by Koren Rabe
Thankfully,-adue-ato-ahis-aunique-aSoul-aSpell-aMatrix,-ahe-adidn't-aneed-ato-afight-aanything-astrong-ato-agrow-astronger.-aSimply-aabsorbing-aweaker-acreature's-aenergy-awould-aadvance-ahis-abloodline,-aalbeit-aa-alittle-aslower-athan-aif-ahe-akilled-astronger-abeasts.-aBut-ain-athe-along-arun,-athe-aresults-awould-abe-athe-asame,-aso-ahe-adidn't-areally-acare.-aHis-aown-asafety-ain-athis-astrange-aworld-awas-aparamount.-a
"Alright,-aone-amore-afish-aand-athat-ashould-abe-aenough."-aHe-amuttered-aas-ahe-alooked-aaround-athe-aarea-aaround-ahim.-aBesides-athe-astream-aand-aa-afew-apatches-aof-agrass,-athe-arest-aof-athe-aarea-awas-aobscured-awith-avery-atall,-aleafy-agreen-atrees,-acovered-ain-abranches.-aHe-adidn't-asense-aany-aother-alarge-acreatures-anearby,-aand-afelt-arelatively-asafe.-aHe-aglanced-aupward,-anoting-athat-ait-awas-aonly-aaround-anoon.-aA-alarge,-ayellow-asun-asimilar-ato-aEarth's-ahung-aoverhead-ain-aa-asky-aalmost-adevoid-aof-aclouds.-aHe-ahad-aplenty-aof-atime-aleft.
Drago-acrept-aover-ato-athe-aside-aof-athe-astream,-alooking-ain-athe-awater.-aNo-afish-awere-apresent-anearby,-ahaving-aswum-aeither-aup-aor-adownstream-ato-aget-aaway-afrom-ahim.-aThe-ablood-afrom-aearlier-ahad-aalready-abeen-awashed-aaway,-abut-aDrago-aknew-ait-awould-abe-aseveral-aminutes,-aperhaps-alonger,-abefore-aany-afish-areturned-ato-athis-aarea.
As-ahe-awas-ajust-aabout-ato-aturn-aaway,-aa-aglint-aof-agold-aabruptly-acaught-aDrago's-aeye.-aHe-apaused,-alicking-ahis-alips-ain-aa-adecidedly-aSalamander-afashion,-aas-ahe-afocused-aon-athe-aorigin-aof-athe-alight.
Sitting-aat-athe-abottom-aof-athe-astream,-acaught-aon-asome-atype-aof-abrown-arock,-awas-aa-ashiny-agold-aring,-awith-aa-asmall,-ablue-agem-aset-ain-ait.
"Oh?"-aDrago-athought,-ataking-aa-afew-asteps-ato-athe-aside-ato-aget-acloser.-aHe-awas-asoon-aparallel-ato-athe-aring,-aon-athe-aside-aof-athe-astream.-aThe-aring-aitself-awas-ain-aalmost-athe-aexact-acenter.
"Ausra,-ado-amagic-arings-aexist?"-aFor-aa-aring-ato-arandomly-abe-afound-ain-aa-ariver,-aespecially-aso-adeep-ain-athis-aunknown-aforest,-ait-acouldn't-ahelp-abut-arouse-ahis-asuspicions.
"Any-abeing-awith-aa-apowerful-aenough-aSoul-acan-aimbue-acertain-aobjects-awith-aabilities-afrom-atheir-aSoul-aSpell-aMatrix.-aAdditionally,-atalented-acraftsmen-acan-ause-atheir-aown-aabilities-ato-acreate-aunique-aobjects-awith-aunique-apowers.-aI-asuppose-athese-aqualify-aas-a'Magic-aRings.'-aHowever,-athese-atypes-aof-aobjects-aare-atypically-aonly-afound-aon-abipedal-acreatures-alike-aHumans,-aVampires,-aAethmen,-aTitans,-aor-athose-aof-aa-asimilar-anature."-aAusra-ahelpfully-areplied.
Drago-afelt-aa-asudden-adesire-ato-ahave-athe-aring-ain-afront-aof-ahim-aupon-ahearing-athis.-aEven-aif-ait-awas-aa-aregular-aring,-athe-aonly-areal-adownside-awas-athat-ahe-awould-aget-aa-alittle-awet.
Drago-adived-ainto-athe-ariver,-alaunching-ahimself-atowards-athe-aring.-aHe-asent-ahis-aright-aclaw-aout-ato-asnag-athe-aring-aas-ahe-afell-ainto-athe-astream,-acutting-athrough-athe-awater.
Just-aas-ahe-awas-aabout-ato-ascoop-athe-aring-aup,-ahowever,-athe-abrown-arock-ait-awas-aresting-aon-asuddenly-ashook.-aA-asplit-asecond-alater,-ait-aflipped-aupward,-atransforming-afrom-aa-asimple-abrown-arock-ato-asome-atype-aof-aclam-like-aobject,-asnapping-adown-aon-aDrago's-aright-aarm-awith-adozens-aof-asharp,-apiercing-ateeth.
Drago-adidn't-apanic-adespite-abeing-asurprised.-aAs-asoon-aas-ahis-aarm-awas-atrapped,-afeeling-athe-apain-aof-athe-asharp-ateeth-astart-ato-adig-ainto-athe-ascales-aof-ahis-aarm,-ahe-amade-aa-asecond-aleap,-ablasting-ahimself-aout-aof-athe-astream.-aHis-apowerful-ascaled-alegs-acontained-aenough-aforce-ato-abreak-ain-ahalf-aa-asmall-atree,-agetting-aout-aof-athe-astream-ain-aa-asingle-ajump-awas-aeasy-aenough.
As-ahe-aflipped-athrough-athe-aair,-aDrago-atwisted-aand-abrought-ahis-aright-aarm-adown-aunderneath-ahim,-alooking-aat-athe-aclam-like-acreature-athat-awas-alatched-aonto-ahim.-aDespite-athe-asharp-ateeth-aon-athe-acreature,-ait-ahadn't-amanaged-ato-adig-ain-afar,-athe-atough-aRed-aSalamander-ascales-ablocking-amost-aof-athe-adamage.
CRASH
Drago-aslammed-athe-aclam-acreature-adown-ahard-aon-athe-aground-anear-athe-astream,-amanaging-ato-adirectly-acrash-ainto-aa-apile-aof-arocks.-aAs-ahe-adid-aso,-ahe-afelt-aseveral-acracks-aappear-ain-athe-ashell-aof-athe-abrown-aclam-acreature.
"Get-aoff-ame!"-aDrago-athought-aas-ahe-aslammed-athe-aclam-adown-aon-athe-arocks-aover-aand-aover.-aDespite-abeing-ajust-aaround-aa-ameter-aand-aa-ahalf-along,-athe-astrength-aof-aDrago's-acurrent-abody-awas-afar-agreater-athan-ahis-aphysical-astrength-aas-aa-ahuman.-a
After-aslamming-athe-aclam-ainto-athe-arock-aa-ahalf-adozen-atimes,-aDrago-afelt-aits-ahold-aon-ahis-aarm-aloosen.-aAs-asoon-aas-ait-adid,-ahe-aflung-athe-acreature-aaway-afrom-ahim,-ahearing-ait-asplash-ainto-athe-ariver.
He-astumbled-abackwards-aa-astep-aas-ahe-alooked-aat-ahis-aright-aarm,-aseeing-aseveral-amangled-atooth-amarks.-aThe-asmall-awounds-aeach-aleaked-aa-asmall-adrizzle-aof-ablood.-aHe-ashook-afor-aa-afew-amoments-aas-ahe-atried-ato-acalm-adown,-aswallowing-ahard.
"Damn…-aOkay.-aAlright.-aI'm-afine."-aHe-amuttered-ain-ahis-ahead,-astill-ashaking.-aHis-aarm-abegan-ato-afeel-asore-aas-ahe-acalmed,-athe-awounds-aprickling.-aWater-astreamed-adown-ahis-ascales,-aforming-aa-asmall-apuddle-abeneath-ahim.-aAdrenaline-afilled-ahis-abody,-akeeping-ahim-aon-aedge.-aHe-abreathed-aheavily-ain-ahis-asalamander-aform,-atrying-ato-acalm-adown.
"Everything-ahere-atries-ato-akill-ame.-aWhat-aa-ahorrible-aplace."-aDrago-ablinked,-ashaking-ahis-ahead.-aIt-awas-ahis-aown-afault-afor-abeing-acareless.-aHe-ahad-anever-aseen-aa-acreature-alike-athat,-ahowever,-aand-ahad-ano-aidea-ait-aeven-aexisted.
"Should-aI-ago-atry-ato-aabsorb-ait?"-aHe-athought,-aturning-ato-aface-athe-ariver.-aHe-aglanced-aup-aand-adown-athe-astream,-aseeing-ano-asigns-aof-athe-aodd-abrown-aclam.
"Ausra,-awhat-awas-athat?"-aHe-aasked.
"While-aI-acan't-abe-asure-aof-athe-abloodline-aof-athat-acreature,-ait-ahad-athe-aappearance-aand-apattern-aof-aa-aBrown-aTreasure-aClam.-aThese-atype-aof-abeings-aare-aunique-acreatures-athat-ahave-astrange-ainteractions-awith-afate.-aIts-aappearance-ain-athis-aarea-ais-amost-alikely-aa-aresult-aof-aHis-aWorship-atwisting-afate-ato-asend-ayou-ainto-athis-aworld."-aAusra-acontinued,
"Brown-aTreasure-aClams-aadore-aobjects-athat-aare-aheavily-aconnected-ato-aFate,-aand-aare-aconstantly-asearching-afor-anew,-aFated-atreasures.-aAs-afor-atheir-anormal-ainteractions:-aWhen-athey-ago-ahunting-afor-aprey,-athey-abegin-aby-ainjecting-aany-abeast-athat-ais-afoolish-aenough-ato-atouch-athem-awith-aa-asleeping-asedative.-aThey-athen-afeast-aon-athe-asleeping-avictim,-ausually-aresulting-ain-adeath."-aAusra-acoolly-areplied.
"What?-aThey're-apoisonous?"-aDrago-aturned-ato-alook-aat-ahis-awounded-aarm-ain-aalarm.-aHe-adidn't-afeel-aany-aodd-aeffects.
"The-aSpell-aMatrix-ain-ayour-aSoul-awas-adesigned-ato-agive-ayou-athe-apower-ato-acontrol-abloodlines.-aMany-atypes-aof-abloodlines-aare-apoisonous-ain-anature.-aHis-aWorship-aforesaw-aissues-alike-athis,-aand-athus-aadded-asafeguards.-aPoison-aof-aalmost-aall-atypes-awill-ahave-ano-aeffect-aon-ayou.-aThough-ayour-abloodline-ais-atruly-athat-aof-aa-aRed-aSalamander,-aany-aforeign-asubstances-ato-athat-abloodline-awill-aautomatically-abe-asampled-aand-astored-aby-ayour-aSoul-aSpell-aMatrix."
"Oh?-aCan-ayou-ashow-ame-awhat-athe-apoison-awas?"-aAusra-areplied,-acurious.
-Brown-aTreasure-aClam-a(Growth-aStage-a2/2)-aVenom-
Stored-aAmount:-a30-amL
"Hmm,-anot-aa-alot.-aStill,-ait-acould-abe-auseful-afor-alater."-aHe-amentally-atapped-athe-ascreen-aaway,-awatching-ait-afade,-abefore-ahe-aresponded,-a"Ausra,-acould-ayou-awarn-ame-anext-atime-aif-ayou-asee-asomething-alike-athat,-aa-acreature-ayou-arecognize?"
Ausra-adidn't-arespond.
"Alright."-aDrago-afrowned.-aThe-aGenie-ain-ahis-aSpell-aMatrix-aseemed-ato-aonly-aanswer-aquestions-awhen-ait-awas-aconvenient-afor-ait.-aStill,-athe-aassistance-aAusra-agave-ahim-awas-ainvaluable,-aand-ahe-ahad-ano-areal-aright-ato-acomplain.
As-ahe-alooked-aover-aat-ahis-aslightly-amangled-aright-aarm,-aDrago-amanaged-aa-alizard-like-asmile.-aHe-aslowly-aturned-ahis-aright-aclaw-aupward,-aunveiling-aa-asmall,-agolden-aring.-aDespite-anot-acapturing-athe-aBrown-aTreasure-aCla
m,-ahe-ahad-aat-aleast-amanaged-ato-agrab-athe-aring-ait-aheld.-aThe-adamage-ahe-ahad-asuffered-awas-ainconsequential.-aRed-aSalamanders-ahad-aa-apowerful-avitality-aaccording-ato-aAusra,-aand-asmall-awounds-alike-athis-awould-aheal-ain-aa-afew-ahours.-aAlready-athey-ahad-astopped-ableeding.
"Now…-aHow-ado-aI-ause-ayou?"-aHe-amuttered-ain-ahis-ahead-aas-ahe-alooked-aat-athe-aring.
"Ausra,-aany-aideas?"
Silence-aagain.
"I-aguess-aI'll-atry-aputting-ait-aon."-aAfter-athinking-afor-aa-afew-amoments,-aDrago-aslid-athe-aring-aonto-ahis-arightmost-aclaw.-aHe-awas-aprepared-aat-aa-amoments-anotice-ato-atear-ait-aoff,-ahowever,-asitting-aon-aedge.
A-afew-amoments-awent-aby-awith-anothing-ahappening.-aFaint-aroars-ain-athe-abackground-aindicated-athe-apresence-aof-aferocious-abeasts-amoving-athrough-athe-aforest.-aA-asmall-abreeze-apicked-aup,-afluttering-aover-athe-astream-aDrago-astood-aby.
A-agolden-astream-aof-alight-agradually-abegan-ato-aappear-afrom-athe-aring.-aDrago-awatched-aas-athe-astream-aof-alight-agrew-ain-athe-aair,-afluttering-aaround-abriefly.-aIt-athen-aslowly-aflowed-atowards-aDrago.
He-awatched-aas-athe-alight-amade-acontact-awith-ahim,-anot-afeeling-aany-asort-aof-athreat-aor-adanger.-aAs-ait-adid-aso,-aa-awarm-afeeling-aof-aenergy-aflooded-ainto-ahis-achest.-aHe-aalso-afelt-aa-asmall-astream-aof-aknowledge-aappear,-acontaining-aa-ashort-amessage.
--
"To-awhoever-areceives-athis,-aknow-athat-aFate-ahas-adecided-ayou-abe-athe-abearer-aof-amy-adeath.-aI-aam-athe-aIllustrious-aElder-aMage-aHorhavil,-areduced-ato-adeath's-adoor.-aAfter-amastering-athe-aDao-aof-aLight-aand-areaching-athe-apeak-aof-athe-aAngelic-aStage-aof-athe-aSoul,-aI-asought-ato-abreak-apast-athe-ashackles-athat-aheld-ame-ato-athe-a30,000-aWorlds-aand-aachieve-aGodhood."
"Alas.-aI-ahave-afailed.-aAt-athe-alast-amoment,-aa-acadre-aof-asorcerers-afrom-amy-athieving-aallies,-athe-aGolden-aKingdom,-abetrayed-ame,-aand-astruck-ame-adown-awhen-aI-awas-amost-avulnerable.-aDespite-amy-adeathly-ainjuries,-aI-amanaged-ato-aescape,-astriking-adown-atwo-aof-atheir-aPariah-aMages-ain-athe-aprocess-aand-atearing-aa-ahole-ain-athe-avoid,-aending-aup-ahere."
"The-asite-aof-amy-adeath-alies-ahere,-adeep-awithin-athis-abeast-ainfested-aforest.-aBetween-atwo-ashattered-amountains,-ain-athe-adarkest-apit-aof-athis-avalley,-aI-abreathe-amy-alast.-aMy-atreasures-aare-ayours-afor-athe-ataking,-aI-aonly-aask-athat-ayou-aone-aday-ainform-aHoly-aDuke-aArchel,-aof-athe-aElector-aEmpire,-athat-athe-aGolden-aKingdom-abetrayed-ame."
"Thank-ayou.-aThe-aCycle-acontinues."
--
The-amessage-afinished,-aleaving-aDrago-awith-aa-asense-aof-awonder.-aAchieving-aGodhood?-aMastering-aa-a'Dao'-aof-alight?-aSuch-aforeign-aconcepts-amade-ano-asense,-ayet-aheld-asuch-afantastic-apromise-ahe-acouldn't-ahelp-abut-awonder.-aHe-aneeded-ato-aknow-amore-aabout-athe-aworld-aaround-ahim.-aPerhaps-aAusra-acould-ahelp.
Before-ahe-acould-aask-aanything,-ahowever,-aAusra's-avoice-aappeared-ain-ahis-amind.
"Energy-asufficient-ato-abe-aabsorbed-ahas-aentered-ayour-abody.-aWould-ayou-alike-ato-aabsorb-athis-aenergy-ato-afurther-athe-adevelopment-aof-ayour-aRed-aSalamander-abloodline?"
"What?-aOh,-athe-agolden-alight."-aDrago-aimmediately-acaught-aon,-a"Yes,-aabsolutely."-aHe-awas-aso-aclose-ato-aachieving-athe-anext-astage,-aif-athe-awarm-agolden-aenergy-ahe-afelt-awithin-ahim-awas-aenough-ait-ashould-abe-ano-aissue-aincreasing-ahis-astrength-ahere.
"Acknowledged."-aDrago-afelt-athe-awarm-afeeling-aof-aenergy-awithin-ahim-afaded-aas-ait-awas-avoraciously-asucked-ainto-ahis-aSoul-aSpell-aMatrix,-adrawing-aaway.-aAs-ait-adid-aso,-aa-apale-ablue-ascreen-awith-awriting-aon-ait-aappeared-ain-ahis-amind.
-Red-aSalamander-a--aGrowth-aStage:-a(3/5)-aYoung-aAdult-
--aGrowth-aProgress-a–-a786/100-a-
Before-ahe-acould-areact,-aa-asecond-ascreen-aimmediately-apopped-aup,
Growth-aProgress-aExceeded-alimit.-aGrowth-aStage-aEvolution-aengaged.-aTransporting-ato-aEvolution-aSpace…-a
###-aChapter-a4-a--aNew-aAbility
Drago-ainstantly-afound-ahimself-aonce-amore-ain-athe-amisty-awhite-aEvolution-aSpace-afrom-abefore.-aThe-aprocess-ato-aevolve-abetween-aGrowth-aStages-awas-aautomatic,-aapparently.
In-afront-aof-ahim,-athe-aoutline-aof-ahis-aRed-aSalamander-abody-aappeared,-afloating-ain-athe-aair.-aIt-awas-aslightly-atranslucent,-abut-alooked-aidentical-ato-ahim-aapart-afrom-athat,-acomplete-awith-athe-asmall-awounds-ain-ahis-ascales-aon-ahis-aright-aarm.
As-ahe-awatched,-athe-abody-aslowly-atransformed.-aIt-aextended-afrom-abeing-ajust-aa-abit-aover-aa-ameter-aand-aa-ahalf-along-ato-aaround-ameter-aand-atwo-athirds-ain-alength.-aThe-ared-ascales-aon-athe-abody-aof-athe-aRed-aSalamander-aseemed-ato-ameld-atogether-aand-abecome-aglossier,-ainherently-abecoming-atougher.-aHis-aclaws-atook-aon-aa-avery-afaint-ared-ahue,-aand-athe-aoverall-amuscles-aon-ahis-abody-aincreased-aa-abit.
-Body-aTransformation-aComplete-
-Red-aSalamander-a--aGrowth-aStage:-a(4/5)-aMature-aAdult-
--aGrowth-aProgress-a–-a686/956-a-
"Huh.-aSo-athat's-ame-aright-anow.-aThat-aring's-aenergy-areally-ahelped-aout,-awow."-aHe-amuttered,-aexamining-ahis-abody-aclosely.-aAs-ahe-awas-ain-athe-amidst-aof-aexamining-ahimself,-aa-apair-aof-anew-ascreens-apopped-aup.-a
-New-aAbility-aGained-
Ability:-aFlame-aClaws
Description:-aA-abasic-alow-alevel-aability-aof-aFlame-aBears,-aFlame-aTigers,-aand-aother-aFlame-aaspected-acreatures.-aOne-aimbues-aenergy-awithin-aone's-aclaws,-asuperheating-athem-aand-agiving-athem-aa-adeadly-aburning-apotential.-aThe-amore-aenergy-ais-aimbued,-athe-amore-apowerful-athe-aheat.-aThe-aability-ais-alearned-anaturally-athrough-athe-adevelopment-aof-atheir-abloodline.-a
As-asoon-aas-athis-aability-aappeared,-aa-astore-aof-aknowledge-aon-ahow-ato-ause-ait-aappeared-ain-aDrago's-amind.-aHe-aimmediately-aunderstood-ahow-ato-amove-aenergy-afrom-ahis-aSoul-ato-ahis-aclaws,-aand-ahow-ato-aconcentrate-athat-aenergy-aso-athat-ahis-aclaws-abecame-asuperheated,-awhile-aprotecting-ahis-aown-abody-aand-ascales-afrom-abeing-aburned.
"Whoa.-aInteresting."-aHe-asaid-aaloud-aas-ahe-aread-aover-athe-awriting.-aAs-ahe-aread-aover-ait,-ahe-afelt-amore-athan-asaw-athis-aability-amerge-awith-ahis-aSoul-aSpell-aMatrix,-acondensing-ainto-aa-acollection-aof-asymbols-aand-amerging-awith-athe-agolden-abead-aof-alight-ain-ahis-aSoul.-aAbilities-alike-athis-awere-astored-ain-ahis-aSoul-aSpell-aMatrix,-athe-aknowledge-apermanently-arecorded.
"Ausra.-aHow-astrong-ais-amy-aSoul?"-aAccording-ato-athe-ainformation-ahe-anow-aknew,-athe-abasic-apower-aof-athis-atype-aof-aattack-awas-adependent-aon-ahis-aSoul,-awhere-ahis-aSoul-aSpell-aMatrix-awas-alocated.-aThe-amore-apowerful-ahis-aSoul,-athe-amore-aenergy-ahe-acould-adraw-afrom-ait-aand-aimbue-ainto-ahis-aclaws.-aBeings-awith-astrong-aSouls-acould-ause-astronger-atechniques-aand-ahad-amore-aenergy-aand-apower,-atypically.
It-amade-asense.-aOne's-aSoul-aSpell-aMatrix-awas-alocated-ain-atheir-aSoul,-ait-aonly-afollowed-athat-aa-abeing-awith-aa-astrong-aSoul-awould-abe-astronger.
Instead-aof-aresponding,-aa-anew-ascreen-aappeared-ain-ahis-amind.
Drago-a--aSoul-aStatus
Soul-aStage:-aEarth-aStage-a(Peak)
Health:-aPerfect-a
A-abrief-ascreen-alisted-ahis-aSoul's-astatus.-aDrago-astared-aat-ait-afor-aa-amoment,-anot-acomprehending.
"Ausra,-acan-ayou-aexplain-athis?"-aHe-atried-ato-awave-aa-ahand-aat-athe-ascreen-ain-afront-aof-ahim,-aforgetting-ahe-awas-aformless-ain-ahis-aEvolution-aSpace.-aAusra-aseemed-ato-aunderstand-aregardless,-aresponding,
"Your-aSoul-aStage-ais-athe-aStage-ayour-aSoul-ais-aat-ain-aits-agrowth.-aGrowing-afrom-aone-aStage-ato-athe-anext-ais-avery-adifficult,-aand-ausually-arequires-aan-aaccumulation-aof-aboth-atime-aand-aenergy.-aYou-aare-apresently-aat-athe-aPeak-aof-athe-aEarth-aSoul-aStage.-aHalf-aof-athe-acreatures-ain-athe-a30,000-aworlds-anever-across-aabove-athe-aEarth-aStage-aof-atheir-aSoul."-aAs-aAusra-aspoke,-aa-anew-ascreen-aappeared.-a
---Soul-aStages---
Ascendancy
Angelic
King
Lord
Grandmaster
; Master
Sky
Earth-a(Current)
Mortal
"This-ais-aa-alist-aof-athe-aseparate-aStages-aof-athe-aSoul-ayou-acan-adevelop."
Drago-alooked-aup-aand-adown-athe-alist.-aAs-ahe-aglanced-aover-athe-a'Angelic-aStage'-ahe-aremembered-athe-amessage-athe-aring-ahad-agiven-ahim-atalked-aabout-areaching-athat-aStage.-aThe-arespect-ahe-ahad-afor-athat-afallen-aMage-agrew.
"So-aat-aleast-aI'm-anot-aat-athe-abottom-alevel,-ahuh.-aThis-ais-akind-aof-alike-aa-avideo-agame-afrom-aEarth.-aAusra,-ais-athere-aany-afast-away-afor-ame-ato-aincrease-athe-astrength-aof-amy-aSoul?"-aIt-aseemed-athe-astrength-aof-ahis-aSoul-awas-aclosely-arelated-ato-ahis-aown-apersonal-astrength.-aHe-awould-abe-afar-asafer-aif-ahe-ahad-aa-astrong-aSoul-athan-anot.
"Increasing-athe-astrength-aof-ayour-aSoul-atakes-aan-aaccumulation-aof-atime-aand-aenergy,-aa-anatural-aprocess-aof-agrowth.-aHowever,-ayour-aunique-aSoul-aSpell-aMatrix-acan-aprovide-aa-ashortcut,-ain-aa-amanner.-aBy-adeveloping-aand-aabsorbing-apowerful-abloodlines-aand-amaturing-athem,-ayou-acan-aspeed-aup-athe-agrowth-aof-ayour-aSoul.-aThe-astronger-athe-abloodline,-athe-amore-athe-aenhancement.-aContinue-ato-aEvolve,-aand-ayour-astrength-awill-abecome-alimitless."-aAusra-areplied.
Drago-anodded-awith-aunderstanding,-aand-athen-apromptly-aexited-ahis-aEvolution-aSpace.-aThe-aworld-aflashed-aaround-ahim-abriefly-aand-athen-avanished,-athe-aforested-aarea-aand-astream-aonce-amore-aappearing-aaround-ahim.-aTime-aseemed-ato-aflow-aslowly-ain-ahis-aEvolution-aSpace,-amaking-ait-aappear-aas-aif-ano-atime-ahad-apassed-aat-aall.
As-ahe-areappeared,-aDrago-astretched-ahis-abody,-afeeling-athe-along,-amelded-ascales-aof-athe-amature-aRed-aSalamander-aflex.-aHe-afelt-astronger,-aand-amore-apowerful-athan-abefore,-awith-aa-anoticeable-aenhancement.-aHe-aglanced-aover-aat-ahis-aright-aarm,-anoting-athat-athe-ainjuries-ahe-ahad-ataken-ahad-afully-ahealed.-aThe-asize-aof-ahis-abody,-aincluding-ahis-amuscles,-ateeth,-aand-aclaws,-ahad-aall-agrown-aby-aa-alevel.
As-ahe-anoted-athis,-ahe-asaw-athat-athe-aring-ahe-ahad-aworn-aon-ahis-aright-aclaw-awas-ano-alonger-apresent.-aHe-ablinked-aand-atook-aa-astep-aback,-asearching-athe-aground-afor-ait-ain-apanic.
