Aeryn stood amidst the aftermath of their recent battle, her senses heightened in a way she had never experienced before, she opened her eyes. The solitude of her dorm room greeted her as she sat in a meditative state. The changes came without warning, breaking her of her concentration. She fell onto her back, writhing on the ground as her body changed, morphed, and refined. Once the changes had finished, it was apparent that she was not the same person from a moment ago. The transformation had been intense, a torrent of power rushing through her veins, reshaping her essence. She was no longer a vampire noble, she had ascended to the rank of Vampire Lord. Her crimson eyes glowed faintly, her skin now carrying a subtle sheen of unearthly vitality. Not only did it increase her stats and individual stat growth, but it enhance her precision and quantity of blood control.
Additionally, once a vampire awakens to a vampire lord, they awaken a unique bloodline ability. Mostly, the children inherit their bloodline abilities from their parents, however, there are rare cases where they awaken their own unique one, and when this phenomenon happens a new family is born. Vampire law dictates that when a lord awakens a unique bloodline ability they create their own coven. She had grown a head taller, her body more athletic, and far more attractive.
Her evolution also came with improvements to her senses and a new bloodline ability. Currently there were only nine unique bloodline abilities, and Aeryn just awoken the tenth. A mixture of excitement and dispiritedness crept over her. On one hand she could fulfill a desire that was so deep rooted into her race that her she had to stop her thoughts from drifting to certain individuals: to create a covenant. Her creating her own would mean being exiled from her current family, they would now be considered strangers. This is to prevent one family having too much sway over the vampire's political posture. She awakened an amazing new bloodline ability called Amplify. Amplify increases her damage for each consecutive hit she delivers up to three-hundred percent, this is gained in increments of ten percent and resets if she takes damage. This ability perfectly aligns with her quick movements and damage accumulation fighting style. Moonlight streamed through the tall windows, casting pale beams that danced across her features as she flexed her fingers as she finished allocating her stats from her level ups.
On the desk, the amulet gifted to her by the academy pulsated with energy she hadn't noticed before, drawing her attention. She approached it cautiously, her fingers hovering just above its surface. When she finally touched it, a voice, soft yet commanding, echoed within her mind. “You’ve can finally hear me,” it said.
Aeryn’s grip tightened on the amulet, and a sudden rush of wind filled the room. Papers scattered, the curtains billowed, and from the artifact emerged a swirling figure of sea-green light. The figure took the shape of a lithe, ethereal man with long, flowing hair that seemed to blend with the breeze. His form shimmered, almost too radiant to look at directly, as though he were a star of the night sky come to life.
“I am Zephyr, the Wind Spirit. I was bound to this artifact awaiting my rightful partner,” the spirit declared, his voice resonating like a melody carried by the wind. “Together, we will reshape the winds to serve your destiny if thou shall make a contract with me.”
Aeryn’s lips curled into a knowing smile. She felt the presence of Zephyr intertwine with her own power, a harmonious union of blood and wind. The spirit’s energy surged through her, amplifying her abilities in ways she couldn’t yet fully comprehend. The addition of Zephyr’s power would make her ascent unstoppable.
As the spirit began to fade into her chest, Zephyr’s voice lingered. “Call upon me when the winds grow still. Together, we shall ensure they bow to no one but you.”
Aeryn returned the amulet to the desk, feeling its weight and warmth settle against her palm. The night outside was silent, but within her a storm had awakened.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Meanwhile, Thrax sat cross-legged in a cave just outside the academy's grounds, his breathing heavy and deliberate. His body burned with the familiar ache of growth, though this time it was different; sharper and intense. He gritted his teeth, clutching his knees as the transformation took hold. A low growl rumbled in his throat as scales blossomed and spread from his fingers to up his arms, extending past his elbows in a cascade of brilliant blue, shimmering in the small campfire light.
The once-faint luminescence of his scales now pulsed with a steady, rhythmic glow. A similar event took place from his feet to his knees, though he still retained his human like figure. His dragonized form would be much more powerful and would resemble more of a half dragon now. His muscles felt denser, stronger, and he leaned out slightly. A surge of fire and ice-filled energy collided together within him, forcing each to increase to obtain dominance. It was in perfect harmony one never being able to get the better of the other. The chaotic energy coursed through him, culminating in a deep, guttural roar that sent a shiver through the room. Thrax’s breath misted in the cold air, the temperature around him dropping noticeably, before switching to his azure flame. This new ability he'd have to keep hidden as a trump card.
“An adolescent dragonkin,” he muttered to himself, his voice tinged with both pride and awe. His wyrmling days were behind him; he had evolved. The reflection in his bedside mirror confirmed it: a more mature, imposing figure, ready to take on greater challenges. Dragon kin's personalities change slightly with each evolution, wrymlings were curious and always pushing boundaries to find out what they can get away with. Ado's or adolescents grow cocky and show off in order to attract the interests of females. Adults are overprotective and hyper mate seekers if they don't already have a promised one. Elders work for the betterment of the community, but individuals normally don't evolve to this stage before they reach two hundred years of age. He then spent the rest of the night managing his skills and level ups before sleeping off the days exhaustion.
Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.
The following day, Thrax wandered into the bustling marketplace, his newly acquired levels lending a spring to his step. His gaze was drawn to a weapons merchant’s stall, where an array of axes glinted under the midday sun. One, in particular, caught his eye: a massive battle axe forged from a metal he did not recognize. The metal seemed to shimmer with an icy sheen, radiating a faint chill even in the warm air.
The merchant, a stout dwarf with a thick, braided beard, noticed Thrax’s interest. “Ah, a fine choice, lad,” he said, his voice gruff yet welcoming. “Cold titanium’s a rare metal. Its much stronger than mithril, but not nearly as flexible. Its prized for its ability to withstand varying temperatures. For instance, if you have a rare magic swordsman class, the metal wont warp or weaken when using flames, frost, or alternating between the two. Plus,” he added, tapping the axe’s edge with a thick finger, “it’s got a natural resistance to enchantment degradation. Means your magic augmented abilities will stay much longer.”
Thrax hefted the axe again, admiring the craftsmanship. “Sounds like it’s worth every coin,” he said, slipping the weapon onto his back.
The dwarf chuckled. “Aye, it is. And somethin’ tells me you’ll put it to good use. Just remember where you got it, eh? I’ve got more where that came from.”
Thrax picked up the axe, testing its weight and balance. It felt natural in his hands, as though it were an extension of himself. “How much?” he asked, his voice steady.
The merchant stroked his beard thoughtfully. “Not cheap, but if you have anythin' ta trade I’ll give you a deal. Seven hundred gold. And I’ll throw in an enchanted sharpening stones.”
Thrax nodded, reaching into his pouch and counting out the coins. Thrax also took out nearly thirty monster core's from his pack. The dwarf handed over the axe with a satisfied grin, ecstatic to get some monster cores to work with. “Take good care of her, lad. She’ll serve you well. If you ever need repairs or enhancements, come find me. I’ve got a knack for working with rare metals."
As Thrax left the marketplace, the weight of the axe on his back felt reassuring. His evolution, new weapon, and growing abilities, gave him the reassurance he was more prepared than ever for the trials ahead.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
Lorelai woke to the sound of birdsong filtering through her dormitory window. The morning sun streamed in, casting soft light over the stone walls and wooden floor. Her body felt unusually light, her senses sharper. As she pushed herself up off her stomach, the sensation of something shifting behind her made her pause.
She turned to the mirror on the wall and gasped softly. There, extending from her back, were two magnificent wings of pure white feathers. They glowed faintly, as though imbued with celestial energy. Her heart raced as she rose to her feet, the wings adjusting instinctively to her movements. She stretched them experimentally, and they unfurled with a soft rustle, filling the small room with their radiant presence. That was not the only change that was immediately noticed when she looked into the mirror either. The evolution had brought about an increase in her bust as well, she was around a B cup before, but now she had been endowed with DDs. 'I hope this trend does not continue...," she thought as she glanced at her status sheet and saw that her race still had "evolvable" next to it. She would have to prioritize new undergarments as her current ones were now significantly too tight around the chest.
The events of the night before returned to her in fragments: the warmth that had enveloped her, the sense of being wrapped in divine light, and the whisper of a voice promising transformation. She had evolved during her sleep, ascending to a full angel. She was unsure what requirements she had fulfilled to evolve, but her status panel provided some insight to the benefits of her new form.
[Level up x2]
[Level 8 --> 10!]
[ level divisible by 5 +2 Int]
[4 unused stat points]
[Evolved into winged angel! +5 Str +5 will]
[Flight unlocked!]
[Radiant spell obtained: Aura of Purity - emanate a protective aura that radiates from you granting allies protection and curing against poison, charm effects, and status ailments such as paralysis and petrification. Cures minor curses.
Now she need to focus on her stat allocation. After some serious consideration she felt it best to try to keep set up, but would require additional levels to return it to where she wanted.
Str - 10 -->15
Agi - 12 -->14
Will - 12 -->17
End - 11 -->13
Int- 14 -->16
She had just finished retracting her wings using her shapeshifting ability when her gaze shifted to the spear resting in the corner. It glowed with a golden light, pulsing gently as if calling to her. Lorelai approached it, her fingers brushing against the shaft. The weapon thrummed in response, and a calm, resonant sound filled her mind.
“You have ascended,” it said. “With this weapon comes new strength and a gift to wield against darkness. The spell Smite is now yours. Channel your divine energy through your weapon, and it shall banish evil and shield the innocent.”
She nodded, her hands gripping the spear firmly. Closing her eyes, she focused her energy, feeling it flow through her. The spear’s blade ignited with a radiant golden aura, crackling softly with divine power. Tentatively, she slashed it through the air. A trail of light followed the arc, dissipating moments later. The air seemed lighter, purer, as though her presence alone had cleansed it. It wasnt a single use either, for the cost of continually channeling mana into the blade, she could use the power for as long as her mana held out.
“Smite,” she whispered, the word resonating deeply within her. It felt as natural as breathing, an extension of her will and purpose. She practiced a few more strikes, each one filling her with greater confidence. Once she felt in her heart she had mastered the spell the spear imbued her with, the magic of the spear faded, leaving her with a mundane mithril weapon.
Her reflection in the mirror caught her attention once more, inspecting the more angelic figure staring back at her, both familiar and new features her evolution brought about. Her wings, the glow, the determination in her eyes, they were all signs of her transformation. She smiled softly, her heart swelling with resolve.