Alexander The Great Mage

Chapter 66 - Can You?

"Are you sure?" Alexander asked Dubaza as he eyed the glowing yellow beast core skeptically. "You'll be officially fired from the Captain of the King's Guard if that Wyvern turns as hideous and smelly as that Squid you know. Non-negotiable." Alexander warned him with a smile.

It was late afternoon, the sun was setting and they were on the beach. It was a large and beautiful beach. Alexander was rather surprised that there was nobody enjoying such a wonderful place. The two Wyverns were laying down obediently, staring intently at the yellow beast core.

Alexander's beautiful white Wyvern was laying down behind the two men, while Vernie was alone, around fifty meters away from them.

Both Alexander and Dubaza had chosen to dismount and distance themselves from Vernie who was about to swallow the beast core. Just in case unexpected things were to happen.

Dubaza smiled back at him. "I think it is a risk which we both could take easily. You no longer need my protection, Your Majesty. You are very powerful now."

Dubaza took a moment to look at Alexander seriously. "Powerful enough to protect Rin-Turah from any enemy. To end wars as soon as they start."

Alexander nodded. "The safety of Rin-Turah against enemies found in this continent is assured. Fully, if I might add. But our enemies are not from this continent. They are not even from this planet… I still have a long way to go."

Dubaza took that information in stride. He was very calm. "You went from being a Red Robe to a Black Robe, and then to a White Robe. You resolved the war with Zan. You've empowered our armies with Wyverns. You've done many impossible things in a matter of days. I have a lot of faith in you, Your Majesty. You will definitely rise up to the challenge and defeat our enemies. I will fight by your side for as long as I am able."

He looked at the beast core and Vernie who was already salivating as he stared at the beast core hungrily.

"This beast core will ensure that I can walk with you for a slightly longer time than I would have been able to without it." He said softly.

Alexander nodded. There was no need for words.

Dubaza flicked the yellow beast core towards Vernie who caught it in his mouth and promptly swallowed it.

Both Alexander and Dubaza tensed as they focused all their attention on Vernie.

Vernie stood up as he prepared himself to receive the power boost from the mind-bogglingly irresistible beast core he just swallowed.

A few seconds passed by silently. But nothing happened.

Alexander and Dubaza were extremely patient men. They waited silently for a full five minutes before Dubaza finally opened his mouth. "What do you feel, Vernie?" He said aloud for Alexander's benefit.

Vernie cocked his head to one side in confusion.

"He said he didn't feel anything. That's weird. The beast core is either very slow acting or-"

GROOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Vernie suddenly let out a loud bellow of pain!

He collapsed as he lost control of his limbs.

Dubaza snapped his head back to focus on Vernie. It went without saying that Vernie was in a lot of pain.

He whimpered as his large frame convulsed and trembled.

For a ferocious and powerful 3rd Generation Wyvern like Vernie to actually collapse and whimper in pain simply bore testament to just how ridiculously painful its experience was.

Alexander raised his head and scanned the surroundings. He didn't detect anything out of the ordinary. He immediately placed a sound barrier around them. It would not be good if they attracted powerful beasts or enemies and had to do battle right then when Vernie was so vulnerable.

It was highly improbable for a beast or anyone, for that matter, who could challenge Alexander and give him trouble to appear anywhere near them. But it never hurts to take precautions.

Alexander turned his attention back to Vernie, who had begun his transformation amid painful roars and pitiful whimpers.

Unlike Alexander's power up session where he absorbed God of Magic's power and had a painless experience, Vernie's session was vastly different. Alexander merely oversaturated his entire body with Magius's power, which saw his arcane concentration increase in purity, becoming one that was as pure as Magius's. The fact that he almost had no magic left in him probably helped him receive the purest power he could ever have.

However, Vernie was undergoing a physical evolution using the power of the beast core. His entire body structure and bone density was changing, getting enhanced by the Yummy Yellow Squid's power. To merely say that it was a painful experience was a gross understatement.

It was unspeakably excruciating.

Dubaza sighed deeply. He was connected to Vernie and he knew exactly just how much pain Vernie was going through. He could feel Vernie's agony through the contract they had signed.

Slowly, Vernie's painful whimpers subsided, replaced by growls and roars. Apparently the pain was receding.

His internal mutation was almost done.

After a few minutes, Vernie's bright red scales began to drop off from his body. Very slowly at first, one scale every few seconds, before getting faster and faster.

Bam! Bam! Bam!!

His rock-solid scales hit the sand in droves.

Beneath his red scales was bright orange skin that looked strangely smooth. Like a squid's body.

"Oh my God." Alexander began to comment in horror. He wanted to turn his head away. He couldn't bear to see how such a great and ferocious looking Wyvern would turn out after eating that disgusting Yummy Yellow Squid's beast core. But he needed to know. As a general, knowing himself and his subordinates was of paramount importance.

Within seconds, all of the Wyvern's scales had dropped, leaving behind a rubbery smooth, bright orange Wyvern.

BAM! BAM!!

His two horns fell down unto the sand as well.

"Oh my God." Alexander cried out again in shock. Without his magnificent horns, Vernie seemed very bald.

Alexander looked down at the Wyvern's feet and winced. He was right. Even the deadly sharp claws were not spared by the evolution. They were all separated from Vernie's limbs, lying on the sand pitifully.

Like abandoned children. Alexander thought sadly, What had the Wyvern become?!

"Creepy." Flamewing said curtly. She had remained silent and couldn't bring herself to comment on the evolution until now.

"Indeed. Why has his skin become so smooth? It looks… weird. He doesn't look real anymore. He's like a child's toy. If I bring him into battle, instead of intimidating the enemy, he might end up making them laugh instead." Alexander said glumly to Flamewing.

Dubaza looked at Alexander's gloomy face and laughed.

"Relax, Your Majesty. Vernie had told me that he was shedding these scales and horns and claws on purpose. He… has much stronger ones now." Dubaza grinned at Alexander.

"Stronger ones? What do you mean?!" Alexander exclaimed in pleasant surprise.

"He's just about done with his evolution. Let him show you." Dubaza nodded at Vernie.

Whoosh!! Vernie's body shrank rapidly, becoming a small (relatively) Wyvern that was only four meters tall. His body then rippled and immediately, scales began to grow on his bright orange skin. His horns grew back out and his claws returned as well. And they looked much stronger.

GHRRAAAAAAAARRRRRRR!!

Vernie roared. He sounded very different! He may be much smaller, but Alexander had no doubt that he now packed much more power than before.

"I… amm mucchhh ssstronger thannn befforrre." A gruff voice rasped out of Vernie's mouth.

"Whoaa. That bloodstone enabled you to speak!" Alexander cried out in pleasant surprise.

"He-Yessss." Vernie acknowledged as he practiced his speaking.

"Ssspeak huuman langggguagee. Verrrnie guhreeeetts Laiiidy Fluuff-fluuuffff" Vernie bowed before Alexander who had Fluff-fluff on his head.

Fluff-fluff merely opened one eye and then closed it back once more. She couldn't even bother to greet Vernie back.

However, Vernie seemed satisfied that Fluff-fluff had at least opened her eyes.

"How has your power changed?" Alexander asked Vernie curiously.

"Morphhh. Teleeeeport." He closed his eyes for a moment before saying softly. "Powwwwer. Muchhh, muchhh more power. Magggical power. Phhhhysical power. Evvvverything."

Although it was only one word, Vernie's first answer was definitely a shocker. Morph?!

"So you can turn into other creatures?" Alexander asked.

"No. I can only change my sizze." Vernie flapped his wings powerfully. Gusts of wind blew huge amounts of sand away from where he was standing. "And the shape of my body partss."

Alexander nodded in approval. That would be an extremely useful skill to use behind enemy lines. "Like those tentacles which somehow turned into blades. Very good."

"Can you… change your colour?" Alexander asked hopefully.

"No. I cannott." Vernie rasped.

Alexander sighed in regret. That bright orange colour… Well, at least he has horns, claws and scales. They allowed him to retain a ferocious look.

He turned to Dubaza and asked. "Can he win you in a fight?"

Dubaza laughed. A gleam of excitement appeared in his eyes. He turned to Vernie and asked him. "Can you?"