Arthur's mind still reeled from his encounter in the mindscape. That battle had nearly killed him, and worse, it had humiliated him. Arthur had been helpless.

The thought of it gnawed at him. He gritted his teeth, claws flexing as the glow from the crystal cave bathed him in eerie light. One thing was crystal clear to him now: he needed more than physical strength to survive this world. The next time, if there was another Titan or some mind-invading beast, he would need protection against mental assaults.

"I need... something," he muttered under his breath. His mind drifted toward thoughts of monsters he might come across, creatures that might have mental resistance or even manipulation abilities. If he could find one with the right traits, he could devour it—take its essence, just like he had done before. The thought of another Titan entering his mindscape and toying with him made his scales itch. No. Never again. He wasn’t a masochist. He’d learn to shield himself from that kind of attack, evolve in more than just his physical form.

But for now, his immediate goal was clear. He needed more first-stage monsters. The essence he had gained from the Slugterra was a start, but it wasn’t enough. His gut told him that something big was waiting for him once he reached the second stage. Something profound. A major evolution that would elevate him into a new realm of power.

With a flick of his tail, Arthur turned his attention to the piles of Noom remains from his earlier conquests. They lay scattered across the cavern floor, remnants of past victories.

"Might as well take some souvenirs," he mused with a smirk. He activated the [Inventory] system, marveling at the surreal feeling of storing bodies within the void-like space. One by one, he packed away as many as the system allowed—piling in Noom corpses, and shards of crystal as he prepared for his next journey.

"Good enough," Arthur muttered as he glanced at the [Map] once more. The yellow dot—the same one that had once been a terrifying red—hovered ominously in the waters below. He had evolved since then. His power had grown, his molten claws now pulsed with heat, and his darkness-enhanced senses made him feel like a predator on the verge of a new hunt. The time had come to see just how far he'd progressed.

With one last look at the cave’s sparkling crystal ceiling, Arthur dove back into the water. The coldness of the lake greeted him like an old friend, the pressure of the deep weighing on his thickened body, but it no longer felt like a hindrance. If anything, it felt natural. His rudimentary wings allowed him to glide effortlessly through the water, and his streamlined body cut through the currents like a blade.

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The lake opened up before him, vast and full of life. Strange creatures lurked in the shadows, fantastical beasts that seemed both beautiful and deadly. A school of fish swam by, their scales gleaming like gemstones, each one the size of a small horse. Tentacle-like plants drifted in the water, swaying hypnotically with the current, their tips glowing with bioluminescence.

Arthur didn’t just admire the scenery, though. He was the predator here. Every movement was calculated, and every creature that dared approach was met with his razor-sharp claws and molten power. A particularly bold eel-like monster lunged at him, teeth bared and lightning sparking around its body. Arthur smirked as he dodged its attack effortlessly. His claws cleaved through the eel in one swift motion, and before the creature even had time to react, Arthur bit down, devouring its essence in seconds.

Snack. He thought, licking the blood from his maw. It was good, but it wasn’t enough to make a difference.

The deeper Arthur swam, the stranger the creatures became. A massive, jellyfish-like monster with tentacles that shimmered with fire attempted to entangle him, but he snapped its tendrils with ease, tearing through its soft body and leaving it to drift lifelessly in his wake. More monsters came, each one larger and more dangerous than the last, but each one fell just as easily. His hunger was insatiable, and with every kill, he felt his strength grow, his essence accumulating for the next great evolution.

But something changed.

The water around him grew hotter, almost uncomfortably so. Arthur paused, his molten claws glowing brighter as he moved deeper into the lake. Steam rose from cracks in the lakebed, and bubbles of gas escaped in slow, rhythmic bursts. He swam through a field of vents, each one releasing scalding steam that clouded the water with thick mist. The heat here was intense, oppressive, but it didn’t bother Arthur as much as it might have before. His scales resisted the heat, though he could still feel the heavy pressure of the environment around him.

And then he saw it—skeletons.

The bottom of the lake was littered with bones. Not just any bones, but the remains of massive creatures. Skeletons of past monsters lay scattered across the seabed, some still intact, others broken and weathered by time. Arthur’s eyes scanned the scene, lingering on a particularly enormous set of bones—far larger than anything he’d encountered before. Its skull alone was larger than Arthur’s entire body, its jaws filled with rows of sharp, jagged teeth. Whatever it had been in life, it had clearly ruled this part of the lake.

Arthur’s instincts screamed at him. Something had killed it. And it wasn’t far.

His [Map] pulsed again, the yellow dot shifting, moving closer to his location. Arthur’s claws twitched in anticipation, molten heat swirling around them as he swam forward. His eyes narrowed, the heat of the water intensifying around him. The creature—whatever it was—was close.

A low growl escaped his throat as the yellow dot blinked ever closer.