‘So, this tablet controls the restrictions of the collars?’ I ask. Trista left rather quickly. At the moment Phoebe is currently calming her children and helping them adjust to their new situation. My apartment is not big enough for all of us. Not even slightly. I'll have to use some money to either get a bigger apartment or rent another one for Phoebe's little group to stay in. Problem is the laws against slaves being away from their masters during such periods. It's more than a bit annoying. But I imagine I could maybe convince someone to let it slide, right?
“Yeah.” Phoebe says as she holds a girl with red hair streaked with green in her arms. Olivia, if I remember correctly. Her son, a smaller boy with entirely green hair, but red eyes, Collin, sits on the couch drinking root beer beside me as we look at the 3 icons on the tablet. Each corresponds to one of the 3 of them, and each has the same settings.
‘You want me to give your powers back?’ I ask Phoebe as I sit up. She pauses, just staring at me for a moment before chuckling.
“I forget how different you are to what I'd expect of some man owning slaves.” She says. “But leave them off for now.”
‘Oh? Why's that?’ I ask.
“Guards are more lax around me like that. And if you don't publicly show favoritism to me or my kids, then any enemies you make won't come after us to get at you.” I pause at that. Making enemies is inevitable, I know that. So what should I do about it? Leaving her defenceless is the wrong option here either way. Perhaps…
‘The Grand General is going to be putting resources into my growth.’ I say. ‘You'll be growing with me too. You're a tier above me, so it would be simple to see you as a bodyguard I purchased for my own safety, right?’
“That… could work.” She nodded.
“Mommy, what's a bodyguard?” Olivia asks, dangling from her mothers arms. “Are you guarding Mr Pyro's body?”
“Yes, I am.” She says, ruffling the girl's hair. I chuckle.
‘And… done.’ I say, adjusting a few settings on the device. The collar around her neck flashes once, then she gasps as her own energies flood her body again. For a moment she looks at me with an unreadable expression, then settles on a smile.
“I appreciate this.” She says. “All of it.”
‘It's nothing.’ I say. ‘Just basic human decency. Wait, humans aren't the only species, so… basic sapient decency? Is that the right term? No, that sounds weird…’ I frown to myself for a moment, and Phoebe just laughs. I smile to myself. Glad that little play of mine cheered her up. ‘Whos hungry?’
<{(0)}>
“whats this?” Collin asked.
‘That's fried chicken.’ I reply patiently.
“Whats this?”
‘Thats a french fry.’
“What's a french?”
‘A country that used to exist. The fries were named after them.’
“Why not call them the not french fries?” He asks, tilting his head to the side curiously. I turn to Phoebe, who was taking a bite of her burger. She just grins from behind her food.
“I've spent since the moment he could first talk dealing with his questions. Your turn now, oh so gracious master.”
‘Oh, go fu-... frick yourself.’ I amend, sighing. ‘I'm too young for this.’
“Mr Pyro, why do you look tired?” Collin asks, looking up at me with a chicken strip in his hand. We all sit at the table in my kitchen. I ordered takeout, which luckily is a concept that transcends dimensions. They apparently have Dairy Queen in fantasy land. That company got a lot more interesting to me. The CEO of the company is rumored to be a tier 5.
‘Didn't sleep, that's all.’ I say, giving the kid a smile. ‘Been stuck inside my own head.’
“How do you go inside your head?” Colin asks.
‘Uh… you'll learn when you're older.’ I say. Then I stand up, stretching. ‘I'm heading to the leveling training for now. Just stay here for now, okay?’
“Alright.” Phoebe nodded, patting her daughter on the head. “Take your time.” I turn to the door.
‘Do you think we need anything while I'm gone?’ I ask her. She pauses, thinking it over.
“Something drinkable that isn't root beer.”
<{(0)}>
{Level up}
{You have reached level 49.}
{The requirements have been met. Would you like to evolve?}
I look around. I rest, cross-legged in the center of a massive chamber withing the highest tower of the palace in the center of the city. A section of the dome is reinforced glass, with 2 individuals sitting within. Grand general Brennen, and Trista. They look to me. I look to them. They nod.
‘Yes.’ I say aloud, mind mana rippling to produce my voice.
{Evolution has begun. Examining Karma.}
{Species selected. Evolving.}
The world went blood red.
<{(0)}>
Across the city, from the palace the Grand general himself calls home, the outward blast of mana of which all recognize as a species evolution ripping through the mega-city, causing my physical damage but making some magical formations and runic devices flicker and malfunction. All around, everyone was overwhelmed with the feeling of inevitable, inescapable death. It was as if the souls of the dead were whispering into everyone's minds, encouraging them to join in eternal rest. The feeling was… indescribable. All those with crafting abilities found themselves flooded with new ideas, now thoughts for creating.
The blood red energy suffused everything for the duration of the species evolution. Then, it was gone.
<{(0)}>
{Species evolution concluded. You have evolved from “Inhuman” to “BlightBane Demi-dragon”}
Slowly, I open my eyes, standing from my previous cross-legged position with unnatural ease. My tail made it easier to balance as I move- wait, tail? Slowly, I look myself over, inch by inch. The right side of my body was completely covered in pitch black scales, a soft red glow pulsing beneath. I raise up my right hand- no, my talon. The gem there catches the soft light of the chamber as I inspect my new claws. I run my tongue along my newly sharpened teeth, and run a hand through my hair, tipped with 2 horns, curved, but pointing backwards, starting on the back of my skull.
‘I need a mirror.’ I say, whipping my head over to the viewing chamber. Both the grand General and Trists have frozen, staring at me in utter shock.
{+40 Strength. +20 Durability. +10 Stamina. +30 Speed. +30 Intelligence}
{Species skill gained:Demishift(Low)Rare}
{Species skill gained:Breath of inevitability(Low)Rare}
I get my mirror rather quickly from Trista, who is unable to hide the absolute shock and slight fear from my face. I look over my face. My skin is far smoother than before, which I appreciate. Looking into my eyes, I note that one eye is human, while the other is a lizard-like slit. I grin.
‘Badass.’ I mutter to myself.
Grand General Brennen makes his was over to stand beside me. I flutter my black wings with a smile, the red membrane seeming to almost glow in the light.
Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.
“Now this… is exactly what I wanted.”
Name:Pyro Akabis
Level:50/150
Age:16
Titles:Cold-blooded, Enigma, Broken, DEATH, Other-worlder
Class: Reaper of Creation
Soul weapon: Six fingers of Infinity
Strength:103.5
Durability:70
Speed:80
Stamina:60
Intelligence:80
Essence: 42012
Species:BlightBane Demi-dragon[2/5]
Skills: Enhanced Strength(Medium)Rare, Mind mana Manipulation(Medium)Rare, Death mana bolt(Medium)Rare, Sickle swap(Medium)Rare, Reaper’s boost(High)Epic, Demishift(low)Rare
Techniques: Creation mana manipulation(E), Mind mana manipulation(D), Sicklemancer arts(C), Death mana manipulation(D), Creation mana construct(D),
Mutations: blood of the fallen(B), Heart of Creation(B)
I look up at the Grand General.
‘What you wanted, huh?’ I grin. ‘What's next now?’
“War.”
<{(0)}>
Phoebe couldn’t believe her new young companions form. No, she would not call him her master or eve think of that word in relation to him. She doubted he would like that any more that she did herself. She also doubted he liked the spear to his face he received the moment he walked in the front door. In her defence, she saw only the dragon side first, and immediately thought another dragon had come and broken in. She was prioritizing the safety of her children. The collar did not agree with her.
‘Are there any marks left?’ Pyro asks, dabbing the healing unguent along her neck under the collar with his hand. She sat on the couch, despite trying to make him sit instead. She literally hit him in the face with a spear! How could she do that to him?! I feel so horrible, She mutters to herself.
“No, I’m fine.” She says. She manages to yank the cloth back and catch him in a vice grip. She wasn’t harming him and he never ordered her against roughhousing, so she could do this much at least. “Your face is all burnt up still! Hold still while I put this on.” Pyro groans, but nods, nearly goring her eye out with one of his horns. “Hey, watch those!”
‘Sorry, I’ll fix that.’
Demishift
Now he looked normal and human again, but one of his shoes had 5 holes in them where claws ripped loose.
“Convenient.” She comments with a nod.
‘I think I can go the other way too, becoming a full dragon.’ He says. ‘Haven’t tried it yet though.’
“Do your wings work? Can you fly?” She asks, dabbing at the burn on his left cheek.
‘Hell yeah they do! How did you think I got here?’
“Thats to cool!” Collin exclaims, leaning forward. “Show me! Show me!”
Demishift
Pyro flicks a wing towards him, letting the kid feel the wing with his hands.
‘Hey, no squeezing like that.’ He scolds. He then looks behind him. He gives the little girl poking at his tail a flat look. ‘Phoebe, keep your little monsters under control.’
“Alright, stop harassing the poor guy.” Phoebe says, scooping her children up. They whine a bit but eventually settle down.
‘Wanna spar?’ Pyro’s question makes her pause.
“Are you sure? You must only be level 50 and can’t have very high stats.”
‘Trust me, I’ll be fine. Meet me down in the basement training grounds in 20 minutes. I need to do a little something first.”
<{(0)}>
‘Alright, let's do this!’ Pyro says cheerfully, standing opposite of Phoebe in the large room. The inside is a 50 meter cubic area, but it is expanded with magic to be well over a hundred cubic miles in distance from side to side. Pyro had had to put a few things into the collar’s settings to let this happen at all. The way this chamber worked was different to most. Instead of putting the 2 individuals in a false space of which they could fight, it overlapped a real space with illusions, of which their forms were created within. This was more expensive, but the most common way of things in Camica. She herself had only been in one or two throughout her time, as she spend most of her time among her own peoples, training and protecting them.
She winced at the thought of her former tribe, a stab of guilt rising for not the first time at the thought of her treatment compared to theirs. She couldn’t save them then. Even now, she can’t, she knows that. Doesn’t make it hurt less, though.
“Yes, let’s do this.” She agrees, her soul weapon appearing in her hand. As far as she knew, Pyro wielded some sort of short range weapon. This gave her the advantage in range, so long as she could keep him at a distance. She assumed she had the betterment in stats compared to him, but she couldn’t be entirely sure. She needed to pierce straight through him as soon as possible.
‘Begin.’ all around them an illusionary canyon formed. She could see him still on the other end.
“Shit.” She muttered to herself, immediately climbing up the wall to a higher vantage point. Within a narrow area such as this, it would be difficult to use her spear effectively. She had other abilities of course, it would be strange if she didn’t, but most worked with her spearmanship and footwork.
It was at that moment that Pyro leaped up onto her little cliffside and shot a blast of water straight at her. She leaped up to avoid the stream.
Air hop
She bounded off the air and straight at him, jabbing forward. Even with wings, he couldn’t fully utilize them in the narrow space, giving him a debuff, same as her. The best he could do is angle himself to not get skewered in the heart, instead letting it slam into his shoulder.
Hellfire javelin
As it made impact on his shoulder, It burst into flame, burning at his flesh and scales, digging deeper into his arm as he thrashed. Then he reached over and grabbed onto the spear.
Mind jab
An overwhelming headache, like a drill on her mind, slammed into her and she lost her grip on her spear. She stumbled back. She raised a hand and the spear vanished, brought back into her soul. She then summoned it again just in time to deflect a curved red blade descending on her. She then found herself deflecting blade after blade. No, there were only four. Each time she slammed a blade down, it rose back up and at her again. They moved faster than she did, but she could deflect them. They didn’t move in unison, but in an unskilled, uncertain way, as if they didn’t know what they were doing. Turning, she dodged a blade as Pyro lunged at her, 2 bloody sickles in his hand. The blades of the sickles were the same as the blades floating around him, the same shape and color.
I'm used to small blades.’ He says as he lunges at her. His attacks were predictable, more that of a skill than actually being skilled at attacking.
‘Never imagined I’d use a farming tool to fight.’ There was a seriousness to the way he spoke while fighting that appealed to her. He took this quite seriously, she knew. Any fight, she imagined, was serious to him.
Mind jab
She stumbled from the attack, but still managed to bring her spear up in time to deflect the spear strikes. She unleashed a blast of raw fire mana at him, then, hidden by the blast, unleashed a fire bolt right into his chest. It struck true, burning into his flesh and scales, though the damage was superficial at best. His response was to vanish.
She whipped her head around, frowning. He was just gone. She couldn’t tell if it was a portal power, teleportation or invisibility. Then she felt the air behind her being disturbed. She whipped her head around and dodged to the side. Too late. Her arm was cleaved off by a sickle that appeared from nowhere, along with the rest of him. She grunted in pain and leaped back, burning the stump of her arm in fire to stop the bleeding. Void step. It had to be. To vanish like that, he must have used that skill. But how could he have gotten a taboo skill like that? The only titles that grant it are horrible ones, and only dangerous, remorseless species obtained the skill on default. It was something she had no combat for beside the wind. The skill displaced the air where the user would reappear a moment before it arrived, creating temporary point of nothingness where the oxygen rushes back in to fill up.
Wings of the phoenix
Burning wings of fire erupted from her back, letting her shoot up into the air and up the canyon. The skill was intensive on mana, though she certainly wasn’t low. He didn’t chase her, just standing below her and watching silently. He raised a hand
Earth spikes
The earth walls around her rumbled, and spikes shot out at her. She smashes over half of them before they reached her, but they sliced into her wings, which exploded on impact, causing her no damage but destroying the spikes. She grabbed onto a ledge before she could fall, only to look down and find Pyro no longer there. She let go just as he reappeared, aiming to slice her neck. She fell, the sickle only sliding against the skin instead of killing her. A faint trickle of blood trails down along her neck. She lands heavily in the ground, dust flying up around her. Even with the dust obscuring the vision of her for Pyro, it doesn’t obscure her vision to him.
{Mutation:Eyes of the sun(C):Non-magical effects that block your sight do not effect your vision. Allows the ability to see heat.}
Unlike most eye mutations, this one did not majorly affect her eyes appearance. It made her eyes a slightly brighter color, but beside that, it didn’t change the appearance. Like most mutations, it was hereditary. She was the only one to inherit it among her siblings, which was why she had become the protector of her tribe.
The thought of her tribe made her wince. It distracted her. She couldn’t allow distractions.
She turned and ran in the opposite direction. She didn’t have a plan for his abilities. He was stronger than her. His stats were clearly far higher. She needed to think. He didn’t let her.
She ducked below a sickle strike from nowhere and stabbed out with her spear, cutting into the wing and ripping a hole in it as she tore it out. He grunted and staggered back slightly but made no further reaction. He slashed down with his claws and she blocked with a conjured shield of water. She raised her spear back up.
Piercing wave
Water converged at the tip of her spear as she lunged forward, straight at his head. He raised his arms to block and formed a barrier of mana. It went straight through, piercing into his skull and ending the fight.
<{(0)}>
I had expected to lose. I just hadn’t expected it to be so ungodly painful to die. The feeling of water piercing straight into my brain was unlike anything I’d ever experienced. Waking up in my real body, I groaned, sitting up.
‘You’re better at fighting than I am.’ I say, standing up and stretching.
“I have more experience than you. Your stats are clearly far higher.” She has already gotten out of the projecter and holds out her arm. I nod gratefully, using it for balance.
‘Dying sucks.’
“Go figure.”
‘You have that term here?’ I ask curiously.
“If it’s a term from your world, I imagine it’s either multiversal, or your abilities are translating for you.”
‘Oh, that would make sense, yeah.’ I nod. ‘Lets head back up. I need a little rest before heading off to meet the grand general.’
<{(0)}>
‘So, what did you call us here for?’ I ask, sitting down at the chair. There are 7 chairs at the table. 5 have the word “Commander” on them. One has the word “General” on it. The one Brennen sits in has the words “Grand General” on it. I sit in one of the 5 “Commander” seats. With me in the seats are 2 women and 2 men, one of those women being Trista. In the “General” seat sits a Woman wich black hair, blue eyes, and the physique of a dancer, yet with clear muscles. She wears the same near-futuristic armor everyone else in the room wears. I am the only one without such armor. I wear a simple black hoodie and grey shorts.
My ascension to the rank of commander was intentional to Brennen. Obviously, since he was the only one who could accomplish this for a meer tier 2 being, no matter how strong. I have the stats and skills required to best anyone in this room besides the grand general himself, and maybe the General. Aerolyn, I believe her name was. The other commanders seem confused and suspicious that a 16 year old boy is a Commander. I was put in the position the former commander Rosaline was in, before she turned traitor.
“War.” The grand general says, leaning onto the table with his arms, looking at each person one by one. I am in my human form at the moment, though my right eye still has the draconic look to it.
“War?” Aerolyn asks, seeming interested.
“Who is this war against?” General Thomas asks, leaning forward in his chair. Grand general Brennen… grins.
“We are going to raze the Great Tree to the ground.”
Name:Abhor
Level:57/150
Age:16
Titles:Timebreaker, Barterer, adaptable, Tier 2 evolution, Humanify, TIME, Legendary progenitor
Strength:150
Durability:150
Speed:150
Stamina:172.5
Intelligence:150
Essence: 58,000
Class:Eternal darkness
Soul weapon:Eternal darkness
Timewarp demi-dragon[2/5]
Skills: Greater Enhanced stamina(High)Rare, Bartering(low)Common, Heat resistance(Low)Uncommon, Breath of time(Low)Rare, Voice of the word(High)Rare, [LOCKED](?)Unknown, Illusion mana manipulation(Medium)Rare, Shadow warp foundation(Low)Uncommon, Demishift(low)Rare, Eternal pierce(low)Rare, Throughout time[Species max]Legendary, Eye of the
forbidden(High)Epic+, Greater shadow manipulation(High)Epic
Techniques:Mana manipulation(C), Time manipulation(E), Dark Mana defense(C), Potential(???), Calm(C), Overload(C), Confusion(C), Illusion mana manipulation(C), Shadow warp(C), dark magic claw strike(E), Legendary proficiency(B), Invisibility(C), Illusion mirror(E), false strike(D), Lesser illusionary sight glasses(D), Dark mana manipulation(B), Dark trident(C), Mana sense(D)
Mutations: Abyssal eyes(A), Time transmuted skeletal structure(A)
Spells: Rot of time(Lesser), rewind heal(Lesser), Darkzone(lesser)}
...
Name:Snowstorm
Level:50/150
Age:16
Titles:Frostbreaker, knowledgeer, study master, FREEZE, Tier 2 evolution, Humanify, magic prodigy
Strength:150
Durability:150
Speed:150
Stamina:150
Intelligence:172.5
Essence:1,009
Class:Frostbane boxer(Epic)
Soul weapon:Frostbane gauntlets
Species:Frostwing demi-wyvern
Skills: Heat vision(low)Uncommon, Greater enhanced intelligence(medium)Rare, Enhanced knowledge intake(medium)Uncommon, cold resistance(high)Rare, photographic memory(Medium)Rare, swimming(low)Common, split thought(Low)Rare, body temperature reduction(Medium)Uncommon, ice mana manipulation(medium)Rare, Mind magic affinity(Medium)Uncommon, heat shift foundation(Low)Uncommon
Techniques:Swimming(D), Mana manipulation(C), Mind mana manipulation(D), Ice mana manipulation(C), Mana claws(C), Ice spear(C), Iceout(D), Icicle hail(D), Mind bridge(D), Ice mana barrier(C), Heat shift(D), Mana bolt(D), Mana sense(D), Mind mana manipulation(D), Illusion mana manipulation(E)
Mutations: Knowledge intake stomach(B), Multi-Mind system(A)
Spells: Freeze water(Lesser), Frostfield(Lesser), coldsnap(Lesser), amnesia(Lesser), Frost spikes(Lesser)
