467 – New Power

[Yig], [Jabberwock], [Ziz], [Oneiros], [Sins]… I’ve thought about it a lot, but I can’t afford to choose the A+ [Yig] and [Jabberwock] under the present circumstances.

The increase in stats that comes with being a higher rank is huge.
As I don’t know when Lilixira or the A+ rank Beelzebub will attack, I can’t choose to evolve into an A+ rank myself.
If I’m not fully levelled then fighting Beelzebub by myself will be difficult, and even if my levelling is complete, breaking through Beelzebub and Lilixira at the same time would be almost impossible.

The problem is of which of [Ziz], [Oneiros], or [Sins] to choose.
No matter how much I think about these three, I can’t come to an answer.
The biggest stumbling block is that I don’t know whether or not it’s possible that evolving into the multi-headed [Sins] would bring my partner back.

After agonising over which evolution to pick for a while, even though I had sworn to never rely on it again, my thoughts turn to the idea of asking Laplace.
I haven’t used the skill since asking for a way to turn Aro back into a human, back when she was about to undergo her second evolution.
It seems like both the slime and Lilixira had a habit of relying Laplace a lot, but I don’t like it.

I have a faint idea that the more I rely on it, the more I’ll fall under the thumb of God’s Voice.
It felt like it would have lead to something irreversible if I had kept using it.
It’s not just because I hate God’s Voice.
The slime, the Hero, and Lilixira… From my perspective, all of their thoughts and sensibilities were all totally incomprehensible.
My suspicion is that becoming like that might be the inevitable result of getting involved with God’s Voice and Laplace.

Even so… I’ve decided to lift my self-imposed ban and ask Laplace.
I’m not asking out of a desire to do something about my decision anxiety, but simply to ascertain how the system of this world works.
I have no other way to resolve the question of whether or not it’s possible for my partner to be revived through evolution.

Asking Laplace is simple.
All I have to do is close my eyes and think strongly.
It’s no different from activating a magic skill.
At first, the only response is a garbled mess, but as I repeat the question it soon resolves.

【The probability of [???] revival upon evolution to [Sins] is 0%.
】
【It is concluded that no deviation is possible as a result of errors arising from the user’s reference or the calculations.】

…I really had held out hope, so the result hits me like a truck.
I…want to think that this is just God’s Voice’s manipulation.
So that I wouldn’t evolve into a [Sins], God’s Voice is showing me that result.

But, moreso than indignation, deep down I feel nothing but resignation.
In the first place, the [Sins] species explanation never implied anything so convenient would happen.

This is the moment that [Sins] is excluded as an option for me.
It might have been a strong choice.
There’s the seven heads that each have their own strengths.
Even if they brought some inconvenience, each head would probably have enough power to make up for it.
However, my partner is only one person.
To have several others suddenly take her place would be too much for me to take.

Then… All that remains are the flame-covered giant dragon [Ziz], and the dream dragon [Oneiros].
Both have their advantages and disadvantages.

The [Oneiros]’s powerful light, gravity and space magic is a major plus.
I’ve come to know the power of gravity magic firsthand.
The bottleneck is its ability to fight in close combat however.
Rather than shooting magic from a safe distance, getting hits in from close quarters feels more reliable, and seems to suit my personality a bit more too.

The [Ziz] has the advantage of [Hellfire Armour] in close combat, but… Bearing in mind the fact that I’ll have to fight Lilixira, it could also become a fatal weakness.
It would make fighting together with Aro and the others hard.
Not only would protecting them be difficult, but it’s dubious whether I’d even be able to fly with them on my back.
Even if [Hellfire Armour] is something that can be turned on and off, I would be forced to throw away the [Ziz]’s biggest advantage whenever I need to protect them.

There’s no way Lilixira would overlook that weakness.
At great pains, I’ve learned of her cunningness and resourcefulness.
I’ve no doubt she’ll aggressively target Aro and the others to force me to drop my [Hellfire Armour].
It might be effective at restraining Beelzebub’s [Inhaala] and the speed of his humanised form, but as long as Lilixira is a threat, I can’t expect much of the [Ziz]’s [Hellfire Armour].

It’s a little half-hearted, but the safe choice is [Oneiros].
I have some worries about its close combat ability, but in the first place, the [Ouroboros] has always been a healing and endurance type, and my magic stat has been higher than my attack.
Even as an [Oneiros], I should be able to create openings using magic before dealing a finishing blow in close quarters.
Rather than destroying my current fighting style, it has the potential to supplement it by giving me more support options.

I’ve decided.
I’ll choose [Oneiros].

While I’ve been thinking, Aro has gathered everyone together around me.
I turn to look at Aro, the treant, the nightmare, the black lizard, Volk, and finally the sword-form magiatite-jii, then cry “Guuoh” softly.

I’ll check the [Oneiros] species explanation one last time.

【[Oneiros: Rank L (Legendary)]】
【Also known as the [Dream Dragon].
According to legend, it is said to be the dragon that rules over the world of dreams.】
【Freely wielding light, gravity, and space, it fights through powerful magic.】
【The [Oneiros]’s magic is said to transform the area around it into another world.】
【It excels at changing its appearance to hide and toy with its opponents, while also blasting them apart with immensely powerful magic skills.】

I close my eyes.
Probably, this will be my final evolution.
In some sense that means I’m reaching my upper limit of strength, but then I have no enemies in this world stronger than Lilixira.
I have no need to evolve any further than this.

Heat burns through my body.
From the tip of my tail to the end of my nose, my body is literally rebuilt.
I’ve already grown used to this strange sensation.

My face hardens, and my horns grow larger.
I can’t see my own face, so I only have a vague sense of what’s happening, but eventually my horns grow into the edge of my vision.
I feel a new set of wings growing out below my old pair.
It seems I’m a four-winged dragon now.
I can also feel a second tail growing out from my rear.

It feels like my body might have gotten a little larger? It feels I’ve swollen up a bit, but there’s not much change in how high my head is above the ground.

I look towards the river.
It seems the [Oneiros] is a dragon with bluish purple scales.
The scales on my head have changed in a way that makes them look like almost like a mask.

【Characteristic skill [Flight] has risen from level 7 to 8.】
【Characteristic skill [Dragon Scale Powder] has risen from level 7 to 8.】
【Characteristic skill [Dragon Scale] has risen from level 7 to 8.】
【Characteristic skill [Automatic MP Recovery] has risen from level 6 to 8.】

…It’s been a while since this has happened.
All my usual skills will now level up one after the other.

【Characteristic skill [Double-Headed: Lv-] has been lost.】

【Characteristic skill [Split Spirit: Lv-] has been lost.】
【Characteristic skill [Mutual Understanding: Lv3] has been lost.】
【Characteristic skill [Ruler’s Demon Eye: Lv1] has been lost.】

… … 

Without thinking, I glance at my left shoulder.
Of course, my partner isn’t there.
There’s no gap for a second head in the space between my shoulder and my wing.
I’m once again made to realise that she really isn’t here any more.
But, I can’t stop moving forwards.

It’s surprising that the Demon Eye skill also disappeared.
It’s a little tricky to use, but depending on the circumstances, it can be rather effective.
I remember how, at the end, my partner used it on me…

【Characteristic skill [Dragon Mirror: Lv-] has been acquired.】
【Resistance Skill [Illusion Nullification: Lv-] has been acquired.】
【Due to the title skill [Son of the Dragon King], the level of all possessed resistance skills below level 5 has increased.】

Complete nullification… I’m glad to not have to worry about illusions.
Illusion-type skills are good at creating openings to strike at higher rank opponents, and they can be hard to take countermeasures against when used competently.
Lilixira’s [Mirage] worried me slightly, so I’m relieved that it’s no longer a concern.

【Normal skill [Plague Breath] has risen from level 6 to 7.】
【Normal skill [Scorching Breath] has risen from level 5 to 7.】
【Normal skill [Telepathy] has risen from level 2 to 4.】
【Normal skill [Death] has risen from level 5 to 7.】
【Normal skill [Soul AppendmentFake Life] has risen from level 5 to 7.】
【Normal skill [Holy] has risen from level 2 to 5.】
【Normal skill [Wide Rest] has risen from level 1 to 5.】
【Normal skill [Ligne] has risen from level 1 to 5.】
【Normal skill [Holy Sphere] has risen from level 1 to 5.】

My normal skills are increasing one after the other.
I’m happy that all my low-level skills are increasing by so much.
Now that I think about it, the only reason I now have healing magic has an [Oneiros] might due to the fact that I was an [Ouroboros].
It’s pure hindsight at this point, but picking [Ouroboros] might have been the correct option.

【Normal skill [Dimension Claw: Lv1] has been acquired.】

【Normal skill [Mirage: Lv8] has been acquired.】
【Normal skill [Gravity: Lv8] has been acquired.】
【Normal skill [Dimension: Lv8] has been acquired.】
【Normal skill [Hellgate: Lv2] has been acquired.】

I got some new skills.
All of them sound impressive.
I wonder if the reason they’re so high level from the start is because I have that much of an affinity for them now? It’s important that I thoroughly investigate how to use each of them before I fight Lilixira.

【Title skill [Dream Dragon: Lv-] has been acquired.】
【Title skill [Final Evolution: Lv-] has been acquired.】
【Title skill [God’s Voice] has risen from level 6 to 7.】
【Title skill [Laplace Interference Authority] has risen from level 3 to 4.】

…As I thought, this is my final evolution.
It feels like the level of some things I don’t need went up, but let’s not think too deeply about that just now.
So then… Is that all?

【Title skill [Demon Lord] has risen from level 1 to 6.】
【Characteristic skill [Demon Eye of Terror: Lv1] has been acquired.】
【Characteristic skill [Domination: Lv1] has been acquired.】
【Characteristic skill [Magic Brainwashing: Lv1] has been acquired.】
【Characteristic skill [Demon Lord’s Favour: Lv-] has been acquired.】

I-I see… I guess that would happen.
After all, I’ve evolved into a dragon even more outrageous than an ouroboros.
I had completely forgotten.
From the names, they’re nothing but bad skills.
I’ve gotten a whole bunch of them at once.
Even though my quantity of skills hasn’t surpassed what the slime had, it’s getting close to that level.

‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐
[Irushia]
Species: Oneiros
Condition: Normal
Lv: 1/150
HP: 725/725
MP: 754/754

Attack: 495
Defence: 274
Magic: 647
Speed: 322
Rank: L (Legendary)

Divine Skills:
[Human Realm: Lv-] [Asura Realm: Lv-]

Characteristic Skills:
[Dragon Scales: Lv8] [God’s Voice: Lv7] [Grisha Language: Lv3] [Flight: Lv8] [Dragon Scale Powder: Lv8] [Dark Attribute: Lv-] [Evil Dragon: Lv-] [Automatic HP Recovery: Lv8] [Presence Perception: Lv5] [Automatic MP Recovery: Lv8] [Perseverance of a Champion: Lv-] [Dragon Mirror: Lv-] [Demon Lord’s Favour: Lv-] [Demon Eye of Terror: Lv1] [Domination: Lv1] [Magic Brainwashing: Lv1]

Resistance Skills:
[Physical Resistance: Lv5] [Fall Resistance: Lv6] [Starvation Resistance: Lv5] [Poison Resistance: Lv6] [Loneliness Resistance: Lv6] [Magic Resistance: Lv5] [Dark Attribute Resistance: Lv5] [Fire Attribute Resistance: Lv5] [Fear Resistance: Lv4] [Oxygen Deprivation Resistance: Lv5] [Paralysis Resistance: Lv6] [Illusion Nullification: Lv-] [Instant Death Resistance: Lv4] [Curse Resistance: Lv4] [Confusion Resistance: Lv3] [Strong Light Resistance: Lv2] [Petrification Resistance: Lv2]

Normal Skills:
[Roll: Lv7] [Status Inspection: Lv7] [Scorching Breath: Lv7] [Whistle: Lv2] [Dragon Punch: Lv4] [Plague Breath: Lv7] [Poison Fang: Lv7] [Paralysing Claw: Lv6] [Dragon Tail: Lv2] [Roar: Lv3] [Heaven’s Drop: Lv4] [Return to Ground: Lv2] [Humanisation Technique: Lv8] [Wind Slash: Lv7] [Neck Breaker: Lv4] [High Rest: Lv7] [Autoregeneration: Lv5] [Travelling Companion: Lv-] [Death: Lv7] [Soul AppendmentFake Life: Lv6] [Holy: Lv5] [Telepathy: Lv4] [Wide Rest: Lv5] [Ligne: Lv5] [Holy Sphere: Lv5] [Flash That Drives Away the Darkness: Lv1] [Dimension Claw: Lv1] [Mirage: Lv8] [Gravity: Lv8] [Dimension: Lv8] [Hellgate: Lv2]

Title Skills:
[Son of the Dragon King: Lv-] [Walking Egg: Lv-] [Clutz: Lv4] [Simple Fool: Lv1] [Infighter: Lv4] [Pest Killer: Lv8] [Liar: Lv3] [Evasion King: Lv2] [Chicken Runner: Lv3] [Chef: Lv4] [Gutsy: Lv4] [Big EaterGiant Killer: Lv5] [Pottery Craftsman: Lv4] [Group Leader: Lv1] [Laplace Interference Authority: Lv4] [One Who Knows Eternity: Lv-] [Ant King: Lv-] [Hero: LvMAX] [Dream Dragon: Lv-] [Demon Lord: Lv6] [Final Evolution: Lv-]
‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐

My stats have fallen drastically… But the gains to my skills should make up for that.
Besides, with some levelling, my stats should soon overtake what I had as an ouroboros.

There’s no change in the nightmare’s appearance so I can’t tell what she’s thinking, but Aro and the black lizard are looking up at me happily while treant-san is clapping its branches together like a toy monkey.

“Humu… I’d like to challenge you to a spar one day.”

I feel like Volk might have said something, but I decide to ignore it.
To start with, I need to check my new skills, and verify that I can now use my partner’s magic skills.
After that, I’ll enlist the help of Aro and the others to hunt a few fenrirs…… Huh?

I was glancing over Aro’s status while thinking, but suddenly I feel like something is wrong.
After staring at her for long enough for her face to blush red her to turn eyes downwards in embarrassment, I finally realise what’s changed.