The Glorious Evolution

”Still, why did my spiritual vision seem like it linked me to the Aether Realm?”

Levi’s expression swiftly turned solemn upon being reminded of the change. He understood that his access to the Aether Realm could only be through the Soulleech Maw. Yet, he had been able to touch upon it without even voicing a request.

”You weren’t the only one benefiting from the technique.” Ash’Kral pointed at his palm. ”That little demon must have evolved as well.”

Levi’s lips parted slightly in surprise as he swiftly summoned the Soulleech Maw... his palm split apart from the middle, giving birth to a Venus-like mouth with tiny, sharp purplish teeth lining its edges.

The Maw’s tongue extended out lazily, like it was just waking up from a deep, comfortable slumber... once it noticed Levi, however, the tongue snapped toward his cheek excitedly, licking him nonstop.

”Mercy... mercy...”

Levi cried out while fighting off the tongue, trying to spare his face from being slathered in its sticky saliva... usually, the Soulleech Maw ignored his calls unless he brought out a soul to entice it. But this time, it halted immediately and started puffing and huffing like an excited dog impatiently waiting for its owner to throw a ball.

”Oh? It really evolved? Through spiritual energy, nevertheless? I thought only consumed souls could feed it?”

Levi was delighted by such a reaction, realizing that the Soulleech Maw’s intelligence had risen... When it came to obedience, Levi understood that the Soulleech Maw couldn’t refuse his orders, as it saw him as its father, mother, owner... everything to it.

The only reason he had difficulties with it before was its limited intelligence, making it harder to deliver his messages without proper training.

Levi quickly checked the Soulleech Maw’s changes after its evolution... he had been feeding it souls periodically to assist with its training and evolution. By now, he should have fed it about a hundred low-tier Nightcrawler souls, and it still hadn’t evolved.

He hadn’t expected the Runehoof Kin’s technique to help the Soulleech Maw as well, considering that the Soulleech Monarch had told him that, as a newborn, it could only feed on souls and produce Aether Flames.

Now that he thought about it, however, it made perfect sense.

The Runehoof Kin’s technique had flooded him with such an overwhelming torrent of spiritual energy that his main soul had been forced to continuously expand and refine itself just to contain it.

Because the Soulleech Maw was fused directly to his main soul, it had undergone that same transformation!

Souls were still the only thing it could truly feed on. Spiritual energy alone could never replace them.

However, what the technique had provided wasn’t nourishment... it had simply accelerated the Maw’s digestion.

The Maw had already accumulated enough souls over the past months to evolve, but it lacked the vitality and time needed to push through the final bottleneck.

After all, it was a sentient being just like anyone else... souls were its food, and that food still needed time to be fully digested before its evolution could happen.

The Runehoof Kin’s endless flood of purified spiritual energy had supplied exactly what it needed, forcing every part of Levi’s soul... including the Soulleech Maw... to mature alongside it.

While Levi wasn’t certain of his theory, he felt that it made the most sense at the moment... he acknowledged it and moved on with his examination.

”Interesting... the tongue’s length seems to have increased by an extra meter. Also, the mouth widened a little and has more teeth than before.”

Ignoring the Soulleech Maw’s incessant whines and grumbles, Levi meticulously inspected it from top to bottom.

Anyone watching would have mistaken him for a father proudly checking on his toddler’s latest growth spurt.

Soon, he let go of it, and the tongue slithered across his arm beneath his clothes until it reached his neck... it curled around it once before resting on his shoulder, licking his cheek once in a while, happily.

Seeing how comfortable it had gotten, Levi couldn’t help but chuckle softly and leave it be... with the slight increase in its intelligence and emotional understanding, it had become more proactive in expressing its desire to hang around him.

He didn’t mind it at all.

”Physically, the changes are minimal,” Levi commented as he gazed at his main soul, which emitted a greenish hue. ”Yet, my spiritual perception appears to have become more attuned to the Aether Realm... does that mean its evolution focuses more on our soul?”

”I don’t have much information about the Soulleech Maw, so I can’t say for sure... but,” Ash’Kral replied, ”it appears that way... at least, it should be for its first evolutionary levels.”

Levi nodded in understanding... he wished it were possible to enter the Aether Realm and get more information from the Soulleech Monarch.

Alas... unless she called him over, it was wishful thinking.

”Just refer to its evolutions as tiers, like Nightcrawlers, and be done with it.” The Titan simplified it. ”As a ’Tier 2’ Soulleech Maw, did it unlock any extra abilities besides linking your spiritual vision to the Aether Realm?”

Levi wanted to know as well... he tried his best to ask the Soulleech Maw about it, or at least deliver the message one way or another.

After some effort, the Soulleech Maw finally understood him... Levi sighed in relief, knowing that if its intelligence hadn’t evolved a little, he would have spent a couple of hours, if not more.

Without hesitation, the Soulleech Maw showed him its latest unlocked ability... it extended its tongue in front of him and ignited it with Aether Flames.

Under their intrigued gazes, the river of green flames began emitting spherical green wisps, which floated above it while still burning strongly.

”That’s it?”

Levi wondered as he took hold of a flaming wisp in his hand... however, the instant he tightened his palm, the wisp imploded, engulfing his entire arm in Aetheric Flames for a brief moment!

”Never mind...” Levi’s lips curled upward in satisfaction.

He knew that he couldn’t gain control over Aether Flames like he could with Aether energy... manipulating them was impossible without the Soulleech Maw. This meant that whatever ability it unlocked in relation to those flames was more than welcome.

Now... he had gained the ability to turn the Aether Flames into... Bullets!

He was more than satisfied.

”Good job.”

Levi patted the Soulleech Maw, making it squirm in delight.

A moment later, however, the tiny Venus-like plant tilted its head before letting out a series of low, rumbling growls.

Grrrllll...

The sound was unmistakably the grumble of a hungry stomach.

Levi was left speechless.

”...Are you seriously mimicking me?”

The Soulleech Maw immediately bobbed up and down, its leafy jaws opening into what looked suspiciously like a smug grin.

”...”

Levi pinched the bridge of his nose helplessly.

Ash’Kral and the Titan chuckled in amusement.

”It appears your little glutton has inherited your shamelessness as well.”

”...I don’t make noises like that.”

”You do.”

”I don’t.”

”You most certainly do.”

Levi sighed in defeat before flicking the Soulleech Maw lightly on its leafy forehead.

”Fine. Since you’re going to be dramatic about it...”

He slowly raised his left hand, allowing emerald energy to dance across his fingertips.

”... Lantern of the Lost Keeper.”

Following his voice, the ancient lantern materialized, its weathered frame glowing beneath countless runes... wisps flickered within its glass, illuminating hundreds of translucent souls drifting peacefully inside.

As though sensing an all-you-can-eat banquet, the Soulleech Maw froze for a split second.

Then its tongue shot forward with such terrifying speed that it slammed against the lantern’s crystalline door, causing the entire structure to tremble.

Inside, the peacefully meditating Omnithar Genie jolted upright.

His obsidian face had no features and yet... Levi and the tenants could swear they saw an expression engulfed in dread.

”...?”

”...”

The two stared at one another through the glass... then the Soulleech Maw slowly tilted its tongue.