Blood Sprout

『  ★   (Nameless)    Blood Sprout    LV10 (Evolution Possible)    0 years old    ♀

  【Attributes】

  HP : 2/28

  MP : 28/28

  Attack Power : 0

  Magic : 10

  Defense : 39

  Magic Resistance : 39

  Agility : 0

  【Skills】

  “Detection LV6”  “Blood Absorption LV7”  “Frost Block LV1”

  【Traits】 

  [Inferno Stigma]  [Michel’s Encouragement]  』

‘Level 10? Evolution possible? It doesn’t feel like it at all?’

I’ve read so many isekai novels, and they’re all filled with exaggerated descriptions.

When you level up, you’re surrounded by brilliant light, or a powerful force courses through your body…

Even in *Shadow Symphony*, the characters leveled up magnificently, emitting blue light.

But the growth I experienced was different.

What I felt while absorbing Drake’s blood was… the sensation of being alive.

As new roots absorbed nutrients, I could feel myself getting slightly stronger, my stem growing a bit longer.

That was all.

No dazzling effects, no sudden surge of power.

It was quiet, natural growth.

‘That must be what leveling up feels like?’

Oddly enough, this plain, realistic growth felt comforting.

Maybe the flashy effects in games and novels are just illusions created to satisfy human fantasies.

‘Yes, this world isn’t modeled after a game… It’s the opposite.’

Status windows and levels would naturally exist in an isekai.

It’s just that the way they’re visualized differs from game to game.

Unrealistic settings where health is restored with each level up, or the extravagant effects that erupt with each growth… Those must be exaggerated depictions in games and novels.

I believe that.

I’m not some data-driven character!

‘Yes! I’m not game data! I’m an isekai reincarnation!’

Leveling up has made me realize the truth of this world.

‘Wait, does evolving mean becoming a sprout?’

The status window announcing “Evolved!” while I’ve just sprouted seemed so belated.

Like leveling up, evolution would likely pass as a natural process.

‘No way! Evolution should be a massive change! This is an isekai!’

Still, I think I’m right.

Anxious, I kept checking the status window and found something strange.

‘Michel’s… encouragement…?’

『  [Michel’s Encouragement]

  – The compassionate God of Light, Michel, cheers you on♡  』

‘Huh, when did this appear!?’

I prayed and checked the status window frequently, but I don’t remember acquiring this trait.

‘Ah! Maybe when I almost froze to death! When the status window was ringing loudly!’

That must be it.

It explains why my Frost Resistance rose so quickly.

‘Compassionate God of Light, Michel-nim! I won’t speak informally anymore! Thank you so much! I’ll grow into a good plant, I promise!’

I vowed not to be disrespectful again.

I looked at Michel’s encouragement explanation again.

‘Huh… A heart…?’

It might seem comical, but that heart was very endearing to me.

As a seed reborn, feeling lonely and weary, it was like receiving warmth from a loving deity.

‘Perhaps the Frost Drake too!’

It seemed strange that the horrifying blood clot was a gift from the God of Light, but now, as Michel’s devout follower, even that felt like divine grace and favor.

‘Oh… Was the Drake also from you, Michel?’

With Michel’s encouragement, nothing could stop me.

Confidence overflowed.

‘I should head to the surface now!’

Finally, the sprout broke through the ground, revealing itself.

The moment I emerged, a flood of sensations overwhelmed me.

Things I couldn’t imagine underground poured through my entire being.

The cold, dry air brushed against the sprout’s surface.

A faint blue light, reflecting off the ice walls, seeped through the leaves.

Everything on the surface was new and vivid.

The vibrations detected were far more delicate than before.

Checking my appearance with Detection, I felt shocked.

‘What… am I?’

The sprout, a mix of red and pink, glistened faintly on the ice.

Like a strawberry carved into a sprout.

Perhaps because I grew from blood.

I, once like a watermelon seed, couldn’t have imagined growing into this form.

The two leaves shimmered like thin slices of ruby.

The stem, translucent pink, glistened like ice.

The roots were thin as black threads, but their tips were sharp as red needles.

The roots moved as if guided by my will, naturally responding like limbs.

The sharp root tips scraped the ice, creating an eerie sound.

‘Oh! Ooooh!!!’

Is this evolution?

‘I thought it would just say “Evolved”…!’

It wasn’t a massive change, but it was a moderate one.

Examining my new form, the status window finally updated.

『  Evolved into Blood Sprout.  』

『  Attributes have changed.  』

『  Acquired 「Photosynthesis LV1」 skill.  』

『 「Photosynthesis」

  – Absorbs sunlight to grow.  』

『  Acquired 「Toxicity LV1」 skill.  』

『 「Toxicity」

  – Possesses toxicity.  』

『  Acquired 「Root Projection LV1」 skill.  』

『 「Root Projection」

  – Extends roots to attack.  』

‘Too late!’

There were many things I didn’t know.

‘Okay, check the status window again!’

『  ★   (Nameless)    Blood Sprout    LV10    0 years old    ♀

  【Attributes】

  HP : 34/60

  MP : 60/60

  Attack Power : 60

  Magic : 60

  Defense : 60

  Magic Resistance : 60

  Agility : 0

  【Skills】

  “Detection LV6”  “Blood Absorption LV7”  “Frost Block LV1”  “Photosynthesis LV1”  “Toxicity LV1”  “Root Projection LV1”

  【Traits】 

  [Inferno Stigma]  [Michel’s Encouragement]  』

Scanning the updated status window.

Explanation of Blood Sprout.-Whatever, it’s a blood sprout.

Evolution didn’t change the level.

Typical of an isekai.

In a game, the level would reset.

And all attributes, except Agility, are set to 60.

Thanks to the movable roots, Attack Power, once at 0, has appeared, and other attributes have risen significantly.

Evolution is clearly different.

And the decreased HP of 26 wasn’t restored.

Still, it’s an isekai.

Lastly, the skills.

Photosynthesis will be useless in the labyrinth, but Toxicity and Root Projection, excellent for attack and defense, are satisfying.

‘This must also be Michel’s grace…’

I prayed gratefully.

What an adventurer would call a plant monster’s natural skills.

After finishing my prayer, I finally looked around.

The open space expanded my Detection range.

Underground was the same, but above ground, the sprout allowed me to see everything around me as if I had eyes.

In the distance, a smooth, mirror-like blue ice wall stretched, covered in deep fissures exhaling misty, cold air.

It was a beautiful yet eerie sight, enclosing a vast cavern.

‘Wow…’

Along with the Frost Drake’s corpse.

『 ☆☆ Frost Drake LV77 』

Ignoring the disgusting lump, I recalled the status window’s earlier message about Proten Ore.

Forcing down my disgust, I stared at the Drake’s corpse.

‘Ugh… It’s disgusting! Why isn’t the status window showing up!? When will it appear!?’

In response, the status window finally appeared.

『  ☆☆ Frost Drake LV77

  – Frost Drake : A-Rank threat. Inhabits the lower layers of Shia Kalt Ice Cave.

As a dragon subspecies, it uses powerful ice breath and physical attacks. Its scales are high-grade material for ice-attribute equipment. 』

The information was helpful, but the A-Rank threat and the mention of scales as material felt too human-centric.

It seemed like something shown to a game player, not me.

‘Hmph… Not thinking deeply about it.’

In an isekai, status windows would naturally appear to humans.

‘In games, it would say “monster,” but here it says “mamonster.” Of course, there’s no danger rank.’

Quickly rationalizing, I analyzed the new information.

As a plant, I couldn’t run from enemies, so one thing was crucial:

‘Ah… Am I in the lower layer?’

Generally, deeper in the labyrinth means stronger monsters, or mamonsters.

If this is the lower layer, and such mamonsters roam…

‘No way! It’s a gift from Michel!’

It must be the upper layer, a gift from Michel.

Even in the labyrinth, the upper layer should be manageable.

…

”Thump.” ”Thump.” ”Thump.”

Thin black roots emerged from the ground, stabbing the disgusting Drake corpse.

The remaining blood was frozen and unusable, but this was training for future battles with mamonsters.

『 「Root Projection LV2」 skill level has increased. 』

‘Exactly!’

”Thump.”

The speed of the emerging roots slightly increased.

Not a dramatic change, but at level 10, the skill might evolve into something stronger.

‘Why is no one coming here?’

Suddenly, something appeared at the edge of my Detection range.

‘Huh… What is this?’

『 ☆☆ Snow Hyena LV31 』 『 ☆☆ Snow Hyena LV28 』 『 ☆☆☆ Snow Hyena LV33 』

‘Eek!’

My careless thoughts attracted these strange creatures.