owlsbooks 0041 Evolutionary Outlook
0041 Evolutionary Outlook
"Who wrapped this up for me?"
Cui Cui asked in a low voice, and from her shifty gaze, she seemed to already know who had done it.
"Although there's no chance the tail can heal, I can't just let the wound bleed unnecessarily."
"Hmph~ You male, you just like to do unnecessary things."
Cui Cui snorted coldly, but her tail swayed gently on the ground, her eyes showing undisguised fondness for the bandages wrapped into symmetrical heart shapes.
Li Ai's phone vibrated twice, and she figured it was probably a notification about the change in Cui Cui's favorability rating, but she didn't have time to check it right now.
"I've already started calling you Cui Cui, shouldn't you change how you address me?"
"Don't even think about it."
"What if I could make you stronger, and in turn break up even more and stronger couples?"
After Li Ai finished speaking, she sat down opposite Cuicui.
"Instead of stopping me, you're going to help me satisfy my addiction?"
Cui Cui narrowed her eyes and became alert.
"Because it's good for the ecosystem. Haven't you noticed that during the annual dragon breeding season, the hunters are doing the same thing you're doing?"
Cui Cui blinked, suddenly realizing that Li Ai was right.
"I've become like this because of them, and I will never..."
"No cooperation is needed. Just continue being yourself under my guidance. By the way, my name is Li Ai, and I am a Love Hunter who specializes in handling requests related to monster girls."
Li Ai spoke with her chest out, her pink heart-shaped medal gleaming in the sunlight.
"Aren't you afraid that once you become stronger, you'll kill your human companions?"
"If killing humans is more fun than breaking up couples, you won't just appear during the breeding season, but will stay in the forest hills where humans frequently appear for a long time."
In more remote areas, unless there are stable large villages or towns nearby, it is difficult to see caravans and ordinary gatherers.
Li Ai felt that if Cui Cui was truly obsessed with hunters, then her timing of migration and her permanent habitat would be illogical.
"You really know me well... Do those Azure Rathalos and Pink Rathian have a chance deep inside?"
Cui Cui asked tentatively, seemingly already interested.
"That's impossible."
"So it seems your guidance wasn't very good after all..."
"Sheep Kuku! Shield Bug home run!"
After shouting, Li Ai immediately stood up and pulled out the snake bite.
[At this point, I hope readers will remember our domain name: ①⓪①ⓚⓚⓢ.ⓒⓞⓜ]
"Wow, they're here!"
During its run, Yang Kuku threw a shield beetle into the air, then transformed into a giant bird and swallowed it.
"What are you going to do...?"
At this moment, Cui Cui's face showed panic.
Bang!
The shield-bearing insects that were spewed out were swatted away by the snake's bite and swing.
In the distance, trees of medium thickness were directly struck in the middle and snapped.
Yang Kuku suddenly stopped in front of the giant tree, then quickly transformed into her monster girl form, standing with her hands on her hips.
"Don't doubt Li Ai's coaching ability, he cares a lot about it."
"This is my partner, the Great Bird Sheep Kuku. You should have been able to clearly sense her difference from the other Great Birds during the battle."
Li Ai solemnly introduced.
"So... even with this level of improvement, the Fire Dragon still can't bridge the gap between itself and the subspecies?"
Cui Cui still found it puzzling.
In terms of combat power, Yangkuku has surpassed the subspecies Blue Monster Bird.
If one has similar improvements, it's unlikely that one could take on two opponents at once, but constantly harassing the other party and affecting their relationship might still be possible.
"No, those two subspecies have probably already been hunted down."
As soon as Li Ai finished speaking, two more fiery dragon-like shadows swept across the woods.
Realizing that the fire dragons were all heading towards the best nesting spot in the mountainous forest area, Cui Cui understood.
"Of course, you still have a chance against Azure Rathalos and Pink Rathalos, which you might not like in other places."
After pondering for a long time, Cui Cui raised her doubts again: "I don't believe there is such a perfect thing."
"Of course it won't be that perfect. Since I've become your companion, guiding and helping you achieve... let's just say it's your wish. You should naturally do something for your companion as well."
"for example?"
"Assisting in the battle to hunt down monsters that threaten the ecosystem, or helping to subdue other monster girl companions, has the advantage of allowing you to quickly become stronger through combat experience, but the disadvantage is that you may suffer severe injuries or even death."
After Li Ai frankly explained the pros and cons, Cuicui looked up at Yang Kuku.
"Uh... I'm going to say the same thing as Li Ai!"
Without any lines, Yangkuku didn't know how to help.
If they survive, they'll have the chance to personally separate Azure Rathalos and Pink Rathian.
Thinking of all this, Cui Cui looked up at Li Ai with a flicker of her eyes.
"Li Ai, right? I'm willing to join you, but let me make it clear beforehand that I'm not a sociable person."
"It's okay, not fitting in isn't an obstacle."
Li Ai thought this was actually a good thing; otherwise, if the other party wanted to have a lively time and stay in the sheep village for a few days, that would really be a headache.
Cutting the vines, Cuicui hugged her tail and sat down under the tree.
Due to the severity of the injuries, there is currently nothing else to do besides recuperate and familiarize myself with the human form.
Li Ai went a short distance away, unwrapped the bandages on her arm, and re-bandaged the wound that had reopened from the exertion.
"Why do I still dislike her even though we're now friends?"
Kuku the sheep who helped wrap the bandages shared his feelings.
"There's no need to worry about it, because you two are practically natural enemies. If you both liked each other, that would be a problem."
"But she's really strong. Even with such serious injuries, she was able to fight against me and Lone Wolf for so long."
"An individual that is being closely observed and studied by the guild must be extraordinary."
After bandaging the wound, Li Ai turned on her phone.
Even though Cui Cui has already accepted Li Ai as her partner, her favorability rating only increases by one heart, which is negative twelve hearts.
However, its combat power rating is a staggering 5.1 stars, with an upper limit of 5.9 stars.
The mutation evolution achieved at 4 stars has now been unlocked.
One branch is the 5.4-star Pink Rathian, and the other is the 5.7-star two-star Rathian, Purple Poison Princess.
Li Ai felt that Cui Cui's physical talent was already quite high, and with the addition of the monster girl's intelligence and her own guidance, it wouldn't be difficult for her to achieve mutation and evolution.
The difficulty lies in meeting another condition: having a 7-heart affinity with the Love Hunter.
"It seems like I can't raise Cui Cui's affection level at all."
Li Ai thought of the silly girl whose favorability rating skyrocketed after she accepted her, and opened her profile to check.
Its combat strength is only rated 4.4 stars, but its growth potential is as high as 6.2 stars. Judging from the numbers, it is an individual with excellent talent.
Furthermore, because the maximum star level has been exceeded to 6 stars, the enhanced version of the Overlord Rathian has also been unlocked.
"The condition for achieving the Overlord Enhancement is to be constantly ravaged by the Gale Dragon's gale. I doubt Little Fool would be willing to participate. However, if Cui Cui is willing, we can take her to try it out. But first, she needs to undergo mutation and evolution to raise her upper limit."
Cui Cui's current growth limit is stuck at 5.9 stars, but as long as she successfully mutates and evolves, she is destined to break through to six stars.
They have no shortage of talent, but getting them to gain favor is really difficult.
"Does this mean I have to go with Cui Cui to break up those fire dragons...?"
Li Ai felt this was the most effective method. Tasks such as moving dragon eggs to delay breeding were among the most popular commissions at the moment, and he thought it was worth a try.
With the stew pot on its back, Yang Kuku and the three of them set off.
Since none of the injuries were minor, none of the team members would be treated kindly by Fire Dragon.
They traveled stealthily all the way, and by the time they arrived at the area where the little fool was, it was almost dusk.
"You're finally back! I've built a little nest!"
When the little fool saw Li Ai return, he happily pointed to a small nest under the tree, made of scattered branches, which was clearly built for a human figure.
"Hehe, great skills!"
Cui Cui, who had emerged from the jungle, gave a sarcastic compliment.
"You...how did you get back with me!"
The little fool shouted "Run!" and stood in front of Li Ai.
"Well, how should I put it, we're partners now."
As Cui Cui spoke, she pointed back and forth between herself and Li Ai.
"You monster, why did you deceive Li Ai?"
The little fool asked.
"Did I lie to him?"
"Wait a minute, you silly girl, he didn't lie to me. I'm the one who invited her to join."
"Li Ai, don't believe her, she's not a normal female Rathalos."
Upon hearing what the little fool said, Cui Cui's playful smile vanished, replaced by an instant chill.
"At least I don't have male thoughts all the time, and I don't build a little nest for the other person."
"What...what did you say?!"
The little fool's face flushed red, and black smoke immediately billowed from his mouth.
"If you're not convinced, then let's have a contest."
"I'm not afraid of you!"
Seeing this, Li Ai sighed and rubbed his forehead in exasperation. He hadn't expected that even though they were all monster girls, the same kind of monsters would still have such serious disagreements.
Although it hasn't reached the level of being as overpowered as the Thousand-Blade Dragon, it's already showing signs of a life-or-death struggle.
"You've run out of bandages. If they get damaged, I won't be able to bandage your tail anymore."
When Cui Cui heard Li Ai say this, she gathered the end of her tail and took a half step back.
"I'm exhausted after a long day and starving. I desperately need someone to boil water and cook noodles for me. Would you be willing?"
"Okay, where are the noodles?"
The little fool lowered his head, crossed his hands in front of him, and asked a question.
Li Ai tapped on her phone, but after pressing the buttons for a long time, only two buckets appeared out of thin air.
"There are only two buckets of noodles left today."
Seeing that both dragons were watching him, Li Ai's gaze darkened.
"I'm tired of eating the same thing every day. I'll have some crispy noodle crackers to change things up."
At night, the three monster girls slept and rested under three different trees.
Seeing this, Li Ai also began to take the relationship between the monster girls seriously.
Clearly, not all monster girls can get along as well as Grass and Sunny Day; Sheep Kuku and Lone Wolf are also an abnormal exception in the ecosystem.
It's not uncommon for people like the silly boy and Cui Cui to dislike each other.
Fortunately, the natural environment is vast enough that the hunting area that the guild can observe for a long time is just a small corner of the entire continent.
In addition, living in a suitable environment is also beneficial to the growth of the monster girl herself.
Taking these factors into account, Li Ai decided to locate the carnivorous monster Wolf Castle in the outer area of Senqiu.
The vast open space allows them to roost freely, and the natural barriers created by the distance between them can effectively prevent conflicts from occurring.
Given their current extremely poor condition, forcing them to gather together, Li Ai can only rely on herself to continuously mediate the conflicts.
Three days have passed in the blink of an eye, although there is still a long way to go before full recovery.
However, under Li Ai's guidance, the two dragons successfully transformed and began to fly.
At dawn, after Li Ai explained the location of Wolfsburg, Cui Cui nodded.
"I know about that grassland outside the mountains."
After saying that, she leaped up and spread her wings, transforming into a female fire dragon in mid-air. Her claws precisely pinched the heart-shaped bundle of bandages hanging from the treetop, and then she quickly took off and flew away.
"Will you be training there?"
The little fool, however, asked a question with some unease.
"Yes, I also need to prepare this area."
"Okay! I'll find a good nest and wait for you."
The little fool spoke of spreading his wings, seemingly wanting to imitate Cui Cui, jumping off the ground and taking off in mid-air.
Taking off in this way not only greatly reduces the physical exertion required for takeoff in dragon form, but also results in a truly elegant and beautiful appearance.
Li Ai rolled over, widening the distance between them.
It wasn't that he thought the little fool would harm him, but if he made a mistake and a foot stepped on him, his newly healed wound might reopen.
Thud! Thud! ...
The little fool who transformed with outstretched wings made a mistake, as expected.
It took several attempts to adjust its balance by stomping its two paws on the ground.
He looked around in alarm, and only breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Li Ai smiling and waving at him from more than ten meters away.
"It's okay to make a mistake once. You have to be willing to try. Also, don't get into conflicts with Cui Cui, and make sure you're safe."
Hey!
The little fool let out a dragon roar, spread its wings, and flew into the sky.
"They're finally gone!"
Yang Kuku let out a shout, then lay down on the grass in a wooden position, completely relaxing.
"You've grown a lot in this operation, Yangkuku, that's commendable... 4.2 stars, wait, isn't that a bit too much?"
Li Ai checked the records and found that before the breeding season, Yang Kuku was still 3.7 stars.
A 0.5-star improvement may seem small, but once the star rating is raised to a higher level, the rate of improvement slows down significantly.
Logically speaking, given Yangkuku's condition, he shouldn't have experienced such a huge improvement after just one battle.
"She has unlocked the mutated evolution branches of both the Blue Monster Bird and the Black Wolf Bird, but how did she achieve that?"
As Li Ai checked the details, she suddenly realized that the confession enhancement had failed to trigger.
"I haven't had any similar interactions with Yangkuku..."
Li Ai was a little confused; her eight-heart favorability rating hadn't fluctuated or changed recently.
The only remaining information that can be explored is the completion time.
"Four days ago... Lone Wolf was still around then."
Li Ai felt that she had vaguely discovered a bug.
"Yangkuku, did the lone wolf confess his feelings to you before he left?"
"what?"
Yang Kuku was a little confused by the question.
"Yes, I've expressed that I really want to be with you for a long time."
"Yes, that's true, similar situations have happened many times."
"You'd like to too?"
"Yeah, but I feel I need to be independent enough, otherwise I'll just be a burden. And with you here too, I'll stay in Morioka."
"So that's how it is..."
Li Ai finally understood.
The criteria for strengthening the confession effect can be met simply by confessing, regardless of who it is.
Clearly, Li Ai didn't anticipate that monster girls would also engage in confession-like behavior during the design process.