Hey guys sorry for not submitting any chapters for a while. I had a host of issues that have now been resolved. This is my first chapter back in a while so I hope you all enjoy.

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Chapter 27 Evolution

Caesar, Gori and Hiro ran towards the pride of ligers. When they arrived Hiro told Caesar and Lobo to wait. He walked up and the Ligers began growling menacingly at Hiro. Leo stood up and roared. This was probably telling his pride that the Hiro was a friend. The ligers bowed down and Hiro began approaching. Hiro waved to Caesar and Lobo so that it was ok and that they could follow him. They ran down and caught up to him. There were about 25 ligers lying down in front of a large rock where Leo was standing.

Pointing up to Leo, Hiro told Caesar, ”That’s him”

Caesar was impressed. He and Lobo continued to follow. After a few moments they made it up to the top of the rock and there they saw hi.m Leo was playing with several small liger cubs.

“I came to see the birth of my cubs my friend. I have a favor to ask of you.”

“Anything my friend.”

“Several monsters have been coming from the nearby woods. From the description given to me by the members in my pride that encountered them they sound like the things you call "hobgoblins" . These hobgoblins are enslaving members of my pride and forcing them to work as mounts. Somehow they are being trained to even kill those of their own pride. I will not stand for this! They must be stopped! Will you help me free my family?”

“Of course! Your family is my family!" replied Hiro.

"Roar!" said Leo as he came and brushed his warm fur against his companion's face.

"Can you convince them to move closer to the city and join us? There they can join the army and grow strong like you did with a partner.”

"No, I don’t want them to be warriors or to be exposed to all of the bloodshed. They will stay here and we will eradicate the threat to their safety. Will you help me?”

“Of course my friend. I would protect my family the same way.” Just then Leo started to glow and an icon shaped like a box with an arrow pointing up appeared.

“Ding!”

Leo has now met the requirements to evolve into the Fire Liger King!

By evolving his strength, speed, and vitality will increase as well growing into a larger body more powerful body that is imbued with the fire element.

Evolve:Yes?No?

“What is going on with me?” asked Leo.

"It says you evolution ability has triggered and you can now evolve into the Fire Liger King. What do you want to do Leo?”

"What will it do?" asked Leo

"Evolution usually makes you stronger by improving your physical abilities and making you more specialized. I would assume since it says the "Fire" Liger King you become more powerful with fire skills. Honestly though I'm not sure exactly what will happen."

Leo roared in agreement. Hiro clicked yes and suddenly, Leo was covered in a white light. The light was so bright that the ligers, Caesar, and Lobo had to avert their eyes. Hiro squinted but refused to look away. In the light, Hiro could see the outline of Leo's body. Leo’s outline grew about 50 cm in height and about 100 cm in length.

I can't see what's happening to him.

"Leo are you alright?!"

No answer came.

"Leo! Answer me!"

No answer came.

What is going on? Is he ok? What is happening to him?

Just then the light started to subside Hiro could see. Hiro looked and almost didn't recognize his partner. His body had undergone some dramatic changes.

Leo’s body was now predominately black with red stripes. His eyes glowed red. His physique showed a definite increase in muscle. The final change was appearance of two extremely long fangs the protruded from the roof of Leo’s mouth below his jaw line. These fangs looked extremely sharp like a sabertooth tiger’s fangs and they were filled with poison.

Caesar said, “What manner of beast is this? It is making me tremble at its very sight and this man is its master?

“No, I am not his master. He is my partner. We are a team” replied Hiro.

"How do you feel my friend?" asked Hiro

"The power, I feel it coursing through me! It feels incredible. I need to test out my strength. Do you mind having a sparring session Hiro?"

"Sure why not. Just remember I beat you last time." Hiro said with a smile.

"Don't worry, I haven't forgotten and I will be fixing that loss this time around."

"Caesar get back and whatever happens do not interfere!"

"Are you sure about this? I mean can't you feel his power. He is far beyond you now even with your equipment I don't think you will be his match at this time."

"Don't worry I'll be fine."

Leo and Hiro walked off to the spot of their first battle. The wind blew softly as the sun was shining through some spotty clouds. The air seemed thick with the tension of the battle about to occur.

Caesar was right.He is emanating a ton of energy. I've never felt anything like this. He is on a whole other level.

"You haven't gotten cold feet have you Hiro? If you won't come to me I will come to you."

With that, Leo rushed forward towards Hiro. Hiro readied his shield and his sword. He also coated them with his ki so that he could decrease any damage he might incur.

What is with this? Why do I see so many prediction lines? There are hundreds of them.I can't decide which one is which.

Leo moved forward at an incredible speed and attempted to tackle Hiro but Hiro quickly rolled to his left to avoid it. Unfortunately, Leo was so fast that he already had his next attack started before Hiro had finished his roll. The glowing ki strike hit Hiro on his back crushing him to the ground.

"AAAAAHHHHH!!" he screamed out in pain

Leo was not finished yet. He opened his mouth and breathed fire at Hiro. The fire was even more intense than usual and the flame burned a pale blue color. Hiro raised his shield to block the attack. His shield held up but the heat from the flames started to affect his arm. Hiro quickly activated his Wildfire Armor's ability to absorb the flames. He was able to regain the health he lost from Leo's first strike.

"I forgot that fire only strengthens you. It is a mistake I won't make again, Hiro."

"Now its my turn!" said Hiro as he charged.

Hiro threw his shield at Leo using his boomerang shield ability. Leo easily dodged the attack and moved towards Hiro. Hiro readied his sword and cast his shadow clone spell. Leo leapt in and attacked but his attack was met with a lightning spell from Hiro's clone. The lightning bolt crashed into Leo and knocked him back towards the ground.

"Well played Hiro but your going to need to do better than that!"

"Don't worry I intend to."

Hiro caught his shield as it returned to him and he rushed towards Leo. Leo ran towards him. Just as Hiro swung his blade Leo seemed to vanish.

Where did he go? What just happened?!

"AHHHHH!" the clone let out a blood curdling scream.

Hiro turned around and saw that Leo was shaking the clone back and forth in his mouth. Leo clenched his powerful jaws together once more and the clone vanished. Hiro rushed forward and attacked. Leo countered the ferocious flurry of sword and shield attacks with deft movements and powerful swipes.

The battle seemed to be at a stalemate as Hiro defend himself from one of Leo's claw slashes when suddenly Hiro felt something around his waist. It was Leo's tail. With a quick flick Leo tossed Hiro high into the air.

This bad! I have no way to defend myself from any of his attacks in this position and hitting the ground from this high up will be devastating as well.

Just then Leo leapt into the air and pounced on Hiro. Hiro tried to swing his sword but Leo's powerful paws kept the blade and shield at bay. With Leo on top of him the both plummeted to the earth.

CRRRRRAAAASSSSSHHHH!!

The two warriors hit the ground causing a crater. Hiro's body was beneath the powerful body of Leo. Leo opened his massive jaws and placed them around Hiro's neck.

"Do you concede Hiro?"

"I don't think I have much choice" Hiro said as he groaned in agony.

"Looks like our battle record is now even my friend."

"Seems so. Your speed and power are amazing. I have a long way to go before I can match you but I will get there."

Hiro quickly began casting his healing spell on himself to heal his wounds. Little by little the wounds healed and he was able to stand.

"Are you ok Hiro? I mean that last attack was insane!" said Caesar.

"Yes I'm ok but I definitely don't want to be on the receiving end of that again."

The two of them laughed heartily as they walked with Leo and Gori back to the area where the rest of the Liger pride was.

"Leo, are you going to stay with the pride or return to the city?" asked Hiro.

"I am going to stay for a while I want to make sure none of my pride goes missing. Come to me when you are ready to attack."

Hiro nodded his head and embraced his friend before leaving to return to the city. The walk back to the city was silent.

Caesar was in awe of this man and the strength of his partner.Then Caesar broke the silence.

"How did he get that strong? I want Gori to be powerful like that."

"Well... Honestly I don't really know. He and I are connected and he gains strength and abilities as he eats his prey. So the more powerful enemies we face the more powerful we get." replied Hiro.

"Hmmm... maybe we should try that. What do you think Gori?"

Gori pound his chest in agreement.

The three continued walking until they arrived back at the city. Once there Hiro immediately informed Kaura and Orochi of what Leo said.

"Go and scout out the area that Leo said his family members had been abducted from and report back what you find."

"Yes sir Commander!" she said with a bow. Immediately she rushed off out of town.

I guess will wait for the report from Kaura. In the meantime I guess I can work on some more of these leather pieces.

He worked late into the evening but he finally finished the last set.

I wonder what my stats are now? Let me take a look.

Hiro placed his hand over the icon he saw in his heads up display and immediately his status screen came up.

Status WindowName:HiroAlignment:GoodLevel:Class:Ki WarriorRace:HumanGender:MaleTitlesHero of KaitoFame:500Infamy:0-Health:800 / 800Health Regen:4.5 / SecMana:700 / 700Mana Regen:10.1 / SecStamina:1450/ 1450Stamina Regen:15 / Sec-Strenght:235Agility:184Vitality:350Intelligence:100Wisdom:150Leadership:50Luck:35-Attack:455Defense:590Physical ResistancesSlashing:34%Piercing:30%Crushing:28%Elemental ResistancesFire:100%Water:10%Wind:25%Earth:15%Light:0%Darkness:10%

I’m definitely continuing to improve especially in the area of strength. Now lets' see how much Leo improved since his evolution. I bet his stats are crazy now.

Hiro touched the now red and black picture of Leo on his HUD and suddenly Leo's stats were revealed to him.

LeoJob:Hiro's PetLevel:20Health:10,000/10,000Strength- 750

Agility- 450

Abilities:

Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:Liger's Roar???????%Liger’s Roar: Roar that strikes fear in the heart of enemies occasionally paralyzing them.

Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:FlamethrowerAdvanced340%This is the evolved version of Leo's ability to breathe fire. His fire will now do more damage and enemies will no longer be able to extinguish the flames without water or magical assistance.

Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:Absorption???????%Allows Liger to gain strength and abilities to from things he has eaten.

Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:Symbiosis???????%Abilities gained will be immediately shared with the pet’s master.

Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:Armored SkinIntermediate920%Leo's fur and skin are like armor allowing Leo to take less damage from physical attacks a in combat.

Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:PredictionIntermediate780%Leo can use Hiro's ability to predict the path of incoming attacks.

Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:Ki StrikeItermediate650%Allos Leo to mimic Hiro's ki skill by focusing his ki into one of his claws and using the ki to increase the destructive power of his attack

Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:Fire ImmunityMaster10100%Leo is now completely immune to fire based attacks. This attacks will not only not harm him but he will be able to absorb them and increase his own strength..

We’ve sure grown a lot Leo. We are truly strong now. Your new body and skills are definitely formidable. I won’t lose to you though. I will continue to train and improve myself so that I can be worth of being the partner of the Fire Liger King.

______________________________________________________________________________________________I hope you enjoyed this chapter and again sorry for having such a long time between chapters. Please rate and leave your feedback about the story so far. I try to incorporate as many of your suggestions into the upcoming chapters as possible. I hope all of you who have read my work continue to support me as I keep writing more of Hiro's Journey. Thank you and as always if you can donate please feel free. Doesn't matter how much or how little every little bit helps.