Just as Michael had suspected, evolution mattered enormously to monsters. In fact, the stronger a monster became, the deeper that instinct could grow.
For the ghost, the feeling brought by the Evolution Essence Crystal was almost unfamiliar. There had only been a few moments throughout her existence when she had experienced something remotely similar.
The earliest stretched so far back that even she could barely remember it clearly. Back when she had first formed within the Netherworld. Back when her consciousness had been little more than scattered impulses drifting through dense soul energy.
The Nether Soul Tree had already been there, and its energy continuously washed across the surrounding region. And because the ghost had remained close to it for most of her existence, that energy had bee so ordinary that she barely noticed it anymore.
Warmth. fort. Familiarity. Those were the only meanings she associated with the tree. She had never understood that the constant nourishment it provided had quietly influenced her growth for countless years.
The ghost did not know that the reason she had eventually developed into a Three-Star Epic Netherborn Soul Saint was inseparably connected to that tree.
To her, their relationship had always been much simpler. The tree was hers. She stayed near it because she liked it. That was all. Even now, she did not understand the deeper connection between them.
But Michael's crystal was different. pletely different.
The moment that strange essence entered her spiritual body, something buried extraordinarily deep within her existence had awakened. Strength itself had never particularly interested her. She was already powerful enough that most things she encountered couldn't threaten her.
What she felt was much more fundamental. An instinct to evolve. To bee more. It wasn't something she consciously chose to desire. Her very existence hungered for it.
The amount contained in the crystal had been insignificant. So insignificant that the actual improvement to her body could barely be described as measurable. But she had a feeling that if she could absorb and accumulate many of them, a qualitative change would happen.
It was why she had agreed. She didn't want to serve Michael. What she liked doing was sleeping.
Though she also wondered about the outside world, she felt it would limit her sleep time, but this time she had to make the decision. She simply wanted more of that energy.
Michael knew none of this. At the moment, his attention was focused entirely elsewhere.
A translucent formation of mana floated before him. Lines of light intertwined in increasingly plicated patterns while Michael silently modified the contract spell, adjusting it from the master-and-servant version he had originally only used.
He had considered tricking her. After all, the ordinary version of the contract would have given him considerably more control than what he had verbally promised.
If he worded things carefully enough and rushed her through the process, there was a genuine chance she might sign it without fully understanding every restriction, but he felt this was too risky.
Not because he believed she would definitely discover the deception immediately. She might not. The problem was what happened if she discovered it later.
This wasn't some Rank Two monster he could simply suppress if negotiations failed. This was a Demigod. More importantly, she already possessed enough intelligence to understand betrayal.
If she ever realized Michael had deliberately manipulated the terms after pretending to offer her freedom, everything he had acplished today would bee meaningless. All of it could disappear.
And then Michael would leave the Netherworld with nothing except one branch and an extremely angry Demigod who knew exactly what he looked like.
That sounded unnecessarily stupid.
Also, he didn't really like feeling like a scumbag. He preferred being a tyrant more, if he had to.
For now, honesty was simply the more profitable option.
Michael studied the pleted spell. It was nowhere near as restrictive as he would have preferred. But it was fair. It was one of employer and employee, edging toward equals but still putting him a bit on the higher ground.
Michael looked toward her.
"One more thing."
The ghost's attention shifted toward the glowing formation.
"What is that?"
"A contract."
She floated closer.
Michael immediately raised a hand.
She stopped and continued looking at the formation.
The ghost looked at him.
"You aren't going to trick me?"
Michael's expression froze for the briefest moment.
"…Why would you ask that?"
"I don't know."
Michael stared at her. Then sighed. Her perception really was ridiculous.
"…Can we focus on the contract?"
Isabella's violet flames flickered violently beside him. Michael ignored her.
The ghost did not appear offended. Instead, she returned her attention to the spell and carefully inspected it.
Michael allowed her as much time as necessary.
Several minutes passed.
Finally, the ghost looked toward him.
"Let's do it."
Michael raised his hand.
"Then place your will here."
The ghost extended one translucent finger toward the center of the formation. Her spiritual energy entered it. The entire contract instantly erupted with silver light.
Michael felt the connection form. Not the overwhelming master-servant bond he possessed with his undead. Something much weaker.
Michael stared at the ghost as the final strands of light disappeared into both of them. Then he finally allowed himself to smile and called upon the status panel of the ghost.
[Name: ???]
[Race: Netherborn Soul Saint]
[Grade: Epic ★★★]
[Level: 112]
[Type: Spiritual Undead]
[Trait: Soul Saint Physique, Netherworld's Child]
[Skills: Soul Frost, White Netherfire, Mirror Soul, Divine Incarnation Possession…]
[Domain Law Technique: Ice Wheel]
Michael's heart began beating faster the moment his gaze reached the fourth line.
[Level: 112]
"…"
Level One Hundred and Twelve.
This was the first time Michael had ever been able to see the exact level of a being beyond Level One Hundred. Until now, Rank Five had always been somewhat abstract to him.
Michael suppressed his excitement and quickly continued reading.
After a quick glance, two things stood out to him. One was a skill, and the other was the Domain Law Technique.
Unfortunately, no information opened for the latter, but Michael guessed it was probably something only Rank Five beings could have, given he had never seen it in any of his Rank Four undead's status panels before.
Fortunately, the skill description could be seen, and its details were quite interesting.
[Divine Incarnation Possession]
[Description: The Netherborn Soul Saint may enter a patible living or spiritual vessel and establish a parasitic symbiosis with the host. Rather than simply suppressing or replacing the original consciousness, the user may merge portions of their existence with the possessed target] [While Possession is active, the host may temporarily share properties belonging to the Netherborn Soul Saint, including portions of its race traits, spiritual nature, elemental affinities, resistances, senses, skills, and physical characteristics] [The depth of synchronization depends on patibility, the amount of soul power invested, and the willingness or resistance of the host] [At higher synchronization, the possessed vessel may reproduce characteristics of the original body to an extreme degree, effectively functioning as a secondary incarnation of the Netherborn Soul Saint]
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