Location: Dragonspire, Snow-Covered Path
CurrentForm: Lesser Dragon (Rank B+)
Status: Seeking biomass, slightly cocky
Survival in Dragonspire was a numbers game, and thanks to [Great Sage], Raiden Ragnvaldr was winning.
Three hours had passed since his awakening. In that time, the local ecosystem had suffered. He had devoured seven Cryo Slimes, three Snow foxes (he felt briefly bad about that, but hunger was absolute), and a chest full of raw meat he found frozen in ice.
"Notice. Mana levels at 45%. Evolution criteria for [Medium Dragon] currently at 12%."
"Slow," Raiden grumbled internally, clawing his way up a jagged cliff face. "At this rate, I'll be a lizard for years. I need higher quality XP. I need a mini-boss."
He crested the ridge and looked down. Below, near a frozen river, something moved. Unlike the mindless monsters, these figures had structure. Discipline.
Fatui
A skirmisher squad. A Pyroslinger Bracer, an Anemoboxer Vanguard, and a Cryo Gunnger Legionnaire were patrolling the area, guarding ley line device.
"Great Sage, analyze threat levels."
"Analyze. Enemies possess technological augmentations known as 'Delusions.' Threat Level: Moderate. Recommended Strategy: Eliminate the Anemoboxer first to disable defensive capabilities."
Raiden licked his chops. "Delusions... manufactured evil eyes. I wonder what they taste like?"
Raiden didn't roar. He didn't announce his presence. He was a predator. Using his small size and white-dusted scales to blend into the snow he circled around the cliff. He waited until the Cryo Gunner turned his back.
Now.
Raiden launched himself from the cliff edge. He fell like a kinetic missile, gravity accelerating his obsidian body.
CRASH.
He landed squarely on the Cryo Gunner's shoulders. Before the soldier could even scream, Raiden's weight and the momentum drove them both into the snow.
"Target acquired," Raiden thought.
[Predator]
Black mist exploded from Raiden's body, wrapping around the struggling Fatui. The soldier's armor cunched, and the cryo-pack on his back ruptured. Raiden didn't just bite; the mist consumed. Within seconds, the Cryo Gunner was gone - armor, flesh, and Delusion.
"Notice. High-grade Cryo fluid absorbed. [Ice Shard] evolved to [Cryo Breath]."
"Ambush" The Pyroslinger shouted, raising his rifle. "Open fire!"
A bullet of concentrated pyro energy whizzed past Raiden's head, singing his ear-fin.
"Too slow," Raiden growled.
He turned toward the Anemoboxer, who was charging up his shield. If that shield went up, Raiden would be in trouble. He needed to close the distance.
Raiden opened his mouth. But insteas of fire or ice, he tested a theory. He recalled the physics of a jet engine. Compress air. Heat it. Expel it.
"Skill Synthesis: [Heat Generation] + [Wind Pressure] (from Anemo residue in the air)."
BOOM.
An explosion of hot air blasted from beneath Raiden's feet - not a attack, but a propulsion method. He launched himself forward like a rocket, slamming headfirst into the Anemoboxer's chest just as the shield flickered.
The Fatui soldier gasped, winded, falling backward. Raiden clamped his jaws around the Anemo Vanguard's gauntlet - the source of his power.
Crunch.
He tore the mechanism off and swallowed it whole.
"Notice. Anemo Mechanism analyzed. Rudimentary wind manipulation acquired."
The Pyroslinger was panicking now. He backed away, firing wildly. "Monster! What is this thing? It's not a vishap!"
Raiden turned slowly, his silver eyes glowing with sadistic amusement. He exhaled, and a mixture of frost and fire swirled around his teeth.
"I am the top of the food chain," Raiden projected the thought, though only a low growl came out.
He pounced.
The battle was over in less than a minute. The snow was stained with oil and scorch marks, but strangely, no blood. [Predator] left no leftovers.
Raiden sat amidst the ruined Fatui camp, feeling a strange sensation in his stomach. He had eaten three Delusions.
"Warning. Foreign energy detected. 'Delusion' contains chaotic elemental energy and traces of deceased God residue (Archon residue). Attempting to corrupt mental faculties."
Raiden felt a headache spike. Anger. Irrational rage. He wanted to destroy everything.
"Great Sage! Isolate it!"
"Affirmative. Engaging mental partition. Corruption isolated in 'Stomach' sub-space. Converting chaotic energy into pure EXP."
The headache vanished. In its place, a massive surge of power flooded his limbs. His scales hardened, turning a shade darker. His claws lengthened.
"Notice. Level threshold reached. Evolution criteria met. Beginning evolution to [Medium Dragon]."
"Wait, now? Here?"
Pain wracked his body. His bones were stretching.
"Fascinating."
The voice was calm, soft, and refined.
Raiden froze mid-transformation. His senses heightened by the evolution process, hadn't picked up anyone approaching. He whipped his head around.
Standing on a rock ledge just ten meters away was a young man with ashy blonde hair, teal eyes, and a white coat. He held a sketchbook and charcoal pencil.
Albedo. The Chief Alchemist of the Knights of Favonius.
Raiden growled warningly, his body pulsing with evolution light.
Albedo didn't flinch. He continued sketching. "I observed your combat. You utilize the elements without a Vision, yet you don't appear to be a vishap or a slime. Your anatomy suggests a draconic lineage, yet your behavior... is strikingly intelligent. Almost human."
Raiden narrowed his eyes. He's sharp.
Albedo looked up from his sketch. "And you just consumed three Fatui operatives, seemingly converting their mass into energy instantly. That the Law of Equivalent Exchange... unless your body acts as a transmutation circle itself."
Raiden realized he couldn't just growl his way out of this. He needed to communicate. He focused on his intent.
"Great Sage. Do I have a telepathy skill?"
"Negative. However, by manipulating Anemo particles to vibrate the air, you can synthesize speech. Or, you can project 'intent' directly."
Raiden chose the latter. He focused his mind on the Almechist.
(Put the pencil down, Chalk Boy. Or I eat the sketchbook.)
Albedo blinked. His eyes widened slightly - the most emotion he ever showed.
"Telepathy," Albedo murmured. "A high-ranking species, then." He slowly lowered the sketchbook, raising his hands in a gesture of peace. "I mean no harm. In fact, I believe we share a common origin."
Raiden titled his head. Origin?
"You reek of Durin's blood," Albedo said calmly. "But you aren't corrupted. You're... a miracle. A life born from death."
Albedo stepped won from the rock, walking closer. Most people would run from a growing dragon. Albedo walked toward it like a scientist approaching a new microscope.
"My name is Albedo. I have a laboratory nearby. It is warm, and I have food that is not... Fatui soldiers." Albedo offered a faint smile. "Would you be interested in an exchange? You let me study your physiology - non-invasively, of course - and I provide you with shelter while you undergo your.... metamorphosis."
(Fine.) Raiden projected. (But if you try to stick a needle in me, I bite your hand off.)
Albedo chuckled "Deal."
Raiden followed Albedo to a hidden cave entrance blocked by a mechanis. Inside, it was warm. Alchemy tables were cluttered with potions and scrolls.
Raiden curled up near a fire. The fatigue hit him like a truck.
"Notice. Entering Sleep Mode for Evolution. Estimated time: 6 Hours."
As his consciousness faded, Raiden watched Albedo sketching him furiously.
"This world," Raiden thought as darkness took him. "Is going to be every interesting."