Mash didn’t know what to expect from getting the gold body, but he had been able to observe what the potion was doing to a small degree. As Luke had said, the substance had bled into his body and had actually been affecting it as a whole. He had noticed it mixing with his energy and even some odd things like his hair. He didn’t really understand what was happening but knew that the potion was stuffing him with energy.

What was more interesting was the fact that he could tell. His draconic domain let him get an idea of how close he was getting to his body's limit. He was curious to see what exactly would happen when he went over that limit. He expected that the next potion would be enough and was debating whether or not to give up on the trial. If something went wrong with the process, then he would regret not having Luke around. However, he could heal himself with inhuman hibernation, so long as it didn’t literally kill him.

That was enough a reason not to worry too much, and he sat down and prepared to drink the final potion. It wasn’t the last of his reserves as he still had several more potions. He had been given enough to last a month, and he had only spent just over ten days in the dungeon. Taking out another potion, he uncorked it feeling the oddly cool glass in his hand. It had been interesting to feel the glass, as it felt like it had been chilled by the potion. Furthermore, it the color of this potion had changed when he had taken it out. Before it had been a mix of reds and oranges, but this one had turned oddly purple.

Confused he grabbed another one from his space and paid special attention to it as he did so. When his hand touched the vial, he saw the potion change colors. Even odder was how the color returned to normal when he let it go. Was it a part of the trial, or maybe it was just meant to happen when someone was at their breakthrough? He didn’t know but guessed that it would be alright. There was time for caution, but he was far too excited to be that careful. Instead, he was just wanted to see what getting a golden body would entail. With that in mind, he drank the now purple potion.

It felt oddly thick as he drank it, and it was a lot colder now. It was so cold that he felt his teeth sting a little as he drank it. If not for his skill, he thought that it would hurt him just by freezing his insides. It didn’t hurt though, and he managed to swallow it. The cold spread through his body and went deeper this time. It seemed to sink into something beyond his body, and he felt like something broke inside of him. However, instead of pain, it had been like the breaking of a dam, and energy flood his body.

In an instant, he knew that something had changed. His body had become different, and even without checking his appearance, he expected that there would be a change to his appearance. He couldn’t currently check his real appearance, but he could tell. One of the things that he did notice was the change in his hair. It was longer, and he could feel it on his forehead. Forming a blade out of wood, he tried cutting his hair, only to find that it wouldn’t cut. At least not as easily as it had before. He could manage with a bit more force but decided to hold off on that. Instead, he would wait until he could see what he was doing. His domain would let him see the shape, but he wanted to get a better grasp of his appearance before doing so.

Remembering to check his status instead of just relying on his skills, he focused inwards. He was curious to see what improvements he had made. Plus, he wanted to know if the changes would even be recorded by the class system.

Name: Mash Stellumbra Class: Draconic Thunder-wood Imitation

Level: 78

Health: 2000 / 2000

Energy: 3510 / 3510

Fortitude: 180 → 200

Endurance: 111 → 131

Strength: 130 → 150

Agility: 150 → 170

Intelligence: 200 → 220

Wisdom: 92 → 112

Charisma: 76 → 96

Free Stats: 0

Skills: Hunt, Thunder-wood Creation, Inhuman Hibernation, Monstrous Transformation, Thunder-wood Imitation, Draconic Domain, Adaptable Monster Core, Monstrous Humanity, Wooden Body, Mimic’s Avarice, Golden Body

Draconic Domain (Passive): Your eyes just weren’t enough. Sense the changes in the mana around you. Connect to the mana in your space and inherently understand the nature of the mana. Your presence suffuses the space, weakens the magic of enemies beneath you.

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      Current Range: 21 → 23 feet

Adaptable Monster Core (Passive): An unnatural mana core has fundamentally altered your body, fusion with a monster has given you access to its potential. Stamina and Mana combine to become energy. Your monstrous body is better able to handle the changes to your core.

      Current Bonus: + 50% → + 75% efficiency

Golden Body (Passive): Having solen the techniques of another world, your body evolves beyond its old limitations. However, even this transformation is incomplete. Seek out the next Step and truly make this power your own.

Trial of the True Body: 0 / 100

Well, he couldn’t say that he expected to see any changes, but he was pleasantly surprised by the benefits. All of his stats had gone up by twenty, and that alone was impressive. Plus, his energy had gotten more effective. That alone would have been a significant improvement, and the attributes just felt like a bonus.

The actual change was represented as a skill too, though it was very vague. Plus, it implied that he wasn’t anywhere near done. Even going so far as to give him another trial immediately, and this one wasn’t partially complete. He guessed that meant that it didn’t have anything to do with his attributes, and probably required some other qualities. He didn’t really know how to get started with that and decided to move on. He wanted to test the new capabilities of his body.

When he finished checking his status, he practiced moving his body a little. It took a few minutes, but he got used to changes pretty quickly. His skills usually boosted him far past the normal limits, and this improvement only made him want for more. It still felt lacking in comparison to his usual abilities. Plus, he was in a space where he could test dragon form without real complications. Even more than the stats and improvements to his energy, he was curious to see if the changes to his body affected his transformations. His instincts told him that it would, and he wanted to see if he could break himself out of this space.

He stopped when he felt a hand fall upon his shoulder. It was large, big enough easily cover his entire side. Slowly, he turned his head, surprised to feel the man appear in his draconic domain. It had just happened, and there had been no previous indication. Even now it didn’t feel like there was a person within his domain.

Although the man was certainly human, Mash couldn’t help but feel like he was in the presence of a dragon. His eyes were similar to Mash’s own, slit-like pupils surrounded by darkness. However, the man’s pupils were red instead of his white. They shared the same glow though, and Mash didn’t think he was looking at a human anymore.

“Hello, child, what is one my own doing taking this trial. This was meant for humans.”

The voice was deep and the whole place seemed to rumble with each word. Mash felt a primal fear as he noticed the tinge of anger in the man’s voice. Slowly, he processed what the man had said, and he thought furiously for a response.

“I am human! I think the thing your sensing is from…”

Mash trailed off, hesitating to explain that he had gotten his abilities from eating dragon flesh. Looking at the man, he grew more apprehensive. The man didn’t wear armor, instead, he wore what looked like a pristine suit. It was made of pure flames, and his presence kept getting more intense for a second. Sweat was building on Mash’s forehead and he thought about his escape plans. Priscilla was already preparing a dozen outlines, all of which he knew wouldn’t manage to even inconvenience the man. Then the pressure that had been building vanished, and the men let out a deep full belly laugh.

“Ha! You can relax boy, I’m well aware of what you are, I just rarely get to speak with one of my own. I couldn’t miss the opportunity. And before you ask, you are one of my kind. You have made our power your own, and that makes you one of us. It should be the same regardless of who you meet.”

The man sounded normal, but that didn’t let Mash relax in the slightest. He was also too busy trying to understand his words to relax properly. Was Mash really a dragon? It was one thing to pretend to be one, but it sounded like he would really be considered one. If a real dragon treated him like one of his kind, then who was he to argue. Trying to figure out what to say, he struggled to come up with a response.

“What is happening?”

The man let out another loud laugh, and his response came a lot quicker than before.

“Don’t lie to me, I could tell you planned on breaking my trial. And that is quite rude, may I add. Especially after I gave you so much time to reach a golden body. Congratulations on completing the trial, however, I have no gifts for someone who is not human. Just take your time here as the reward. Plus, all your friends look like they will receive a gift.”

Thinking about what the man was saying, Mash couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed. All this time had been wasted, and he wouldn’t even get a gift for it. Then a realization hit him, the others still hadn’t finished their trial. Mash was a little apprehensive to ask a God more mundane questions and was trying to figure out a better way to word his thoughts.

“I told you, you didn’t need to worry so much. Your friends have only been in the trial for a day or so. You too in reality. Since you weren’t able to receive a real reward, and I don’t get to see my family very often, I decided to give you a little reward of your own. Time and that small hint towards how to get your next body.”

The God was surprisingly nice, though he guessed that most Gods were supposed to be kind. Apparently, he had already received his reward, and it seemed like the trial itself was a part of the reward. Although he had no idea about what the hint was, he would work on figuring that part out. More importantly, he needed to thank the God, but also bring up another topic.

“Thank you for everything, but can you tell me how I can free the people in the town. This world is being altered and there are people suffering because of it.”

If anyone would know how to free the people, it would be their God. At least, that was what Mash was hoping for. He waited for a response, and he worried that he had done something wrong after the silence had carried for a bit. Finally, the deity gave him a response.

“There is little you can do for the whole world, though you might be able to save a few. Let me share with you one of the curses of this world. The knowledge of what lays beyond your struggle.”

Now, those where words were something Mash expected from a God. He would make sure to learn all he could from the amiable being.