099. Special Evolution Preparation Complete.
Royle and Amaen had returned to Kalea City from the capital. At the snake's request, they had converted all the gold and treasures he provided into cash, using it to establish a base in the capital and purchase a warehouse here in Kalea City as well.
Royle had been just an ordinary carriage merchant. But once he gained wings to spread his ambitions, he revealed extraordinary talent. His methods were concise and swift—not mere wasteful spending. He turned a vacant lot idling in the heart of Kalea City into a warehouse, gathered idle hands and created jobs, winning the favor of the Kalea market in the process.
The potbellied merchant who had handled trade with the dwarves had gone bankrupt after the Red Anvil Mine shut its doors, so Royle persuaded the Kalea market leader to hand him the position. He had heard that the dwarves no longer accepted beer or sold ingots, but whatever. Wasn't it all because of the snake? Surely the snake would resolve it soon enough.
Having donated a hefty sum to secure the role of chief dwarf trader, it was a bold investment. Or perhaps a foolish one.
At that moment, Royle was giving Amaen a piggyback ride as they gazed at the collapsed entrance to the mine—the very spot where dwarves once received beer deliveries. The potbellied merchant who had once mocked Royle had been reduced to a mere servant. And from behind, he glared at the father and son with murderous eyes.
"When will Master come out?"
"Who knows... It seems to be taking longer than expected."
"I miss him already."
It's said that the words of a mage hold mystical power. So does that mean even the faint words of an aspiring mage like Amaen carry some trace of magic?
Kwaaaaang!
Suddenly, the mountainside exploded, flames erupting forth. What burst from the gaping hole was a truly grotesque creature—a lizard made of fire. But its head was distinctly dwarven. It tried to charge straight ahead, toward Kalea City where people clustered. Yet chains bound its horns, yanking its head back and sending it tumbling down again.
What held the chains was visible now: a white snake. A massive white snake—the same one that had repelled the intruders that night.
"Whoa!"
Amaen let out a cry of awe.
"Gaaahhh!"
The potbellied man behind them screamed in terror.
This was the mountainside. Kalea City might see the fire lizard, but only these three here would witness the white snake.
The potbellied man tried to flee in panic at the monsters' appearance. Royle hesitated, glancing between the snake and the man.
"Dad, look...!"
Amaen pointed. The fire lizard was spewing fireballs into the sky—straight toward where Royle and Amaen stood.
Royle hugged Amaen tight and threw himself to the ground, rolling. They narrowly dodged the fireballs, but the fleeing potbellied man did not.
Poof!
One fireball crushed him flat. Instant death, without even a scream.
"Oof."
"Dad, let's go over there."
"What?"
His own son, yet utterly fearless. Amaen was suggesting they head toward the snake.
"We have to help!"
"We'd just get in the way!"
Ignoring him, Royle hoisted Amaen onto his back. He planned to mount his horse and flee, but Amaen, annoyed, muttered something.
"...Ria Aqua Mansi!"
Not mumbling—he was chanting a spell. Impressive, casting while piggybacked.
A jet of water poured over the fire lizard's head.
Sssshhh!
Water quenches fire, but the lizard's size and power were overwhelming—like spitting on a bonfire. Yet the lizard had eyes, and Amaen's stream hit precisely in one.
"Kaaarrgh!"
The fire lizard roared in agony.
The snake's and Amaen's eyes met. The snake raised its tail in approval. Somehow, Amaen knew it was a thumbs-up.
Water poured over the fire lizard's head again—this time the snake's magic.
Sssshhh!
Not much stronger than Amaen's, but it hit the eye again.
"As expected of Master!"
"Amaen, we should just run...!"
Crackle-crack-boom!
Then lightning struck. What happens when lightning hits fire? In nature, it might grow, but not here. The flames shrank dramatically.
Clearly an evil beast. Sensitive to mana, Amaen sensed it hailed from the dark demonic realms.
"Seriously, Master is the best!"
Amaen admired the snake again. He had read in magic tomes that lightning holds special properties—purifying thunder, perhaps. Some legendary imperial daoist named He-something chanted Thunder Position Vibration Change or whatever to hunt demons, or so he vaguely recalled.
The snake summoned lightning and slashed the fire lizard with its blade. Hits landed, but something felt off. Soon, it couldn't call lightning anymore.
Amaen shouted in his father's ear.
"We have to help Master! Dad, we can't just run!"
"How?!"
"We bought mana potions, remember?"
The snake had ordered Royle to buy mana potions—top-grade, price no object. They were exorbitant, so even in the capital, they couldn't stock much. But if the snake needed them, it foresaw a mana shortage. And now it seemed that time had come.
Royle grasped Amaen's point instantly. A merchant's prime virtue is judgment. Understand the risks, and you're a decent trader. Fleeing now with his son was solid. But bearing risk, investing, calculating returns, never forgetting righteousness—that makes a great merchant.
Royle wasn't one yet, but he made the great merchant's choice.
"You run now. Straight down the mountain!"
"But..."
"Now!"
He sternly drove Amaen off. The boy obeyed smartly. Instead, Royle mounted the expensive horse bought in the capital.
"I'm insane..."
Buying such a fine horse had been wise after all. Even terrified, it charged forward. Royle snatched the bag from the saddle—full of mana potions.
As snake and lizard clashed, fireballs flew wildly.
Kwaboom!
One landed right before Royle and the horse. The horse reared in fright, neighing shrilly. Royle tumbled off.
The spooked horse bolted, abandoning its master.
"How much gold did I pay for you!"
He was moments from burning.
"Gaaah! Maaaster! Mana pooootions!"
Too late to chase the horse—he had to get the potions to the snake. The snake turned to him. Royle threw every ounce of strength, shoulder nearly dislocating, hurling the bag skyward.
"Damn, shoulda exercised!"
But his throw fell short. As the precious potions neared the ground—
Something transparent snatched the bag midair. The snake's magic, surely.
Saaak!
The snake roared, swallowing the bag whole. Royle turned and fled.
Crackle-crack-boom!
As a cultured culture snake, chomping bottles unopened is unthinkable. But this was an emergency of emergencies.
I didn't know what the bag held at first, but crunching it released a cool rush down my throat. Sharp glass shards too, of course. Trust my digestion for once.
Heavenly Thunder Decree lv1
Heavenly Thunder Decree lv1 → lv2
Finally, this skill leveled up too.
Heavenly Thunder Decree lv2
Crackle-crack-boom!
Even stronger lightning smashed into the fire lizard. Folks in the village on the other peak must think Kalea Mountain is a volcano. Fireballs soaring, lightning crashing nonstop.
'Oh!'
Lightning oddly dispelled the flames. Thanks to Pellelian's tip.
—That's it! Right there!
Pellelian pointed frantically. I saw it too—in the lizard's body where flames receded. A blatant purple lump.
—Demon magic stone! Like a devil's fruit!
—That thing's made from a high demon's tantrum anyway. It'll burn itself out after torching everything. That's the energy source.
Pellelian insisted we grab it first.
—A demon magic stone's top-tier magic catalyst. Could be your evolution key!
Special evolution conditions mentioned demons or something. Definitely an opportunity.
Nice one, old man Pel.
"Snaaake!"
"We're heeere!"
And right on cue, dwarves came charging out, soaked to the bone, buckets in hand. Mine coolant for deep shafts, no doubt.
"Leave it to me!"
Rozena and the dwarves grabbed the chain. They wrapped it around a rock pillar, securing it tight so it wouldn't drag anyone.
"Any fool who lets go, I'll kill ya myself!"
Rozena bellowed fiercely. Maybe she should be the new mine lord. It fits perfectly.
While I was distracted, the fire lizard counterattacked.
Kwak!
It chomped my body. Scorching hot agony. And that face—identical to Bluebeard's. Gross.
Giantification
Flexible thinking saved me. For a split second, I worried about the glass shards in my gut. Luckily, no rupture.
It bit empty air. I dropped, opening subspace.
Dawn dagger, Ashyra. Clamped in my jaws.
'Whoa, key-snake!'
The key-snake popped out with the dagger. It refused to return, wrapping vines tight around me instead.
I tried shaking it off—no dice.
'What's wrong with you!'
—What're you worried about? It's a world tree chimera sprout with higher fire resistance than you!
Pellelian was right. Whatever!
Before the lizard regenerated, I leaped.
Predator Leap lv4
Transparent Hand failed against the heat. Scales curling, I closed on the magic stone.
Snake style.
Perang Flow Dagger Art lv1
Demon Slash.
Shrick!
The magic stone split—felt it clearly. Extreme heat blasted out. Ashyra's blade melted.
No. Can't tank this with my fire resistance...
Sapling Chimera's Rapport lv1
Fire Resistance lv20
The heat eased. Still caught fire, though.
"Saaak!"
I screamed, rolling on the ground. Someone doused me with coolant.
"Y-you okay?"
Bald, round face. Gentle eyes. Dungkel.
It hurts. Not okay.
"Looks painful."
His expression made me dread checking my body. Dungkel poured health potion on me. Pain faded, healing began.
That fire lizard bastard... Ah, got it.
The lizard's body crumbled. Crimson flames shattered, scattering beautifully into the air.
(x5)
Levels rose rapidly. Mine hit 31. Faster than expected, but no evolution yet. Probably needs 40 or 50.
Then—
(For you? Wait, no...)
──────────────
【Sapling Chimera lv10】
……
【Status】
[Evolution Possible]
──────────────
Oh, finally! Key-snake's evolution time.
If it evolves properly, time for a real name. Can't keep calling it sapling-snake forever.
—Hurry and claim the demon magic stone!
Pellelian urged. Where the lizard vanished lay a purple magic stone.
[Grade Unknown / Unanalyzable]
Can't appraise the grade. Key-snake perked its vines, interested.
Too soon for you. It shrank back, as if yielding. Adorably filial—like a kid offering dad the chicken leg.
Tears welled as I moved to swallow the stone.
"Pfsaak!"
Pain like burning teeth—spit it out.
—What're you doing?
'Hot! Too hot!'
No way I can eat this. Throat and guts would ignite. My lv13 fire resistance not enough?
'Splash water?'
—No! Power's leaking as we speak.
Mana dripped from the purple stone. Gotta eat warm, like fresh food.
'Hmm...'
I eyed key-snake. Fire affinity, higher resistance.
I squeezed my eyes shut and asked Pellelian cautiously.
'What if key-snake eats it?'
—What?!
Just an idea.
'It's evolving too—might meet special conditions?'
—Brilliant idea.
'...Pardon?'
—Way better than you eating it!
Felt oddly slighted. I shut my eyes tight, tapping key-snake.
'Here, you eat it.'
It nodded its sprout. Hoped it'd politely refuse once, but vines shot out instantly. Purple glow slurped into the vines.
Good appetite. Felt proud watching.
And results came quick.
Key-snake evolution time.