Jones smiled. "How do you feel about taking a little trip with me? Just an hour or two out to an island I own?"
Karl shrugged. "I don’t see why not. It’s only lunchtime now, an hour or two gives us plenty of time, and I have [Recall] set to the Guild House."
The Magma Dragon smiled. "I actually meant for you to get back. But we both know [Portal] now, don’t we?"
Karl realized that he was still holding the Skill Book for Portal.
{Spell Learned} [Portal] Opens a gateway to a destination known to the caster. Mana cost and casting time increase with distance.
"Yes, you are right, we can both travel freely. Let’s go to your Island. I take it you expect to be there for some time?" Karl asked.
The dragon nodded. "The first target that I intend to use [Evolution] on is myself.
You see, Overlord is the peak of my lineage, thanks to the mixed blood of a weaker Demon in my veins. But with this new chance, I should be able to reach Totem Rank. With that, they might even grant me guardianship of the Frostfire Suburbs."
Jones opened a portal, and they both stepped through onto the steaming surface of a small volcanic island.
"Oh, right. Not a Fire Demon. Never mind, you seem to be fine." Jones realized.
"I have Limited Invulnerability. I won’t burn in the natural lava. At least, not while standing on the surface." Karl explained.
"Good, good. Now, let’s see what I need for materials. One dragon bone of Totem Rank or higher, Overlord Rank Fire and Earth Stones. A Dark Element treasure of Epic Grade, and some skills. Alright. I have all that." Jones narrated to himself.
He piled the items on one of his hands, and then with a flash of golden light, they melted into his body. The dragon began to change, transforming back to his natural form.
Then the Magma Dragon began to leak oppressive power, and the glowing flesh under ash black scales glowed a lighter golden yellow instead of red, while a faint mist of black smoke emitted from his body. It was a true evolution, and his species was subtly changing as his body grew.
After half an hour, he had settled on a length of sixty metres, and emitted a flickering golden light under a black miasma.
{Species} Shadow Volcano Dragon
Jones read the line quietly to himself, then frowned. He was still an Overlord.
"I thought that it was supposed to increase me by a Rank?" He muttered.
Then his golden eyes lit up with annoyance.
"A form one Rank Higher. But in potential, not in current Rank. That evil bastard of a World Dragon."
Then he tossed something in his mouth and his power level began to grow, shattering through the bottleneck as the [Totemic Protection] spell began to form on his body.
He was already at the peak of Overlord, and constrained by bloodline, but now he could move on again, and reach the peak of Totem Rank before he would have to find another opportunity to increase his bloodline once more.
Jones smiled at Karl. "That skill really is priceless. The number of Demons and Dragon Hybrids who are stuck at Overlord Rank because of bloodline makes up two thirds of the Overlords in Drodh.
But while they would pay immeasurable amounts for this chance, someone like the City Governor, who is bottlenecked at peak Totem..."
Jones trailed off, and Karl chuckled.
Jones watched Karl as he tried to calm down the beasts. "It seems your bonded partners are quite excited about the concept."
Karl nodded. "Yeah, they have big plans for it. As long as living creatures can exist in the Tiny World, that is."
Jones nodded. "Yes, but with some limitations. The tiny world only holds so much air. Unless you open it every few days, or keep living plants in there, they would suffocate eventually. If you keep it open just a little, it will naturally balance itself to the outside world, but that does run the risk of dangerous things or enemies gaining access."
"Well, I have to say, for a Dragon’s hoard, it’s a perfect spell. Cara, the Winged Void Badger also appreciates a good hoard of treasures."
The dragon laughed. "Yes, they do tend to be fascinated by shiny things and rare magic. Just be careful letting her play, as a strong enough [Nullify] spell will cause the space to collapse and dump everything out on the ground, forcing you to reactivate it and put everything back.
That only works from inside, so be cautious about similar creatures trying to get inside."
"Got it. No nullifying the space. I think that we can live with that. Now, should we go back and reveal your majestic new form to the world?"
Jones sighed and settled to the ground with a large chunk of ore in his front claws.
"Give me a week or two. I need to rest and stabilize after my advancement. We’re far enough out to sea that nothing but a few sea monsters will have noticed my advancement, but there will surely be an uproar in the city when I return.
Tell Mist and Rain that I’m on vacation for a week, would you? They get worried if I don’t come by for tea at least once or twice a week." He requested.
"Of course. I will see you again soon."
One more Totem Rank local would thoroughly change the power dynamics in the Castle, but Karl had no expectations that Jones would honour a demand for him to move out of his little suburban house.
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