Days flew by. Eli finished cleaning up the clinic with the joint help of Kai, the three-eyed hound. Of course, he didn't allow Flare, the fire slime, to help—she would have burned the place down in an instant.
"Phewww… we are finally done, Kai!"
Eli scratched behind Kai's ears. He had finally given him a name, and somehow it felt… right.
But right around the corner sat a pouting fire slime.
"Come on, Flare… you know I can't afford another clinic if this one burns down," Eli said, trying to sympathize with the fire slime he had named Flare.
He patted her gently. A faint blush appeared across her face.
"Hmph," came the displeased sound behind him.
"Huh? Kai?"
"Are you jealous?" Eli teased with a slight grin.
"Come here, you silly hound."
He dragged Kai toward him and patted him thoroughly.
"...Silly hound," he murmured, a warm smile spreading across his face.
This warmth… this feeling… I want to protect it forever. He finally had a family that wanted him—monsters, yes, but connected by soul.
[BING]
[HOST GAINED A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF COMPATIBILITY POINTS WITH KAI]
[THRESHOLD REACHED: 15 + 85 ⟩ 100]
[FIRST STAGE EVOLUTION REQUIREMENTS… MET!]
[COMMENCING EVOLUTION…]
Kai was teleported into the Monster Garden.
"Huh? …Kai is evolving? All of a sudden?"
"Come on, Flare, let's go take a look."
Eli picked up Flare and teleported into the garden.
The Monster Garden stretched endlessly, filled with flowers radiating unearthly energy, as if cultivated by transcendental beings.
"It's beautiful… no matter how many times I see it… right, Flare?" Eli asked.
Silence. Flare was munching on reddish-looking grass, blissfully unaware of the wonder around her.
"Flare!! Don't eat that!"
Eli dashed forward but was interrupted by a system notification.
[FIRE TYPE PLANT: VOLCIS (SS)]
[VOLCIS: A HEROIC SPECIES FIRE TYPE PLANT FED TO FIRE-TYPE MONSTERS]
[PERKS:]
• REPLENISH THE STAMINA OF FIRE-TYPE MONSTERS
• INCREASE ELEMENTAL POWER
• BOOST RATE OF EVOLUTION
"What!? An heroic species!? SS rank!?"
Eli quickly grabbed Flare before she could finish her 'breakfast.'
"Flare!! This plant is supposed to be worshipped, not eaten!"
He knelt, clasping his hands in prayer before the flower.
"And… it could sell for a fortune," he whispered, eyes glowing with dollar signs. Sweat rolled down the flower petals as he greedily grinned.
The system immediately intervened.
[NOTE: THIS PLANT IS SAID TO BE GROWN BY THE STRONGEST FIRE-TYPE MONSTER IN HISTORY. IT CANNOT BE SOLD]
[IT IS A POWERFUL AMPOULE FOR FIRE-MUTATED MONSTERS]
"...Ohh." Eli was speechless.
"You can have it, Flare."
Flare pounced, greedily devouring the flower. Eli backed away.
"That doesn't mean I can't harvest a little," he muttered, eyes still glowing with greed.
[BING]
A new notification appeared:
[THREE-EYED HOUND (KAI)]
[STATUS: EVOLVING]
[COMPLETION RATE: 85%]
Eli realized the real reason they were here: Kai's evolution.
Kai was wrapped in a translucent cocoon, like a bluish hologram.
"...Whoa… that's fast," Eli stuttered in awe.
They sat and waited. Even Flare paused her mischief, sensing something extraordinary.
The system remained silent… almost as if it too was watching in suspense.
Then, the calm was shattered.
[DANGER! DANGER!]
[POWERFUL ENTITY APPROACHING CLINIC]
"Huh?"
Eli and Flare left the Monster Garden and readied themselves.
A voice came from behind the door:
"Are you Mr. Eli??"
It was deep, calm, and unmistakably male.
Eli hesitated.
"No… just… a friend," he stuttered.
"Tsk! Lies."
"Huh? What do you mean?" Eli asked.
"I mean… how do you explain that weird energy fluctuating right now!?"
The calm voice turned furious, energy bursting through the door.
"Such power…"
Eli was slammed against the wall.
"Are you Eli Veyr??"
He could only see a silhouette, but it was clearly a man. His clinic had been partially destroyed. Some monsters were severely wounded or passed out.
The system reacted immediately:
[DETECTED EXISTENTIAL DANGER]
[PROBABILITY OF HOST SURVIVAL: —0%]
"So this is where I die, huh?" Eli muttered.
[NO!]
[DETECTED A SERIOUS THREAT TO THE GARDENER]
[DEFENSE MECHANISM ACTIVATED]
[HE DESERVES TO DIE!]
Dark green energy began swirling around Eli.
"It's that weird energy again…" the man whispered.
"OI!"
Eli suddenly appeared behind the man, energy wrapping his body. Weak and frail Eli seemed monstrous:
Green veins pulsed over his body
Eyes glowed green
Hair spiked
Dark and green energy formed a suit around him
He looked like the world's final boss.
[EMERGENCY — QUEST]
[MAKE THIS INDIVIDUAL SUBMIT TO THE MIGHT OF THE GARDENER!]
[QUEST REWARDS: ???]
"How did you gain this power?" the man demanded.
"None of your business," Eli responded coldly.
"I guess I will have to show you that your power is not almighty," he added.
The man reached for his umbrella, energy spiking.
"YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO USE ANY SKILL," Eli commanded.
[SKILL USAGE HAS BEEN…]
[...ERASED!]
"How!?" the man shouted.
"YOUR EXISTENCE SHOULD BE ERASED WITHOUT LEAVING A TRACE."
Eli raised his left index finger. An orb of crackling green-black energy formed.
"Who are you really?" the man asked.
"You are not Eli, are you?"
Eli paused. "State your business with this human."
"I am not your enemy," the man said honestly.
Eli calmed his fluctuating energy, staring into the man's eyes.
"...You do not lie, human."
The entity inside Eli smirked, folding his hands.
"So you are not blind," the man replied.
"May I know your name?" Eli asked.
Silence. Then the man stepped forward:
"Aurelian. Aurelian Cross, King of this World's Supernatural Defense Body."
White-haired, middle-aged, clad in a long black coat with black gloves and an umbrella in front, he radiated dominance.
Possessed Eli tilted his head, smirking.
"Strong… I will issue a quest!"
[QUEST: PROTECT ELI VEYR FROM EXISTENTIAL THREATS HE CANNOT HANDLE]
[REWARDS: NONE]
[PENALTY: BANKRUPTCY AND STROKE]
[NOTE: THIS QUEST CANNOT BE REJECTED]
Aurelian read the quest silently, veins bulging in his forehead.
"HOW'S IT? GENEROUS, AIN'T I?" Possessed Eli asked proudly.
"Are you nuts? Who issues a mandatory quest with only a penalty and no rewards?" Aurelian shouted.
"Calm down. This human will reward you when the time comes. Don't let him know about today's event. Byee," Possessed Eli said, striking a playful pose.
The energy vanished. Eli's body collapsed to the floor.
"Don't go anywhere, you—" Aurelian screamed.
"Urrgh… damn you!"
He looked down at Eli's weakened body.
"...Who are you, kid?"