Reborn As An Evolving Monster

97 The Final Trial Before...

The blue Aura around Levi seemed to seep into his body.

Immediately, changes could be noticed.

His body became burlier. His shoulders, wider.

The reddish dark scales that covered his right arm were colored blue, and became tougher. Thicker.

The crystals on Levi's left arm and back seemed to grow. Both in size and sharpness.

A bright blueish light emanated from his horns and claws.

The next second, that light, just like those horns and claws, faded away.

'Title Position...?'

Mark stared at the changes Levi's body went through.

'Just like my Follower Title?'

[Correct.]

He thought for a bit.

'The Devourer's Shield, huh? So all my Underlings can get that Title if I assign them as Guards?'

[Your Title "Devourer" affirms that it is not possible.]

Mark stared silently at the floating words in front of him.

'Assign them as Guards...? A previous version of the Skill did revive Monsters as Guards, not Underlings. What's different now?'

Neither the System nor Mark's Title responded.

He brought a hand to his chin.

'Purgatory's Undead Troup. So I can assign Positions to my Underlings? Is that what provoked this... Powerup?'

[Affirmative.]

[Negative.]

Mark tapped his left cheek with his index finger repeatedly.

'Could I have done this earlier?'

[Negative.]

He shook his head.

'Everything is changing now that I'm on this Final Floor...'

[Your Title "Devourer" is looking at you.]

Mark raised an eyebrow at the message.

'This supposed to compensate for... Whatever it was earlier?'

[Your Title "Devourer" chuckles nervously.]

'Mm.' Mark nodded. 'So you did have something to do with it. What about the other one?'

[Your Title "Devourer" falls into a slumber.]

Tsk-

Mark's eyes fell back on his kneeling Guard, Levi.

'Guard... Mine... My Guard, huh? According to Nia, Follower is the lowest Title Position. Positions have to do with responsibility and freedom. Therefore, Levi, as a Guard, has more freedom than the others.'

He brought a hand to his hip.

'Makes sense after what we've discussed...'

[A change has been input into the System.]

[Analyzing...]

[Your Underling Krista's Position has been recorded as "Companion(Inferior)".]

'Mm. Companion?'

The next second, the Moonlit Feline climbed onto Mark's body.

'Don't you mean pet or something? Mm. I guess that's what the Inferior means?' He wondered.

[Correct.]

Mark let out a long sigh.

'Levi.' He called out.

The Guard raised his gaze to meet his Master's.

'You probably got new Skills or something, right? I won't check those out. I'll leave it to you.'

Mark pushed Krista off his shoulder.

'My orders are absolute. But I won't be ordering you around anymore, Levi. Fight for me however you see fit. And above all, protect me to the best of your ability...'

The Moonlit Feline nimbly landed on the ground.

'As my Shield.'

The Guard's heart shook.

Levi lowered his gaze hurriedly.

"Yes, my Lord!"

Mark turned away at the response, seemingly pleased by it.

At the very least, he felt intrigued by how things would go from now on.

By this time, both Light and Grey had arrived.

Mark called out his Inventory.

The next second, dozens upon dozens of bones fell to the ground, forming a huge pile around him.

'Nia.'

[Your Title "Gaavah's Follower" is waking up from its slumber.]

[Have you recovered yet?]

'There's another Veil, isn't there? Another one full of Elves.' Mark asked, ignoring the question.

[Yes, there is.]

[From the beginning, there were two Veils.]

[It will be unveiled...]

Mark didn't bother reading the rest.

'How about you wait for me to find it instead? I'll go look once I've recovered. Can't be too far from the first Veil.'

He took a seat and grabbed what looked like a thigh bone.

It took less than a second for that bone to turn into a sharp spike.

'Consumes less Mana when I hold them.' Mark nodded to himself.

[Do you think you are in any position to give out commands?]

'It's not a command...'

He grabbed another bone. Its shape was different.

'Just a request.'

The person Mark was talking to seemed to need some time to respond.

[Any reason why?]

'Well, a couple of them.'

Mark took his time answering as he used his "Bone Manipulation" Magic Skill.

'First, revenge. Well, I don't want revenge per se. A rematch, I guess.'

While Fiery was continuously using her "Offspring Production" Skill, the rest of the Underlings simply sat on the vibrant grass.

'Second, I know what's waiting for me. So I definitely want to beat the Corrupted Dark Elves flawlessly. Assuming those are the Monsters under this Veil too.'

[Flawlessly?]

[You think that's something you're capable of?]

Mark took a couple of seconds to think about it.

'Yeah, I think so. Plus, you said that I lacked the ability to... Strategize? There's something I want to try out. Not too complicated, but probably good enough to deal with them.'

[Intriguing.]

[Anything else?]

'This...'

Levi stared at his Master from a distance, while the Moonlit Feline stretched lazily.

'Is the final Trial before the First Floor's Guardian. More than that...' The bone that Mark held broke like a twig at the thought. 'It's the final Trial that stands between me and the Monster that guards this whole Dungeon.'

[So?]

'So let me face it head-on. With all I have.'

[If you take too long after recovering, I'll put the Veil down.]

'Fine by me.'

[If that's all, then I'll leave you to it.]

Mark sat silently for a bit. He stopped making weapons.

'There is one more thing. The way I lost control... It had to do with those Titles, right?'

[Partially, yes.]

'Only partially, huh? Seems to happen more and more as I approach the exit. Will it happen even more often once I'm outside?'

[Possibly.]

'Mm. I'll ask again, what are-'

Floating words interrupted before he could finish his question.