A few days had passed since Gilgamesh had claimed Saji Genshiro's Sacred Gear. Now, deep within the confines of his personal workshop, he sat with two Sacred Gears sealed within his soul, each one brimming with potential, waiting for his command.
"Time for step two," Gilgamesh murmured to himself, his red eyes gleaming with anticipation. He called forth the two Sacred Gears: the Boosted Gear and the Absorption Line, holding them in his hands as he opened his system shop. "Hmmm, what can I do with these two new toys?" he mused, scrolling through the options presented by the system.
One particular option caught his eye, linked to the Boosted Gear. The shop offered him a unique opportunity—since the Boosted Gear contained the complete essence of a powerful dragon, he could extract a portion of this essence and fuse it into his magic core. This would initiate a Dragon Kind Evolution, gradually bestowing upon Gilgamesh the abilities and characteristics of a dragon. The system even provided a method to modify the process, allowing him to retain being human while gaining the properties of a dragon and none of the weakness. With enough points, the evolution could potentially transform his core into a being comparable to a dragon core from the Nasuverse—one of the most powerful creatures in existence.
"Hmmm, interesting... System, begin the process of integration," Gilgamesh commanded, his voice calm but laced with excitement.
The system obeyed instantly, starting with the purification of the dragon essence to ensure a proper fusion with his magic core. At first, Gilgamesh felt nothing but a subtle warmth spreading through his body. However, when the actual integration began, the experience turned far from pleasant.
It started as a surge of power, a torrent of energy that made him feel nearly omnipotent. But soon, that power exceeded the limits of his magic core. It kept growing, and the sensation shifted from exhilarating to agonizing. Gilgamesh felt as though he was about to explode, his magic core straining under the immense pressure. The pain was searing, intense, and unrelenting.
Even as his body began to emit a burning heat, with magical energy bursting from every pore, Gilgamesh's iron will refused to let him falter. He endured the torment, his resolve unyielding as his magic core started to undergo fundamental changes. The transformation was far from simple, and the pain that accompanied it was beyond anything Gilgamesh had ever experienced. It felt as though he was being consumed by fire from the inside out.
Thankfully, Gilgamesh had the foresight to undergo the process within the safety of his workshop. Had he been anywhere else, the sheer amount of energy and heat he was emitting would have drawn attention from every entity within miles.
Unfortunately, the worst was yet to come. As the evolution of his magic core reached its peak, his soul began to absorb and merge with the newly evolved core. The pain that followed made everything he had endured up to that point seem like a mild discomfort. This was no mere Dragon Kind Modification—this was a complete metamorphosis, one that transcended the traditional changes brought about by bathing in dragon's blood or consuming its heart. The depths of this transformation were far more profound, and the burden on Gilgamesh's body and soul was equally immense.
Hours passed in what felt like an eternity of torture, his consciousness barely holding on under the onslaught of pain. And then, just as suddenly as it began, the agony subsided. The suffering gave way to a sensation of endless comfort and boundless power. Gilgamesh's entire being was flooded with a newfound strength, his body now imbued with the essence of a dragon.
"Damn... I didn't know it was going to be that painful," Gilgamesh muttered, panting slightly as he stared at the system screen with a mixture of relief and annoyance.
*Ping.* The system responded with a curt message: "The system follows the user's subconscious thoughts to save as many points as possible while still fulfilling the user's wishes."
Gilgamesh's eyes widened in disbelief. "So, I spent hours getting hoed because of my subconscious? Damn it! Alright then, system, FUCKING INFORM ME IF I'M GOING TO THROUGH THAT PAIN LIKE THAT OR SOMETHING EVEN WORSE AGAIN. *Sigh,* I don't mind following my subconscious desires, but at least give me a heads-up. And why was it so damn painful anyway?"
*Ping.* "Since the user isn't modifying himself directly, it follows the rules of the Nasuverse. Due to the contradicting attributes, they collided during the process of evolution, causing pain."
"What do you mean by not modifying myself directly?"
*Ping.* "At the start, the user selected an empty magic core, which was not considered a part of the user. However, since the user was still connected to it through your energy, as it evolved and filled, it began to slowly meld with you, eventually making you and it one."
Gilgamesh frowned, digesting the information. "Ahhh... I understand none of that shit, but whatever. As long as it's not going to come back to bite me in the ass later, I don't care."
With that done, Gilgamesh turned his attention back to the remaining Sacred Gear. "With that done, before we move on, what can I do with the Absorption Line I got from Saji?"
*Ping.* The system responded promptly: "Vritra's soul is a viable catalyst for the summoning of a Servant."system replied in her usual monotone voice.
"Oh yeah I totally there is a Servant version of Vritra in the Grand Order timeline. The soul of the Vritra of this universe can be fused and be a catalyst to summon fgo Vritra but I still need to fulfill the energy required.'
He considered the idea for a moment, then shook his head. "I'm going to hold off on that for now. There's no rush."
[What the hell was that?]
"Oh! Hey ddraig,"
[You feel like a dragon but not at the Same time and that energy orb of yours was gone]
"Oh I guess improve it and fuse it with some of the boosted gear's energy and your draconic essence"
[I get none from that]
"So am I" Gilgamesh let's an exacerbated "I spend hours on something I can only benefit long time later" *sighs* "maybe I should have buy something else instead"