In an instant!
Under the guidance of the ritual, negative energy, like grey smog, gradually formed a swirling spiral pillar above Iville Ai's head.
Around Iville Ai, it continuously condensed, transforming from the original grey negative energy into a deeper black.
Hiss—hiss—
The air was corroded by the negative energy, forming a vacuum-like special environment. A terrifying atmospheric pressure spread outwards from this area as the center.
In such an environment, living beings would suffocate and die even without suffering the direct effects of the negative energy. However, the undead do not require air!
"...Mmm~Hng~"
Iville Ai involuntarily let out a soft, moaning hum. Although her vision was completely dark, and the environment created by the terrifying negative energy was even more horrifying.
However.
She felt a sense of comfort, reminiscent of when she was still a princess and soaked in the warm water prepared by her maids.
Her power was increasing!
Was this the method the Lord Dragon King had mentioned for increasing strength?
"So happi...ness..."
"Lord Dragon King."
Under the compression and convergence of the negative energy, Iville Ai felt an astonishing power being forcibly poured into her body, her mind gradually becoming blank.
—Above.
Tang Zheng gazed at the figure below, at the center of the ritual. He meticulously observed the changes in the energy aura using Ninjutsu: Detection.
Iville Ai had a total of 5 job classes, with a total level of around 50. Her job class composition was:
[Vampire Princess], [True Ancestor]
[Sorcerer], [Magic Caster], [Elemental Mage (Earth)]
Tang Zheng was not clear about the specific levels of each job class, but "Vampire" was a warrior-type race and did not provide spellcasting classes.
And Iville Ai's highest spellcasting level was Fifth Tier Magic (Lv 29-35), so he could roughly deduce it.
Among these 5 job classes, two were mid-tier classes: [True Ancestor] and [Elemental Mage (Earth)]. Therefore, theoretically, her highest level should be Lv 65.
"Based on the experience points required to level up previously, around level 50 would require hundreds of thousands of experience points."
Tang Zheng mused: "I can't calculate it entirely based on these numbers."
"I possess the Innate Ability of a 'Player,' which allows me to convert energy into experience points, but that doesn't mean people from other worlds can do the same."
For people from other worlds.
Energy was just energy; it was a different matter from "experience points."
"I can only observe further." Tang Zheng couldn't be completely sure, so he could only keep a close eye on Iville Ai below.
Low-tier undead provided little experience, only around single digits. Coupled with the attrition, Tang Zheng wasn't worried about Iville Ai suffering from an excess of energy that would cause her to explode.
Time ticked by!
Tang Zheng narrowed his vertical pupils and quickly noticed a difference from how he gained experience points.
"There is indeed a conversion issue."
"The holy energy dissipated by neutral angels can be directly converted into experience points for me, whereas Iville Ai is gradually absorbing... adapting to the negative energy."
Tang Zheng could clearly observe that the speed at which Iville Ai's aura was growing was not fast, and the rate of negative energy absorption was similarly slow.
The time taken was longer than anticipated!
A full three hours passed.
The vast negative energy that had permeated the royal capital had nearly vanished. The dim royal city gradually brightened, with only the central area still containing relatively dense negative energy.
"—Ah!!"
Suddenly.
A high-pitched roar, like that of a wild beast, erupted from the deepest part. The remaining residual negative energy ceased its absorption at this moment.
"What's going on?" Tang Zheng's gaze sharpened as he felt a sudden surge in an aura reaction.
Bang!
A heavy thud.
A black figure broke free from the center of the magic ritual. This rough act of breaking free caused the ritual, which had been operating, to completely halt.
The blue magic that had enveloped the entire royal capital abruptly dimmed.
—Whoosh!
The dark figure rushed out of the negative energy, completely revealing itself within Tang Zheng's line of sight.
Iville Ai's appearance had changed completely. Her shoulder-length blonde hair now dragged on the ground, with some strands defying gravity and floating in the air around her in a messy, defiant display.
"Roar!"
Iville Ai's petite frame seemed to have grown slightly. The nails on her pale fingers and feet were now several inches long, and fangs protruded from her mouth.
She lifted her head!
While her human face hadn't changed drastically, it gave off a ferocious, beast-like impression. Her eyes were crimson, and even her ears had become more pointed.
This appearance…
"A vampire!" Tang Zheng thought of Shalltear the moment he saw Iville Ai in her current state.
That's right!
Iville Ai's current appearance was somewhat similar to when Shalltear lost her mind and transformed into the "True Ancestor Vampire."
No… there was still some difference.
After transforming into a "True Ancestor," Shalltear's appearance was even more ferocious, her mouth resembling that of a lamprey, a particularly monstrous creature.
Iville Ai's overall physique hadn't changed that much.
"How could this happen!"
Tang Zheng's eyes narrowed slightly. "Iville's appearance actually changed?"
In "YGGDRASIL," vampires weren't depicted as the handsome and beautiful figures seen in typical Western movies; they were quite ugly.
Shalltear's beauty was merely a result of the guild members' excellent illustration and 3D modeling work.
But Iville Ai was different; she was originally human!
"It's the [True Ancestor] class!"
This race and class didn't originally exist in the other world, and True Ancestor Vampires couldn't be naturally born.
Iville Ai possessing this class was entirely the accidental product of Kutushana Dragon Lord's "Origin Magic" and her own "Innate Ability."
"Attribute Panel."
Tang Zheng's thoughts moved, and he summoned the panel to observe. He found no notifications:
"It's indeed not a conventional class, but the influence of a racial class!"
"It seems Iville Ai's [True Ancestor] class level wasn't high before. With its rapid advancement now, this kind of racial talent awakening has occurred."
Boom!
Boom!
Distant rumbling sounds continued to echo from below.
Tang Zheng gazed at Iville Ai's unrestrained attacks and the surrounding destruction of buildings, confirming his suspicions.
Before this, Iville Ai hadn't displayed such potent close-combat abilities. This form clearly enhanced her power in close-quarters combat.
"Roar!"
After destroying a stone pillar, Iville Ai raised her head. Her crimson eyes, devoid of reason, noticed Tang Zheng floating in mid-air, and she let out a loud roar.
Bang!
Iville Ai stomped on the ground with both feet and charged rapidly towards Tang Zheng. From her back, wings resembling those of a bat, formed from negative energy, materialized.
Screeech!
Her sharp, elongated finger-claws tore through the air as she lunged at Tang Zheng.
"Has she completely lost her mind in this state? Can't she even discern the basic difference in power?"
Tang Zheng frowned. "Even if it enhances her close-combat abilities, for a magic caster like Iville Ai, this isn't an increase in strength but rather a detrimental status effect."
Her lower body swung slightly.
"Bludgeoning Enhancement!"
Boom!
Her thick dragon tail transformed into a black blur, instantly shattering the air. The terrifying force slammed the just-airborne Iville Ai back to the ground.
With a loud "Bang!"
Iville Ai crashed into the ground, creating a deep crater. She staggered to her feet groggily, only to collapse unconscious.
Twilight.
The western sun, a hazy yellow, had only a sliver of light remaining.
Iville Ai sat up dazed beside a small campfire. Her first instinct was to notice the massive, red Dragon King figure beside her.
"Lord Dragon King."
A look of surprise and awe filled Iville Ai's face. Tears welled up in her eyes:
"That was a Seventh Tier scroll… Lord Dragon King, to expend such vast wealth just to… to increase the power of this weak… undead…"
"You didn't have to do this…"
Iville Ai's voice was agitated and a little incoherent.
She genuinely felt the sting of the wasted scrolls; each Seventh Tier scroll represented the power of a Demon God.
It was such a waste to use them on a lowly undead like herself, one who was detested by the living!
After speaking, Iville Ai tried to stand up, but she suddenly felt a weakness spreading from within, making her unable to get up.
"You're still injured."
Tang Zheng spoke in a calm tone, then shook his head. "I told you before, you're my companion. Don't use words like 'waste.'"
Companion?
Iville Ai's eyes reddened, her throat trembling slightly. She hadn't truly considered herself a companion of the Lord Dragon King.
Or rather.
Iville Ai didn't believe the Lord Dragon King truly saw her as a companion.
And now... Lord Dragon King...
"Don't feel pressured about the scrolls. While they are precious to ordinary people, they are nothing to my companion."
Tang Zheng opened his draconic maw and spoke with a majestic yet kind voice. "These scrolls were all made by him."
"If you want to thank him, you can do so personally once you can join the organization later."
Iville Ai blinked in surprise.
Lord Dragon King's companion?
Organization?
Receiving such a large amount of information at once, Iville Ai's inner doubts finally lessened.
At first.
She had guessed that the source of the Seventh Tier scrolls was some inheritance or treasure the Lord Dragon King had obtained, but when hundreds of scrolls of the same type were produced and used to enhance her strength, it was clearly prepared specifically.
"No wonder... to be able to create national treasure-level scrolls, the Lord Dragon King's companion must be incredibly powerful."
Iville Ai finally understood the other meaning behind the Lord Dragon King's earlier words about her being "weak."
The Lord Dragon King must have wanted her to join that organization as well, and it was only because of her weakness that the current situation had arisen.
"Lord Dragon King!"
Iville Ai, both excited and invigorated, got up from the ground. "I will not disappoint you!"
In her lost life, she seemed to have found a new purpose:
First: Find the True Dragon King who destroyed nations!
Second: Join the Lord Dragon King's organization!
"Do your best."
Tang Zheng paused, then offered a gentle smile, followed by an apologetic tone. "I'm sorry, your injuries were caused by me."
"Magic that has a healing effect on the living cannot be used on the undead. I don't possess any negative energy-related healing magic."
Seeing Iville Ai's bewildered expression.
Tang Zheng recounted the events in detail.
"According to the results detected by 'Ninjutsu: Detection,' Iville Ai's current level has reached around Lv 57."
Tang Zheng calculated in his mind. "An increase of 5 to 6 levels. The effect is better than expected."
"Ah!"
Iville Ai's eyes changed, and she quickly bowed to Tang Zheng, like a child who had made a mistake. "I'm sorry, Lord Dragon King!"
"I already said, don't be so nervous. If anyone should apologize, it's me, since I caused this."
Tang Zheng spoke helplessly again. Seeing Iville Ai about to explain, he quickly changed the subject and asked:
"Can you tell me about your current situation?"
"Yes, yes."
Despite her slight weakness, Iville Ai displayed rather agile movements. After adapting to her body, she said with surprise:
"My strength has increased a lot, and it's not just strength... my physical condition in all aspects seems to have improved."
"I feel like I can surpass Gaguran with my current strength alone. The Devil Leader might be a bit much... Ah, Lord Dragon King, Gaguran is my companion in the adventurer party who uses a hammer."
Iville Ai cast a few more spells to experiment.
Soon.
Tang Zheng obtained the results he wanted from the information provided by her.
Iville Ai's main improvement was in her racial level. Her normal job level and magic power increase showed no significant changes.
"The negative energy was primarily absorbed by the racial and job levels."
"Compared to vampire-class professions, the other magic caster professions don't quite align well with negative energy."
Tang Zheng's heart stirred slightly. "The 'Vampire Princess' and 'True Ancestor' professions probably haven't reached their maximum level yet."
"If they are all leveled up to the max, can the absorbed negative energy increase their profession levels?"
Afterward.
Tang Zheng attempted to have Iville Ai trigger her "True Ancestor Form," but she was unable to use it, further solidifying his guess that her race and profession had not yet reached maximum level.
The "True Ancestor Form" that was triggered not long ago was clearly a special reaction resulting from the accumulation of negative energy.
Over the next few days.
Tang Zheng and Iville Ai remained in the "Imperia Kingdom," continuing their experiments to improve their strength.
—Lower Fire Moon.
September 11th.
A full ten days had passed.
Iville Ai's two race levels had been maxed out, but her strength was completely stuck at level 60, unable to improve further.
Tang Zheng still had over 300 scrolls of "Undead Army" stored in his hands.
Boom!
"Dragon Lightning"
A blue lightning bolt struck a distant stone wall, instantly pulverizing it.
Tang Zheng gazed at Iville Ai, who was constantly experimenting with magic in the distance, and shook his head with a wry smile. He could somewhat understand her current feelings.
Undead theoretically have no upper limit to their growth. The inability to improve their strength ultimately boiled down to a problem with their professions.
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