Limitless power...

Arthur’s maws widened so hard, he looked like the incarnation of evil. ‘Thank you for your sacrifice, miss~’ Without hesitation, Arthur lunged forward, his jaws closing around the orb. The energy surged through him immediately, far more intense than anything he had felt before. His body trembled as the essence flooded his veins, raw and untamed. It wasn’t just power—it was something more, something primal, something... ancient.

Arthur’s eyes gleamed as the last of the orb’s essence disappeared into him. A slow, wicked smile spread across his face, the reflection in the crystal showing the monstrous grin of a predator who had just discovered something far greater than any simple prey.

*

Arthur could feel it.

The moment the orb’s essence settled inside him, something profound shifted within his body. His muscles tensed, his skin prickled, and an intense heat coursed through his veins, stronger than any previous evolution. But this was more than the usual transformation—this was something greater.

It was as if his very core was expanding, warping under the weight of the new power he had consumed. His vision blurred, his body going numb as waves of raw energy pulsed through him, building into a violent crescendo. He collapsed to the ground, unable to control the force erupting inside him. The world around him darkened, the crystal reflections becoming little more than flickers in the shadows.

Then came the voice of the system.

[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]

Congratulations, Arthur! You have absorbed a vast quantity of pure essence and unlocked your First Stage Evolution.

Choose Your Path:

* Molten Drake: A drake born from fire, your molten core will intensify, granting you dominance over flame and molten rock. Your scales will become heat-resistant, and your fire-based abilities will grow exponentially.

* Abyssal Drake: A drake of the dark depths, your essence will align with the void. You will command shadows, water, and the crushing depths of the sea. Your body will become more fluid, allowing for swift movement through dark environments.

* Thunder Drake: A drake imbued with the power of the storm, you will command lightning and thunder. Your body will become lighter, and your strikes will carry the fury of the storm itself.

Arthur’s vision swirled as the choices appeared before him. His body trembled violently, feeling as though it might break apart from the sheer force of his impending evolution.

First Stage Evolution. The term echoed in his mind, followed by the system’s explanation. He learned that all creatures with divine or titanic lineages—beasts descended from Titans, Gods, Devils—underwent five major evolutions before reaching their full potential. To become a Fully Realized Titan or God, one had to survive these five stages, each one pushing the boundaries of their strength and reshaping their existence. Arthur had now reached the first of those stages.

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He stared at the choices before him, the promise of becoming a powerful elemental drake. Each one resonated with the creatures he had consumed, but his heart thrummed with excitement at the potential. Molten Drake, with its fiery dominion, called to the remnants of the Titan of Fire’s essence that still simmered within him. Abyssal Drake felt eerily familiar, connected to the void he had experienced in his dreams and the strange depth of his soul. Thunder Drake would bring the storm, the power to strike from afar, with devastating speed.

The decision seemed impossible. But something deep within Arthur—something tied to his hunger for power—guided him toward the shadows.

[Path Selected: Abyssal Drake]

As soon as the decision was made, the world around him exploded in light. Arthur roared, his voice a guttural, primal scream as his body began to change. His limbs twisted and elongated, his claws sharpened to lethal points, and his scales darkened to a deep, abyssal black. He could feel his insides shifting, his core expanding, reshaping itself into something more.

And then, deep within him, something unlocked. A core, invisible and untouchable, yet all-encompassing. It pulsed with power—void-like and eternal. The system whispered its name: Void Core.

[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]

Your Void Core has been unlocked.

The Void Core grants access to Essence, the life force that fuels the elemental powers of this world. Without essence, one cannot control the elements. As your Void Core grows, you will unlock more features within the system.

It is the reason you have evolved so quickly, able to absorb the abilities of those you devour.

Nurture your core, and your evolution will accelerate, allowing you to reach heights others can only dream of.

Arthur’s body glowed with the surge of new power, his Void Core thrumming with a pulse that seemed to vibrate through every fiber of his being. The core was tied directly to the system, expanding with each step he took toward ascension. This core, he realized, was the reason he could evolve so rapidly, why he could absorb the skills of the monsters he devoured.

But there was more. A new function appeared in his mind—something that would make his journey easier, more efficient.

[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]

New Function Unlocked: [Inventory]

Your [Inventory] can now store up to 100 kilograms of material. Only dead organic matter can be stored. Use it wisely.

Arthur’s thoughts barely had time to process the new information as his body began to grow even larger. His scales thickened, his muscles bulged, and his size expanded until he dwarfed his former self. His new form was a terrifying blend of reptilian and draconic, his wings beginning to form along his back, though they remained rudimentary for now.

His transformation wasn’t just physical—he could feel the change in his mind, his instincts becoming sharper, more beast-like. He could sense the essence around him, the lifeforce that flowed through the world. It pulsed in the crystals, the rocks, the very air he breathed. The Void Core inside him hummed, ready to devour more, to grow even further.

But as the evolution neared its peak, Arthur felt his body slowing down, a strange lethargy overcoming him. His vision blurred, and he realized, just before his eyes closed, that he was entering a state of metamorphosis—an egg-like slumber, where his body would fully adapt to his new form.

Arthur's massive frame curled inward as a thick, cocoon-like substance began to form around him. His new abyssal scales gleamed as the crystal-clear fluid enveloped him, hardening into a shell-like casing that sealed him away. It pulsated, the essence from his transformation sending waves through the cave.

And those waves... they did not go unnoticed.