novelraw Chapter 246: Evolving Once More
Chapter 246: Evolving Once More
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Ding!
[Congratulations, you and your ally have slain the [Five Elements Bear: Rank 5].]
[You earned EXP. Your EXP has increased by 150%.]
[Level Up!]
[Level Up!]
[Level Up!]
[Level Up!]
[Level Up!]
[Level Up!]
[Level Up!]
[Your [Young Adult Dragon – Level 90/100] has increased to Level 100/100!]
[An available corpse is in front of you.]
[Do you wish to devour the corpse?]
[Yes] [No]
[You have consumed the corpse.]
[Evolution Threshold]: 85% -> 100%
[The Skill: [Fragile Shell: Level 8] has Leveled Up to Level 9!]
[The Skill: [Ice Dragon/Heaven Dragon Bloodline: Level 5] has Leveled Up to Level 6!]
[The Skill: [Grandson of the Dragon King: Level 5] has Leveled Up to Level 6!]
[The Skill: [Fragile Illusion: Level 5] has Leveled Up to Level 6!]
[The Skill: [Dragon Claw: Level 6] has Leveled Up to Level 7!]
[The Skill: [Nightmarish Roar: Level 5] has Leveled Up to Level 6!]
[The Skill: [Cinderheart Pulse: Level 5] has Leveled Up to Level 6!]
[The Skill: [White Breath: Level 5] has Leveled Up to Level 6!]
[The Skill: [Dust of Purification: Level 4] has Leveled Up to Level 5!]
[The Skill: [Eye of the White Void: Level 4] has Leveled Up to Level 5!]
[The Skill: [Soul Wyrm Division: Level 4] has Leveled Up to Level 5!]
[The Skill: [Inverse Pandora: Level 4] has Leveled Up to Level 5!]
[The Skill: [Celestial Box: Level 2] has Leveled Up to Level 3!]
[The Skill: [Soul Sealing: Level 2] has Leveled Up to Level 3!]
[You learned the Skill: [Seven Great Evils: Level 1]: One of the key abilities that defines the Pandora Dragon. Unleash the evil within your heart and soul, cracking it open to reveal Seven Great Evils that shape into demonic dragon-like spirits embodying the seven deadly sins—greed, wrath, envy, sloth, pride, lust, and gluttony—and unleash them upon your opponents, causing damage, weakening them, slowly devouring their souls, and cursing them. Each of the Seven Great Evils will grow alongside the dragon, meaning the stronger the dragon, the stronger these beings will become. To maintain their summon, draconic energy in large quantities is required.]
"Interesting..."
Louis watched the system notifications one last time, reflecting on how vastly he had grown. It seemed that all his skills had leveled up once more, and he had obtained the final skill available within the White Pandora Skill Tree: Seven Great Evils.
From what he could tell, it was an incredible skill capable of summoning seven evil spirits to fight for him, weaken foes, curse them, and drain their souls. It felt like an evolution of the Divided Wyrm Souls in a way, but perhaps with their own tricks and other things to deal with instead.
He also wondered what they would become once he used Inverse Pandora on the skill itself. The very thought left him pondering, but instead of testing anything, he decided to go for his evolution options right away.
"Louis, are you sure you shouldn't rest a little?" Mirai asked with a worried expression on her snake-like face.
"I am fine," said Louis. "I've recovered now after eating that thing, so I want to evolve as quickly as possible. Don't worry."
"Um, okay then!" Mirai nodded. "Like you did with me, I will keep watch on you, so please don't worry and evolve without concerns."
"Thank you," Louis nodded, sitting down and looking at his options. "Don't you want to see my options? I may need a bit of your help."
"Oh! Sure!" Mirai slid to his side and leaned her big head against his shoulder.
[Showcasing Evolution Options for [White Pandora]
[Evolution Options Found: 3]]
[Leviathan – Rank 8: Initial Stage]
Evolution Paths: Final.
Possible Skills: [Titanic Sovereign] [True Divine Dragon] [Calamity of the World] [Great Devourer] [Storm Tyrant] [Weather Manipulation] [Ocean Manipulation] [Territory Takeover]
Description: A living catastrophe beyond catastrophes. The Leviathan is among the greatest dragons to have ever lived, with only one recorded species long extinct within Yggdrasil. Once alive, the Leviathan devastated half of the ancient world of Yggdrasil, drowning cities and killing millions. Its size is gigantic, dozens of kilometers long. It has a bad temperament and is highly territorial. Capable of manipulating both the sky and the sea, there are very few who can oppose it. A True Divine Dragon who stands above most.
[Fragmented Archangel – Rank 7: Initial Stage]
Evolution Paths: Small.
Possible Skills: [Chorus of a Thousand Angels] [Immortalizing Golden Blood] [Fractured Archangel] [Immortal Gold Body] [Angelic Heaven Domain] [Celestial All-Seeing Eyes] [Divine Light Lasers]
Description: A fragmented divine holy dragon that has taken on a slightly humanoid, angelic appearance. It is fragmented as cracks of gold appear across its holy body, exuding divine radiance and golden blood capable of overtaking their foes' souls and minds, and if weaker, completely "immortalizing" them into golden statues which this dragon keeps within their heavenly nests to feed on later. Often seen as a god among the dragons and a divine and holy existence by lowly mortals, this dragon exudes holiness as it flies, its cry resembling the chorus of hundreds of angels in the sky. However, its nature is that of a predatory and psychopathic being.
[Ashen Nephilim – Rank 6: Initial Stage]
Evolution Paths: Medium.
Possible Skills: [Ashen Soul Body Transformation] [Celestial Light Wielder] [Shattered Hope] [Wanderer of Limbo] [Curse Devourer] [Devourer of Time] [The Fallen One]
Description: A strange dragon that has never been recorded in history. Little is known about this entity other than it is related to the Ash Element in combination with Holiness. The Ashen Nephilim is a mysterious creature, perhaps capable of turning into ashes themselves and disappearing with the wind, a strange "mixture" of two opposite powers that coexist into a celestial, yet corrupted being. An imperfect heart shunned by both the heavens and purgatory, a forever wanderer of the Limbo.
"Hm?"
Louis was surprised. This time, he didn't get possible evolutions for the other options he hadn't chosen before, which meant only one thing: he had already lost the opportunity to ever become an Ice Dragon or a Heaven Dragon like his grandfather and his mother.
He had already completely compromised and locked himself into his own path, one of uncertainty, which had birthed three bizarre evolution options. And they all were incredibly strong.
The first of them was one he felt incredibly tempted to choose, to the point where his hands trembled and his tail had to stop himself from selecting it.
The quickest way to power had always been shown as an option for some reason.
And that path was now named "Leviathan"!
A legendary name that resonated through all of the knowledge Louis had ever gathered through his long life.
Leviathan was an Archdemon.
But also seen as a beast.
A living calamity of the seas.
A giant serpent, a monster.
A calamity, a living monstrosity beyond everyone's comprehension!
One humanity could never defeat, a representation of the ocean's wrath—no, of nature itself.
And now, it was something Louis could become.
His eyes widened as he read the description and how each of these skills resonated with him. They were all incredibly strong sounding.
With this, wouldn't he become the strongest?
Gigantic, so big he could crush any enemy with just a thought!
The skills themselves... ridiculous beyond measure!
Did he ever have to worry about anything at all in such a monstrously strong form?
He could do anything, and finally be at ease, finally experience peace by—
"No."
Louis shook his head.
He knew it.
This option was nothing but yet another deception.
It promised a quick growth in power, but at the same time, it locked him from ever growing stronger than that.
Beyond Earth, beyond where he was right now, there were beings with incomprehensible levels of strength.
Against them, Louis, even as a Leviathan, would be nothing.
He would only be a giant mass of meat ready to be chopped and eaten by beings even greater than him.
The Venerables... they would just laugh at him.
It was tempting, but he chose not to pick this option.
"Next..."
Louis looked at the second option, the Fragmented Archangel, and was quickly shaken by its powers and descriptions.
"Immortalizing Gold?!"
It seemed that this evolution somehow featured the same powers as that Venerable? Or partially. He had no idea if this was mere coincidence or if the gold he had absorbed and eaten could be assimilated into a new dragon form.
Could he steal the position of that Venerable and attain his Authority of Immortalization and Achievement? Would that really work?
...
No, that would be too easy, right?
It felt strange... almost suspicious. The description clearly spoke about this species as if it already existed, but why would a separate dragon species have the same powers as that being?
It didn't make any sense, did it?
Louis concluded that this was either a trap or a coincidence based on something that the Venerable must have done in the past.
Perhaps he created his own dragons, or corrupted existing dragons to become his agents, his eyes, or something else like that.
Thus, one of these options was to evolve into a dragon that had already existed, which was compatible with what he had been digesting this entire time.
But he shook his head.
The abilities seemed incredible, but... this was too risky.
And there was a big possibility that the Venerable was trying one last attempt at getting him somehow.
Perhaps if he evolved into this form, Louis would become the Venerable's slave, or maybe the Venerable, as weakened as it was, would attempt to use him as its vessel.
Louis couldn't take these risks, at least not for now.
Thus, the only remaining option, the only last path that truly mattered...
Was the one he had been forging this entire time.
Ashen Nephilim.
The evolution of White Pandora, the "true" next path, the one he had forged with his efforts and suffering.
One born from ashes, a hybrid between humans and "demons".
Perhaps these "demons" were represented by his dragon bloodline.
Was there any other evolution that could represent Louis better than this?
It almost... was made for him, perfectly fit for his current power, and giving him even more strange and bizarre skills.
Louis remained in silence, thinking.
Mirai had been reading things with him and she seemed to agree.
"It's the only option after all, I think... Leviathan... you already said it would limit you, and the second option is... uhh, a bit sus. I wouldn't take the risk if I were you."
"Yeah, me neither."
Louis nodded, reading the evolution description one more time.
A strange dragon that has never been recorded in history. Little is known about this entity other than it is related to the Ash Element in combination with Holiness. The Ashen Nephilim is a mysterious creature, perhaps capable of turning into ashes themselves and disappearing with the wind, a strange "mixture" of two opposite powers that coexist into a celestial, yet corrupted being. An imperfect heart shunned by both the heavens and purgatory, a forever wanderer of the Limbo.
Yeah.
A "wanderer of Limbo", just like he was.
An imperfect heart shunned by both heaven and purgatory.
Indeed, he had been both rejected by human society and also by the dragons.
He was both, and yet none...
Never truly part of any of the others, he had felt alone for a long time in his life.
Within him there was an awakened holiness, but at the same time, ashes that forged his path of grief and pain.
And what he had always wished for...?
To die.
To disappear.
To turn... into ashes themselves.
A power that the Ashen Nephilim possessed!
This was the Draconic Rebirth Spiral Ability speaking to him.
No, it was his Spiral of Fate rewarding him for all his efforts so far.
It was giving him his evolution.
And Louis did not hesitate anymore, choosing it.
Because, at last, he realized that this was who he truly was.
[You have chosen the [Ashen Nephilim – Rank 6: Initial Stage] Evolution Option!]
[Evolution has begun. Please move to a safe area to evolve. Evolution may take several days to a week. A guardian to protect you is advised.]
FLASH!
Louis started shining, becoming pure light, but this light slowly burned his body, turning him into a cocoon made of hardened ashes.
"Mirai, I'm counting on you."
"Of course, Louis, leave it to me."
Mirai nodded, happy that Louis was finally relying on her to such an extent.
And at long last, Louis began his slow evolution.
His transformation into his true self.
♢♢♢♢
The morning of the seventh day came, as Mirai slowly opened her eyes lazily. She had ended up falling asleep in the large nest she had dug for herself and Louis. Surrounding her were the corpses and bones of many beasts she had been catching, eating, and saving while living her life as a giant snake.
It wasn't a bad life. She continued leveling up while Louis evolved, improving her skills and learning new ones, slowly beginning to grow stronger as a Chaos Demon, and learning more about her true self and what it meant to be who she truly was.
This week she had spent all alone was a good time for her to also connect with her own origins. As she continued to evolve, they kept resonating with her.
Dreams, sometimes even nightmares, would sometimes appear as she slept.
She would see those two again, the red demon and that ashen dark fairy. They would never speak, but always stare at her with meaningful eyes.
Even without someone telling her who they were, she knew, deep down, that they were related to her own soul and her current form.
They were like the "origins" of her very soul. The fairy granted her the power of Chaos, Entropy, and the demon gave her the power of Demons, Destruction.
Both of such powers were the ones she embodied as she grew stronger both in her Chaos Demon form and her Human form.
And of course, she wasn't exactly alone...
"Gyuuuhh!"
"Gaauuh!"
"Gyeehehe!"
Lately, Mirai had learned the ability to summon Spirits.
But they were not normal spirits. These spirits were completely black beings with red eyes and tentacles.
These were Chaos Spirits.
And she could also bring forth, from her own soul and flames, humanoid beings with horns and red skin.
These were Demons.
At some point, she had attained the ability to not just summon them but create them.
She could create completely new life spontaneously as her powers manifested, something that left her deeply intrigued.
And it wasn't just that. These beings had been working diligently for her, digging the burrow, making it comfier, building furniture and even hunting for her.
Mirai was kind with them and had even cried when they died by accident or were eaten by monsters, but over time, she began to realize that even when they "died" they simply returned to her as Chaos and Demonic energies.
These living beings were born from said energies, and once they died, they merely returned from where they came from, making her slowly accept that dying was a natural thing and a cycle.
A cycle born from her own strange, messed up powers.
But this is also why she tried to not get attached to any of them in particular, treating them all impartially and with just a general kindness instead.
Surprisingly enough this was enough to make them absolutely love her, as if they had never been treated with such kindness before.
They worshipped her a lot, and some even began building idols in her image.
To make things even more shocking, this strange inner world within her Fantasy Heart had already expanded immensely.
It was divided into two, a world of darkness and one of flames.
But slowly, they were merging into a chaotic world of darkness and flames, Chaos and Demons co-existing within it.
Whenever she wanted she could summon them from there or put them back.
So far, her strongest Chaos Spirits and Demons were only Rank 3. However, over time, they would continue to evolve or even eat one another to become stronger.
It wasn't something she liked but... whenever she tried to make them stop, they would die, so she just didn't intervene anymore in their own affairs.
Thus, this is how Mirai had been living for the entire week that it took Louis to evolve into his newest form.
And finally, this morning as she woke up to her little Chaos Spirits floating around her...
"Huh?"
FLAAASH!
A pillar of light pierced her beautifully made underground palace (burrow), exploding the ceiling and destroying most of her stuff.
"Gyaaaaahhhhh!"
Mirai's panicking scream echoed alongside all of her little spirits and demons. She grabbed as many as she could and ran away from the burrow before it all came undone.
And then...
BOOOMMM!!!
A massive explosion of blinding white light erupted. A massive crater formed all around them as dirt and boulders flew everywhere.
The entire forest was set ablaze with white flames as celestial light pillars rose everywhere all at once.
"L-Louis! Oh my gosh you're finally back!"
Mirai shed tears of happiness... and sadness that her little hideout was destroyed as she had been hoping to show it to Louis eventually.
Amidst the pillar of white light, as golden ashes fell from the sky, a figure spread out his feathered wings, tall, graceful, lean and slender.
With white-gray scales, sharp golden eyes, six limbs, two long arms with sharp golden claws and thick hind legs capable of powerful kicks and movement.
Four feathered wings with golden eyes on them, and a crown of ever-growing golden horns across his head, neck, and body, finishing with two long tails, each one with a spear-like and a sword-like tip.
His appearance looked much larger and "alien" than the White Pandora.
While the White Pandora looked like a traditional white dragon, this one was beginning to leave behind what was perceived as a "dragon" by many.
With four golden eyes and one crimson eye at the center of these four, he truly looked strange, and yet... his majestic appearance remained.
Gold streaked his ashen scaled body, forming ancient divine runes and ascending his power to even higher levels.
"Yeah, it is me, Mirai."
As Louis spoke, his voice resonated as he channeled his True Divinity.
Louis had now ascended not just to any dragon, but a Divine Dragon.
Although Dragons are born with Divinity, and thus by default born at Rank 6, Louis had to evolve his way towards this Rank.
Now, at Rank 6, Louis had become a God within Yggdrasil's power system as well!
If he could combine this Divinity with the one he had obtained through Qi Cultivation, just how strong had he become?
Some may call Louis "overly cautious" by training and growing so much before even continuing his journey in the Labyrinth he and his friends had been trapped in.
But hadn't he always been this way? Training every second, every minute, every hour.
Now, with ample time in his own Realm, Louis was squeezing every single opportunity and every moment possible to grow as strong as he possibly could.
And of course, with the discovery of the remnants of the Venerable left in his Realm, he could not stop until he finally slayed him once and for all.
And with this power, he knew he could.
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