Chapter 1011 - 1011: D399.Heart, Return to Primal Origins

"Monsterization."

Before discussing this phenomenon, there is a concept that must first be clarified: What is a "monster"?

This question seems simple, but in the academic world, it has undergone multiple rounds of debate before a barely satisfactory answer was established.

As the name suggests, so-called monsters are "life forms capable of utilizing magic power and employing magic."

However, many such creatures do exist in the world, but they are not referred to as monsters.

For example, the "Cold-Resistant Flower," which grows atop the Snow Mountain yet can make the surrounding icefield burst with vitality by absorbing geothermal energy, is considered an exceptionally precious Magic Plant. Its contained magic power rivals that of a high-tier monster's Demon Crystal, yet it is classified as a "Magic Plant," not a monster.

And the "Parasitic Tree," which lures and consumes creatures by spreading hallucinogenic pollen and can even transform humans into breeding nurseries, is unquestionably classified as a mid-tier monster—because its behavior is similar to that of goblins, the Adventurer Guild has recently increased its extermination rewards by two grades,

Through these two cases, one can discern a fact: In practical application, the term "monster" more often refers to "creatures capable of utilizing magic power and harmful to humankind."

This was also the initial established definition of monsters, but it has been criticized for being too vague.

For instance, Goblin Shamans can indeed use magic, but why are ordinary goblins and Big Goblins, which are merely low-level beasts, also classified as monsters?

Many adventurers believe that lowly goblins have nothing to do with the word "magic power." They are weak, foolish, and only pose a threat through their numbers and meanness.

It is only because of the presence of upper species and their repulsive way of life that these green-skinned scum are classified as monsters.

But mages, after further investigation and feedback, confirmed that this categorization is not based on human subjective bias.

Research has found that even the lowest goblins possess a unique magic instinct within them.

Although they lack any spellcasting abilities, their magic power, once activated, pollutes and permeates their flesh and blood, breaks through a biological barrier, turning any organic tissue into breeding grounds for goblins, including the goblins themselves.

Another more straightforward test is the Hero.

When a Hero pulls out a Cold-Resistant Flower, they do not gain any growth, but burning a Parasitic Tree earns them experience.

Mages, therefore, propose this hypothesis: Magic Plants like the Cold-Resistant Flower, though rich in magic power and lacking a "soul" capable of generating intelligence, are life but use magic power in a manner more akin to a Magic Crystal-like mineral—as it absorbs ambient magic elements, the Magic Crystal also gradually grows.

The Parasitic Tree, on the other hand, is different. Although its intelligence is even lower than that of a goblin, it undoubtedly possesses primitive will and sufficient aggressiveness to identify prey.

In other words, a more rigorous and formal definition of "monster" is "a creature capable of utilizing magic power and possessing a soul."

However, in practical application, people further refine it; for instance, why are Elemental Spirits and Fairies not considered monsters?

Desert Clay Dolls and The Wailing Stone Beast, although both mineral-type monsters, more often, the former are not recognized as monsters, while the latter is treated as a target for extermination.

This is because the former is a mysterious spirit born from dolls left by ancient civilizations, occasionally guiding lost travelers in the desert; whereas the latter, although also a human artifact, takes the initiative to assault humans, only to savor the sound of wailing.

As for the many prank-playing fairies, despite being bothersome, they rarely cause casualties, and thus are not regarded as monsters either.

Even beings like the Knowledge Hunter are not always defined as monsters, as their purpose is not to harm humankind.

Thus, a practical consensus is formed: a creature capable of utilizing magic power and harming humankind out of subjective malice is considered a monster.

This is also the basis on which the Adventurer Guild issues extermination tasks. Only those "monsters" in practical consensus are allowed to be exterminated, rather than those fitting the strict definition of "monsters."

Of course, this assessment carries subjective human bias, for from the Hero's perspective, any monster, no matter the kind, is a source of experience once slain.

As a term, "monsterization" refers to more rigorous and formally defined monsters, that is, "creatures originally possessing a soul but without magic power gained magic power," or "those originally capable of utilizing magic power but without a soul gained a soul."

The Flower Field Master of Honey Crystal belongs to the latter.

She is a Mineral Elf born from Honey Crystal, who mimicked wildflowers once blooming at the mine entrance. After hollowing out the mountain into a valley, she made the original mine, the current bottom of the valley, bloom with a crystal flower field.

Although a "monster" through monsterization, she is not viewed as a "monster" that would actively harm humankind.

Originally, she was a special mineral created by magic phenomena, but by gaining a soul and intelligence, she could replicate herself on a large scale, proliferating the originally rare Honey Crystal everywhere.

This is the tremendous change monsterization has brought to the world.

However, the debate over the definition of "monsterization" has yet to cease in the academic world.

Even when in disagreement, the writings of scholars and mages are always wordy and esoteric, making past heroes fall into a deep sleep.