Arthur stood within the crumbling remains of his cocoon, a husk of shimmering fragments drifting into the dark water, dissolving like memories of a past life. He drew his first breath as something new, and power surged through him—wild, overwhelming, limitless. It was as if the universe itself had cracked open, pouring its raw essence into the marrow of his bones. The Void, the Light, and the Darkness didn’t just reside within him—they had become him. The elements no longer fought for dominance. Instead, they wove together, threading through every fiber of his being like a cosmic symphony brought to life.

His muscles rippled with uncontained energy, coiling beneath his skin like serpents waiting to strike. He flexed his claws, and they responded with a low hum, sharper than obsidian, each curve etched with the faint glow of runes forged from pure light. They gleamed with a deadly, divine purpose, promising annihilation to anything that dared stand in his way. His wings stretched wide, unfurling like a banner of night sky, flecks of starlight glimmering along the edges, and in their span, Arthur felt the touch of limitless freedom.

His scales—once marred from battle—were now an unbreakable armor, gleaming like molten metal cooled under the blackest ocean depths. They no longer just shielded him; they radiated power, a blend of shadow and radiance that pulsed like the heartbeat of a forgotten god. The touch of the Void resonated in his core, an endless emptiness that did not devour but offered potential—potential to create, to unmake, and to bend existence itself to his will.

Light flickered through his veins, not soft or forgiving but blazing, fierce—like a sun barely contained beneath fragile flesh. It coursed through him, making his senses sharper, his thoughts faster, his mind clearer than it had ever been. He could feel it beneath his skin, a scorching brilliance that demanded release, aching to burn away anything that dared threaten him. And yet, the Darkness tempered it—cool, seductive, wrapping itself around the Light like a lover’s embrace, softening the edges, ensuring balance. It gave Arthur precision where there might have been recklessness, cunning where there could have been blind rage.

Every part of him was sharper—his senses, his instincts, his very soul. He could feel the water pressing against his body, each current bending to his presence. The light from distant sources shimmered and bent as it touched his scales, unable to fully capture his form, as though reality itself struggled to define what he had become.

The system was the first to chime in.

[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]

Congratulations, Arthur!

You are the first monster to successfully reach Stage Two in under a week.

New evolutionary choices available:

* Infernal Abyss Drake: You become a dark flame user, mastering both heat and shadow. Your body becomes lighter, increasing speed and enhancing stealth in low-light environments. You’ll blend fire and darkness to create devastating flame attacks that are cloaked in shadow, leaving your enemies scorched and blinded. Your flames can target not just the body but the soul energy of your foes, causing both physical and spiritual damage.

* Drake Of Unity (Rare!): Harness the powers of light and darkness in perfect balance. You will gain the ability to alternate between radiant attacks and shadow manipulation. Your body will be smaller but denser, allowing for extreme agility, and your Void Core will evolve to handle seven major elements (Fire, Water, Earth, Wind, Lightning, Light, and Darkness). The synergy between these elements will make each one stronger in the presence of its opposite, and you'll grow stronger as you maintain equilibrium.

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* Drake Of Destruction (Unique!): Unleash the raw, untamed power of destruction. Your body will grow massive and resilient, built to withstand extreme forces while delivering devastating blows. You will possess the ability to break down matter and energy, reducing everything in your path to ruin. However, your element of light and darkness will be sacrificed. Additionally, you will only be able to choose one other element in the future. The [Synergy] skill will be sacrificed, replaced with the passive/active ability [Destruction Pulse], allowing you to either passively gather and emily low-shockwaves of destructive energy. If used in Active mode, you will release all the destructive energy inside you in a blast, weakening and breaking down anything they touch.

Arthur wanted to curse out loud when he saw the options. Each one was tempting in its own way, but two stood out among the rest: Drake of Unity and Drake of Destruction.

The Drake of Unity was the first to catch his attention. The idea of wielding both light and darkness—of being able to harness seven elements—seemed like a path to limitless potential. He would become a force of balance, a master of versatility, never tied down to one form of attack. The thought of being able to channel the strength of fire, water, lightning, and more appealed to him on a primal level. It was practical, precise, and full of untapped power.

But as Arthur considered it, a creeping doubt settled in. Would balance truly make him invincible? Could he stand toe-to-toe with titans who embodied pure, overwhelming force? He recalled his brutal encounter with the Titan of Light—the way he had been beaten down mercilessly in the mindscape, his balance of light and darkness doing little to protect him. That titan had barely broken a sweat while smashing Arthur into the ground.

Then there was the Drake of Destruction—the raw, savage power that called to him like a primal urge. The idea of becoming a walking cataclysm, breaking down everything in his path, had a certain allure. The power of destruction wasn’t just about brute strength; it was about finality. No matter how strong something was, it could be destroyed.

But the cost... He would have to sacrifice the balance he had worked so hard to achieve. No more light. No more darkness. Just destruction, and in the future, only one other element to command. The thought of giving up the light felt like throwing away everything he had gained from surviving the Titan of Light’s assault. After all, hadn’t he earned that power? The very essence of his void core was built on the synergy between light and darkness.

Yet, the Drake of Destruction promised the ability to end foes with overwhelming might. And in the back of his mind, the image of the massive eye from his dreams loomed larger. It had been watching him, judging him—and now, he felt an undeniable pull toward destruction. There was something deeper there, something he couldn’t quite put into words. It felt like a destiny he couldn’t avoid.

His thoughts swirled in an endless loop, flicking back and forth between the two choices. Unity gave him versatility and strategy. Destruction gave him the purest form of power—the ability to obliterate anything in his path.

Was it worth the sacrifice?

Arthur hesitated, his mind weighing the consequences, but the memory of the eye—the Titan of Destruction—pushed him forward. There was no reason to ignore the call of something far greater than himself. He was being pulled toward a path of chaos, and for the first time, he felt... compelled to embrace it.

He would choose destruction.

Arthur’s consciousness ebbed away as the system silently recorded his decision. The remnants of his cocoon glowed faintly, raw power swirling around him as the transformation began. His body wasn’t awake yet—he still slumbered in the shattered shell—but inside his core, his fate had been sealed.

His evolution into the Drake of Destruction was already underway.

Arthur remained unconscious, still encased in the shattered remnants of his cocoon. His body was still absorbing the power of the tribulation, raw energy coursing through his veins. But deep inside his core, the system waited for a decision, eager for the next stage of his evolution.

Inside the remnants of his cocoon, he stirred, not yet awake—but soon. Very soon.