"You're sure you'll wait here?" Anna asked Ashton.
"Yeah, you guys head out. I'll join you after I'm done taking care of a few things."
After Otiga left, the duo began getting ready for their second day of adventure. But right before heading out, Ashton remembered something important. With all the chaos and unplanned events going on, he had completely forgotten about the rewards defeating Hydra gave him.
If he wanted to be at his best, then he had to consume the flesh and blood of Hydra that were stored in his inventory. But, he didn't want to do it in front of Anna. Even though she knew he was a Zompirewolf, watching him eat raw meat and drink blood so giddily, might be a bit too much for her.
"Alright... I'll see you later." Anna smiled and left the room.
After making sure she was gone, Ashton locked the door and shut the windows. Without his perception skill, he was forced to take these measures. After all, neither he nor Astaroth had any idea what would happen once he consumed the flesh and blood.
Also, after what happened last night, Ashton did not want anyone to take advantage of his possibly weakened state to get some revenge.
"All done, I think," Ashton mumbled and took out a small chest and a jar filled with Hydra's blood.
[The only thing Xyrans used Hydra's blood was to make weapons. We couldn't do anything else, after all, it was too poisonous for anyone of us to handle. However, for someone like you it should be a piece of cake.]
"I got immunity, after all."
[Making it the perfect opportunity to test the effects of the poison.]
"Am I just a lab rat to you?"
[Bitch, you were born in a lab. Now shut the fuck up and bottom's up!]
"Here goes nothing."
As soon as the blood went down his throat, Ashton felt as if his entire body was on fire. The heat was immense, and how couldn't it be? He was drinking the blood of a draconic species. But it did not hurt him, thanks to [Fire Immunity].
As a result, he kept drinking it until the jar was entirely empty. But just because he wasn't feeling the effect of the immense heat within his body, it didn't mean the heat wasn't doing anything. His stamina was eaten away instantly and his legs gave away. His mind began to go hazy, and so did his vision.
[Eat the flesh now! Maybe it would help?]
Ashton didn't bother replying and shoved the flesh in. He felt a little bit of his energy return to him. But that too was being eaten away, slowly. However, a moment later, a notification appeared in front of his eyes.
<Hydra's Flesh and Hydra's blood are taking their place within the user's body. Please wait patiently while your body stabilises.>
The process wasn't painful at first, all Ashton could feel was the changes in his body. But as the changes became apparent, so did an overwhelming sense of pain.
Something was reinforcing his bones as well as his muscles. He knew he was getting stronger. His body expanded a bit to accommodate the changes in his bones and flesh.
But that wasn't all, his eyes were behaving weirdly. His vision got wider than it had ever been. While consuming the flesh and blood of the Hydra, Ashton had assumed he would get some kind of ability like usual. Never in his wildest ideas had he thought something like this could be possible.
After what seemed an eternity, everything began to calm down.
<Hydra's Blood and Flesh have been stabilised within the host's body. You have acquired a stronger body: Draconic Physique.>
<Armour: +30 points>
<Stamina: +50 points>
'Anna would be pleased to know this...' Ashton smirked while wiping the sweat off his forehead.
[... just check the damn thing first and keep your fantasies to yourself.]
'Right...'
__
Name: Draconic Physique
Type: Physical Trait
Rarity: Epic (Evolvable)
Description: A dragon's body is its most prized possession. Ever since their birth, they had an absurdly high resistance to magic as well as physical attacks. This fact made it almost impossible for anyone to slay them.
For hundreds of thousands of years, sentient beings have questioned themselves what could possibly give the Dragons their characteristic resistances? The answer has now revealed itself.
Effects (stage 1):
>> Increases Armour and Stamina by 30 and 50 points respectively.
>> Take 20% less damage from magical attacks.
>> Take 25% less damage from physical attacks.
>> Invalidates true damage* entirely.
>> Efficiency of Healing abilities has been improved.
Note: Evolving your physique would unlock better and improved effects.
__
"Hm... that solves the problem of dealing with magic-based attacks. Hm... after all that trouble, this is really great!"
[It is. To think you will obtain a trait even I didn't have. Especially the immunity from True damage... that shit is broken.]
"Is it?"
[No increase in brain cells was noticed.]
"..."
[Do you have any idea how broken immunity from true damage is? Most high-grade beings look for abilities that deal true damage to their enemies. The A-grades usually have to fight amongst themselves, normal abilities aren't all that effective because, at their level, they usually develop pretty strong resistances.]
[Therefore, True damage, that doesn't give a fuck about one's armour or resistance, is their best friend, their hoe and the love of their lives. Now you have immunity to that! What do you think would happen if they got to know about the existence of such a skill?]
Ashton didn't need to think even for a moment. If true damage was something the high-grade beings were so crazy about, then they would see him as a threat. After all, their ultimate skills would be completely useless against him.
That being said, they would try to get their hands on [Draconic Physique] as well. Once they'll fail to do so, they will get rid of him. No matter how strong he was currently, he was in no way strong enough to face an A-grade being.
"Gotta keep it a secret. Got it."
[Keeping secrets and you? Don't worry, I'll take care of you in case your blabber mouth opens wider than a hoe's-]
"Alright alright, I get it." Ashton cut Astaroth off before he could say something else, "Now the only thing that remains is the egg."
[What about it?]
"What about it? Aren't you intrigued to know what's inside it?"
[Huhuhu.]
"Why are you laughing?"
[I already know what's inside the egg.]
"What?"
[While you were doing someone else, I was doing the important work and analysed the egg. It belongs to some sort of draconic species, could be a hydra too for all I know. That's all I can say now. As it grows I'll be able to learn more. So forget about the egg and focus on the trial.]
"Right, gotta leave now. Who knows how long would it take to clear Ursa's trial."
***
Author's note: True Damage is a type of damage that doesn't get reduced based on the target's armour or resistances. In other words, if someone deals 100 points of true damage, then the target's HP will reduce by 100 points regardless of how much armour they may have.
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