(Elayne’s POV)

Having defeated Fafnir, we thought things would finally calm down, but they only became worse. Utilizing the last fragment of his soul, Fafnir summoned a Portal to the Underworld, where the Demon King of Death emerged from within, manifesting himself!

His might and power were frightening, and because we were all weakened, we were unable to fight against his pressure and magic powers. Our bodies were paralyzed, and our souls tightly clenched by his cold skeletal claws.

I didn’t knew what to do in that moment, constantly thinking and panicking. The Great Spirit was in a dormant state after I overused her strength, and to make things worse, because we were paralyzed, we were unable to bring out anything that could help us recover our health or mana from our inventories.

I panicked, I grew fearful, even after all the amazing things we accomplished… to be taken down so easily like that, out of nowhere…

I hated it so much, I hated to have such a fate.

To be thrown around, to be crushed like garbage, to be persecuted by these monsters. It made me frustrated not only with fate, but myself.

As I was about to burden my soul even further by utilizing [Pathway], my last hope, as if the Gods themselves willed it, a System window appeared in front of my eyes.

Ding!

[A Special [Unique Evolution] has become available with the Materials you’ve collected!]

[Necessary Materials]:

[Tame a True Dragon]: [1/1]

[Ten Scales Of Five Different Great Dragons]: [50/50]

[The Blood Of Five Different Great Dragons]: [5/5]

[Flesh And Bones Of Five Different Great Dragons]: [500/500]

[Two Eyes Of Five Different Great Dragons]: [10/10]

[The Soul of a Dragon King]: [1/1]

[Do you wish to Evolve into this [Unique Evolution]?]

I couldn’t even think straight as I felt my soul being tightly clenched by Thanatos, but I knew that this was big… Whatever this Evolution would be, I needed it, it was my last resort!

For everyone, for Mark… I needed to protect them.

I won’t let this monster destroy their souls!

“YES!!!”

Without hesitating, I instantly accepted the evolution option. I saw as all the materials flew into my body, merging with my own flesh, blood, wood, and soul!

It was a strange, burning feeling, as if I was being burned into ashes to be reborn again. It was completely different than when I evolved into an Yggdryad… It even hurt!

Ding!

[Your Evolution has Begun!]

“PERISH!!!”

Thanatos arm swiftly swung his huge scythe towards me, aiming to utterly destroy my soul with it. As my body started to transform and evolve, its slashing force managed to hit my soul before it could be completed.

SLAAAAAAASSSSHH!!!

Urgh!

I felt utter agony as my soul was sliced apart, my consciousness slowly faded away.

It felt as if my entire being was being slowly drowning in endless darkness.

Is this how it feels to have my soul destroyed?!

No… my soul can’t just be destroyed like that!

I still…

Have everyone…

Rita…

Lily…

Mark!

My daughter!

I cannot… give up.

Even if my soul is destroyed, I cannot die yet!

FLAAASH!

Suddenly, I sensed a burning sensation covering my soul, I saw that within the darkness, golden flames started spreading everywhere, consuming the darkness.

What is this?

Two eyes suddenly opened within the darkness, in the middle of these fiery flames.

They glowed with golden and green light, resembling two huge stars in the night sky.

“Awaken your true form, Yggdrasil!”

True form?

“After all… the Guardian of the World is not just an inert tree!”

Huh?!

“Awaken your TRUE potential! Fight for your loved ones, fight for the innocent lives you cherish!”

Suddenly, the monstrous being extended a huge claw towards me, covered on golden scales, and wrapped around endless vegetation.

“Grab my hand! With the last might I hold… You must become my successor!”

“W-Who are you?!”

Without hesitating, I grabbed his huge claw, as he slowly began to lift me from within the darkness…

“I am the one they once called Yggdrasil Tree, the guardian of this world, and the son of my dear mother, Gaia!”

As he spoke, my soul slowly started to repair itself, fusing back together with the fiery golden flames that covered me entirely.

“However, some of the Ancients called me… Yggdragon, the World’s Guardian!”

FLAAAAASSSH!

When I opened my eyes, I saw that my body had grown several times larger! I found everybody behind me, being protected by my huge body. However, this time it wasn’t some transformation, or nature assimilation, or anything of that.

It was just a natural new form of my body! And it was huge! Almost as big as the whole titanic skeletal arm of the Demon King of Death himself.

My shape was similar to that of Fafnir, a huge dragon, with large arms and legs, and two enormous pairs of wings. My composition seemed a mix of both flesh and wood, with clear golden scales beneath an armor of endlessly growing vegetation.

I couldn’t see my face, but I felt it was huge and heavy, and I had… four eyes now, for some reason.

Ding!

[You have evolved into an [Yggdragon]!]

“P-Planta?!” Brisingra cried.

“That’s Elayne?!” Rita screamed.

“E-Elayne…” Mark was surprised too.

“Lady Planta! You’ve become a huge dragon!” Acorn was excited.

“Milady…” Nieve was flabbergasted.

“E-Eh?!” Lily couldn’t even muster a word.

“WHAT?!” The Demon King screamed, his eyes flaring furiously within the portal opened. “How come you were able to avoid the destruction of your soul?! My Relic is invincible!”

“Doesn’t look that invincible to me!” I roared. My entire body suddenly glowing with bright divine light. A powerful draconic aura surged from within it, expanding around everywhere.

It felt as if whatever new Abilities I acquired could be activated almost automatically by just willing it. My entire body exuding a powerful draconic aura!

FLAAAAAASH!

“URGH? AAAGH…!”

The Demon King screamed in agony as his entire arm started burning by the light, his hue scythe began to gain a few cracks, even, and the endlessly expanding Nether coming from the portal quickly came to halt, being constantly purified by my presence.

So this is the power of an Yggdragon!