After a brief period of rest, Ron embarked on the peculiar ritual of consuming crystals. His actions were constrained by the fact that he could only partake in this arcane feast once every three days, lest the surging mana overwhelm his heart, forcing it to cease its rhythmic dance. In ordinary circumstances, one would exercise great caution to avoid ingesting toxic stones.
However, Ron's tumultuous history of poisonings had endowed his constitution with formidable defenses.
The initial bite into the crystalline gem triggered a tumultuous reaction within him. Nausea gripped him mercilessly, and he found himself expelling blood from his mouth, nose, and even his eyes. It became evident that these stones, birthed from mightier monsters, housed an abundance of mana unparalleled by their diminutive Antiko counterparts. Ron grappled with the brink of survival, for never before had he encountered a crystal of such potency, not even during the ordeal three years past that had nearly claimed his life.
But as those who knew Ron well understood, his tenacious will to survive prevailed. Despite the excruciating agony, he persevered, allowing the formidable mana to merge with his essence. Briefly, he lapsed into unconsciousness, venturing into a surreal dreamscape: a shadowy realm adorned with ethereal, flickering flames.
A compulsion urged him to pursue one of these minuscule beacons, yet he awoke just as he was about to seize it.
Upon regaining consciousness, Ron noted subtle alterations within himself. His stature had grown slightly, and his visage bore a subtle metamorphosis. The most striking transformation, however, lay in the lightness he perceived within his own form
. Eager to assess the extent of his newfound strength, Ron ventured outside. His senses quickened, and he realized that he had become significantly swifter than before. Yet, the primary test awaited him—a demonstration of his burgeoning magical prowess.
This time, he reserved his nascent power not for the diminutive Antikos but for the wily Goblins.
Setting out in search of these mischievous creatures, Ron's quest bore fruit swiftly as he stumbled upon a small band of Goblins
. With customary precision, he summoned forth his dark flame. However, this time, he discerned that he could concentrate a more formidable reservoir of dark energy than previously achievable. Confidence surged through him; this would be a trivial undertaking. He steeled himself for the impending confrontation, and with a determined flourish, he unleashed a barrage of seven dark flames.
The Goblins, engrossed in their own affairs, remained blissfully ignorant of the looming threat. The dark flames, an inky cascade of devastation, consumed them before they even had a chance to react
. In the blink of an eye, the Goblins were vanquished, their existence snuffed out by Ron's newfound might. Grasping a few of their lifeless forms, he carried them with him into the depths of the underworld, intent on sating his hunger with their essence.
The story of Ron's transformation had only just begun, and the world would soon bear witness to the consequences of his newfound power.