The clouds that had gathered miles high in the sky were still churning with lightning arcs flashing off it making a ghastly sight. Under the clouds was a large blue portal, that was around 10 meters wide, in the center was an abyss of black with no end and out of this abyss came a giant shadow that fell heavily to the ground.
With a booming sound that resounded through the nearby forest the ground heavily cracked for tens of meters as a black figure rose from the ground. As it rose from the ground 2 pairs of wings unfolded from its back causing a gush of wind that blew away the debris around it.
It was a truly magnificent sight to behold, however the four who had just rushed here were filled with awe as the stared at the creature. Although they couldn't see the creature due to the darkness of the clouds and were only catching glimpses of it through the light given from the lightning they could only describe its visage as terrifying.
Jackson screamed out in excitement although he was slightly shaking. "What the FU-"
His words were cut off by the other three glaring at him. Jackson could only hold back his words as he once more stared at the terrifying creature in front of them. It had the general outline of a dragon-more than two legs, a single head, at least one pair of wings, and the normal dragon head outline- but everything else was that of an insects.
Its eyes didn't have a vertical slit as many have seen in various illustrations and literature but were instead a pair of compound eyes that sat in an opening of the carapace on its head. Its mouth was much like that of a dragons at first glance but on the corners of its mouth were a pair of very large mandibles that opened and closed with loud clicking sounds.
While it did have the normal looks of a dragon its legs were a few too many numbering at six. Each of these legs ended in a set of five claws that curved into a fine point. Its wings were much like that of a dragons but instead of a standard webbing they were equipped with a thin layer of a flexible carapace. Continuing along its body was the tail that ended in a sinister barb that glistened with a purple light.
The lightning and thunder increased as the creature slowly positioned itself into an upright manner. They caught even more glimpses of the creature and as they did they saw that its entire body was covered in a layer of thick carapace like armor. It glistened with a deep violet color with small black dots throughout.
The creature slowly lifted its head to the billowing skies as a roar escaped its mouth. As if it was responding the lightning in the sky gathered as thunder boomed. Although more people were gathering around the perimeter of the scorched earth they stood dozens of meters behind the Bruno and the rest in fear of getting struck.
Jackson spoke in a hushed tone. "Once this whole thing stops, you think we could hunt it?"
Bruno looked at him with a strange look in his eyes. "I don't even know what that thing is. You also must have no idea, and not only that but we don't we don't even know it's level. Even if it's level was low do you really think something that could cause this would be easy to kill?"
Jacksons mood turned sour as his expression sank, he mumbled to himself as he looked at the beast.
Traves had a green light in front of his eye filled with many runes as he looked at the beast. He formed a dozen hand seals before the green light brightened even more. Soon a strange look was on his face. He glanced at Bruno before speaking.
"Well, I don't think we should fight it unless we need to."
Jackson frowned as Bruno moved his vision towards Traves and the magic circle over his eye. It was a type of magic that allowed one to look a lower leveled creatures abilities, it was incredibly useful to anyone that hunted so they didn't overestimate their abilities and rashly die. Bruno nodded as he then casted a glance at the dragon once more.
Jackson was not pleased and asked a simple question. "Why shouldn't we?"
Traves paused before he told them a list of information that was held in his magic circle. Although Bruno was expecting something he didn't expect this.
"We shouldn't fight it because although I can read its level, its stats are all blank."
Jackson was confused as this hadn't happened before. "And that means?"
Traves helplessly shook his head and shrugged. "I couldn't tell you, I've never seen this either. Could mean its stats are higher than ours by a whole level or it could mean that I just don't have a high enough ability to look at it."
Jacksons mood became worse while Rowan who had been silent the entire time patted him on shoulder which in turn was met with a meaningful gaze from Jackson. He had been silent as he had been looking at those who had arrived after them and telling them to leave by flashin his light at them.
---------------------------
Days before...
Within the void of the storage space a ball of light slowly flickered into existence. It curiously looked around and then stopped while looking at a screen the appeared before it.
"I'm awake?"
[In order to proceed with the evolution the System must ask Host how much of the bloodlines Host would like to include in the evolution. There is little control to be done but Host can change the amount of effects it would have.]
"I see."
Glancing at the screen there were quite a few options on it. Each one had a slider on it, prompting him to slide them to the desired form.
[Giant Amazonian Centipede: Base Form: 30%]
[Amazonian Spider: One Bloodline Consumed: 1%]
[Feral Capybara: Six Bloodlines Consumed: 12%]
[Scarlet Macaw: One Bloodline Consumed: 2%]
[Poison Dart Frog: One Bloodline Consumed: 6%]
[Dragon: One Bloodline Consumed: 49%]
"Thought, what's up with the percentages? Why is the base form percentage so low?"
[The more bloodlines Host consumes the more polluted the original becomes, which will eventually make Host a new creature altogether. Although there is a bloodline limit for one creature it changes when multiple are involved. The limit for multiple bloodlines is 50.]
"Still, why is the Dragon's bloodline higher than mine?"
[That is due to how impure Hosts original bloodline is compared to the dragons.]
"You didn't need to put that so blunt, that hurt."
[Host is unable to be injured while in the storage.]
He stopped talking to Thought and began to move the sliders next to the creatures. Each time the slider moved a picture would appear in front of him, each one showing a gradual change as the bloodlines increased in overbearingness. The centipedes bloodline was able to slide to max of 55% while the rest were stuck at a max of 20%. The dragons bloodline was simply monstrous as it could take 90% of the bloodline percentage.
Seeing that he grumbled as he changed the sliders. When he slid the centipede past 50 percent it would change the base form but if he slid the dragon past 50 it change to the form of a dragon. Realising what influences the base form a creepy chuckle came from the glowing ball of light. He threw the dragons slider at 50% while he put the other five at 10%.
What appeared was a dragon with a strange physiology. It had four legs and two wings but its body was covered in a thick coat of feathers that acted like scales. Throughout these feathers were inky black dots that scattered themselves along its body. Its legs were a little longer than what he expected and its tail split down the middle at the tip.
'Interesting, but not enough of what I want.'
He changed the sliders once more. The dragon was still at 50 % while the centipede increased to 20%, the rest decreased to 7.5%. What appeared was a rather long dragon. It had eight legs and another set of wings in order for it to keep its flight abilities stable. Instead of feathers, this time its body was covered in a thick carapace with a few black dots spread out along its body. Its tail also ended in a crescent like blade that had a purple glow. It face also under went a change that added a set of mandibles to the side of its mouth.
He grinned as he slid the sliders once more. The outcome put a wide smile on the orbs face, he chuckled to himself as he looked into the void. "Thought!"
[Yes Host.]
"I'm done."
[Calculating hosts changes... Calculations done. Host will begin merging process. This process will take 5 days.]
"Why so short?"
[The system has already uploaded all changes Host could have made in the data space allowing the evolution to take a much shorter time.]
"Ok then, send me under."