“The evolution of a monster is quite an interesting sight to behold. No, I'm not talking about the cocoon-like shell that they spin, but the internal process. The evolving monster quite literally disintegrates, generating an immense amount of mana. After re-absorbing every ounce of it, and a good part of the ambient essence, a creature ten times as powerful comes out.

If only we could prolong this process for an indefinite amount of time, we could have a permanent mana battery!”

-Merchant Arbiter Calantholas, on “New ways to profit!”

Nashariel pov

As the capital city of Varastill, Andiriel was gigantic. It developed for miles in every direction. The Church of Astill ruled the town from the giant cathedral known as the Sacred Bastion, home of the Templars. The angelic Astill was the Goddess of compassion, and such was the main virtue of her worshippers.

The Bastion dwarfed most of the city, especially the docks. It was where Nashariel’s parents worked, before her birth. They still did, but in less ‘adventurous’ ways. Lianna practiced as a local healer, and Thalom as an instructor. They were only called upon for emergencies.

Nashariel’s family lived in a rich district, not quite the luxurious one, but above average nonetheless. The family arrived at the small doors, reserved for personnel only. They were made of Luxum, a metal infused with powerful light. The smell of the Sacred incense remained powerful once out of the main hall, but not overly so.

Thalom briefly left them to speak with someone behind a desk.

“Where am I going to evolve?” Nashariel whispered.

“There are chambers dedicated to that, thanks to the Arch-bishop. Few monsters decide to join our cause, but Astill equally cares for all of her followers, without exceptions.”

Nashariel had read about fearsome Templars of the past, and not all of them had been humanoids. Such as the legendary minotaur Phaltos the Redeemer, who had been able to repel a hundreds-strong undead horde all by himself.

About the caring for others part, School taught that Varastill's policy was to provide for everyone. Mrs. Seasong, their geography teacher, told the kids that many other countries left their own people to die of starvation, or exploited them in various ways. The entire class shivered at the thought, especially the kids coming from poorer zones. Even now, Nashariel held tight to her scales.

Some kins had it worse, when it came to exploitation.

Thalom gestured the duo to come, indicating one of the teleporting circles. These amazing and permanent spells that allowed the users to travel instantly from one place to another.

As soon as the rainbow-colored particles cleared out, Nashariel looked around. She saw a big, empty room with a small window to the side, made of a strange kind of stone glittered in gems. The dragoness could feel the mana around her getting absorbed by them, without impacting the one inside her body. Strange magic.

She checked once more the remaining time. “What do we do? I have lots of hours left.”

“We spar and talk,” replied Lianna. “Thomas and Nicholas will come soon."

Nashariel perked up at that. Uncle Thomas always had new stories to tell, and uncle Nicholas was… well, Nicholas. “I’d love that! What did you want to talk about?”

“We were wondering about what would you like to do, from tomorrow on.”

Awakening was almost like reaching maturity, whithin Varastill, even if people weren't considered adults until their eighteenth birthday. Unlocking the system meant acquiring the first skills to pursue a vocation. National tradition guaranteed that newly awakened kids were allowed to try an ample selection of occupations, under willing employers.

Obviously, as a monster, Nashariel had no use for this kind of service. She couldn’t picture herself as a carpenter, nor as a seamstress. “I still want to travel the world! Well, not tomorrow, but one day.” The girl replied with dreamy eyes.

Father and daughter started their usual spar. Nashariel was back in her true form. "Have you considered joining the Church?"

The teleport circle behind them flared to life, notifying someone’s arrival.

"I’m not sure,” she replied truthfully, “mom told me that there are other monsters, but what about the kids? I don’t want to spend years trying to prove that I’m not trying to bite their faces off. Again.”

“A sound argument.” Chuckled Thomas, another of her family’s friends, and the last member of her parents’ team.

Nashariel looked back at the newly arrived duo.

Thomas Hiddensteel was a nimble-looking human, with raven black eyes and hair. He was an inquisitor, specialized in tracking, scouting, and getting information. Not that the swords on his back were just for show.

Nicholas Oceansage, on the other hand, was the tallest and broadest of the group. His aquamarine eyes flashed left and right, seemingly trying to take in all they could capture. His shoulder-long hairs were brown, shining slightly red under the sun.

The five people exchanged greetings, then sparred with her, taking turns. As expected, Thomas lectured her on the best zones to visit at the appropriate levels. He had been a wanderer, years before joining the church of Astill. Nicholas supplied additional information on the people, or friendly monster races, that she could expect to meet there.

Hours later, when the sky tinged orange, the four humans excused themselves, saying they had a few things to take care of.

Nashariel was sprawled out on the floor, panting. She pondered about her father’s question, one that she knew her mother, and maybe their friends, shared too. The young girl knew that dragons were slow-paced monsters to grow in power, divided by category of age. The most advanced known one, "Ancient," required the monster to reach the millennium threshold.

Now that I think about it, my parents’ team traveled around the world with their Quests. Maybe I could join the Church, make some friends, and travel around? It doesn’t sound too bad... Young dragons were powerful monsters, but still vulnerable enough to often be hunted for materials. Nashariel didn't look forward to becoming someone's carpet or a new set of armor.

A few hours later, the four humans returned. Is that… a cake!?

“Surprise!” They shouted. “Happy birthday, Nashariel!”

The girl was agape, then she jumped up and down. Chocolate! “Are you sure? But my birthday is tomorrow!”

“Trust me, little Nash, you will be out for a while.” Chuckled Nicholas.

"Don’t mind if I do, then!" She retook her dragokin form. Yep, that’s mom’s touch, Nashariel though, drooling after the first bite.

They improvised a party, laughing and eating the sweet to its last.

“Presents are for when you wake up!” Declared Lianna.

Nashariel looked at the timer. Only an hour left. "I can't wait!" What will it be? A new pen? Clothes? Books? Maybe... something like dad's spear? Yet another reason for this timer to go quicker!

Thomas shared with them the stories of his last expeditions to the forest of the fairies, where he had managed to win a drinking contest with a group of satyrs. No one knew how anyone could achieve the feat; nevertheless, the madman did it.

Nicholas launched himself in a passionate talking about magic theories.

After a while, Tom lightly slapped him.

Time flew by.

Feeling a strange itch for yet another time, Nashariel glanced at the timer. At last!

She promptly warned the others, who sent her to the center of the room. They calmly walked next to the teleportation circle.

Nashariel couldn’t stop fidgeting, both figuratively and literally. She was itching everywhere, nervously scratching the floor and herself. She spontaneously reverted back to her true form at the exact moment that the timer reached zero. Sound fading, blackness claimed the dragoness.

Nashariel floated in a dark sky, filled with distant stars. At some point, the dragoness found herself at the base of an immense tree. Words started to form on its bark as if someone was engraving them. Where am I?

*System fully integrated.

Name: Nashariel Holyshield.

Race: ??? dragon (wyrmling)-> Omnidragon (young)

Current humanoid form: Human dragokin.

Age: 13

Level: 0-> 35

Available Stat points: 350

Available Skill points: 35

Current attunement: -

6 New attunements available!

Strength: 20

Power: 16

Resilience: 24

Vitality: 22

Dexterity: 14

Awareness: 14

Essence: 10

Endurance: 18

Hp: 220

Mana: 100

Stamina: 180

Skill trees unlocked.

Skills granted by race: Omnidragon kin, Breath weapon, Natural weapon fighting style.

Omnidragon kin (minor)

A myth among legends, the omnidragon soars the skies and dives beneath the earth in equal measure. She can become every dragon, known and unknown, abusing her adaptability and overwhelming power to rule.

Beware, for even if your power is vaster than most, many of your kind have fallen, young omnidragon.

You are resistant to skills that reveal your true nature, unless you choose otherwise.

Your mortal form has an unlimited duration. This effect comes at no cost.

Form selected: Human dragokin.

You can absorb elemental energy. Powerful sources may be transmuted into points, should you will it. Absorbing enough energy from an unknown attunement may lead to unlocking it for free.

Fallen enemies’ rewards are influenced by the difficulty of the fight. Training rewards are halved unless you are put in serious danger.

Skill merges resulting in omnidragons skills come at no additional cost.

This skill cannot be upgraded by regular means, but only by advancing your age category.

Natural weapon fighting style Lvl 1

The basics of fighting for beasts and monsters alike. Improving this skill means learning new and efficient ways to strike and heighten the damage inflicted.

Natural weapon damage is slightly increased each level.

Upgrade cost: 1 skill point level.

Breath weapon Lvl 1

The bread and butter of every dragon, as natural as your claws, and much deadlier. Improving this skill means that your Breath will be a sight to behold, if only for one last time.

Breath weapon damage is moderately increased each level.

Your chosen form will influence the type of damage.

Upgrade cost: 2 Skill points Lvl.

Hunt rewards: 285 stat points, 29 skill points. *

Nashariel tilted her head. Omnidragon? Is that my race? Uh... never heard about them. I suppose that the ‘me’ in my dreams changed her elements pretty often. Still, my stats have been doubled... but there are so many points ready to be spent! But, first thing first, I want to buy the growth skills mom talked about.

Nashariel willed her skills to display. The trunk opened up like the church’s giant doors. Within, she found a gloomy place with fog running at its edges. A colossal dragon held a stony tablet planted in the ground. Do all the statuses look like this? It’s... a bit ominous.

Nashariel carefully looked around, then approached the tablet. Running upon all its length were numbers, accompanied by question marks. The earliest one was fifty. The dragoness got a distinct feeling that it represented her level.

Moments later, the fog retreated, allowing six sealed doors to be seen.

The first one was made of orange-red flames, providing the place some much-needed warmth.

One was barely physical, the breezes almost feeding the nearby flames.

The next one was a waterfall running on the floor, without flooding anything.

Another was held by roots and dirt, some solitary flower adorning it.

A brilliant one followed, kicking back the darkness of the room... and the last door’s.

A silent dark-mist embraced the last sigil, kept at bay by light and fire.

Nashariel watched as all the seals were consumed by their respective elements, then the doors opened wide.

Are they welcoming me in? Is this a choice on my evolution? The system already assigned her a race, and her dreams were pretty explicit, but, just in case, Nashariel stopped to think carefully.

I don’t mind a support role, but to marry myself to it? I’d rather not, and neither the idea of fighting off undead for the rest of eternity. After a few minutes, she decided in favor of water. Maybe it was its enhanced mental capabilities, maybe it was because she grew up kissed by the ocean, but the element called her in.

Nashariel skipped towards the water door, briefly pausing in front of it. Now or never! She jumped beyond the threshold... and nothing happened.

The girl didn’t feel anything different or out of place. She went out, then entered the air chamber. Still nothing. This was the final proof she needed: The one dragon she dreamed of constantly was someone like her.

Flashes of the absurd amount of power she displayed played again and again in her mind. Nashariel remained stunned for a while. By Astill’s wings... the girl shivered at the thought. So much power… Nashariel shook her head. Later. Let’s explore for now.

The water chamber was decorated with corals, a river flowing in the middle of it. Dry, hollow canals went from the water to the pillars littering the room.

Nashariel approached the closest one. It had words inscribed on it, like the tablet in the central plaza.

*Improved swimming.

Cost: 2 (0).

Buy? Y/N

For having awakened, two free skills can be acquired.

For having evolved into a young dragon, four free skills can be chosen.

As an omnidragon, you can freely unlock two skills per new attunement.

Some skills and attunements might be hidden until the specific requirements are satisfied. *

The teachers had explained that every race had different things granted from the system. Typically, humanoids had fewer gifts, but they were free to use them as they wished. Instead, monsters got many freebies but were bound to their evolutionary path. Apparently, omnidragons enjoyed the best from both worlds.

Nashariel let out a satisfied smirk, before leaving the skill how it was. I made a promise, after all. There were too many pillars to look at, so she tried something. “Status, can you show me my growth skills?”

After a moment, a waterfall became much louder, while the two pillars beneath it started to glow azure.

Taking the hint, Nashariel approached.

*Draconic essence.

Cost: Free.

Buy? Y/N

Draconic awareness.

Cost: Free.

Buy? Y/N *

There we go!

*Skills acquired.

No free water-aligned skills remain.

Draconic essence Lvl 1

A true magician swiftly learns how to save every little bit of mana for their spells, otherwise, they would soon find their reserves emptied. A dragon, though? An endless amount of mana is what makes them the terror that they are.

Essence bonus: 3%+1% Lvl.

Upgrade cost: 2 points Lvl.

Draconic awareness Lvl 1

A scout, a ranger, a beast hunting. They all have the same purpose: to find something. Perception and reaction speed are keys to survival, and this skill knows that. Sucks that most creatures forget to look up. Right, dragon?

Awareness bonus: 3%+1% Lvl.

Upgrade cost: 2 points Lvl. *

Nashariel watched as the pillars kept glowing, before a trickle ran along the dry way on the floor, joining the river. It seems that my version of “growth skill” is a direct stat increase. Neat!

The dragoness returned to the air-attuned room. It seemed soft, as if the walls were made of clouds before the rain. The pillars were floating, close to the ground. One of them was floating higher. Nashariel approached and bought the skill.

*One free air skill remaining.

Draconic dexterity Lvl 1

Most beings bet most of their tactics on being small and agile to survive big hunters, yet, they often sacrifice their defenses for this swiftness. Dragons don't have this problem. They move much faster than they have any right to, to the dismay of many.

Dexterity bonus: 3%+1% Lvl.

Upgrade cost: 2 points Lvl. *

The fire one was next. The chamber was made of scorched stone, where the pillars were intact. They caught fire as soon as Nashariel bought the skills. The warmth was pleasant, not scorching as it should have been.

*No free fire skills remaining.

Draconic strength Lvl 1

Young humanoids are often caught by surprise as their prey breaks their weapons with a single bite. Dragons? They can uproot trees or destroy buildings with terrifying ease. Of course, this means that their natural weapons are even deadlier.

Strength bonus: 3%+1% Lvl.

Upgrade cost: 2 points Lvl.

Draconic power Lvl 1

A mountain-shattering punch is, without a doubt, an impressive sight to behold. What about being capable of raising such things on a whim? A dragon's lair is wherever they wish it to be, and this skill helps their Breaths let all invaders know it.

Power bonus: 3%+1% Lvl.

Upgrade cost: 2 point Lvl. *

The light one reminded Nashariel of the Church, as it was made of the same white marble, or, at least, it looked like it. The system pointed her towards two particularly shining skills.

*No free light attunement skills remaining.

Draconic recovery Lvl 1

Self-healing is a trait that all living beings have access to. Unfortunately, more often than not, natural regeneration is inadequate to recover from grievous wounds. As a dragon, you won’t share this weakness.

Natural health regeneration is improved by 3%+1% Lvl.

Upgrade cost: 2 points Lvl.

Draconic regeneration Lvl 1

Mortals use their mana to fuel the power of their skills and spells, but, in the long term, they all run out of it. Dragons recover faster than most, and this skill ensures that every invader can have a proper taste of draconic breath.

Natural mana regeneration is improved by 3%+1% Lvl.

Upgrade cost: 2 points Lvl. *

Nashariel went to the opposite attuned one. The mist was chilling her without being cold. The dark fog was hovering on the floor, almost hiding the obsidian pillars. She shivered again. It was hard to ignore all her parents’ warnings about this element. She reasoned that, by investing the same in the light branch, they could balance themselves out. All the more, Nashariel was ready to bet that she would have preferred an element above the others, sooner or later. She resolved to keep watching herself, wary of unjustified changes in her personality.

*No free dark aligned skills remaining.

Draconic endurance Lvl 1

Athletes pride themselves on being inexhaustible, having developed techniques to go on for far longer than usual. Curiously, few of them can outlast a dragon possessing this skill.

Endurance bonus: 3%+1% level.

Upgrade cost: 2 points Lvl.

Draconic renewal Lvl 1

Stamina is the energy of the body, and monsters have lots to spare. When invaders come to a dragon’s lair, they usually do so with hit and run tactics, then with numbers. This skill assures you that you’ll be exhausted last, if ever.

Natural stamina recovery is improved by 3%+1% Lvl.

Upgrade cost: 2 points level. *

No changes yet. Good.

Nashariel stood in front of the last door, somewhat excited.

The room was a large and sunny grassland. The pillars were wrapped up by roots. As beautiful as it was, the absence of animals was evident, the room being completely silent. I wonder if I can personalize my status, Nashariel mused. A brief stroll later, all the basic growth skills were hers.

*No free earth-aligned skills remaining.

Draconic vitality Lvl 1

The life force animating every being. Heightening vitality is a deeply rooted instinct in all creatures. Like all large monsters, dragons have gargantuan life pools, and this skill will ensure that yours will be unmatched.

Vitality bonus: 3%+1% Lvl.

Upgrade cost: 2 points Lvl.

Draconic resilience Lvl 1

Humanoids are frail. They need to cover themselves up with ores, barriers, or monsters’ hides. Dragon scales are among the most resilient materials, and the owners are always hunted for this precious resource. No matter what, this skill ensures you that your defenses are various steps ahead of their weapons.

Resilience bonus: 3%+1% Lvl.

Upgrade cost: 2 points Lvl. *

The roots bloomed with all-colored flowers. Pretty!

Seconds later, Nashariel heard a loud thrill in the plaza. Curious, she returned there.

The tablet was glowing with a warm, gray light. A smaller one sprouted on the side, with words appearing on it.

*Detecting resonating skills.

Omnidragon kin applies.

Merging commenced.

Draconic essence, Draconic awareness, Draconic dexterity, Draconic strength, Draconic power, Draconic regeneration, Draconic recovery, Draconic endurance, Draconic renewal, Draconic vitality, and Draconic resilience merge into->

Omnidragon prowess Lvl 1

A dragon is always powerful, no matter what sub-species they belong to. Each one of them has a specialty to prevail on their foes with. As the omnidragon, you always have the right tool at the right time, and this skill will ensure that each one of them is as sharp as an assassin’s dagger.

Go forth, young omnidragon, and make the world aware of your steps.

All stats are increased by 5%+2% Lvl.

Your natural regenerations are improved by the same amount.

All points received are doubled.

Upgrade cost: 6 points Lvl. *

“Holy... fricking duck, what do you mean double points!?” Nashariel shouted.

Merging was common for skills. The weaker the skill, the higher the chance. Nashariel's mother had anticipated that the growth skills should have evolved into something like [Improved growth], yet the dragoness had won the jackpot.

Nashariel looked at her points, finding them doubled too. “This is insane... and it’s only the base version of the skill,” she murmured. “What if it went up?”