Leaving Jigoro’s mischief aside, let’s move on. Next was the long-awaited evolution of [Light Magic].
Oh, finally, I managed to evolve the [Light Magic] skill! It took quite a while! The required SP was… 30…? I see…
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[Light Magic] evolved into [Holy Magic] by consuming 30 SP.
Newly learned “Holy Shield” spell.
You have obtained the title “Conflicts Transcender”.
You may acquire the [Space-Time Magic] skill based on your past actions and experiences.
You have acquired the [Space-Time Magic] skill by consuming 30 SP.
Newly learned “short teleportation” spell attack.
You have obtained the title “Master of Elements”.
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Fufufu, kukukuku, ahhahahaha! No regrets! Not a single one! I spent a whopping 60 SP all at once! But the returns were more than worth it!
First, let’s talk about the newly acquired spell. The Holy Shield seemed to be a strengthened version of the Magic Shield; not only did it possess impressive resilience, but it also had the unique ability to withstand any single attack.
A holy shield that mercilessly blocks the enemy’s all-out single strike. Doesn’t it sound like a villain’s move? It’s like effortlessly countering the powerful early-game characters or the life-or-death attack of the protagonist’s master.
Another skill I gained was short teleportation, which was a spell that allowed me to instantly shift to an open area within my field of vision. It seemed useful for both surprise attacks and escapes.
Next, let’s check the titles I unintentionally acquired. Surprisingly, I ended up with two more titles. Let’s take a moment to review them all.
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- “Friend of the Water Dragon King”
A testament of friendship with one of the three ancient Water Dragon Lords in the world, Agnasrelim.
The favorability of the Dragon God and the Dragon Kaiser, particularly the Aqua Dragon Kaiser, increases significantly.
Moreover, highly intelligent dragons will show unconditional respect.
Requirement: Be regarded as a friend by Agnasrelim.
- “Conflicts Transcender”
A title bestowed upon those who have acquired the power that was supposed to undermine their own existence.
All skills see a substantial increase.
Requirement: Evolve your weakness element magic.
- “Master of Elements”
A title granted to great mages capable of using magic of all elements.
Reduction in magic power consumption for all elemental magic.
Requirement: Evolution of all basic elemental magic and acquisition of composite attributes.
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Ho-ho? All of these were quite intriguing. ‘Friend of the Water Dragon King’ was a title we all acquired, and the conditions were straightforward. However, what’s even more fascinating was the fact that there were three ancient Water Dragon Lords in the world, including Agnasrelim.
It got me thinking: could there possibly be multiple Ancient Flame Dragon Lords, or Ancient Earth Dragon Lords? I absolutely wouldn’t want to have them as enemies.
Furthermore, the description mentioned the Dragon God and Dragon Kaiser… They must be even higher-ranking dragons than Lord Agnasrelim. I had been curious about why the Dragon Lord’s level was 87, but it seems quite simple now. Most likely, once they reach level 90, they evolve into the Dragon Kaiser.
In other words, dragons at level 80 to 89 are Dragon Lords. So, just how powerful are the Dragon Gods that reign two steps above Lord Agnasrelim? It feels like an overwhelming sense of despair, where even a group of players at the level cap wouldn’t stand a chance against them.
Next is ‘Conflicts Transcender’, but this one seems impossible for humans to acquire. After all, the majority of players, like humans and elves, don’t have any elemental weaknesses.
On the other hand, there were no individuals among us who lacked elemental weaknesses. Iris, who belonged to the plant type, and Genjuro, who was an insect type, were both vulnerable to the fire element. Ruby, the slime, had a weakness to lightning, and Jigoro, after evolving into the Blazebolt Berserk Ogre, became vulnerable to the water element.
I wondered if everyone could obtain the title ‘Conflicts Transcender’ if they followed a similar path like me. It was undoubtedly a cumbersome and time-consuming process, but the tremendous boost to all stats made it an incredible effect.
However, this information could be a game-changer for us, as the five of us were the only monsters for the time being. The decision of whether to share this knowledge publicly or keep it within our group required thorough discussion.
On the other hand, the final title, ‘Master of Elements’, was straightforward and had excellent effects. It was unfortunate that it offered no benefits for my specialized deep abyss magic.
Alright, let’s move on to the last task now. It’s time for evolution. Finally, I reached level 30 after the battle with the Toadman Prince. Now, let’s see what I can become!
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- Chimera Abyss Dragonbone Lich.
A rare breed of Lich that possesses the ability to wield all abyssal magic and has a part of a dragon’s essence within its body.
It boasts incomparable strength compared to the regular Lich.
Through [Alchemy], it has gained additional arms.
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This time, there was only one evolution path. Well, it was odd that there had been choices in the past. So, without delay, it was time for body modification before evolution.
Ever since I managed to add the extra arms, I had been investigating the compatibility between various materials and my body. The research concluded that the best compatibility was with ‘monster bones’ and ‘magic stones’, while metals proved to be the worst match.
Although the sample size was still small, and my level in alchemy might be low, I couldn’t state it definitively. However, I utilized this information to create an item with Iris’s assistance.
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- Dark Monster Bone Quality: Superior, Rarity: S (Special Class)
A monster bone imbued with the dark element. It can only be created through alchemy.
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The method of creation was to combine ‘monster bone + magic stone (dark element).’ If there were magic stones with other attributes, it seemed possible to create more items. However, for now, this was the best I could do.
But I must admit, making this was quite a challenge. When fused normally, the quality would diminish significantly.
Through trial and error, I discovered that grinding the magic stone into powder before combining it worked well. Entrusting the grinding task to Iris resulted in a uniform and high-quality finish. Having a reliable comrade who excelled in production was truly invaluable!
“Heave-ho.”
“…!?”
I incorporated this as a new part. This time, instead of adding more arms or legs, I chose to fuse it normally. I was becoming more accustomed to the sensation of the new arms, and I could handle close combat reasonably well.
Nevertheless, I was still far from being perfect. So, I decided to refrain from adding more for now.
“If I place this here… Oh, yes, this should work!”
“H-hey…”
However, it didn’t mean I wouldn’t alter the shape at all. I added the humerus, radius, ulna, and even the femur and tibia bones, modifying myself through the “transformation” spell to make them sturdier.
Changing the shape and number of joints to match the modifications was troublesome, but I found it rather enjoyable—probably because I have a penchant for intricate details.
“Fufufu~n, Fufufu~n♪”
“Eh…”
I immersed myself in the work, and in the process, I had a playful idea. I decided to deform some bones playfully, twisting them like ropes or threads. Oh, the intertwined bones forming spirals looked rather cool.
However, doing the same modification to everything felt dull and lacked artistic sense. It had to be a stylish and subtle touch. So, I took the two bones already present in the forearm, namely the radius and ulna, twisted them together, and then added three new bones around them, creating an elegant effect. Oh, marvelous!
With that, the modification was complete. But looking at the result, there seemed to be no change in the evolution choice. Simply becoming more rugged and stylish wasn’t enough. Alright then, it’s time for evolution!
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The “Chimera Abyss Dragonbone Lich” has been selected.
The evolution to the Chimera Abyss Dragonbone Lich has begun.
As a result of the evolution, the level of [Undying Wisdom] skill has increased.
As a result of the evolution, the level of [Inhabitant of the Abyss] skill has increased.
As a result of the evolution, the level of [Abyssal Aura] skill has increased.
As a result of the evolution, the skill of [Undead Subordinate Domination] has been acquired.
Through evolution, the Staff of Hourai, Skull Mask, and Moon’s Feather Robe have all grown by one level.
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Yeah, that feeling of omnipotence came again. I wasn’t used to this strange sense of elation, feeling like I could do anything now.
So, I acquired the ability [Undead Subordinate Domination] huh? Interesting, it meant that undead creatures below level 20 would unquestionably obey me. Well, unless they were controlled by another player, in which case they would only be immobilized.
Dealing with lower-level opponents’ skills became less of a hassle, but the downside was that possessing such a skill didn’t have many practical uses in our adventures. It was our own fault for seeking out places filled with higher-level enemies.
Anyway, how has my equipment been enhanced to match my evolution? Here’s the list of them all.
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- Staff of Hourai – Quality: God, Rarity: G (God Class)
A staff crafted from the divine tree of Mount Hourai. Indestructible. Bound to its owner.
Its true power will surely be unleashed alongside the growth of its owner.
Equipment effects: [Magic Attack Enhancement] Lv4 up!, [Magic Power Amplification] Lv4 up! [Magic Stone Emission, [Magic Stone Absorption], [Element Magic Stone Emission] new!
- Moon’s Feather Robe – Quality: God, Rarity: G (God Class)
A robe worn by the gods and their attendants residing on the moon. Indestructible. Bound to Its owner.
Its true power will surely be unleashed alongside the growth of its owner.
Equipment effects: [Color and Shape Modification], [Magic Resistance] Lv4 up! [Flight] Lv4 up, [Skill Enhancement: Moonlight] Lv4 up! [Skill Enhancement: Night] Lv4 new!
- Skull Mask – Quality: God, Rarity: G (God Class).
A mask that amplifies the power of death. Indestructible. Bound to Its owner.
Its true power will surely be unleashed alongside the growth of its owner.
Equipment effects: [Necromancy Enhancement] Lv4 up!, [Curse Enhancement] Lv4 up! [Disguise] Lv4 up! [Witchcraft Enhancement] Lv4 up! [Spirit Channeling Enhancement] Lv4 new!
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Yeah, I was getting stronger and stronger. The Equipment’s initial effects had all improved, and the new effects were [Element Magic Stone Emission], [Skill Enhancement: Night], and [Spirit Channeling Enhancement].
They were all quite self-explanatory. Oh, [Element Magic Stone Emission] meant that the staff could create magic stones imbued with elements, but naturally, I could only use the elements that I possessed. In other words, I could use magic stones of all elements! Uhahahaha!
But, if only I had this before the evolution! I could have created all kinds of bones!
Well, there’s no point in complaining now. More importantly, this should greatly improve Iris’s production. I’ve become a moving magic stone manufacturer, after all.
Perhaps I can easily create items to overcome everyone’s [X weakness]. I should discuss it with her.
Next is the job change, huh? What options do I have… Oh, there’s only one!
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The “Abyss Mage” Job has been selected.
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The “Abyss Mage” was a job that received bonuses in Abyss-type magic, and it seemed like the only suitable job for my playstyle. I was actually eager to complete the “Abyssal” job line.
Alright, with this, my strengthening process was complete! Now, all that was left was to wait for everyone to gather, defeat the boss, and climb the mountain.
Looking back, it had been quite a long detour, but it was all worth it since I gained a lot from it. If I ever had the chance, I’d love to come back here again…
“Hey, brother! What the heck are you doing!?” Jigoro asked.
“Huh? Evolving and changing jobs. What’s the matter?”
Jigoro, who had been watching me evolve and change jobs, had a grimace on his face. I wondered what was bothering him.
“Well, it’s just… Your bones have increased to a creepy extent!”
“You’re bringing that up now? You didn’t seem so surprised when I grew extra arms.”
I remember that when I increased the number of my arms before, Jigoro and Genjuro’s reactions were quite mild compared to the reactions of the female members. However, this time, with the evolution that only brought subtle changes compared to before, Jigoro was reacting excessively. I wonder why?
“You know, I’ve been studying anatomy seriously to come up with ways to really destroy human beings,” Jigoro said.
“Uh-huh, and?”
“Don’t you get it? What you’re doing is messing with my understanding of anatomy! It’s challenging everything I thought I knew.”
Ah, I see! He must mean that if the shapes, positions, and numbers of bones and joints change, it could affect how to take down opponents in combat.
“You doing this means that there might be others who think of similar ideas and put them into action. If that happens, it could be a bit tough for me…”
Saying that, Jigoro grinned. It was a menacing and combative smile. And I could already predict what he was going to say next.
“So, brother, can you create some skeleton, like a sparring partner for me? Someone with a similar form! It’s all for my practice!”
I thought he would say that! However, I had a ready-made excuse to decline.
“Unfortunately, I’m running low on monster bones.”
“What? Seriously…”
It was a lie. In reality, I still had a fair amount left, but only I knew the exact quantity. So, I could easily claim that I had none to spare. It made me feel like a shrewd merchant adjusting the supply.
“Well, I guess it can’t be helped then. If I come across some bones, I’ll collect them for you. Just count on me then,” Jigoro said.
“Sure, I’ll leave it to you,”
Fufufu, it seems he fell for it. With this, not only bones but various other materials could be gathered if needed. It would be perfect if he developed the habit of collecting materials!
However, it’s true that this evolution sparked various creative ideas within me. Through trial and error, I genuinely wanted to create an undead that would give Jigoro a tough fight.
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