Spirit Game

Rain's personal forces were Chi, Chick, Chill, #4, Ri, General Varlox, the Hobgoblins, and the soldiers of Silverstone Oasis.

Each of them had fought by his side, defending the oasis with unwavering loyalty.

But it was the reality of his situation that stung — the title of Novice Lord still clung to him, a reminder of how far he had yet to go.

After everything that had happened, Rain felt like he had already surpassed the trials of a Master Lord.

The endless battles, the hard-won victories, the sacrifices — it was more than any mere novice should have to face.

Though his Apprentice Lord title was on the horizon, fast approaching.

But now?

Now it felt almost trivial.

After all that had happened, Rain no longer felt the need to prepare for it. He was already ready — more than ready.

Now, however, it was time to upgrade his troops. Rain's forces were on the verge of transformation, ready to become even stronger—except for #4, who hadn't shown any signs of evolution, and Ri, who had only just hatched.

General Varlox seemed to have reached the peak of his form, with no clear sign of evolution on the horizon.

But Chi, Chick, and Chill? They were ready. Their potential burned brightly, just waiting to be unleashed.

Rain had more than enough resources to make it happen. With over two million Evolution Points and more than a thousand liters of Soul Elixir, he was practically drowning in wealth—a fortune that rivaled that of kingdoms.

It was no wonder, considering the victories he had achieved. First, he stopped Gorm in the underground mines, and then they brought down Balaur, the God of War.

In the end, he ascended to the title of Emperor of the Wastelands, earning the loyalty of orcs, elves, dwarves, gnomes, hobgoblins, and even the kobolds and lizardfolk. Everyone in the barren wasteland had pledge their loyalty to him.

Feeling like he was on top of the world, Rain decided to start with Chi. But when he saw the cost, his confidence wavered.

Chi needed a staggering 500,000 Evolution Points to reach the next stage.

Rain blinked in surprise. Half a million?

He checked, and Chill and Chick only needed 50,000 points each, and even Druger, Drake, Golly, and Hana required only 5,000 points. The rest of his warriors? A mere 1,000 points to evolve.

Why was Chi's evolution so expensive? He pondered it for a moment.

Most Spirit Realm troops only needed between 50,000 and 100,000 Evolution Points to reach the maximum level.

But Chi was different. She was an S-Rank troop—with a chance to become a Fantastic tier unit. That explained the steep price. She wasn't just any commander; she had the potential to become something legendary.

Rain scratched his head, glancing at Chi, who stood before him with a hopeful, expectant gaze. Her eyes were blazing with anticipation, a silent demand for the power she deserved.

Rain hesitated, half a million points wasn't a small price to pay. But then again, Chi had been with him from the very beginning, fighting by his side, leading his troops with unrivaled loyalty and strength. If anyone deserved this evolution, it was her. Continue your journey with empire

With a reluctant sigh, Rain surrendered the points. Half a million gone in an instant.

But he didn't regret it. Chi was his Commander, the only one with whom he could synchronize in battle. She had proven herself time and time again, and if it took 500,000 points to elevate her to the next level, then he would give her every last one of them –– she was worth it.

As the power of evolution surged through Chi, her body shimmered with radiant light, transforming her right before everyone's eyes.

A deep crimson light enveloped her, forming a glowing cocoon that pulsed with power, almost like an egg. The atmosphere around them thickened, and the surrounding air buzzed with a strange, charged energy.

When the light finally dimmed and everything settled, Rain found himself staring at a massive egg where Chi had once stood.

"Huh? What just happened?" Rain blinked in confusion, reaching out to touch the egg. It was warm, pulsating gently beneath his palms, almost as if something alive was stirring inside.

Suddenly, a system notification appeared before his eyes.

[Chi will wake up after 167:59:54]

Rain's eyes widened in disbelief. "A week? She's going to be inside there for an entire week?" He scratched his head, unsure if this was normal.

He had expected Chi's evolution to be dramatic, but this? A full rebirth inside an egg? It was unlike anything he had seen before.

Still, the system was never wrong. Chi would need time to hatch—time to transform into something beyond even his imagination.

Rain sighed, signaling to his troops. "Take Chi carefully to her quarters," he instructed, his voice steady but full of caution.

The hobgoblins—loyal, stout warriors—gathered around the massive egg. They exchanged uncertain glances as they assessed it.

Though it looked fragile, with a smooth and polished surface, they could tell from the feel of it that the shell was anything but delicate.

One of the hobgoblins tapped it with the back of his gauntlet, and the egg didn't even budge. It was as hard as stone, maybe even stronger. There was no way they could break it, even if they tried.

"Don't worry," one of them muttered to Rain, "we couldn't crack this thing with a hammer if we wanted to."

Rain watched them as they carefully transported the egg, his mind still swirling with thoughts of what Chi would become. She had always been special, and now, after this rebirth, he could only imagine the heights she would reach.

But he couldn't wait around. There was still much to be done.

Turning his focus back to his remaining troops, Rain prepared to upgrade Chick and Chill next. These two had fought fiercely by his side, proving their worth countless times.

Unlike Chi's complex transformation, their evolution was far simpler—requiring only a fraction of the resources. But Rain knew better than to underestimate them. Each soldier was critical to his success, and every upgrade counted.