“Quickly, summon that weapon here!!!” The sergeant shouted at her fellow soldiers. “This… freak is tearing us apart!”

The… monster, in the true sense of the word, was similar to a giant quadrupedal worm. Its head was featureless save for a blood-stained maw, which was capable of tearing through third-tier armor like butter.

Her squad chanted a Spatial spell in unison, summoning a pre-loaded siege cannon. Within a fraction of a second, they aimed and fired upon the beast.

The monster screeched in agony, sliding backward tens of meters, but didn’t relent despite leaving a crater in the ground. It spat a glob full of colorless blood, glaring at the weapon. The liquid absorbed the soil’s life, leaving only some kind of ash.

“What kind of freak resists at a third-tiered cannon?!"

“Move!!!” The sergeant screamed. “It’s gonna charge!”

The monster leaped on the construct, ignoring everything else. It thrashed the conjured titanium, gripping it with its mouth and slamming the weapon against the ground until only broken metal remained.

Thankfully, even while exhausted, the soldiers managed to dash away in time. Hundreds of levels under their belt did wonders for their reflexes.

The sergeant chanted a spell to restore her group’s stamina, then slashed with her sword several times in rapid succession. “Give it no quarter!” The magical slashes manifested waves of Destruction, surging forward to crash into the giant freak.

Unfazed, it turned towards her, its jaws fixed in a permanent face-splitting smile. It screeched, jumping.

At that moment, a mighty roar trembled the earth, unbalancing the fighters.

The sergeant watched as the largest dragon that she had ever seen swooped atop the freak with pure hatred.

The orange dragon slashed with wild abandon, seemingly possessed by pure fury.

Its raging aura vaporized the very ground beneath, yet left the onlookers unsinged.

The freak stood no chances.

The Wrath dragon looked at the wounded soldiers, shifting into a Merciful one.

The sergeant looked in shock as her wounds vanished without even a scar left behind.

“Take this.” The dragon snarled, conjuring a large amount of material on the ground. “It’s their weakness, but use it wisely.” His eyes glinted with a dangerous light, and a cloud-worth of smoke pushed out of its nostrils. “You do not want me to take it back.”

That said, the dragon flew towards another freak on the horizon.

The group approached the hill-sized ore. It shifted colors every moment, looking both solid and liquid at once.

“This is… this is Omnia! So, that dragon…”

“He was the Omnidragon…” The sergeant muttered.

-Excerpt from [REDACTED] in [REDACTED]

Nashariel pov

The girl sulked on a rock.

/It’s not so bad… think about the massive boosts we’ve gotten!/

Yeah, but… points! Nashariel sighed. If only I knew earlier…

“Have you rested well, Nashariel?” Fel asked, reappearing out of nowhere. She looked much calmer.

A day had passed since her unlocks. “I guess… I’m still pissed at my point multiplier being gone.”

“We understand, but Tiering up a skill has never brought more negatives than positives. We think that this is no exception to the rule.”

Nashariel groaned. “I know, but it’s so annoying! I mean, everyone else will still have their multipliers, so I’ll be greatly disadvantaged in the long run.”

“Perhaps, perhaps not. Citing a quote from our children ‘You cannot oppose Winter’s coming, but you can warm up your barn’. Worry not, young Empress.”

The Astillian nodded with some hesitation. “Makes sense… Talking about barns, do we go back to that village, or can I spend some more?”

“We are in no hurry.”

*Omnidragon adaptability is ready to evolve.

Are you sure?

Y/N *

/If you wanted something else… it’s not too important, really/

It’s a good skill, and a promise it’s a promise!

/… thank you, primary mind/

*Omnidragon adaptability evolves into-> Omnidragon’s dance (II)

Omnidragon’s dance (II) Lvl 1

High-level combatants' fights are a sight to behold. They have techniques so refined that they might as well dance on the battlefield.

Those who weren’t targets of omnidragons gawked even more.

Your kind can weave the most complicated dance of all, combining without efforts Fire and Water, Wind and Stone, Body and Spirit in a beautiful and yet deadly show of mastery. Start the ball, young Empress, but be careful with who you dance with.

You can combine all your attunements, regardless of their affinity, as long as skills and spells are reasonably compatible. This effect applies even to proper body parts.

All the Skills that were barred from you are now available.

Combined skills are still 5% Lvl as effective and efficient compared to normally attuned skills, but this effect influences only Hybrid attunements. Combined skills between Aspects and base elements gain a stronger multiplier.

All skills that required you to stay in a set attunement no longer have that restriction, unless your current body isn’t able to support such skill in the slightest. Efficacy and efficiency are slightly reduced.

Changing between attunements, even opposite ones, no longer require any will or effort on your part. Instead, shifting increases the new form’s potency and harmony for a time, if you so choose. There is no limit to this chain, but each attunement can contribute and benefit from it only once before the chain resets. Duration increases with levels, as does the reset time.

Each form’s primary stat has its efficiency moderately increased.

Upgrade cost: 15 Points Lvl. *

Few new effects, but the improved ones are pretty good.

/Especially considering your new Superiority, regarding the primary stat being increased. There should be no more difference between them/

Nashariel shifted between the basic elements, confirming her other mind’s suspicions. Holy duck, you’re right! They are all increased at once! The Templar let out a toothy grin, flexing her fingers. Happy that you’ve suggested this skill.

The secondary mind didn’t reply, but the omnidragon could feel smugness radiating from her.

Nashariel decided to conclude her spending spree with other big merges, following Felassiah’s recommendation. I kinda hoped to save something for the Armors, but, after seeing all the other skills…

*Creation and Manipulation lines would like to merge.

Y/N?

Merges commenced.

Merging…

Merging completed.

Resulting skills:

Omnia creation

Omnia manipulation

Omnia creation Lvl 1

Mana is the origin of all things, or, perhaps, this skill originated that belief. No one remembers, except, perhaps, for you.

For monsters or mortals alike, Omnia is one of the most precious materials that one could dream of. As the Empress, it's your right to make and grant this treasure at your whims and the duty to reclaim it, should it fall into unworthy hands. This material’s flexibility is unparalleled, almost as much as its creator, and it can be used for virtually anything one can possibly imagine. Beware, for this resource can only be produced by you and those bearing your blessing.

As many colors as the rainbow and many more. The Omnia conjured by you adapts to your form, becoming what your current attunement could naturally create. As opposed to most other elements, this material is inherently magical and can manifest in any state of matter.

Conjuring matter requires resources. The larger the quantity, and the distance, you want to create your materials, the higher the cost goes.

Instead of natural resources, you can decide to manifest pure Omnia in this reality or… somewhere in between. This peculiar material is greatly resistant to all elements, can be the substitute for all ritual components, empower skills and spells, and much more.

The quality of the materials you create can go as far as Tier 1, but every material is available. Basic knowledge of all such materials has been granted. Leveling this skill increases your comprehension, as does regular practice.

Speed of creation, durability, attack power, and more will increase the higher this skill’s level and Tier go. These effects extend to other skills that require material creation.

Consuming a gargantuan amount of resources, you can create a Core. Size, Tier, Power, and efficiency scales with this skill. Please note that a newly created Core will be spawned with no essence.

You need up to 1 minute to conjure 1 Kg worth of material.

Min/Max quality: Tier 0-1.

Skills that required a specific material as a prerequisite are infused with shards of Omnia without any additional cost.

Upgrade cost: 15 points Lvl.

Omnia manipulation Lvl 1

Already an incredibly flexible material, Omnia can be further manipulated into a great tool for every possible necessity. Those able to bend this incredibly rare material are kept in high regard in their Nations or Clans, just below those able to use it. Obviously, such hardships are spared for the natural true producer, you.

As an omnidragon, the very essence running within your body all day every day is made to dominate this ephemeral element, allowing you to play with it at your will. Enjoy the power at your fingertips, but beware those who crave this most precious treasure, young omnidragon.

You can manipulate everything within your perceptive radius, provided that you have the necessary resources for it, but only one element at a time. Cost is halved for your skills and tripled for enemys' skills.

You can manipulate your skills into forming Combined or altered skills, such as Blue Lightning or specific Ores. You can open a menu to see which modifications are available to you, but only when you’re attuned to a specific form. (All current skills of this type have been consumed from your status and sheet. Points refunded).

You can manipulate the Omnia running within you to strengthen the intent you’re attuned to or weaken those of your foes.

You can manipulate artifacts into shifting attunement, especially Cores.

Upgrade cost: 15 points. *

And, with this, I declare my shopping ended. Nashariel sighed in contentment, closing off her slate. This Omnia thing sounds amazing, I can't wait to get some experience with all this!

Taking easy on the next step, she distributed her stat points, letting out a satisfied grin while the final changes coursed through her body.

*Name: Nashariel Holyshield

Race: Omnidragon (young)

Age: 18

Current humanoid form: Human dragokin

Current attunement: Ice

Level: 114-> 188

Available stat points: 38

Available skill points: 55

Strength: 650 – 1300

Power: 1000 – 2000

Resilience: 1300 – 2600

Vitality: 1250 – 2500

Dexterity: 600 – 1200

Awareness: 800 – 1600

Essence: 800 – 1600

Endurance: 800 – 1600

Hp: 25.000/25.000

Mana: 16.000/16.000

Stamina: 16.000/16.000

Omnia: 1.880/1.880

Skills:

Racial:

Omnidragon kin (minor) Lvl -

Omnidragon might (II) Lvl 20-capped-> Omnidragon superiority (III) Lvl 1

Omnidragon physique (II) Lvl 20-capped

Omnidragon adaptability Lvl 6-> 20-capped (Multiplier of Combined skills is slightly increased) -> Omnidragon’s dance Lvl 1

Omnidragon’s supply Lvl 1

Omnia creation Lvl 1

Omnia manipulation Lvl 1

Omni empowerment Lvl 1

Omnidragon Infusion Lvl 1

Omnidragon’s breath (III) Lvl 3-> 12

Draconic Aura (II) Lvl 20-capped (Enemy skills are weakened while this skill is active)-> Omnidragon territory (III) Lvl 1

Dragon’s fighting style (II) Lvl 20-capped

Draconic hoard Lvl 20-capped (You gain a few points each day)

Draconic presence Lvl 20-capped (Effects deepened. Likelihood of spontaneous activation is increased)

Air:

Improved flight Lvl 20-capped

Draconic feathers Lvl 20-capped

Decreased air resistance Lvl 5-> 13

Decreased weight Lvl 20-capped (You can better distribute your weight)

Water:

Draconic venom (II) Lvl 1-> 9

Draconic dive (II) Lvl 8

Dragon’s sight (II) Lvl 4-> 16

Improved grapple Lvl 20-capped

Mana efficiency Lvl 20-capped

Water dragon fighting style Lvl 8-> 12

Body of the water dragon Lvl 3-> 5

Earth:

Improved burrow Lvl 20-capped

Increased size Lvl 20-capped

Increased body density Lvl 20-capped

Earth armor Lvl 16

Hunter senses Lvl 20-capped

Fire:

Fury Lvl 20-capped

Sharpened natural weapons Lvl 20-capped

Improved Aoe Lvl 20-capped

Light:

Improved healing Lvl 20-capped

Medical eye Lvl 6

Light’s refuge Lvl 20-capped

Taunt Lvl 18-> 20-capped (Built tolerance against this skill is slightly reduced)

Dark:

Nullify presence Lvl 15-> 20-capped (You’re less likely to disturb the surrounding environment, but only while hiding)

Improved draining Lvl 20-capped

Shroud of darkness Lvl 8-> 12

Metal:

Metal armor Lvl 15-> 20-capped (You can partially modify this skill’s look without expending additional mana)

Sharpened wings Lvl 6-> 15

Manufactured weapon mastery Lvl 8-> 14

Metal dragon fighting style Lvl 15-> 20-capped (Skills that improve your mastery with weapons are empowered)

Mind:

Intellect of the Mind dragon Lvl 12-> 20-capped (You can enter a state of hyper-focus for up to 10 seconds. During this time, you can think so fast that the world around you slows down)

Mind healing Lvl 7-> 20-capped (Repeated usage of mental healing can help heal superficial traumas)

Dual mind Lvl 15-> 20-capped (The secondary mind can control your body if you allow so)

Body of the Mind dragon Lvl 3-> 13

Lightning:

Body of the lightning dragon Lvl 6-> 20-capped (Consuming 1000 stamina, you can become pure electricity for up to 5 seconds)

Lightning dragon fighting style Lvl 4-> 20-capped (You’re no longer required to exhaust your reserves while fighting during Supercharge)

Ease conductivity (other) Lvl 5-> 20-capped (Effect increased)

Spreading lightning Lvl 7-> 20-capped (Base number of bounces 1-> 5+ Lvl)

Paralyzing lightning Lvl 2-> 16

Lighting armor Lvl 2-> 9

Curse:

Body of the Cursed dragon Lvl 6

Protection:

Defender’s aura Lvl 4

Body of the Defender dragon Lvl 3-> 8

Defender’s armor Lvl 3

Defender dragon's fighting style Lvl 4

Radiance:

Radiant sight Lvl 14

Aura of Radiance Lvl 13

Radiant light Lvl 3

Radiant armor Lvl 4

Poison:

Refine toxins Lvl 2-> 5 *

Yep, Fel was right, my sheet looks much cleaner already, save for the capping additions. I wonder what kinds of skills hide in my chambers… Gods, it will be even harder to decide which ones to buy, without my increased points.

The secondary mind pointedly ignored her complaints.

/To think that you entered Lyah'thien with only a few attunements. Now, look at this! This forest has been good to us/

Yeah, but… it took its toll too. Flashes of what she and her team had been through played in Nashariel’s minds. I hope that more peaceful times await us.

/And if not…/

We’ll be ready, obviously. Nashariel closed her status, jogging in place to bleed off her excessive energy.

“Are you done, Nashariel?” Asked Fel.

"Yeah, I'll save the rest for another day. I have too much on my plate already."

“As you say. You might want to give your improved skillset a try, before heading back.”

Nashariel nodded. She carefully read through her new bunch of skills, finding more and more synergies between them.

The omnidragon activated her aura at minimum potency while in her Ice form, adding her snow to that of the mountain. Once ten seconds passed, some flakes started to shine softly, spreading their light around.

The cost of the skill didn’t lower to zero, but Nashariel could feel her essence ready to assist her. Let’s try to burn some Omnia.

The resource kicked in, costing the same amount as her mana version. However, as Nashariel learned long ago, the effective power of her skill increased by a third. Around the same potency, but way larger quantity to work with. I wonder if the scaling is also unvaried. She mused. I’ll see along the line.

Nashariel took a long leap away from Fel, testing the aura again, only at 2k mana per second.

As expected, the skill got massive, both in size and potency, freezing the rocks caught in the area. The usage of the fourth resource followed the tried and true pattern.

Nashariel shouted at the fairy. “Fel, could you please attack me with some spells or skills? Thank you!”

The fae raised her arm, launching small and weak spears of snow. She kept firing in the aura, looking as amazed as Nashariel when her attack simply vanished. So, of course, she gradually increased the power until a fragment of hardened ice bounced against Nashariel.

The Astillian tapped her fingers against her forearms. “I think that this skill is made to benefit from multiple opponents’ spells, rather than me sustaining it by myself.”

“We agree.” As usual, the fairy had approached at blinding speed. “But we have some Ice-skills that cheapens our costs. Perhaps Flow too could be of assistance, in your case?”

“True.” Nashariel chuckled. “My mother was right: you never have enough points.” And Water attunements do lessen the costs… More skills already, dang it!

“A statement that we most deeply agree with. How much mana have you regained from our assault?”

“Technically? Nothing, the skill consumed it all. I’m pretty sure that it lasted for an additional second, though.”

Felassiah nodded. “Can we ask you to show us some Omnia? It’s been a while since we’ve seen it.”

“Sure, I was just about to test that.”

Nashariel raised a hand chest-high, focusing her will. She consumed half her mana pool, creating a single, small ingot of material.

Her head spun, drowned with memories. So many times she had given this to others… her young age tempting them to steal this from her. She had to guard it… she had to…

Fel’s solid hand gently clutched her shoulder.

Nashariel returned to her senses, her heart drumming within her chest. She took a deep breath. “Fricking memories. I’m not sure that upgrading that skill was my brightest idea.”

“It shall pass, worry not.”

The dragokin sighed, glancing at the ingot that she subconsciously clutched with all her strength. Instead of resisting, the material had turned into a semi-solid state, very similar to some kind of dough.

“Interesting.” Both she and Fel said at the same time.

After a chuckle, Nashariel focused on her Manipulation. Twisting the material required almost no thought or mana, thankfully. She made a rough impression of Astill's sacred symbol. "The details have a large room for improvements." She mused. "I wonder…"

Nashariel put her hand inside her mantle, searching for her damaged Core. Once found, the girl drew it closer to the Omnia.

Almost immediately, the Core absorbed the material, sealing the cracks on its surface. It also drank in the essence from the surroundings, stopping once Nashariel started to feed it with mana.

*Mire/???-Core-> Omni-Core (Small)

Quality: Medium

Value: High-

Personal value: High+

What was once a mere hunting trophy has become the first of its generation of Artifacts. This Core has endured untold dangers, falling for the second time in the hands of its owner. Repaired by Empress of the many lives Nashariel Holyshield, this Core is ready to serve its mistress once more.

Core repaired.

Effects unlocked.

You gain a small quantity of points each day.

You can utilize this Core’s essence to recharge your mana or Omnia.

Other effects are blocked.

To unlock more, you need to progress your Crystal attunement to its next Tier, Gem, and acquire the right skills.

This Core is bound to you and you only, making it useless in others’ hands without your permission. Only an expert and powerful manipulator can override this effect. *

“Yes!” Nashariel cheered. She allowed her mantle to encase the now shifting Core inside her armor. The girl grinned, then paused. She retrieved the creation skill’s description, staring at a peculiar line.

Nashariel held her arm out, focusing once again. [Form Core]

Her Omnia plummeted, stopping at the last digit, then her mana and a bit of stamina followed. The essences so drained consolidated in a sphere roughly larger than her head.

The newborn Core sat there, light as a pillow, all colors swirling within as calm as the sea.

*Omni-Core (Medium-, Empty)

Quality: High-

Value: High+

Personal value: Superior- *

“Dang.” Nashariel whistled at the artifact. “Does this mean that I’ll be able to create magical items?” A spike of pain seared Nashariel’s mind, showing her past lives manifesting all kinds of artifacts, including Cores bigger than her current dragon form. “Nevermind, I need to Tier up this skill for that.”

Fel carefully observed the artifact from all angles. “Remembering your lives comes with benefits.” She graced Nashariel with a bemused smile. “As we said earlier.”

The girl rolled her eyes. “Yeah, yeah, you were right. Say, do you need this?”

The fae stopped moving, inclining her head. “We do not need such an artifact, but you’d do well to remember its value. Careless gifts bring more harm than good.”

"Yeah, but, Deal aside, you went out of your way to help me and my friends." As the fae still looked dubious, she pressed on. "Plus, I can always make more. I burned quite a bit of resources, but it's not like I need much to regenerate them."

The statement wasn’t just an empty boast. [Omnidragon superiority] increased her regenerations so much that Nashariel was already halfway through her large mana reserves. Omnia was slower to recharge, but much faster than the other extra resources.

Felassiah finally nodded, making the Core vanish. “Then we shall accept your gift with gratitude, Empress. Let us reciprocate it by advising you to not produce too much Omnia before your Maturity. As much as you’ve grown in this Winter, you are still a mere bad encounter away from your next life.”

Nashariel flashed an awkward smile while scratching her head. “Yeah, I know, but it really doesn’t feel like it. I mean, I’m probably three times stronger than last week, and I could already deal with Warbands, so…”

“We know that feeling. We have seen it many times with our children. They either die or learn to be humble. Nashariel, you should know better than anyone that any feeling of invincibility is as ephemeral as the passing of seasons.”

The dragokin felt like the fairy bonked her head. She sighed. “I know, I know…”

“… perhaps you need to be shown it, then. Are you willing to fight us, after you’re done exploring your abilities? Not to the death, of course.”

Nashariel nodded. “I wanted to ask you about that! Thanks.”

First thing first, the omnidragon tested all the Variants’ intents, especially those that she had flat out bought. The fact that they were mostly Fire-aligned, and that she was testing them on the lair of an Omen of Winter didn’t make it any easier.

Still, an hour flew by with Nashariel grasping the utmost basic of all the elements. Having two minds and racial skills helped a great deal, especially the sudden bursts of memories teaching Nashariel the various dos and don'ts.

As soon as the Astillian felt ready, and all her resources were full, she cracked her knuckles, giving Fel a decisive nod.

The Omen nodded back. “Fight like your life and that of your friends depended on it.”

“Will do.”

After that brief exchange, Fel taunted her to make the first move.

Nashariel didn’t hesitate, returning into her true form to charge her friend. Other than claws and fangs, the omnidragon activated her territory, spreading her breath in the area for good measure.

Felassiah kept her corporeal form, effortlessly parrying every blow. Unfazed by the metallic storm pelting against her, the fae tightly clutched the claws touching her arms, throwing Nashariel against the ground.

Shaking her head, the omnidragon growled. She intensified her aura’s potency, basking in the returning essence, then, as she shifted, electricity crackled on the snowy peak.

Nashariel zapped once more, this time trying with a tail-slap. Once the attack struck its target, she turned, unleashing the lightning bolt in her mouth.

It froze mid-air, almost up to Nashariel’s mouth.

Felassiah rode it back to the source, kicking the dragoness’ jaws close with a loud crack. She pressed on, punching Nashariel between her eyes.

The omnidragon became Stone. The strike rattled her skull, but Nashariel immediately shifted to her dragokin form. Once face to face with Felassiah, she became Passion, retaliating with a flurry of punches and kicks. Her aura reinforced her blows, rather than dealing damage, but the sparks escaping her mouth wrapped the both of them in a steamy cloud.

Felassiah’s strikes quickened. She bypassed Nashariel’s guard, cracking the girl’s bones as easily as twigs.

The Omnidragon winced. She turned to Hunger, sapping Fel of her vitality. Compared to Darkness, this aura had lost its misty properties, but it still darkened the world around it.

Aesthetic aside, the skill quickly repaired Nashariel’s bones. That done, the girl shifted to Force, hoping to slow her opponent down.

Felassiah returned into her incorporeal form, letting the skill harmlessly wash over her. The fairy’s strikes bypassed Nashariel’s scales, striking directly within.

Off, that hurts. The Omnidragon felt her racial skills protecting her from the worst, but she still shifted into Spirit herself. Once there, she burned some Omnia to increase her Ethereality, dipping into the ground below.

Cutting the flow of Omnia, she managed to burrow a hole for her physical self. Safe for one moment, she shifted to Conflagration, preparing for Fel’s arrival.

Once the fae got there, Nashariel ignited the dust and dense liquid that filled the pocked of ground, detonating it all.

The explosion harmlessly licked the combatants but didn't spare the mountain. The duo stared at each other while within the newly formed crater.

Nashariel couldn’t suppress her grin. “This is fun!” She chuckled.

“We are glad that our dance is entertaining you, but do not forget its purpose. You have yet to damage us properly, Nashariel.”

“Working on it!” Nashariel replied, shifting into Mind. She used her increased intelligence to think faster. She has quite a few immunities…

/This isn’t a fight that we can win, Nashariel, keep that in mind. That said, her speed is her strongest point. How can we bypass that?/

Being faster than her is impossible, obviously, so… perhaps Protection could work? Nashariel shifted into said attunement, preparing to enter a world of pain.

Fel didn’t make her wait. She dashed at her usual speed, beating Nashariel down.

The dragoness found out that this form’s gimmick had persisted through the merge. Her tattoos glowed brightly, gifting her increased power. She punched her friend back, finding purchase thanks to her essence-filled limb.

Fel flinched slightly, reacquiring her corporeal self to kick Nashariel away.

The omnidragon ignored the blood pouring out of her mouth to shift into Body, abusing the additional healing provided by this form. She then became Flow.

As the fae made to attack once more, the ground beneath her struck with an elemental spike. She dodged the surprise blow, but many others soon followed.

Nashariel let out a victorious smirk. The ground was finally filled with enough essence that it became willing to support her. This attunement had eased the process greatly, especially thanks to her Manipulation.

A wave of snow, bigger and angrier than an avalanche, wiped the grin off her face. Fel’s blizzard whistled around her, as the fae locked her cold eyes onto Nashariel’s.

The omnidragon gulped, then steeled her gaze with resolve. She willed the avalanche coming towards her to part, leaving her unharmed at the expense of a great deal of Omnia and mana.

Nashariel grunted under the strain.

Betting on herself, she switched to Spirit, then released the block that suppressed the memories from her infinite lives, searching for a solution.

Blood bursted out of her nose and ears, but Nashariel roared against the splitting agony inside her very being. She remembered hundreds of Ice-based creatures, their fighting styles, behaviors…

C’mon, c’mon! Nashariel grunted, focusing on fairies. At long last, she found a few Omens, even if not all of them belonged to the Winter Court. The memories told her that this demigod was tricky to face; their speed and ethereal physiology made a great variety of elements subpar, while also benefitting from their surroundings.

Nashariel saw a giant snowball-like spell flying against her, forcing her to twirl out of the way. She retaliated with her breath attack, flooding the ground with a large amount of essence, then resumed her research.

Her vision fragmented in a few different lifetimes. Omens always drew most of their powers from their surroundings, so the key to defeating them was to change up the stage. Of course, they would probably take them back soon, but there was enough time to abuse their weakened state for a while.

Still, the unsettling orbs of light that were Fel's eyes approached quickly, promising violent learning.

Finally having a plan, Nashariel flipped a mental switch, starting the chain of her Dance. She recalled the essence on the ground, restoring her resources, then became Lightning.

She zapped away, leaving behind her a trail of gray sparks to slow down Felassiah. Also, she switched to Wind, manipulating the air in front and behind her to get an edge.

The fae slowed down a notch, swiftly regaining ground a moment later. “You shall need to work harder to impair us, Nashariel.”

Grunting, the omnidragon replied while becoming Mist. “Ask and you’ll receive!” Her territory becoming fog cut down all visibility, but her superior perception still guided her around a mostly safe path.

Mostly.

Ignoring the rock that she crashed upon, Nashariel switched to Gas, letting the air become a deadly trap for all breathing beings. She decided to create some more with her skill, just to give herself some more wiggling room.

That done, she tanked the giant icy spear coming her way by becoming Ice, then Stone hardened her fists enough to let her punches shatter it to pieces. A moment later, Nashariel let Passion burn inside her, launching an assault against a surprised Felassiah.

The dragoness found herself more coordinated, even if in a feral way. The chain is starting to work!

/Pay attention!/

A moment of distraction was all it took for the fairy to grab her jaws.

Before she could leverage her hold enough to break her neck, Nashariel turned to Spirit once more, abusing the same trick of the Banshee and the fae by renouncing her physical vessel for a moment.

That done, Nashariel turned to Metal and her dragokin form, engaging Felassiah in melee. For once, her technique was superior to that of the fae, but the sheer difference in velocity still played to the latter’s favor. Still, Nashariel got in a clean slice with a sword infused with fragments of Omnia.

Before Felassiah finished her wince, Nashariel already turned to Mind, slowing down the other’s mental faculties.

The fairy replied by crashing a snowstorm upon the dragokin. Not content, she conjured a hailstorm on top of that.

Nashariel marveled at the resilience of her scales, knowing that just a day ago this combined attack could easily break through them. Grinning, she leeched mana from the spells, fueling her territory.

The new aura had stabilized a few seconds ago, being fed by the essence and the cost being split between the three original resources. Its size rivaled the storms conjured by the fae, and the terrain below had long been permeated with Nashariel’s essence.

The omnidragon switched to Conflagration, preparing once more the ground for the finale. She attuned to Air, dodging a spray of frozen shrapnel, then became Fire, finding herself hotter than those dragons during their special skills.

All the gas and dust ignited at once.

The roar of the explosion echoed in the valleys beneath the immortal duo.

Rocks fell on the destroyed peak, now a steaming pile of rubble, as the eternal blizzard fell almost undisturbed.

Felassiah scanned her surroundings with her unchanging gaze. Her spiritual form presented some lighter areas, but they quickly turned back to normal. “Are you still conscious, Nashariel?” She did sound more curious than worried.

The omnidragon bursted from the terrain in her Ember form.

The Aspect had fed upon all the flames released but a moment ago. That and the chain had fueled the Embers above and beyond their maximum level, and Nashariel felt her body continuously taking damage.

She didn’t care.

She burned off a large amount of Omnia, unleashing her breath attack upon the specter. The superheated flames glowed brightly in the night, almost looking like an eruption in the black night.

Felassiah simply waved her arm, conjuring the largest block of ice that Nashariel had ever seen. The hot coals crashed upon it, instantly freezing over.

The Omnidragon switched then to-

Felassiah appeared right in front of her. “An Impressive attack, Nashariel, but it ends now.” She rained blows upon the dragoness, all paired with sharp winds that slashed through her scales.

Nashariel felt her coat of embers disrupted, her bones broken, but she gritted her teeth against the pain. She shifted to Hunger, feeding upon the vitality of the fae, then called upon all the essence scattered around her. She increased her territory’s output to its maximum, the very air withering around her.

Trapped in a cycle of destruction and reconstruction, Nashariel roared in hunger and pain. She recalled all the Variants, searching for new ones that could help…

Felassiah froze the dragoness’ entire body, dashing right in front of her eyes.

Oh, duck!

/Oh, duck!/

A decisive blow rattled her brain, and everything went dark.

Nashariel woke up sometime later, groaning. Her stomach growled in hunger, so she shifted out from that Aspect and became Healing. The soothing warmth coursed through every inch of her strained self, making her sigh in relief. "Whelp, I tried." She murmured to the floating fairy. That was… humbling.

/As intended/

Yeah…

Felassiah chuckled. “You certainly held your ground for more time than our difference in level and experience implied. Well done, Nashariel."

I wonder what level she’s at. “Thanks. Did you take some damage, or…?”

“We didn’t think that you would use the same trick twice. Your setup took us by surprise,” she gestured towards her legs. “and our physical form lost some pieces. It doesn’t benefit from any of our defenses, but it was an impressive feat nonetheless.”

“Sorry about that… I’ve gotten carried away.” If Fel wasn’t so much overpowered compared to her…

She waved her off. “We asked you to give your all. You did. There’s nothing to apologize for.”

“Not even for… uh, your lair?” Nashariel glanced around. I probably took some height off the mountain.

/That’s for certain/

Felassiah took in her surroundings. “… may we ask you to consider giving us some material to rebuild?” She managed to sound both amused and dejected in a single sentence.

Nashariel’s cheek heated some. “Sure.”

/Well, you did some emotional damage, at the very least/

Oh, shut up you!