Reborn As An Evolving Monster

"Well, well." Raven chuckled.

"Yeah. I thought he would have more trouble than this. An Inferior Fire Wyrm isn't an easy enemy to beat with his level of strength." Nia argued.

"If he was alone that is. They make a good team."

"They're not a team. Those are his Underlings, brought from the dead. But yes, they all played an important role. Mark and the other two attacked relentlessly while the cat and the ant attacked from a distance. Keeping a close eye on the Lower Fire Wyrm's attacks, Mark could order them around with good timing."

"Yeah. The wolf is pretty useless though. Still, it almost feels like he cares about the kitty cat a bit too much." Raven commented.

"You don't have to say that twice. If it wasn't for the ant's protective barrier, he probably would jump in harm's way to protect it." Nia said with a hint of annoyance.

"Think we should get rid of it?"

"No. We shouldn't get on his bad side. He's still a weakling, but he is part of our Master's plan." Nia answered.

"Yeah. I guess." Raven nodded before walking away.

He walked through the huge castle.

"Hey, hey!" Raven shouted as he entered a room.

"Oh, your highness. To what do I owe the pleasure?"

Someone said with great sarcasm.

The person was at least four meters tall, sitting on a bed.

"Nothing much, Zephyr." Raven said, as his eyes glowed bloody red.

"I've told you already. I've thrown away that name."

"And yet, it is yours." Raven answered coldly.

Zephyr clicked his tongue.

He took the huge spear that was laying next to the bed into his hands.

The man started polishing his weapon.

"As disciplined as ever, I see. Always keeping your weapon sharp, huh?" Raven asked ironically, as he started leaving the room.

"Of course. I don't know when I'll have to use it next after all." Zephyr answered with a hint of hostility.

Raven laughed out loud as he walked away.

After walking for a bit through a large corridor, a voice called out  to him.

"Raven."

Immediately, his body dissolved into a flock of black crows.

The flock flew through the castle with great speed.

A second later, Raven was kneeling in front of his Master.

"My lord."

"Stand up." The Master said, and Raven did so. "Have you given it any more thought?"

"My lord-"

"Stop it. Nia isn't here. Talk freely."

"You know how my father is."

"And I know how you are. He would welcome you with open arms."

Raven lowered his gaze. Despite fighting it as much as he could, a disgusted expression took over his face.

"He's... Those... They're all pigs. Not an ounce of pride in their bodies."

Fore a handful of seconds, The Master stared at Raven. Silently.

"They are Vampires, just like you are. Why would you expect them not to feed on their prey?"

Raven clicked his tongue.

"They don't just feed. Tsk... I'm not like them. I don't need that. I don't need them."

The Master stood up, and Raven felt a great amount of pressure push his body down.

"You need to get stronger. Get over your childish tantrums. Both you and your father are the Count's Descendants. Your father is the only one holding the Ancient Sanguinary Arts. He will pass them down to you, if only you wished to learn."

"He... Disgusts me. I don't even want to think of him as my father."

"Then don't. Think of him as the current Count."

"It disgusts me. Their Lust and Gluttony..." Raven said weakly.

"If you're absolutely against the idea, then so be it."

The Master let out a deep sigh.

"You can leave, Raven."

Just as Raven turned around, the Master's words made his heart shake.

"Just know that you, too, are limiting your potential."

Raven got out of the large room and exited the castle through a window.

A flock of black crows flew away.

'Me too? You're comparing me to that Monster? Compared to me, that person's potential is...!'

...

Inside the Dungeon.

On its Second Floor.

Mark's body stood, half burnt.

Calamity, his Underling, had turned to ash.

Levi was missing his right arm.

'Fuck. You mean to tell me there are Monsters like this hiding below the lava?' Mark turned the Inferior Wyrm's body into a red sphere.

'Levi, take your second form. Since your forms probably don't evolve simultaneously.'

"Yes, my Lord."

A Leviathan appeared on the narrow path between the two seas of lava.

Levi swallowed the sphere of energy and his body immediately started changing.

Part of his scales turned reddish. The horns on his head burned fiercely for a moment.

The crystals on Levi's back became darker.

One of his yellow pupils turned red.

'It seems the Assimilation is working well since the body types are alike.'

Mark nodded to himself.

'Show me Levi's Skills.'

[List of your Underling's Skills:

Magic Skills:

Dual Forms[B]

Great Lightning Bomb [C]

Lightning Cover [C]

Fire Breath [C]

Burning Vitality[B]

Passive Skills:

Lightning Resistance[D]

Underwater Swiftness[D]

Heat Resistance[D]

Fire Resistance[C]

]

'I see. Not many high-ranked Skills, but your high Stats make up for it. Burning Vitality, huh? It shrouds your body in fire and will enhance your regeneration ability while also protecting you... Oh, hope you don't mind me looking through your-'

Before Mark could even finish his sentence, the Leviathan in front of him lowered its head, as if to kneel.

'Good.'

Levi turned back into his humanoid form.

His right arm was still missing.

There was no sign of the "Assimilation" except for a red pupil.

'Now, for these guys...' Mark turned his body towards the dead Lower Demons.

He walked towards the Lower Demon Warrior and devoured it.

Immediately, the energy helped his body heal very quickly.

[You have acquired the Passive Skill: "Fire Resistance[D]".]

'Levi's Fire Resistance is [C] Ranked. Mine is weaker, but that should be fine.'

After that, he fed the 6 Lower Demons to Levi.

'Good thing it was your weak arm that was lost.'

By weak arm, Mark meant the one that was not covered by sturdy and sharp crystals.

Right after devouring the sphere of energy, Levi's arm grew back. This time, covered in red scales.

At the end of his fingers, claws.

Dark and sharp.

'Those could probably pierce my own scales. I guess the strength of those 6 Lower Demons was concentrated into that arm. Might be overkill...'

It made Mark wonder for a bit.

'Maybe I should make my "Perfected Assimilation" Skill evolve. If I can dictate how I want the dead Monster's body to be assimilated then... Yeah. Let's do that.'

[You have used one Skill Point.]

[Your Skill "Perfected Assimilation[A+]" is evolving...]

[Your Magic Skill "Perfected Assimilation[A+]" has evolved into "Devouring Architecture[S]".]

A monstrous smile appeared on Mark's face.