Tai was now a dragon. A species which could be considered superior to most humans, but in the Aether Universe, dragons weren't that rare.

All throughout the universe, there are reptilian magical beasts that, with the use of the system, evolve to a dragon. Dragons were definitely strong, but dragons weren't made equally. For example, Tai might've just become a dragon, but there are infant dragons that are stronger than him.

Still, dragons were still feared by many as at the early ages of the Aether Universe, they were the rulers...

Progressing through the various levels of the dungeon, Tai had reached the 40th level of the dungeon, and it didn't even take him that long as he got there in one day. In fact, it was finding the portal to the next level that was the harder part as the levels grew in size the higher one went.

As he progressed through the dungeon, he had been using Draconic Energy, or D.E., for short, leveling it up, but Tai thought of a problem. If he kept maxing out his skills, then how would he increase his level, which led to him inspecting one of his maxed out skills.

Ki Manipulation - Lvl. Max

You do not meet the requirements to evolve this skill

Requirements:

-Receive the ki of a higher being

-Max level

Discovering that he could evolve his skills, Tai let out a sigh of relief as that sold his skills problem. Since he didn't meet the requirements to evolve Ki Manipulation, he inspected his other skills.

Divine Darkness Manipulation - Lvl. Max

You do not meet the requirements to evolve this skill

Requirements:

-Conceptual Darkness Manipulation - Lvl. Max

-Dark Energy Manipulation - Lvl. Max

-Esoteric Darkness Manipulation - Lvl. Max

-Life Darkness Manipulation - Lvl. Max

-Pure Darkness Manipulation - Lvl. Max

-Become a full-formed darkness being

-Absorb one of the first darkness

Tai's eyes went wide as he saw the requirements for evolving Divine Darkness Manipulation.

Jeez, all this?

A voice chuckled. "Good luck. Even I haven't reached thissss level. The lasssst requirement issss the hardesssst part."

"What do I even get from evolving this skill?" Tai asked the voice.

"Even I don't know, but judging from the lasssst requirement... You'll be able to manipulate the sssstrongest darkness in the universssse... The darknessss before the Aether Universssse wassss created..."

That definitely sounded strong to Tai, but could he do it? Even the strong being that is trying to help him hasn't even evolved their skill.

"Well, how am I going to fix my skills problem? Just learn new skills?"

"That issss a way, but there are other wayssss bessssidessss evolving or learning new ssskillsss. Pressstige. When you pressstige a ssskill, itsss level is ressset to level 1. Don't worry, you'll keep all the bonusssesss at the max level, but leveling the ssskill becomesss harder as you're effectively going beyond the level cap."

"If that's the case, then couldn't I just prestige one skill over and over again and become strong that way?"

"Yesss, and no. There are beingsss in the Aether Universsse which are regarded asss one-ssskill-poniesss, but while they might be ssstrong ssstat-wissse, if they only have one ssskill, they can easssily be defeated," the voice replied. "Alssso, you can ssstill evolve a ssskill even when it'sss pressstige and it doesssn't need to be max."

From the info that Tai gathered, It wasn't a bad idea to prestige a skill, and there weren't any downsides too except that leveling the skill would be harder, but that made sense, so Tai spent a few minutes prestiging his maxed skills, the notable ones being: Divine Darkness Manipulation and the things related to it, Polearm Proficiency, Ki Manipulation, and some other skills that he had maxed out like Pain Resistance.

Finished with what he was doing, Tai thanked the being and kept going on his journey.

"Did you feel that, Kirem?" a woman asked.

Kirem nodded. "Yes. A ripple through the Dragonforce, and I'm sure the elders felt it too."

"Should we meet the newborn?"

Kirem shook his head. "Not now... It came from the new megaplanet and if we break the system's rules, we will instantly die and get sent into the underworld."

"What the hell, Russel. This guy is over level 400. If he keeps going this way, won't he surpass your level?"

"Maybe, but I'm sure he's reached the skills problem. He's probably prestiged some of his skills already, but don't worry. I'm not about to let some greenhorn beat me," he said, chuckling a bit. "Anyway, come on. Let's make some money."

Holding his naginata in an empty field, Tai tried to turn it into a sentient weapon, but no matter what he did, nothing happened.

"Ughhh. Do I have to use an actual weapon?"

Tai was currently holding a naginata made from his darkness, but that didn't make sense. The skill description specifically said any weapon that he had a sufficient bond with and Tai was pretty damn sure he had a bond with his naginata as part of his body was actually darkness.

Closing his eyes, and taking a deep breath, Tai held his naginata in his hands and tried to turn it into a sentient weapon once again.

Maybe I have to give it a personality?

Trying that, Tai thought of what kind of sentient weapon he wanted. First off, he wanted the weapon to be loyal to its master, that was very important as he didn't want his weapon to betray him. He wanted it to be cruel, but only to his enemies and most importantly, a sense of humor. Well, that wasn't as important, but seeing as this would be his weapon for a long time, it would be good for it to be a funny, and good companion.

Sentience has been imbued to your chosen weapon

Another sentient weapon can be created in 30 days