At last, my eyes open and I break out from the cacoon. Looking down into the water the first thing I do is inspect my reflection. I have two horns protruding from the top of my head. Opening my mouth I find that my teeth have changed from a pair of fangs to a set of sharp pointed teeth. My body is still covered in pale blue scales but the sheer size of my body is far larger than before, several times large in length that a blue whale from the old world. My vision seems to have improved as well. Before I had some trouble seeing in this cavern as there was practically no light but now it's as clear as day. As I go on to check my updated status I am halted by a new message from the System.
"Evolution to Sea Dragon complete, conditions met. Initialising System Quest. You have received the System Quest, 'Legacy of the Dragons'. The Dragons were once a great force millions of years ago, the strongest of them were the rulers of the land, sea, and sky, but something caused them to go extinct, or so people thought. As the last Dragon, find the cause of extinction and show the world that the Dragon still lives. This System Quest will remain available so long as you are a type of Dragon. As a completion reward, you will clear one of the requirements for Apotheosis and a hidden requirement for the Herald Evolutions. Requirements: Cause of Extinction - incomplete, The World Recognises the Return of the Dragons - incomplete."
Apotheosis? So I can even become a god? Not a chance, I won't let myself become my own prey. But it seems I can't ignore this either, clearing the hidden requirements for the Herald are one of my long time goals after all. But this seems like it will take a long time, moreover, in the past, I was a Biologist and Historian but I was not a Palaeontologist or Archaeologist, putting this outside of my expertise. Regardless of it being within my field of expertise or not, I will make sure to watch out for any clues related to the extinction of the Dragons. The second requirement at least looks like it will be easier. For now, I should check out my new status.
Name: Cordelia Auspin
Race: Elite Young Sea Dragon
Tier: 6
Titles: Provoking Giants (-5 INT), Coward, A Fool, Immortal Slayer, Soul Eater, Seed of Calamity, Brave Explorer, The Sea Dragon's Inheritor
Level: 1
EXP: 0/800
HP: 900/900 (+61) MP: 500/500 (+61) SP: 800/800 (+61)
STR: 520 (+61)
VIT: 525 (+61)
DEX: 400 (+61)
INT: 445 (+56)
WIS: 420 (+61)
MND: 415 (+61)
CHA: 70 (Intimidation)
LUCK: 10
Acquired Skills: Analysis (3)
Innate Skills: Acid Beam (3) [1.6% max HP/5 sec, 1.8% out of water], Tail Swipe (6) [STR/2 -E.VIT/3], Venomous Bite (6) [1.6% max HP/5 sec], Ice Breath (1) [MND/7 - E.MND/7], Water Breath (1) [MND/7 - E.MND/7], Constrict (1) [STR/6 - E.VIT/8] {All attacks will always do a minimum of STAT/100}
Soul Skills: Language Comprehension
Magic: Ice Shard [MND/8 - E.MND/8], Water Wall
Resistance: Corrosion Immunity, Weak Poison Resist
Weakness: Lightning [+50% damage]
Natural Mutations: Draconic Sight, Massive Size, Fluent Tongue, Gills, Toxic Scales [1% max HP/5 sec], Soul Furnace (+61)
Mutations: N/A (See Potential Mutations)
Current Biomatter: 301kg
Lifetime Biomatter: 4,299kg
Available Evolutions: (See Potential Evolutions)
System Quests: Legacy of the Dragons (0/2)
Details: You have obtained the Legacy of the Sea Dragons. You are large enough to coil around large ships and still have the ability to fight. As an Elite Monster, you currently have a +10 bonus to all base stats. As an Elite Monster above Tier 5, you are 30% larger than normal for your species. Your one step closer to your goal, but you'll still probably fail.
My stats have improved tremendously compared to when I was a measly snake. In comparison to the other mid-tier monsters, I have seen I don't have any real stand out point like the Brachyura's durability or the Imperatosuchus's bite, but I am incredibly well rounded. I can even use magic now.
I also lost some mutations during my evolution, but not because they were strictly incompatible but because the Sea Dragon seems to naturally have better versions. My 'Enhanced Size' was replaced by the natural 'Massive Size' and 'Superior Eyes' got replaced with the natural 'Draconic Sight'. I got two new natural mutations, one being 'Gills', so now I can permanently stay underwater without having to surface for air. But the most important one is the new natural mutation, 'Fluent Tongue'.
"I can actually talk out loud now."
The lose of my selected mutations mean I can peak new ones and as a Young, I am able to pick a third mutation now. Looking at my potential mutation list, I find that 'Spiked Tail' is still here and the addition of four new ones. 'Colossal Size', Sharp Horns', 'Enhanced Stomach', 'Strong Venom'. I can pretty much rule out 'Spiked Tail' and 'Sharp Horns' as they aren't needed for my goals but the other three look like they will lead to what I need for the Ouroboros.
As a Sea Dragon my potential evolutions should have changed quite a bit, and looking at them I find my assumption to be correct. Of course, there are the Ouroboros and the Adult Sea Dragon but there are also several new ones I haven't seen. one aquatic evolution and two terrestrial ones. Without delay, I have the System explain each one to me.
"The Trench Dragon is a Tier 6 aquatic dragon that lives exclusively within the deepest parts of the ocean. Its very existence is considered by scholars to be dubious as the only evidence of this long extinct monster are the bones that have rarely surfaced in various parts of the world. They are sedentary and territorial. The Trench Dragon is the largest of all aquatic Dragons. They follow the Young>Adult>Elder evolutionary path and further evolutions are locked to Ouroboros and other aquatic dragons. Available due to currently being a Sea Dragon."
"The Corrosive Wyrm is a Tier 6 terrestrial relative of dragons. Reminiscent of snakes is appearance, though they are far larger and are thought to have been the transition phase from dragon to snake. Although rare, they still exist today and are mostly found on the western continent of Lausiel. They follow the Young>Adult>Elder evolutionary path and with the exception of Ouroboros, cannot evolve further. Available due to being a dragon or dragon descendant."
"The Lindwurm is a Tier 6 terrestrial dragon. An extinct monster with a voracious appetite. It has small, relative to its size, vestigial wings. Like most non-aquatic dragons they are not nearly as large as their aquatic brethren. They are a grounded dragon that has two clawed arms on the upper body. hey follow the Young>Adult>Elder evolutionary path and can further evolve into both grounded and flight-capable dragons. Available due to the Title, 'The Sea Dragon's Inheritor'."
The best choice is obviously the Lindwurm as it is a terrestrial monster and has the best options for future growth. The requirements for evolution are pretty simple too. 5,000kg of biomatter and have the 'Enhanced Stomach' mutation, I also need 4,500kg available for consumption to evolve.
Finished with looking over my updated status, I take another look around the cavern with my improved vision and notice somethings odd along the walls. Scratch marks and areas that look like they were bitten. I couldn't see this before due to my previously poor vision but it seems as though a battle took place here. The walls aren't the only thing to show signs of damage. The bones of the Sea Dragons also have bite marks in them. Perhaps something was actively hunting them which led to their extinction, but I can't be entirely sure until I find the burial grounds of other dragons. I'll keep this in mind for the future, but right now there is a slightly more pressing matter... I'm too big to leave through the tunnel.
The tunnel and this cavern seemed to have been artificially made by the Sea Dragons, but they didn't take into account any Elite Sea Dragons who are larger than normal ones. I begin to launch acid on the walls and throw my tail into them in an attempt to expand the tunnel to fit me, and after what seems like several hours I blast my way through and return to the lake by the waterfall. With a quick look around I find that there are signs of trees growing in places I had previously eaten them. Seems like several months maybe even a year has passed since I began my evolution. Does the time it take for evolution increase with the strength of the monster?
Moving out into the lake I am quick to find that I can barely keep my body in the water because of my large size. with almost 60% of my body incapable of being submerged, the first thing I realise is that I'm a massive target that's nearly impossible to miss. And of course, fireballs come flying my way, directly hitting my back. Thankfully in my new form, they aren't as big as a threat as they once were. Turning my head I see a lone Ignisauros at the edge of the lake. Time for some sweet revenge.