"I was... Waiting for the right moment."

  You called me a gigantic pussy!

  Still annoyed over his choice of words, Bathilda blurted out the same phrase.

  "It got you moving though, didn't it? Anyway don't you think you should choose your evolution now and stop wasting precious daylight?"

  There is no daylight down here and that's beside the point. I didn't like what you called me, so you need to apologise.

  Bathilda cleaned a few scattered rocks from a small section of the floor, before sitting down and waiting.

  "Seriously?"

  Seriously! It's my body for a start so there no way in hell I'll let you call me names.

  The apology, though beted, settled a restless unease within Bathilda. It wasn't just the words themselves, but the shift in Hiro's tone, the absence of his usual sardonic edge, that truly soothed her. The lingering resentment, a bitter aftertaste of his earlier intrusion, began to dissipate, repced by a tentative sense of acceptance.

  Right, she sighed, the sound echoing softly in the damp cavern. Evolution time.

  Wingtail Bat:

  - The Wingtail Bat is the culmination of the Baby Wingtail's growth. These bats thrive in massive colonies, their synchronized hunting flights darkening the twilight sky. Individually, they may be vulnerable, but as a swarm, they become a relentless force, capable of overwhelming prey far rger than themselves. Their insatiable appetites drive them to consume vast quantities of insects and small rodents daily, often exceeding their own body weight. These creatures seek the deepest, darkest recesses to roost, living a brief but intensely active life.

  Large Poisonous Bat:

  - The Large Poisonous Bat, a predator of terrifying efficiency, wields fangs that inject a paralyzing venom. Reaching its final, deadly form, it can cripple even the formidable Three-Toed Thumper with a single, swift strike. The venom's potency is immediate, seizing its victim in a vise of paralysis before they can react.

  Blood Sucking Bat:

  - A creature of rare and terrifying evolution, the Blood Sucking Bat is a phantom predator, seldom glimpsed. Its ability to siphon life from its victims, replenishing its own vitality, renders it a relentless foe. These bats excel in drawn-out conflicts, draining their opponents while maintaining their own strength. Though marginally rger than their Poisonous Bat kin, they possess a preternatural agility, allowing them to dance through combat with lethal grace.

  Creeper Bat:

  - Ghosts of the night, Creeper Bats move in utter silence, their passage muffled by an insidious magic. They are masters of shadow, their presence undetectable until the moment of attack. Smaller than the Poisonous Bat, they favor the vulnerability of the unsuspecting, striking from behind with chilling precision. So swift and silent are their assaults, their victims rarely see the creature that cims them.

  The options shimmered before her, a stark contrast to the gloom of her subterranean abode. The Wingtail Bat, a familiar echo, held no allure. She'd outgrown the idea of a life defined by sheer numbers and fleeting existence.

  "Wingtail? No way," she muttered, dismissing it with a flick of her mental wrist. Been there, done that. And frankly, the idea of living in a swarm, a mindless cloud of wings and teeth, is… unappealing.

  Her gaze drifted to the Large Poisonous Bat. A familiar path, a comfortable power. But comfort was not what she sought. She craved more, something beyond the simple application of venom.

  The Poisonous Bat… it's served me well, she conceded, "but I need… more. I need to be more than just a flying venom dispenser."

  The Blood Sucking Bat, a whispered legend, held a strange fascination. The ability to replenish health, to endure, to outst. It was a power that resonated with her desire for resilience, for the strength to survive.

  Blood Sucking… it's… intriguing, she mused. "The ability to heal, to sustain… it's powerful. But… is it enough?"

  The Creeper Bat, a creature of shadow and silence, held a chilling appeal. But the name alone made her shudder.

  Creeper? Seriously?" she mentally scoffed. "No. Just… no. I’m not some silent, backstabbing… thing. I want to be seen, to be known. And, frankly, the name is just… creepy.

  She paused, her thoughts swirling like the dust motes dancing in the faint light filtering through the cave's entrance. The desire to evolve, to grow, was a burning ember within her. But what form would that growth take?

  Hiro, she asked, her voice soft, what do you think? I want… I want to be more than just a predator. I want to be… something more.

  "I do not possess enough knowledge on bats for subjective evaluation," Hiro responded, his voice ft. "However, the Blood Sucking Bat presents a unique evolutionary pathway, offering enhanced survivability and prolonged combat effectiveness."

  Survivability, she echoed, the word resonating with her. That's… that's important. But… I also want to be able to help people. To make a difference.

  A wave of frustration washed over her. She was trapped, it seemed, between the desire for power and the yearning for purpose.

  I need to be stronger," she decred, her voice firm. Strong enough to protect myself, strong enough to protect others. I need to keep evolving, to keep pushing my limits.

  Her gaze settled on the Blood Sucking Bat, the image shimmering before her. It was a gamble, a step into the unknown. But it was a gamble she was willing to take.

  The Blood Sucking Bat, she thought, filled with a newfound resolve. That's my choice.

  A sense of anticipation, a nervous flutter in her non-existent stomach, filled her as she confirmed her selection. The notification, a stark reminder of the impending transformation, appeared before her.

  Confirming this evolution will render you immobile for one hour. Are you sure you wish to proceed?

  An hour. A significant amount of time, especially in the perilous depths of this subterranean world. But she had a base now, a sanctuary, however rudimentary.

  Yes, she affirmed, her voice steady. Confirm.

  The world around her began to fade, a gentle wave of calm washing over her. There was no pain, no discomfort, just a sense of profound change, a metamorphosis taking pce deep within her being. The rough stone of the cave wall served as a comforting backrest as she awaited the shift, her mind quiet, her body still.

  The darkness of the cave seemed to deepen, but within that darkness, a new form was being forged, a new chapter in her strange, unexpected life. The time passed with a strange sense of suspension, like a deep breath held, before the inevitable, and unknown, exhale.

  You have acquired a new skill: Blood Sucking

  Blood Sucking:

  - Restore 5% of the user's health every second for each level of skill on an individual target

  You have acquired a new spell: Paralysing Stare

  Incapacitate a single enemy for upto 30 seconds. Each level of this skill increases the chance of successfully paralysing the target.

  MP Cost: 10

  Bathilda's eyes snapped open. A surge of raw power, alien yet exhirating, coursed through her. She was taller, stronger, a predator reborn. A gnce at her skill list revealed the source: Blood Sucking and Paralyzing Stare.

  Oh, stars above, I'm ravenous, she muttered, a tremor of reluctance in her voice. Blood Sucking... that's happening now, I suppose.

  "If it's a 'suppose,' why choose it?" Hiro's disembodied voice echoed in her mind.

  "Have you ever tasted rodent blood, Hiro?" she retorted, a flicker of disgust battling her newfound hunger.

  "Can't say I have," he admitted. "Why not poison, then? Wouldn't it have been safer?"

  Bathilda shuddered. Trust me, you don't want the details. Let's just say, raw Brat meat isn't exactly gourmet.

  She scanned her surroundings. The Milisnake's skeletal remains were gone, devoured by the ever-present Barts. Below, the cave was empty. She had only encountered six monsters so far, four who'd tried to kill her and two she hadn't Identified since – a giant and a "Gricket," a cricket on steroids, perhaps. Her stomach growled, a primal urge.

  "Time for a rematch," she decred, squeezing through the cave's narrow entrance. Her wings, now broader, propelled her upward with newfound ease.

  At the cave's mouth, the Alto's corpse y still. The Brats' nest, a stench of fur and decay, pulsed with their presence. Bathilda's heart pounded, a mix of fear and exhiration. She wouldn't be prey today.