Year ??

  The new skills were fascinating, and Isaac had the time to analyze them well.

  ‘Guess I can start on the skill I like the least,’ he still shuddered at the thought of biting other beings. But some part of him now was getting used to the thought of worm blood in his mouth.

  ‘Slightly unsettling,’ he thought to himself.

  But focusing on the biting skill. The choices were good, so he had chosen Bite of a dragon, as the text in it had hinted it would help in the Dragon nourishment part, and if he kept growing…

  ‘Yeah,’ that would be needed.

  The next skill was his best choice, although it was harder to decide. Elemental Claws seemed really versatile, but it didn’t give him the right power he felt he needed. And the Dragon's claws were just the same for his bite… so Fire marked claws it was…

  The last part of its description didn’t give him a slight worry, but it felt right… and it sounded cool.

  The choices sent a small ripple through his core, but nothing major changed. The Skills were now a part of him, his nature.

  As he gained the new skill, something came to mind that he hadn’t tested…

  ‘Can I use my skills here?’ As fast as the thought had come, he did test the True Fire Marked claws.

  When the skill was activated, he got the sense that fire mana was a dam waiting to burst from his claw tips. Just a drop, and it would burn. It was hungry, ravenous, and ready to burn everything to cinders.

  And as it so happened. He was in his literal soul; mana was abundant here.

  ‘Does this mean I can train my skills here?’

  The flash of fire that only needed a bit of mana was a good response, and so the skill level went up.

  ?

  You have leveled True fire Marked claws to level 1

  Ooo

  ?

  Now he could do more than just sleep.

  For the betterment of his skills, he had to max it out as much as he could.

  ?

  You have leveled True fire Marked claws to level 2

  …

  You have leveled True fire Marked claws to level 5

  ?

  The skill seemed to be a lot more volatile than any other ability he had, and it was in line with his other skills in mana.

  ?

  But there was a limit to how much he could train and do here.

  As for his bite skill, it could get to level one.

  You have leveled Bite of a dragon to level 1

  ?

  It seemed fair as he didn't have anything to eat or bite, and it wasn’t a mana skill in any way.

  Isaac was still dozing off occasionally as he tested his new skill, and time flew by. ‘How much time has gone by?’ Isaac hadn’t actually checked the status since the last time.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

  With a quick mental prod, it popped up.

  ?

  Evolution from Dragon Youngling < Dragon adolescent: Years 67 of 78

  ?

  Errr

  ‘Thirty more years, ’ Isaac shook his head.. Time really flew by in here.

  Year ??

  Evolution from Dragon Youngling < Dragon adolescent: Years 77 of 78

  As Isaac checked his Evolution stat one more time after a really good nap, it was getting there.

  But something had changed too now..

  He felt like he actually could wake up now.

  And Isaac did...

  The world “outside,” also known as his lair, had seen better days... as his fiery state in his soul had not only been in there...

  Where Isaac had lain down to sleep had turned into molten red rock, and it was still burning...

  He was still burning off his last vestiges of his youngling days.

  The wall was no better, the stone had turned black... and Isaac wondered how the hell he hadn't run out of air...

  ‘magic most likely’

  Isaac tried to stand up.

  Two things made it very apparent.

  First, he was much bigger, and he was very thankful that he had made the lair larger.

  The second, he felt a bit weaker than normal, very sluggish, and like his body wasn't accustomed to his new size and power.

  He got his answer to the question in a notification that popped up.

  hibernation weakness: your strength is reduced

  ‘Well, that answered that.’

  Isaac moved slowly up the tunnel, the fire under his scales slowly buring off, the last of his youngling scales..

  The ‘door’ he had made in full haste was still there... but something was off as he approached it.

  Was that the sound of digging?

  As Isaac made the connection to the earthen mana motes around.

  His eyes widened.

  There were worms here.

  right outside his lair.

  This was bad... his body was still sluggish and not ready for this. Isaac started to backtrack, but his now active Mana perception picked up their movement.

  They had sensed him.

  Fuck

  In a panic, Isaac sensed a surge of earthen mana motes below him. He blasted the ground and walls, shattering stone and sending debris everywhere.

  The cave-in sent Isaac tumbling into his chamber, nearly burying him. The worms, caught by the collapse, were not so lucky.

  From what Isaac could gather from his magic sense, one worm was wounded at least. But the others were fine...

  There were five in total who were digging their way straight to him.... they were struggling a bit it seemed, with the earth that he had used his mana on...

  ‘That was interesting,’ he looked around the chamber, most of the wall here was already enhanced.

  And he could enhance more locations.

  But also making it easier for them.

  ‘How much Mana do I have?’

  Mana Pool 459 / 500

  ‘That should be enough.’

  He moved to the side of the chamber where he sensed a worm approaching, removing his mana from the stone there.

  The other four locations—he quickly reinforced, making the earth wall stronger.

  ‘Hopefully, that will ensure they all don't come at once now.’

  Checking his mana again

  Mana Pool 282 / 500

  Plenty

  Grimacing, Isaac sensed they were now closer... and bigger than he was expecting.

  Here goes nothing.

  The first worm burst from the earth, moving faster and stronger than before. Its energy and intent were palpable—a deadlier threat than last time. It had an aura of death and blood, not like the worm he had fought in the desert.

  When the worm saw him, it screeched bloody murder and charged. Isaac did get the sense it had meaning behind it’s screech, but nothing more than KILL.

  Isaac, ready this time, extended one claw and channeled his True Fire Marked Claws without hesitation.

  White and red fire erupted from his hand. Pain shot through him, but Isaac endured. He had to finish the fight before the others arrived.

  The scales and bones of the worm sizzled and melted under the fire, but it lashed out, refusing to die quickly.

  The worm, took control of the loose stone debris to shield itself from the inferno, trying to defend itself as it charged forward to Isaac.

  The blast only lasted a few seconds.

  The worm pounced when the blast stopped, now covered in stone instead of scales.

  Isaac moved to the side; his claw was powered by a weaker, more controllable flame. The worm was too disoriented from the previous fire blast to redirect its trajectory.

  The claw attack was swift and precise, as the worm landed, Isaac dug his buring claw into it. Keeping the worm down.

  The worm's scream was ear-piercing, but Isaac had it in his grasp. It retaliated, however, as rocks shot out of the ground, hitting him. His buring scales held... but it hurt like hell.

  Isaac, acting quickly, bit down on the worm's head. 'Hope—' The head came off cleanly. It was almost too easy.

  You have defeated Hunter Worm (youngling) level 5

  You have leveled True fire Marked claws to level 6

  You have leveled Bite of a dragon to level 2

  The levels came in fast, as Isaac looked over to his next target... from what he could gather, the next one would come out soon.

  It would be there any minute now.

  Taking the time to gather himself. Isaac got another idea... he moved closer to where he could see the earth being moved.

  He started heating it with fire motes...

  ‘Let's see if you like to get cooked; worm!!!.’

  Shameless plug; My backlog of chapters are now on patreon, up to 4.