The Evolution Body's Purple Inner Core
A purple inner core appeared from the cracked nucleus of the Evolution Body Giant Skull Rock Lizard—something I'd never seen before.
It was distinctly different from the red inner cores we'd gotten from previous variant monsters. The raid party members, who had gathered around in the meantime, started murmuring.
"What the hell is this? Does that mean the thing we took down wasn't a regular rock lizard?"
"No wonder it felt off!! Even compared to the previous raid bosses, that bastard was ridiculously strong…."
"More importantly, why is the inner core purple…?"
Whispers about the unusual difficulty and the new inner core echoed from all directions.
With the raid over, Goseongji had approached the nucleus and started broadcasting.
"Up close, it's definitely got a purple sheen… I have no idea what kind of reward might be inside… Honestly, even I'm pretty curious…."
Fr, that was a monster stronger than a Giant Slime variant, and now the inner core looks special too… really hyped for what it gives lol
So when's the unboxing? I'm dying here…
Padak crew's watching, can't open it yet lol
Raid party's contribution was basically zilch anyway
Honestly, the only standout was that big-eyed cutie with the huge rack…
Heuuung… Eyena…
One thing's for sure, based on past cases, this reward's gonna shake up the shelter again ㅇㅇ Already mentally prepared
Reward hype…
Everyone in the dungeon and those watching the broadcast back in the shelter were inwardly dying of curiosity about the new reward.
Some of the gathered explorers couldn't hide the blatant greed in their eyes. They were probably calculating their contribution scores from this raid in their heads.
If it worked like the inner cores from regular boss variants, low contributors might walk away empty-handed.
Either way, whatever came out of that inner core would surely elevate their status as explorers. That was the rule of the ticket dungeons.
The shelter was steadily shifting toward pure meritocracy.
Bigger rewards for explorers who took down stronger monsters.
That was the direction the Dungeon Master aimed for with his dungeons, and before long, that mindset had taken root in the shelter.
Dungeon rewards made you stronger, and that strength earned even better rewards.
Unable to contain their excitement for the new reward, the raid party members shouted at the Padaks.
"So when do we check the reward?!"
"Quit stalling and just open it already!"
At their impatient cries, Dragon Mask Padak, who had glanced at the empty air for a moment, let out a mighty roar that echoed through the dungeon.
"Quiet down, everyone!! We've got time, so we'll check the reward once all the injured are fully healed!!!"
*
Once the priests had treated all the wounded and everyone gathered back in front of the nucleus, I messaged Dragon Mask Padak to help clean things up.
As Dragon Mask Padak said, this boss was unlike regular variants.
So in the short time since, I'd analyzed it myself.
It had definitely spawned as a regular Giant monster, then evolved via what looked like a dragon glyph made by Kkomangi.
So this wasn't a variant. Not a natural mutation, but something empowered by artificial means.
If I had to name it… Advanced Monster.
In other words, an Evolution Body.
An individual that had broken its species' limits through a special catalyst.
After getting a rough outline of my future plans, Dragon Mask Padak bellowed to the crowd.
"Everyone must've noticed this wasn't just some boss monster!!! This is a new type created by the Dungeon Master!!!"
The area buzzed at his words.
"New type of monster?"
"What does that mean?"
What, not just a boss???
So not a variant?
Gasp… is that why the inner core's a different color??
Whoa whoa whoa whoa
Dragon Mask shouted again.
"The exact name of this monster type is Advanced!!! An Evolution Body!!! The Dungeon Master used a special catalyst to evolve the monster!! The rock lizard gained dragon factors from that catalyst and became an Evolution Body!!"
The chamber erupted in murmurs. Artificially evolving monsters? Questions bubbled up, but no one asked.
Because…
"G-Got it, so just open the damn reward already, I'm going nuts!!!"
"Yeah!! Dungeon Master can post details later!!! Open the reward!!!"
"Open the reward!!!"
Dragon Mask, who had been trying to wrap things up, realized it was pointless and chuckled helplessly as he agreed to the unboxing.
"Hah… fine, opening it now."
Finallyyyy!!!
Shit;;; hope it's not purple jelly
Dunno… dunnoooo…
Let's gooooooo-!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Heart pounding
Dragon Mask sliced the purple inner core in one stroke.
A violet flash burst out, and from within, purple light shot toward some of the explorers.
Everyone reflexively raised hands to block it, but the light wrapped around their wrists, forming something.
Shhrrrrak—
Before they knew it, bone bracelets adorned their wrists.
Only a handful of explorers received the Evolution Body's reward.
The veteran Padak trio and Elise were locks, of course.
Three more: the Jeonbung-i trio who had held the front line to the end.
"Hm! Gear this time…!!"
"A bracelet…! What abilities does it have?"
"Effects!! Check the effects quick!!"
The rewarded explorers urged them to test it out.
Dragon Mask touched the bracelet on his wrist and looked inward.
…Something ridiculous is happening.
Naturally, it wasn't just any bracelet.
The aura he'd felt from the boss earlier was now circulating through his body via the bracelet.
This is…
"…Looks like the bracelet itself grants the wearer dragon factors."
His quiet but shocking words froze the rowdy crowd.
"……."
"……."
Granting dragon factors meant…
"W-Wait, so wearing that bracelet turns you into dragonkin? That possible?"
Dragonkin.
They were exceedingly rare, presumed to be transmigrators from another world, not native to this one.
This world had many races, some originating from transmigrators.
Among them, dragonkin boasted absurd specs incomparable to others, and select few could even wield dragon speech, dragons' innate ability.
If a bracelet could turn you into dragonkin… lifespan and combat power nearing immortals' limits.
No matter how outlandish Dungeon Master rewards were, an item that changed your race was impossible.
"Hm… not permanent—remove the bracelet and you're back to normal. But I felt my combat power rise as it accepted the dragon factors. Never thought I'd get stronger here… Plus… these slots suggest it absorbs factors from slain dragons, growing stronger each time."
The bracelet had seven slots, one already filled—with the Giant Skull Rock Lizard's aura swirling inside.
"Maybe… filling all the slots turns you into real dragonkin…."
The latter half was pure speculation from Dragon Mask. As if races actually changed? But it maximized the item's potential, amplifying desires.
To make the bracelet their new goal.
The Dungeon Master probably wants them to keep getting stronger. Not a total lie—maybe it really happens.
At his words, an explorer blurted excitedly.
"An item that insane exists!? Forget power… as dragonkin, I could live thousands of years…."
Suddenly, a shockwave erupted from the back.
Booom—shwoooooooosh-!!!!!
Boom-!!!
Kraaaah-!!!
"……Huh?"
"W-What? Boss is dead!!!"
All eyes turned to the shockwave's source.
There, centered on a Jeonbung-i fiddling with his bracelet, explorers lay scattered everywhere.
"Uh… I-I just tested it on a whim, and uh…."
The rewarded Jeonbung-i looked mortified, glancing around nervously.
Everyone stared in disbelief.
Jeonbung-i had used dragon speech…
No fucking way what the hell-!!!!!!!!!!!!
M-Magical Jeonbung-i-!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Shit that bracelet's a Dragon Speech Bracelet???????
But how the fuck do we get one, Dunbong-!!!!!!!!
Giant Skull Rock Lizard difficulty is no joke? Made it as a reward??
……But endgame specs having upgrade paths… top-layer deep divers must be drooling?
Gimme dragon bracelet too-!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jeonbung-i using dragon speech… this is precious af…
Ok from today Dragon Slayer's my goal
The Evolution Body's reward once again set the gallery and shelter ablaze.