Reborn As An Evolving Monster

Chapter 25 A New King's Beginnings

?While ice spikes flew from and towards every direction, Mark looked at his list of Skills.

[You currently possess:

Passive Skills:

Slash[F+] - Pierce[F+] - Assassin's Movements[E] - Draconic Tail Flick[C+] - Demon Senses[D] - Intimidating Stare [E] - Flight[F] - Royal Minotaur's Aura [C-] - Night Vision[F+] - Water Resistance [E].

Magic Skills:

Corrupting Javelin[C-] - Electric Fire Bomb[D] - Stone Armor[F+] - Assimilation[A+] - Evolving Abyssal Underlings [A-] - Bone Manipulation [D+] - Staggering Thunder[E+] - Impenetrable Barrier[C]. ]

'Which one is the right choice...'

As his concentration was elsewhere, an ice spike hit his back.

But it was of no concern to him.

The ice spike broke without even scratching Mark's body.

The combination of thick Royal Minotaur muscles and sturdy Inferior Wyvern scales was enough to keep him safe.

'I need something like Kalès' Life Force Stream. Mm...'

"Do not make this harder than it needs to be. You cannot defeat me." The Guardian proclaimed.

'Easy to say when you're hiding behind that barrier. Tsk...'

An ice spike flew towards Mark's face.

He extended his hand towards it.

A red aura engulfed his hand.

'That's... What Skill did this?'

[It is the effect of your Passive Skill: "Royal Minotaur's Aura[C-]".]

'Aura, huh? That's kind of the same as Mana, right? Ugh. Do I really have to gamble at a time like this? There's nothing else though... I'll use two Skill Points on this Skill!'

[You have used two Skill Points.]

[Your Skill "Royal Minotaur's Aura" is evolving...]

[Your Passive Skill "Royal Minotaur's Aura[C-]" has evolved into "Strengthening Aura[C+]".]

[Your Passive Skill "Strengthening Aura[C+]" has evolved into the Magic Skill "Aura Manipulation[B]".]

As Mark continued dodging the attacks, he felt an unknown strength inside his body.

Unknown, and yet,

'I'm overflowing... With power!'

Once Mark concentrated on his right hand, it was engulfed in a thick layer of red Aura.

'Now, I can control it at will. But that's still a step behind what I'm searching for...'

Mark concentrated on both his hands.

The two were enveloped by the red energy.

'The Aura is just above my skin. But I need it to go further...'

He brought both of his hands closer.

'I can feel it... This energy. The same that I utilize when using Magic Skills. I just need to... All I need to do... Is bring it out!'

Slowly but surely, a small ball of energy appeared between his hands.

'Gotta... Get more of it out...'

[Congratulations!]

[You have developed a new Skill.]

[You have developed the Magic Skill: "Mana Manipulation[A]".]

'Good. Now, let's put even more energy into it...'

The ball of Mana between Mark's hands started growing.

As he poured more and more Mana into it, it grew bigger and bigger.

'I put about 2000 Mana Points in here. Now, let's try this. Just like for Kalès' Condensed Fire Ball...'

Mark started bringing his hands closer to one another.

The ball of energy got smaller and smaller.

He used great strength to make it smaller.

At least, it felt like he was using his strength.

In truth, he was using his Mana.

Once the ball was as small as a tennis ball,

'Perfect. It has the same amount of Mana, but it's been condensed. Which means-'

BOOM-

Before Mark could finish his thought, the ball of energy between his hands exploded.

he was pushed back by the shockwave.

Mark fell to the ground a dozen meters further.

'Shit. Was it too much-'

[Congratulations!]

[You have developed a new Skill.]

[You have developed the Magic Skill: "Mana Condensation[A]".]

A smirk appeared on Mark's Wyvern-like face.

He raised his arm towards the Guardian.

As ice spikes were about to hit him, Mark used his "Impenetrable Barrier" Magic Skill.

In front of his open palm, a small ball of energy appeared.

It got bigger.

And bigger.

And a bit bigger.

The ball of Mana quickly took the size of a small car.

'This should be about two-thirds of what I have left.'

The next second, the ball of energy started shrinking.

Until it became the size of a bowling ball.

Although it was still red, the color had darkened a lot.

A deeper shade.

A denser shade.

'Fuck. It's... It's unstable. Ah! It just... Wants to leave!' Mark thought with a nervous smile on his face.

The Guardian took a step back.

"What are you-"

The ball of energy escaped Mark's grasp.

It flew towards the Undead Lich with marvelous speed.

Just from shooting it, Mark's body was pushed back and the ground below him cracked.

The attack collided with the Guardian's dark barrier.

It shattered like glass.

'About here... Right?'

Just as the ball of energy was about to hit the Boss Monster, its body disappeared.

"You foolish-"

The Guardian's words were interrupted as Mark's heavy tail hit its body with great strength.

The Undead Lich had used its Spatial Magic to teleport behind Mark, just like it had done before.

The only difference was that this time, it was expected.

The bones that made up its ribcage were smashed to bits.

The force was such that it even forced the Undead Lich's skull to detach from the rest of its body.

'Ha! Low Health Points. Weak body, weak bones.' Mark thought to himself as he walked towards the Guardian's skull.

"Mmmmh. Teleportation sure uses up a lot of Mana Points. I had to use the small portion I had left to protect my skull, but it seems that did not serve any real purpose..." The Guardian's voice seemed calm, serene.

Mark kept walking towards the talking skull.

"So this is the end for me. A fitting end, for someone stuck in the past..."

Mark's body was covered by Aura.

"It seems it was I, who was foolish. Still, I am glad it happened this way. Dying, as a stepping stone..."

Mark stood in front of the Monster's skull.

"I am glad that I got to witness it..."

Stomp-

"The birth... of a new king-"

The skull was shattered.

[You have defeated The Seventh Floor's Guardian. 30,000 gold Coins and 60'000 Experience Points earned.]

[You have leveled up!]

[You have defeated a Guardian.]

[You have been awarded 3 Skill Points.]

[You can now access the Dungeon's Sixth Floor.]

'A new king... He said?'

[You have been given a Title.]

[Analyzing...]

[You have been given a Title by the Seventh Floor's Guardian.]

[You have been given the Title: "New King".]

[Calculating...]

[You have been granted the Title "Possible Demon King Candidate".]

'Mm.'

...

A Monster stood in the middle of the Boss Room.

Unmoving.

It stood at about 3 meters tall.

Its frame was extremely muscular.

The Monster used to be a Minotaur, but all that remained from that was its sole horn and powerful muscles.

The Monster's head now resembled that of a ferocious reptile.

Its skin was covered by both thick bones and sturdy red scales.

With one white horn on its head, a red tail and two wings, the Monster had a hellish appearance.

'Demon King...?' Mark thought while reading the digital message in front of him.

He sat down while staring at the broken skull in front of him.

'A Demon, huh? I'm considered as such simply because I'm a Monster? Mm. Am I considered evil then? I can't say I've done anything wrong...'

Mark let out a weak chuckle.

'This again, huh...'