Reborn As An Evolving Monster-Chapter 27 Fiery Queen

[You have used one Skill Point.]

[Your Passive Skill "Demon Senses" is evolving...]

[You are not an Infernal Monster.]

[You are not a Demonic Monster.]

[Calculating...]

[Your Passive Skill "Demon Senses[D]" has evolved into the Skill "Advanced Kinetic Vision[C+]".]

[You have used one Skill Point.]

[Your Skill "Draconic Tail Flick" is evolving...]

[Your Passive Skill "Draconic Tail Flick[C+]" has evolved into the Skill "Sonic Tail Flick[B+]".]

Immediately, the way Mark saw the world around him changed.

Everything seemed clearer and brighter.

But more importantly, the Mutated Rhino Beetles' movements seemed slower, as if lethargic.

'Amazing...' Mark thought as his eyes widened.

It was as if time itself was slowing down for his sake.

'My own movements feel slow too, the only body part that can keep up is...'

As the Mutated Rhino Beetle's black horn approached Mark,

WHIP-

A loud noise was produced by Mark's insanely quick tail flick.

'Oh. Increases tail movements by 150%, huh?'

The Mutated Rhino Beetle's body was thrown against the wall.

Mark waited for it to get back up.

But the Insect Monster had fallen on its back.

No matter how much it flapped its wings, it could not turn its body upside down.

Mark confidently, yet cautiously, walked towards the Monster.

'I guess these types of bugs were always like this.'

Once Mark stood in front of the defenseless Monster, he sank his sharp claws into the Monster's fragile stomach.

[You have defeated a Mutated Rhino Beetle. 7'000 Gold Coins and 14'000 Experience Points earned.]

[You have leveled up!]

'This guy was pretty strong and agile. Durability was on the low side though. Still, this was the first fight on this Floor.'

A smile appeared on his face.

'Unlike the last Floor where they were all bones, I bet I'll find good ones to devour here.'

Mark stared at the dead creature in front of him with slight disgust.

'I would rather devour it than revive it. Although... I don't feel like eating a bug. System, do something about it. You owe me at least that much, after fucking me over.'

It was clear that Mark still felt sour about not being able to revive the Undead Lich.

[Calculating...]

[You have been awarded the Magic Skill "Consume[A]".]

Mark touched the dead Mutated Rhino Beetle, and its body turned into a green sphere of energy.

[You have gained 10.000 Evolution Points.]

'Mm. I'll have to be aware of which Skill I want to use. Whether it's Assimilation or Consume. Since both turn the dead Monster into energy that I can devour. I guess it's-'

Mark's thoughts were interrupted by extremely loud sounds that came from deeper inside the cave.

'What is-'

The next second, the ground, walls, and ceiling started shaking.

A handful of seconds later, Mark could see the reason.

In front of him, was a swarm of what looked like giant ants.

Dozens of them were coming at very high speeds.

Some were on the ground, others on the walls, and the rest on the ceiling.

Every part of the cave in front of Mark was full of these incoming Monsters.

Each ant was the size of a wolf.

Mark immediately spread his wings and raised his right hand towards the swarm.

[Mutated Ants: [B] Rank Monsters.]

'Higher ranked than that Rhino Beetle?'

[Correct.]

[Mutated Ants get their strength from their high numbers.]

'I guess Ants always act in a group... Right?'

They were now only 100 meters away.

'Light. Stand back, for now.'

The Underling obeyed.

'I guess I'll use about 80% of what I got. And condense it.'

The next instant a condensed ball of Mana was shot from Mark's palm.

It traveled at an extremely high speed.

The sphere of Mana ripped the bodies of multiple Monsters apart as it passed through the first lines of the swarm.

A second later, a huge explosion occurred, decimating hundreds of Mutated Ants at once.

[You have defeated a Mutated Ant. 6000 Gold Coins and 12000 Experience Points earned.]

[You have defeated a Mutated Ant. 6000 Gold Coins and 12000 Experience Points earned.]

[You have defeated a Mutated Ant. 6000 Gold Coins and 12000 Experience Points earned.]

[You have defeated a Mutated Ant. 6000 Gold Coins and 12000 Experience Points earned.]

[You have defeated a Mutated Ant. 6000 Gold Coins and 12000 Experience Points earned.]

[You have leveled up!] ...

'I guess Mana is my forte now.'

Mark couldn't help but think that way after his fight against the Mutated Rhino Beetle who was both faster and stronger.

Due to the huge explosion, only a dozen Mutated Ants or so were left.

Mark and Light took care of them fairly easily.

'There's that one too.'

Mark could feel another enemy remaining.

Behind the swarm of Mutated Ants, stood one Monster.

[Mutated Ant Queen: [B].]

The Mutated Ant Queen was as big as a truck and the amount of Mana its body held was no joke.

But Mark quickly noticed something.

After the whole colony had been destroyed, the queen wasn't about to fight.

On the contrary, a huge amount of eggs were being laid.

'I wonder if that counts as a Skill...'

Although they were as big as car tires, they were still eggs.

Mark stood in front of the Mutated Ant Queen, as all it did was lay more eggs.

By the time 10 minutes had passed, hundreds of eggs were on the ground.

It was then, that Mark used his "Electric Fire Bomb" Magic Skill multiple times, burning every egg to a crisp.

[You have defeated one Premature Mutated Ant. 500 Gold Coins and 1000 Experience Points earned.]

....

Right after that, Mark dealt with the queen with ease.

'It has lots of Mana, it only uses it to produce those eggs. I'll have to increase its offensive power somehow.'

Of course, there was only one conclusion to that thought.

[You have used the Magic Skill "Evolving Undead Army[A]".]

[You have turned a Mutated Ant Queen into your Underling.]

The Monster was healed, and its injuries disappeared.

'It looks the same. My Skill changed, so that makes sense. Show me the queen's Status.'

[ Name: (None)

Species & Level : Mutated Ant Queen Lv1 (0/50'000Exp)

HP: 35'000/35'000

Endurance: 30'000/30'000

Mana Points: 7'800/7'800

Stats: Strength: 100

Agility: 70

Sense: 150

Vigor: 3500

Endurance: 3000

Mana: 780

Skill(s): Offspring Production.

Offspring Control.

]

'As I thought, it uses Skills to produce and control those Mutated Ants. The offspring will be under the queen's control and not mine, huh? That's great. They'll be able to take care of themselves. Umm, I guess you're a pretty good investment, Ant Queen. Take this.'

On Mark's hand, appeared what looked like a white marble.

He threw it towards his new Underling.

The latter opened its mouth.

The next second, a message from the System appeared in front of Mark.

[Your Underling has consumed an Underling Evolution Pill.]

[Evolution is about to start.]

The queen closed its eyes and its body was shrouded by a cloud of green mana.

[Two Evolutions possible.]

[Would you like to choose which one to undergo?]

'Sure.'

[Evolutions Possible:

Great Mutated Ant Queen.

Mutated Fire Ant Queen.

]

'Interesting. So Evolution can even add an Element to the Monster Species... I'll choose the second one, obviously.'

The Evolution took 3 minutes.

During the first minute, the Mana around the Underling was as green as grass.

During the second one, it became bright red.

During the third, the Mana turned into blazing flames.

[Your Underling has Evolved into a "Mutated Fire Ant Queen[B+]".]

The fire faded and Mark could see his new Underling.

Its whole body had become bright red.

Flames appeared both on its back and on its sharp hooked claws. 𝙗𝙚𝙙𝒏𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡．𝙣𝒆𝙩

'Show me its Status now.'

[ Name: (None)

Species & Level: Mutated Fire Ant Queen Lv1 (0/50.000Exp)

HP: 35.000/35.000

Endurance: 30.000/30.000

Mana Points: 14'000/14'000

Stats: Strength: 100

Agility: 70

Sense: 150

Vigor: 3500

Endurance: 3000

Mana: 1400

Skill(s): Offspring Production.

Offspring Control.

Fire Breath.

Fire Barrier.

]

'What will the queen's offspring be?'

[The Skill Offspring Production will give birth to "Mutated Fire Ants[B]".]

'Good. I'll name you... Fiery.'

[You have bestowed the name "Fiery" upon your Underling.]

Although it was against its nature, the queen bowed her head in front of her Master.

'Perfect. I won't have to focus on numbers as much now.'