Luo Fan's gaze stayed fixed on the large cocoon covered in dark purple patterns in the corner.
The cocoon trembled more and more frequently, its movements growing larger, the patterns on its surface flickering like a rapid heartbeat.
Fine cracks began to appear, spreading down from the top with faint but distinct cracking sounds.
Black Bird tilted its head, watching curiously.
Money Rat clung to the edge of its nest with its little paws and squeaked twice.
Luo Fan's heartbeat quickened slightly too.
Nightmare Nekomata had followed him from its beginnings as a weak Weird and was his first pet.
At the third tier, it could possess Uncanny Artifacts to amplify their power. After eating the Evil Blood Fruit, it could also possess him, granting him a power boost through partial beast transformation.
What about the fourth tier? What would it be like?
More and more cracks appeared. Finally, with a soft cracking sound, a small piece at the top of the cocoon was pushed open.
A small, furry black paw poked out and gripped the edge.
Then the entire cocoon split into two halves, like an eggshell forced open from within.
The palm-sized Nightmare Nekomata leaped lightly out of the fragments and landed steadily beside them.
First, it shook off dust that wasn't there, then raised its head and let out a pleased, low "Meow."
Its size didn't look much different from when it was at the third tier. It was still small and dainty.
But the most striking change was on its back: a pair of folded, equally black feathered wings lay against its tiny back, looking somewhat like Black Bird's wings.
"Wings?" Luo Fan's eyes lit up.
He remembered the white Nightmare Nekomata he had encountered before, which had also had wings.
It seemed these wings were