Level dropped back to 1.
But all attributes comprehensively increased.
HP from 230 to 280.
MP from 230 to 250.
Strength from 22 to 28.
Speed from 28 to 35.
Though only level 1.
These attributes already exceeded my level 25 self.
And—
New skills.
Spatial Teleport.
Dimensional Rift.
I concentrated, checking skill details.
[Spatial Teleport]
[Instantly move within perception range, magic consumption varies by distance, cooldown 5 seconds]
[Current maximum distance: 50 meters]
50 meters!
Far beyond Spatial Dodge's 10 meters.
And true teleportation.
Not random appearance.
But precise control of landing point.
I looked at the other skill.
[Dimensional Rift]
[Tear space, create rifts with cutting ability, can attack or defend, consumes 50 MP]
Cutting ability.
Sounded very strong.
I had to test it.
Walked out of the cave.
The forest outside appeared dim in the twilight light.
I looked at a tree 30 meters away.
Concentrated.
"Spatial Teleport."
Instantly—
The world twisted before my eyes.
Not movement.
Not flight.
But direct "leap."
From here.
To there.
No process in between.
I appeared beside the tree.
[My MP: 235/250]
Consumed 15 MP.
30 meters distance, 15 MP.
Acceptable.
And—
Too fast.
Truly instantaneous.
Far faster than Spatial Dodge.
Spatial Dodge still had a vanishing and appearing process.
But Spatial Teleport.
None at all.
Just instant transmission.
I used it again.
Teleported back to the cave entrance.
[My MP: 220/250]
Another 15 MP consumed.
This skill's tactical value was too high.
Whether offense, retreat, or support.
Could all have tremendous impact.
Next, test Dimensional Rift.
I looked at a nearby boulder.
About half a person's height.
Concentrated.
Sensed space.
Then—
"Dimensional Rift!"
My paw slashed forward.
A fine crack appeared in the air.
Thin as a hair.
But in my spatial perception.
That was a true "rift."
Space had been torn open.
The crack instantly expanded.
Became a fissure about a meter long.
Then—
"Slash—!"
The rift flew toward the boulder.
Swept across the boulder's surface.
No explosion.
No collision.
Just gently swept across.
Then the rift disappeared.
I stared at that boulder.
Motionless for a second.
Then—
"Crack—"
The boulder split down the middle.
The cut surface smooth as a mirror.
Neat as if cut with a blade.
No.
Sharper than any blade.
Because this was spatial cutting.
Directly "separating" matter.
[My MP: 170/250]
Consumed 50 MP.
Much more expensive than Spatial Teleport.
But this power—
Worth it.
I imagined.
If this rift swept across an enemy's body.
What would the result be.
Probably even defense would be useless.
Because this was a spatial-level attack.
Unless the enemy also mastered spatial abilities.
Otherwise impossible to defend.
I was about to continue testing.
Suddenly realized.
The Dimensional Cheek Pouch seemed to have changed too.
My consciousness sank into the space.
Then—
Froze.
The space had grown.
Not just a little.
But at least doubled in size.
Originally about 5 cubic meters.
Now at least 10 cubic meters.
And—
The space was more stable.
No longer had that feeling of potentially collapsing at any moment.
More importantly.
"Gravity" appeared inside.
Originally everything in the space floated.
But now.
They all "fell" to the ground.
Ground?
I carefully sensed.
The bottom of the space.
A thin layer of "soil" had appeared.
Very thin.
Only one or two centimeters.
But definitely soil.
Where did this come from?
I hadn't put any soil inside.
System notification suddenly appeared.
[Dimensional Cheek Pouch evolved]
[Spatial stability increased]
[Spatial capacity increased]
[Space beginning to possess ecological foundation]
[Current status: Primary Ecological Space]
Ecological foundation?
What did that mean?
I carefully sensed the space interior.
Gravity appeared.
Soil appeared.
This meant the space was transforming toward a "real world."
Now teammates could stay inside long-term.
But just "staying."
If it had a complete ecosystem.
Next step would be air circulation?
Then water sources?
Then plants?
Then.
This space wouldn't just be a refuge.
But a true "small world."
I was somewhat excited.
But it was still too early.
Just the initial stage.
Needed to continue growing.
Continue evolving.
To truly realize that goal.
Just then.
Sounds came from outside.
"Gray?"
Spike's voice.
Teammates had returned.
My consciousness withdrew from the space.
Walked out of the cave.
All members stood at the entrance.
The instant they saw me.
They all froze.
"Gray?" Spike asked uncertainly.
Voice carrying confusion.
"It's me," I said.
"You..." Shadow flew over, circled around me.
"You changed!"
"Fur color changed, eyes changed too."
"And the feeling..." It paused. "Very strong."
Waspy and Brownie exchanged glances.
They could feel the spatial fluctuations on me.
That was the perception between higher-tier magic beasts.
"You evolved successfully," Waspy said.
Not a question.
A statement.
"Right." I nodded.
"Dimension Walker."
"Want to see my new abilities?"
All members nodded.
I looked at a tree 50 meters away.
"Spatial Teleport."
Instantly vanished.
Appeared beside the tree.
All members were shocked.
"What?!" Spike shouted.
"What just happened?"
"Gray suddenly disappeared!" Venom said.
"Over there!" Horn pointed at the distant tree.
I used Spatial Teleport again.
Returned before them.
"This is Spatial Teleport," I said.
"Can instantly move to anywhere within 50 meters."
All members gasped.
50 meters.
Instant movement.
What kind of concept was this?
In battle.
This was almost invincible.
"There's another skill," I said.
I looked at a distant boulder.
Much larger than the one I'd tested earlier.
At least two meters tall.
"Dimensional Rift."
My paw slashed forward.
A crack appeared in the air.
Then expanded.
Flew toward the boulder.
"Slash—"
The rift swept across.
The boulder froze for a second.
Then—
"Crash!"
The boulder split down the middle.
Both halves fell to either side.
Cut surface smooth as a mirror.
All members were dumbstruck.
"Too strong!" Spike shouted.
"This... this is too incredible!" Venom said.
Shadow flew to the split boulder.
Carefully examined the cut.
"No trace of fracturing at all," it said.
"Like it was cut by something."
"By space," I said.
"Dimensional Rift uses space to cut objects."
"Theoretically, as long as magic is sufficient."
"Can cut through anything."
Waspy and Brownie exchanged glances.
"Your current strength..." Waspy said.
"Should be able to contend with medium-sized magic beasts now," Brownie added.
I nodded.
Though only level 1.
The species strength increase was too great.
Plus Spatial Teleport and Dimensional Rift.
My combat power far exceeded my previous level 25 self.
"What about you?" I asked.
"Any gains?"
Shadow, Horn, and Venom exchanged glances.
Then nodded simultaneously.
"I feel like I've hit my limit," Shadow said.
"Me too," Horn added.
"Can't get any stronger," Venom said.
I looked at their panels.
Shadow: Level 30/30.
Horn: Level 30/30.
Venom: Level 30/30.
All maxed out.
"Then you can evolve," I said.
"Right," Shadow nodded.
"But we want to wait a bit longer."
"See if there are better evolution directions."
This was normal.
Evolution direction choice was important.
Couldn't decide rashly.
The sky had completely darkened.
Moonlight filtered through leaf gaps into the cave.
Everyone gradually entered the cave to rest.
I sat at the entrance.
Looking at the forest outside.
Palm open.
Tried condensing a Dimensional Rift.
A fine crack appeared in my palm.
Much smaller than before.
Much more stable too.
I controlled it.
Made it slowly expand.
Then contract.
Then dissipate.
[My MP: 140/250]
Magic consumption was greater than imagined.
Needed to adapt to the new power.
I closed my eyes.
Continued sensing the surrounding space.
Within the 50-meter range.
Everything was crystal clear.