novelraw Chapter 243: The Mysterious Gold Corruption
Chapter 243: The Mysterious Gold Corruption
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Mirai and Louis explored the Yin Swamp in their monster forms, roaming and hunting small-fry monsters from Rank 1 to Rank 2.
Sometimes Deadly Sword Piranhas appeared and leaped toward them. Each was a Rank 1 Peak Stage monster, yet with Louis and Mirai's magic and movement abilities, they dodged every attack and took the creatures down with ease.
They pressed deeper into the swamp, defeating Rank 2 Initial Stage Swamp Cobras, Rank 2 Middle Stage Electric Eels, Rank 2 Initial Stage Spear Mosquitoes, Rank 2 Middle Stage Swamp Hydras, and even a few fearsome yet still manageable Rank 2 Upper Stage Swamp Horrors. The horrors were giants formed of swamp plants and wood, and they burned away without resistance.
Afterward both decided to rest on a small island in the middle of the swamp, absorbing every corpse they had gathered and growing stronger.
After nearly a week of hunting and surviving together, Louis had gained several more levels and his evolution threshold had already passed the halfway mark. Mirai, on the other hand, was about to reach max level and her evolution threshold had already hit its limit.
"It has been fun!" Mirai said happily, sitting down and letting Louis wrap around her, sharing his warmth. "It's been a little thrilling but fun… I never imagined this kind of life would feel so incredible."
"I suppose you felt the same way," Louis said. "A connection with nature, with your inner self… something unlike anything we've ever experienced before, right?"
"Yeah!" Mirai nodded. "It's fun… Zzzzz…"
"…"
Louis coiled his long serpentine body around her and gently ruffled her hair. As they rested, he examined his new skill, [Eye of the White Void].
[Eye of the White Void: Level 1]: A skill unique to the White Dust Wyrm. By activating it, a golden-white eye opens within their chest, capable of seeing through all things within a certain range and granting complete awareness of their surroundings. It can also perceive a foe's intentions and souls, and at higher levels even read their minds to an extent. In addition, it amplifies Holy Light, Ashes, Life, and Psychic elements and power, granting the "White Void Element" to Psionic Talents.
It was an incredible skill with many useful effects. It essentially allowed him to "see" everything around him, making it virtually impossible to be caught off guard. It also strengthened his Esper abilities and gave them the White Void element when they previously had none.
After activating it, he could see countless rivers of energy flowing everywhere, something not even he could perceive in his Heavenly Being Stage or even as a Star Weaver. The sight filled him with awe.
"These rivers, these roots… they must be something like Spiritual Roots or Dragon Veins," he thought. "And now that I know they exist, I can drain power from them, just like the Druidic Magic Anastasia practices."
Louis had watched her training before and tried to copy her magic, but he had been utterly talentless with it until now. With this new sight, he could finally touch the Spiritual Veins and absorb their power, growing stronger in the process.
"Incredible. Do they follow some sort of Feng Shui principle?" he wondered. "Perhaps an array could make us even stronger…"
As Louis pondered these things…
SPLAAASH!
"...?!"
The dark swamp trembled and the island where they rested suddenly lifted into the air.
"UWAH?! What's happening?!"
Mirai woke with a start, terrified, and hugged Louis tightly as he shot into the sky. Both watched the giant island begin to move on enormous legs.
It was a massive brown crab covered in grass and trees.
"SHYEEEEEHHH!"
And it was furious they had been napping on its back.
"What is that thing?!" Mirai asked.
"That's a…"
[The Ruler of the Yin Swamp – Rank 3: Initial Stage]
"Rank 3! This is the ruler of the swamp!"
"What?!"
RUMBLE!
Before either could say another word, a giant claw hurtled toward them, shattering the sound barrier. It moved far faster than its massive size suggested.
CRAAASH!
"Guaaaack?!"
"Louis!"
Louis hurled Mirai aside just seconds before the claw would have struck her. He took the full force of the blow and smashed into the swamp, sinking beneath the water.
"Leave him alone!!!"
Mirai roared. Dozens of red eyes opened across her shadow body and fired Chaos Lasers in rapid succession, bombarding the monster with explosions.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
"GRYYSHIIIII!"
The Ruler of the Swamp hissed in fury and raised its giant claws to shield itself. Mirai's attacks were powerful and left deep gashes in its exoskeleton, yet the beast was enormous and barely slowed.
RUMBLE!
It charged forward on its massive legs, snapping its claws at them. Mirai rushed toward Louis while still firing Chaos Lasers, but Louis was no longer in the swamp.
"Huh? Louis?!"
And then…
FLAAASH!
A bright white light surged from the sky. The crab froze as it saw Louis high above, shining beneath the full moon.
"White Breath."
TRUUUM!
A beam of blinding white light pierced straight through the crab's body, tearing a massive hole and splattering guts and blood across the swamp.
BOOOM!
However…
Crack, crack…!
CRASH!
The exoskeleton shattered, revealing…
A glistening golden body?
"What is… this?!"
Louis felt a jolt of shock as the crab shed its shell and revealed the golden body beneath, shining with unnatural brilliance. For a moment he was reminded of the Golden Judge, and this strange creature radiated a similar power.
"Why though?!"
Why would this random monster carry that judge's gold beneath its shell?
Then a new notification appeared.
[After taking enough damage, the [Ruler of the Yin Swamp – Rank 3: Initial Stage] has shed its former body and revealed its [Golden Corrupted Form], rising to Rank 3: Upper Stage!]
"GRYYYSHHIIIIIII!"
The giant crab let out a metallic screech that assaulted their minds and souls, shaking them and sending waves of agony through their bodies.
Yet…
Louis clenched his teeth and roared back.
"RAAAAHHHH!"
With a mighty Nightmarish Roar he corrupted the crab's mind instead, leaving it dazed and toppling face-first into the swamp.
SPLASH!
Louis followed by diving down, infusing Draconic Energy into his claws and stabbing them into the monster's golden exoskeleton as hard as he could.
CLASH! CLASH! CLASH! CLASH!
"Ungh?!"
To his surprise, his own claws shattered on impact. The monster's golden body was indestructible.
"GRYEEEH!"
With a ferocious roar the crab struck Louis with a smashing blow, sending him crashing through dozens of trees across the swamp.
CRAAASH!
"LOUIS!"
Mirai screamed in panic and raced toward him, only to be caught by the beast's golden pincers and sliced cleanly in two.
"Aaaaggghh!"
As her body split apart, the two halves became two separate Mirais, activating her skill [Shadow Division].
"I am not so easy to kill either!"
Dozens of crimson eyes opened across both bodies and unleashed hundreds of Chaos Lasers and Demonic Flame Bullets at the monster.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
At the same time, Louis bathed himself in white dust made of light, healing his wounds and using telekinesis to launch himself back at the crab.
"If my claws cannot do it, then what else but my magic?!"
He channeled his Cinderheart Pulse and concentrated it into one regrown claw until it burned red-hot with ashen flames. His other claw channeled Ice Element, turning blue and elongated, and he infused both with Sword Qi.
"RAAAAHHHH!"
He roared and charged toward the crab while Mirai kept it occupied, striking at the small holes her lasers had already carved.
"Dragon… Claw!!!"
CLASH! CLASH! CLASH! CLASH! CLASH!
Dozens of dragon-claw strikes hammered the bus-sized crab. Its glistening body boiled and froze in rapid succession. Cracks spiderwebbed across the golden shell as if it were turning to glass.
This was the result of something Louis had studied before: repeated heating and freezing caused embrittlement. The metal's structure could no longer deform and simply snapped.
CRAAASH!
"GYYAAAAAH!"
The monster unleashed one final mind-warping attack using its Corrupted Gold, but it exploded and shattered into pieces, splattering its innards everywhere.
It was dead.
"Haaa… Haaa… W-We did it!" Mirai sighed in relief. "T-That was hard! What the hell?"
"Yeah, it was… harder than I imagined," Louis nodded. "Golden Corrupted forms, huh? So fragments of that bastard are still hiding inside monsters. We need to hunt them down, or it might try to revive somehow."
"Yeah… but right now I'm kind of hungry and sleepy…" Mirai yawned, merging her two parts back together.
"Let's find another place to rest…"
…
Ding!
[Congratulations, you have slain a [Ruler of the Yin Swamp (Golden Corrupted Form) – Rank 3: Upper Stage]!]
[You earned EXP. Your EXP has increased by 120%.]
[Level Up!]
[Level Up!]
[Level Up!]
[Level Up!]
[Level Up!]
[Level Up!]
[Level Up!]
[Level Up!]
[Your [Young Dragon – Level 52/60] has increased to Level 60/60!]
[An available corpse is in front of you.]
[Do you wish to devour the Ruler of the Yin Swamp Corpse?]
[Yes] [No]
Louis and Mirai shared the corpse between them as usual.
[You have consumed the Ruler of the Yin Swamp Corpse.]
[Evolution Threshold]: 70% → 100%
[You learned the Skill: [Soul Wyrm Division: Level 1]: The unique skill of the White Dust Wyrm. By dividing your soul, you can summon Soul Wyrms that join you in battle and wield your magic and skills. Each divided Soul Wyrm carries 10% of your stats, which you temporarily lose while they are summoned. You can share your mind with them and control them remotely. There is no limit to how many you can summon, but they grow stronger as the skill levels up and as your Draconic Energy increases.]
[You can now Evolve! Do you wish to see available options?]
[Yes] [No]
After finally finding a secure place to rest, Louis reviewed the status information he had skipped earlier. Even after devouring the corpse he had gained a new skill.
"I can evolve again… Alright, show me the evolution options," Louis said while Mirai dozed off beside him inside the hollow tree they had found.
[Evolution Options – Young Dragon (Level 60/60)]
[Boreas – Rank 4: Upper Stage]:
Evolution Paths: Medium.
Possible Skills: [Frostbite Aura] [Glacial Breath] [Crystal Scales] [Icicle Rain] [Freezing Touch] [Winter Domain] [Ice Authority]
Description: A powerful Ice-type dragon that roams frozen lands with its gigantic body. Covered from head to toe in white fur and possessing six long blue antlers, it charges furiously at anything in its path. Wherever a Boreas walks, winter arrives early.
[Aether – Rank 4: Peak Stage]
Evolution Paths: Small.
Possible Skills: [Healing Light] [Holy Breath] [Mirror Scales] [Blessing] [Sanctification] [Exorcism] [Holy Light Body] [Sunlight Authority]
Description: A mythical dragon said to live in the sun. It flies high above the clouds at the speed of light, absorbing sunlight and glowing with such radiance that anyone who sees it is instantly blinded. Its true appearance has never been recorded.
[White Pandora – Rank 4: Initial Stage]
Evolution Paths: Large.
Possible Skills: [Celestial Box] [Inverse Pandora] [Seven Great Evils] [Soul Sealing]
Description: A bizarre mutation of the terrifying "Pandora," a deadly dragon known for bringing destruction and the end of all things. A White Pandora has never been recorded before, and its abilities are unknown.
[Hecatoncheires – Rank 5: Initial Stage]
Evolution Paths: Final.
Possible Skills: [Bone Armor] [Bone Absorption] [Wraith Summoning] [Skeleton Summoning] [Cursed Touch] [Hundred Arms] [Undead Legion] [Lord of Destruction]
Description: A unique dragon said to possess a hundred arms, a monstrous mythological beast that some believe might have never existed. Covered in white bones and with hundreds of arms, it devastates anything in its path. An ultimate dragon deserving the title of "Lord of Destruction," it commands an endless Undead Legion.
[Vritra – Rank 4: Middle Stage]
Evolution Paths: Medium.
Possible Skills: [Phantasmal Aura] [Ghostly Touch] [Possession] [Spectral Roar] [Spectral Claw] [Black Spectral Thunder] [Living Catastrophe]
Description: A living catastrophe with an enormous pitch-black body said to exude specters and black thunder. Wherever it walks, destruction and storms follow. Death flies by its side and its demonic soul can possess foes and drive them to the brink of madness. A terrifying beast.
"Hm…"
Louis read the descriptions and possible skills carefully. Although he found them all impressive, the last three options felt the most compelling. The Ice and Heavenly Dragon paths seemed to be narrowing and might end with the next evolution.
Among the final three, Hecatoncheires offered immediate power. With that choice he would reach Rank 5 right away, becoming as strong as his true body or even stronger, and he might combine their powers further. Yet it was labeled Final Form. Becoming permanently stuck in that shape did not feel ideal for Louis.
Vritra seemed like an evolution of the Scavenger path—stronger, more intimidating, and capable of unleashing great catastrophes—but Louis questioned whether he truly wanted that path.
And then there was White Pandora, the most intriguing and mysterious of all. Its skills were strange and its description vague, yet it radiated the greatest evolution potential and the rarest abilities he had ever seen.
Above everything else, it was a unique mutation rarer than any other form.
"It might be worth the risk."
Louis stepped outside the tree trunk and began his evolution. His body transformed into a cocoon of white salt and crystals that blossomed open like a gigantic treasure chest.
FLASH!
As the chest opened, his new body reformed, reborn, and revealed itself all at once, radiating an immense quantity of light and blessings.
Mirai slowly opened her eyes. Morning had already arrived, but the brilliant light pouring from outside made her think it was midday. Her eyes widened, then she shielded them as a majestic young adult dragon emerged before her.
Fifteen meters tall, covered in crystalline white scales, six long golden horns, sharp yellow-blue eyes, long sharp fangs, and a majestic presence. Four feathered wings and a long tail tipped with a sharp sword of golden scales completed the form. Golden regal decorations adorned his white scales like fine art, and spirit crystals sparkled across his body.
He looked like a living treasure.
Thus… White Pandora.
"OOOOHHHH!"
Mirai screamed in awe and disbelief. Louis looked nothing like any "fake dragon form" he had ever taken. He was so beautiful and divine that tears sprang to her eyes.
"L-Louis! You did it! You evolved into… into a beautiful dragon!"
"I…"
Louis could hardly believe his next form had come so close to his idealized dragon image. He had thought he was still only halfway there.
Yet that idealized appearance had almost been achieved.
Without realizing it, tears streamed down his large eyes as he gazed at Mirai, emotions surging deep within his heart.
"I really am… a dragon?"
"Yes, you are!"
Mirai ran to him and hugged his leg, kissing it.
"Well done!"
"…"
Louis stared at the sky in silence, letting the tears dry as a new resolve filled him. His strength had grown exponentially, far beyond anything he had imagined.
"I am a dragon… I truly am a dragon now."
He smiled with confidence, his eyes gleaming. A new flame burned in his heart—an unyielding spirit, the power every dragon possessed to fight without ever falling into despair.
The Heart, Spirit, and Will of the Dragon King, his grandfather, had now passed to him, making Louis feel like an entirely different man.
"Thank you, Mirai, for helping me."
"No problem! But are you done? I still have to evolve myself…"
"Go ahead," Louis nodded. "We'll head to Yang Heaven Mountain, where the strongest monsters roam, and hunt for the rest of the month. Let's take down as many as possible and destroy any remaining vestiges of the Golden Judge."
"Ok!" Mirai nodded excitedly, sitting down to check her own evolution options.
Meanwhile, Louis reviewed the many new system notifications before him.
Ding!
[Congratulations, you have successfully evolved into the [White Pandora – Rank 4: Initial Stage]!]
[Your Draconic Essence has increased by +15000.]
[Your Vitality has increased by +10000.]
[Your Strength has increased by +7000.]
[Your Dexterity has increased by +7000.]
[Your Magic has increased by +9000.]
[The Skill: [Fragile Shell: Level 6] has leveled up to Level 8!]
[The Skill: [Ice Dragon/Heaven Dragon Bloodline: Level 3] has leveled up to Level 5!]
[The Skill: [Grandson of the Dragon King: Level 3] has leveled up to Level 5!]
[The Skill: [Fragile Illusion: Level 3] has leveled up to Level 5!]
[The Skill: [Dragon Claw: Level 3] has leveled up to Level 5!]
[The Skill: [Nightmarish Roar: Level 3] has leveled up to Level 5!]
[The Skill: [Cinderheart Pulse: Level 3] has leveled up to Level 5!]
[The Skill: [White Breath: Level 2] has leveled up to Level 4!]
[The Skill: [Dust of Purification: Level 2] has leveled up to Level 4!]
[The Skill: [Eye of the White Void: Level 2] has leveled up to Level 4!]
[The Skill: [Soul Wyrm Division: Level 1] has leveled up to Level 3!]
[You learned the Skill: [Inverse Pandora: Level 1]: Unleash the power of the mythical and never-before-seen White Pandora—the ability to reverse all elements to their opposite force. Turn light into darkness, healing into destruction, hope into despair, ashes into flames, fire into ice, and much more. The power of Inverse Pandora enhances the reversed target based on Skill Level and Draconic Energy reserves.]
"The Reverse Technique… It's a skill? So this was my potential all along?" Louis was stunned.
He realized his mother's "teaching" had actually been the method she discovered to awaken his greatly dormant dragon powers.
Inverse Pandora was that very power.
Standing tall, Louis decided to examine his Dragon Status before testing the new skill.
[Young Adult Dragon – Level 60/100]
[True Name]: [None]
[Current Form]: [White Pandora – Rank 4: Initial Stage]
[Draconic Essence]: [19310]
[Vitality]: [13980]
[Strength]: [10480]
[Dexterity]: [10475]
[Magic]: [12695]
[Evolution Threshold]: [0%]
[Skills]:
[Fragile Shell: Level 8]: Your eggshell is very fragile and may easily shatter. Increases Movement Speed by 40% in exchange for Defense.
[Ice Dragon/Heaven Dragon Bloodline: Level 5]: You possess a double dragon bloodline, capable of learning a wide array of skills and evolution paths.
[Grandson of the Dragon King: Level 5]: You are the Dragon King's grandson. Having finally awakened your dragon self, you receive his natural blessing. Increases EXP earned by 150% and Skill Level Proficiency earned by 250%.
[Fragile Illusion: Level 5]: When your health drops to zero, your body can shatter into ash and reform once per day, leaving behind a decoy illusion.
[Dragon Claw: Level 5]: The most basic attack skill any dragon learns. Deals damage based on Strength and allows the claws to grow longer and sharper when infused with Draconic Energy.
[Nightmarish Roar: Level 5]: A horrifying cry that forces foes to endure nightmares, become confused, and turn enraged, unable to think straight. Prolonged use can cause powerful debuffs.
[Cinderheart Pulse: Level 5]: By channeling Draconic Energy, you periodically release waves of flames and ashes that burn foes within range and heal yourself.
[White Breath: Level 4]: Channel the purest whiteness within the bright void of light to strike foes with a powerful beam-like attack from your jaws. Incredibly fast and capable of piercing defenses the more Draconic Energy is used.
[Dust of Purification: Level 4]: Channel Holy White Light and Ashes together to create a rain of purifying dust over a designated area. The dust heals over time, cures most status effects, and offers temporary protection against a wide range of elements such as Curse, Death, Phantom, Ghost, Darkness, and more. Greater Draconic Energy increases range and effects.
[Eye of the White Void: Level 4]: A skill unique to the White Dust Wyrm. By activating it, a golden-white eye opens within the chest, capable of seeing through all things within a certain range and granting complete awareness of surroundings. It can also perceive foes' intentions and souls, and at higher levels even read their minds to an extent. It amplifies Holy Light, Ashes, Life, and Psychic elements and power, granting the "White Void Element" to Psionic Talents.
[Soul Wyrm Division: Level 3]: The unique skill of the White Dust Wyrm. By dividing your soul, you can summon Soul Wyrms that join you in battle and wield your magic and skills. Each divided Soul Wyrm carries 10% (+15% Bonus) of your stats, which you temporarily lose while they are summoned. You can share your mind with them and control them remotely. There is no limit to how many you can summon, but they grow stronger as the skill levels up and as your Draconic Energy increases.
[Inverse Pandora: Level 1]: Unleash the power of the mythical and never-before-seen White Pandora—the ability to reverse all elements to their opposite force. Turn light into darkness, healing into destruction, hope into despair, ashes into flames, fire into ice, and much more. The power of Inverse Pandora enhances the reversed target based on Skill Level and Draconic Energy reserves.
While admiring his status, one detail intrigued him: the empty "True Name" field.
"What is a True Name? What does this mean? Was I never given one? Is… is Louis not my real name?"
The possible revelation left him shaken. What could his true name possibly be?
"Right, now that I remember…"
He recalled an old conversation with his mother long ago. Her name had sounded strange because it was a combination of her parents' names.
"My name is no such thing…"
Could it be that his true dragon name had to be the combination of his parents' names?
Was that a dragon tradition, or something else within his dragon family?
"No, it wasn't originally from dragons. It was… right! It's a tradition from Ice Giants. However, it was absorbed into dragon culture when my grandmother incorporated that tradition after marrying my grandfather, the Dragon King…"
He was amazed by the realization and by the fact that he still lacked a name—one he might never receive until his mother finally woke again.
He gripped his claws tightly.
"Mother… I wonder how you would react if you saw me finally in my dragon form. Well, you would definitely be happy, I suppose."
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