Chapter 152: The Future Ahead
Arthur’s eyes remained fixed on the notification.
[Species: Golden Dragon]
[Royal Golden Dragon] —> [Elder Dragon] —> [Ancient Dragon King] —> [Dragon God]
[Evolution Paths Analyzed: 19 → 20]
[Evolution Paths Discovered: 29 → 30]
Arthur’s eyes shone. "Amazing," he said.
’Mephistopheles... should be a Royal Golden Dragon right now. And he can even become a god.’
For a brief moment... Arthur completely forgot everyone around him.
Mephistopheles immediately took two cautious steps backward. "Why are you looking at me like that?" he said.
Arthur laughed. "I’m just admiring you," he said. "You’ve got an incredible future."
The dragon still looked suspicious.
Leon slowly looked at Arthur. "...Or you saw or noticed something incredible."
Arthur simply smiled. "...Maybe."
Leon then lightly smacked Mephistopheles on the neck. "Stop freaking yourself out," he said.
Mephistopheles snorted. "He’s smiling," he said.
Leon laughed. "He smiles like that whenever he discovers something interesting," he said.
Arthur nodded. "I was just wondering what your next evolution will be."
Leon blinked. "Honestly, so am I," he said, folding his arms. "After watching Vedas become a Goblin King, I can’t help wondering what’s waiting for Mephi."
Arthur smiled. "Oh? So we motivated you?"
Mephistopheles proudly puffed out his chest. "Of course. I refuse to fall behind Vedas. I’ll reach the next stage too."
Arthur laughed. "I expected nothing less," he said.
Nearby several Goblins happened to overhear. One Su Tribe Goblin blinked. "Wait," he said. "Why don’t you ask the Prophet?"
Leon looked over. "Ask him?"
The Goblin nodded. "He helped every one of us evolve."
Another Yan Tribe Goblin grinned. "Maybe he can help your dragon too."
Leon slowly looked toward him.
Arthur simply smiled and without saying anything he gently rubbed Mephistopheles’s head.
Ding.
[Requirement 1]
[Reach Level 30]
[25 / 30]
[Requirement 2]
[Surpass Your Limits Against A Stronger Beast: 1 / 1]
[Requirement 3]
[Complete the Trial of the Sun: 0 / 1]
Arthur quietly read everything, then the screen disappeared. He rubbed his chin. "This is only a guess," he said.
Everyone leaned in.
Arthur looked toward Mephistopheles. "I think you need to become stronger first," he said. "Probably Level Thirty. And there seems to be some kind of Trial."
Leon’s golden eyes shine more as his smile turned more bestial. "Interesting," he said. "You really might be a prophet. How delightful!"
Mephistopheles immediately grinned. "So I just need to keep fighting," he said.
Leon chuckled. " Yes but it isn’t that simple," he said.
Arthur tilted his head. "Why?"
Leon smiled wryly. "High bloodline beasts grow much slower," he said.
Arthur’s eyes widened in surprise. "They... do?".
Leon continued. "It’s how the world balances things. The stronger you’re born, the harder it becomes to grow."
Arthur blinked. "So compared to an ordinary Beast?"
Leon nodded. "To reach the next Rank, Mephistopheles probably needs over ten times the experience."
Arthur’s eyes widened. "Seriously?"
Leon laughed. "Welcome to raising Dragons," he said.
Mephistopheles proudly snorted. "That simply means I’ll defeat ten times more enemies," he said.
Leon rubbed his head. "That’s exactly what I expected you to say," he said.
Leon suddenly grinned. "Still, I owe you one," he said.
Arthur blinked. "For what?"
Leon pointed around the city. "This siege," he said. "There were enough enemies that Mephistopheles skipped months of training."
Arthur laughed. "I needed your help too," he said.
Sun finally walked over. "Actually, I’ve been wondering," he said. "Why were you even here?"
Leon shrugged. "I wasn’t looking for you. I simply picked the Secret Realm that sounded the most interesting."
Arthur burst into laughter. "That sounds exactly like you," he said.
Sun stared blankly. "So you chased an army of monsters because it looked fun?"
Leon nodded. "Yes."
Sun covered his face. "You’re both insane," he said.
Mithra giggled. "He’s not wrong," she said.
Kong folded his arms. "I like him," he said.
Mephistopheles proudly nodded. "We both enjoy exciting things," he said.
Melo floated nearby. "That’s because you’re both battle maniacs," she said.
Leon smiled proudly. "Correct."
Everyone laughed.
Arthur eventually walked over to Athena. Mara stood beside her, and the two were carefully studying Halburn’s runes.
Arthur smiled, then gently rubbed Athy’s cheek. The owl blinked. "Hm?"
The screen appeared.
[Species: Owl] —> [Wisdom Owl] —> [Seeker of War] —> [Celestial Tactician]
[Evolution Paths Analyzed: 20 → 21]
[Evolution Paths Discovered: 30 → 31]
Arthur’s eyes widened. "Athy," he said. "You really are incredible."
She tilted her head. "Me?"
Arthur nodded. "You evolved twice, almost back to back. Compared to everyone else you’re practically a genius."
Athy puffed up proudly. "...Naturally."
Athena smiled. "I knew she’d answer that."
Mara smiled. "The King mentioned that the Crown’s pressure should’ve destroyed her mind," she said.
Arthur blinked. "What?"
Mara nodded. "But she endured it. Even before evolving."
Athena smiled proudly. "I think everything we’ve experienced," she said. "The ruins. The memories. The discoveries. All fulfilled parts of her evolution."
Arthur nodded. "That makes sense," he said. He quietly checked one requirement.
Requirement 1
Reach Level 50
10 / 50
Arthur smiled. "You’ll become even more amazing," he said.
Athy’s feathers puffed slightly. "I know," she said.
Everyone laughed.
Arthur spent the next hour walking through Dawn, checking everyone. He checked on the Direwolves and found four unique evolutionary paths they could take. And then he tried the Goblin Statue, Stone Guardians, and Spectral Goblins.
But unfortunately it didn’t work on them, which was expected. But he still hoped that maybe they could evolve and become even greater.
Eventually he reached the Cronwall Tribe and checked all of them. And the ones to surprise him the most were Gruk and Suri, who had two new evolutionary paths.
[Species: Goblin]
[Goblin Spirit Master] —> [Goblin Elemental Master] —> [Spirit Monarch]
[Species: Goblin]
[Goblin Huntress] —> [Goblin War Commander] —> [Goblin Queen]
Arthur paused. "Gruk and Suri."
Gruk blinked. "What?"
"Y-Yes!"
Arthur smiled. "You two sure got quite the future ahead of you."
Gruk blinked in surprise while Suri tilted her head. But both of them shivered in joy as they realized Arthur had always been keeping track of their progress.
Arthur smiled. "As for the rest of you. I’m proud to say, you all are close to evolving."
The Hunters blinked. "Really?"
He nodded. "I think we should evolve all of you before you head home," he said.
Silence.
Then every Cronwall Hunter looked at one another. "Huh?"
Arthur grinned. "That’s the spirit. Let’s get started."
The entire tribe erupted into cheers.
Before anyone moved a tiny voice echoed. "Arthur!" Eden flew over. She landed on his shoulder, then immediately climbed onto his head. "What about me? What can I become?"
Arthur laughed. "Oh? I was wondering when you’d ask," he said.
He gently picked her up, held her in both hands, then looked.
The familiar notification and paths appeared.
[Species: Time Fairy] —>
Arthur froze.
He rubbed his eyes and then rubbed them again at what he was seeing. He even pinched himself to make sure he wasn’t seeing things or sleeping.
[Chrono Fairy] —> [Fairy Queen of Seasons] —> [Empress Of Time And Space]
[Evolution Paths Analyzed: 27 → 28]
[Evolution Paths Discovered: 37 → 38]
Arthur quietly stared and then smiled softly at her. "Wow," he said.
Eden tilted her head. "Is it good?"
Arthur gently poked her tiny forehead. "Good?" he chuckled. "It’s incredible. You might become something even greater than Vedas one day."
Silence. Eden’s eyes slowly became brighter. "Really?"
Arthur nodded. "I think so," he said.
She suddenly squealed, then immediately hugged his neck. "I’ll work really hard!" she said.
Arthur laughed. "I know you will," he said.
She happily rubbed against him. Behind them everyone smiled.
Arthur looked back toward the Cronwall Tribe, clapped his hands together. "Alright," he said. "Let’s evolve everyone."
The Cronwall Hunters immediately rushed after Arthur.
Gruk laughed. "Looks like we’re becoming stronger again."
Suri smiled. "This time let’s surprise everyone back home."
Arthur laughed. "...That’s exactly what I had in mind."