[Thanks you to everyone who sent powerstones :) I’ll be publishing the bonus Chapter today. 4 in total, 2 now and 2 later]

"If you’re worried about not obtaining the Terra-shard, then I would be happy to help. Tell me, what does your objective require you to do?"

The Nymph waited eagerly for me to tell her the objective of the scenario so she could help.

For some reason, she seemed overexcited. Even while she was telling me about God’s Game, she seemed overexcited.

But considering this was probably the most she had ever spoken to anyone, her reactions made sense.

"The objective for this scenario is to kill you."

"Oh."

"I think there are other players here with the same objective, and from what I’ve heard, a lot of them are high-ranking players."

The Nymph went quiet. A look of surprise crossing her features. For a moment, she looked deep in thought before she finally spoke up.

"I already knew that there were players here. That is why I moved all of my children out of the forest and inside the castle. I didn’t know the objective of this mission was to kill me but I had had suspicion. Though I’m not really worried about them."

She spoke confidently, as if the players being here wasn’t a big deal. Her expression then softened as her earlier warm smile reappeared. She then patted the top of my carapace softly.

"Don’t worry, if it would make you happy, I’ll allow you to kill me and gain the Terra-shard. I know how important completing the game is for players and there isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for my children if it would make them happy."

"What?"

"My only request is that you take care of my babies while I’m gone. It would make me happy knowing that they’ll get to live happy lives with you. They can be troublesome at times like getting into fights with each other but they are all very sweet. "

My mouth involuntarily opened wide as I listened to her speak. She would allow me to kill her?

This girl was beyond strange and a bit two-dimensional, if I might add. All she cared about were the monsters she created and called her children.

"You have venom, correct? All you have to do is inject me with it, and instead of fighting it with my magic, I’ll allow it to take hold."

As I stared at her with deep confusion, she rested her index finger on her chin as if she had just thought of something.

"Though with your weak venom, it might take a while. Your venom doesn’t have any mana-poisoning attribute, does it? There is a rare fish with that attribute. Maybe if you hunt it, you’ll get access to its evolutionary path. But that could still take a while..."

"Hold on."

I stopped her before she could come up with any more crazy theories.

Sure, after everything I’ve learned, I now know just how valuable the Terra-shard is. Plus the huge boost in level and bloodline purity after I kill and absorb her S-ranked monster core.

But it would’ve been a scumbag move to kill her for profit after everything she had done to help me so far.

If it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t have gotten this much valuable information.

"I can’t kill you. It wouldn’t be right."

She cocked her head in confusion.

"But the shard..."

"It doesn’t matter. I can’t kill you, nor can I allow you to be killed by those players."

She looked at me in disbelief and confusion before soon her smile returned as she nodded her head.

"Is it that you enjoyed our talk as much as I did?" she asked quite bashfully. "I never had anyone I could talk to and have talk back to me."

Of course I could already tell this. It was evident in the way she always spoke her feeling, bearing for the world to see. In this way, she was the opposite of Amelia.

"I did enjoy our talk. And after this is over, we can talk as much as you want." I said in response.

"Really?"

"But first, we need to figure a way out of this. The best option would be to avoid a fight. Is there any way you could leave this place?"

She shook her head.

"I’m stuck here as far as I know. I’ve tried many times to escape, but there doesn’t seem to be a way. I don’t think the game would allow me, given this is a scenario. Maybe after it’s over?"

That makes it basically impossible. If it’s over then it means she is dead. If we somehow manage to kill the players here, then more players would most likely show up anyway.

I had to figure something out.

An idea was beginning to form in my mind, but it was extremely risky and would most likely require a lot of biomass. But if it worked, we could clear this scenario without killing her.

"How much biomass do you currently have?" I asked.

Her expression suddenly turned downcast.

"I don’t have any more. I spent most of my biomass creating children, even outside my domain, and the last amount I gave to you."

Damn. I have to acquire more biomass somehow. The only way is to get it from the players who were planning on attacking us.

"We have to fight. Right now, it would be best to prepare ourselves for them to attack," I said, to which the cheerful Nymph nodded and hopped to her feet while cradling me in her arms.

We exited the room we were currently in and walked through the vast hall of her vintage castle.

The walls of the castle were covered in vines and strangely beautiful flowers.

Soon after a few minutes of walking, we entered a courtyard filled with evolutionary creatures.

The moment we entered, an owl with golden feathers and a dog-like tongue hanging out of its mouth perched on her shoulder.

"Hello Gary." She chirped warmly. "I hope you’re getting along well with your siblings."

"Oot! Oot!"

These creatures do make some strange evolutionary choices.

I shouldn’t have expected much; they were only animals given a power they couldn’t even understand.

I spotted a bunch of different creatures: a monkey with a massive head, a frog covered in feathers, lizards, snakes, insects, birds, and even centipedes. Just about any creature you could think of. All having various evolutions, some more useful than others.

The Nymph gathered them, and I selected a few who I thought would be useful in combat while assuring her that I would make sure they weren’t hurt.

Afterwards, we readied ourselves for the battle that was about to take place.

I sent out the owl to scout for any players approaching while we climbed to the highest vantage point so we could see what was happening.

But right at that moment, a thunderous rip tore through the castle, violently shaking the walls as the place was ripped apart.