Nihility [ Isekai • Dragon Evolution ]

Space and time seemed to distort and stretch into infinity before bouncing back, twisting, unraveling and then finally settling. I opened my eyes after the dizziness the experience brought me ended. I was back in the forest, a few meters away from where I usually started the loop.

For a moment I thought it hadn't worked and that I was still stuck on the loop, but I then felt the timeline. It was a new sensation that opened up when I evolved that I didn't manage to get a feel for it as I was outside of time in that temporal storm, but what I felt was that I was outside of the loop.

It still existed, I could feel it, but I wasn't part of it anymore. I guessed the only reason it still existed somewhat was because it needed to exist because I needed to create myself in it, and I wouldn't without it. Another thing about time that I hadn't wrapped my head around still.

I heard movement, rapid movement, and when I looked I saw a wolf running from the camp. Was that…?

The wolf passed an invisible wall and disappeared. I could feel that it had entered the loop. I had just witnessed myself enter the loop. This is the actual timeline out of the loop. I wondered if the witch would appear, as the loop didn't exist anymore.

I shook my head. I was sure that nothing good would come if I meddled with her. She tried to kidnap me during the loops, I only escaped because the boronita exploded and reset the loop before she succeeded!

A growling sound came out of my stomach, reminding me that the last time I had eaten was more than a day ago, from my point of view. I also needed to check out my status as I leveled up and gained a new skill…

I thought for a moment, deciding that I would risk it and purchase a meal from Henry's personnel again, or for the first time, depending on your point of view.

Another growl from my stomach reminded me of my current situation. I then walked towards the crystal cave while opening my status screen. Better check it while I'm walking.

I stopped dead in my tracks as my eyes read through my status.

"What…the…fuck?" I said out loud.

All my status had multiplied tenfold from the last time I had checked them. I might not remember exactly how much they were, but I was sure my MP was around 700 before, and now it had multiplied by twenty. I could do decent magic with my low magicules before, but now? Now I could… I don't know… I still hadn't anything to compare these levels with, so I had no idea.

I also had gained two new titles. [Living Paradox] was easy enough to understand. I evolved because myself from the future named myself from the past, literally a paradox. Now… What the hell is that other title? [???????????????????] 2/7??? Is this a bug? Is reality glitched? I honestly didn't know. Maybe my skill can answer me?

[Information is not yet available as the origin of the information is incomplete]

Huh. That was new. So I guess the title wasn't complete yet and because of that [Knowledge Library] couldn't access the information. Whatever it is, it was 2 out of 7 completed. I had no idea what I needed to do to gain the other five parts, so I would just ignore it for the time being.

Next, I noticed [Passive Growth] had decreased to 80%, so that was that. I didn't yet know what it did exactly beyond being used whenever my [Otherworldly Soul] caused a skill evolution. Another skill to the ignored list.

I had gained a new racial skill, [Time Manipulation]. It was obvious I had gained this because I was now an Ouroboros Dragon and I couldn't not see how it wasn't completely broken. Maybe it used MP like a broken faucet? I don't think stopping time would be anything but energy intensive. I would test it later.

And I had another unique skill, [Mathematical Cortex]. Considering the witch's reaction to me having three when I was transformed in an Earthclaw Weasel, I didn't think having four now would be anything but amazing. But then, I was transformed into just a normal creature and I was now a true dragon. Maybe it was different now and having multiple unique skills was common for dragons and other beings.

Anyway, I would test it later, as well as [Time Manipulation] for when I have the time to do so. I was very hungry and the trees were starting to look pretty tasty.

Finally, I saw that I could still transform into a white dragon with [Genetic Dysphoria], but I couldn't see why I would even use it. The others? Okay, I could use them to pass as an ordinary creature, but a white dragon? That option would be collecting dust for a very long time if it depended on me.

I arrived at the crystal cave and casted the absorption spell. I noted that I was casting way faster than I could before, and I could feel the flow of magicules better, like I could affect them with more force than before.

I kept the monitoring spell active and decided to check on the boronita. After a few minutes of walking, I arrived at the cave where it once had the volatile ore, but now there was just a stone wall in its place, almost as if the boronita never existed in the first place. I grinned.

My plan had worked better than I expected and the loop was closed for good. I still didn't know what or who caused the loops, because I'm sure the explosion was a byproduct of it, but I would try to find out after I found my friends. The only clue I had was that futuristic looking room where I ended up at every end of the loop during the initial loops, before the God of Time interfered with it. Basically, I had nothing to go with, so I had to put it on the back burner for now.

I walked back to the cave, grabbed the crystals with my mouth, I was at least three times larger now, I could carry the crystals in my mouth, and then I walked towards the camp.

I arrived at the edge of the anti-monster field and noticed how some of the effects of the field just bounced off my scales.

"Huh. Neat" I said to no one in particular.

I just sat down, patiently. I knew someone would soon come over as I wasn't the size of a small dog anymore. True, I was the size of a large dog now, nothing very impressive yet, but the green glow I gave off from my scales made me easily spotted and soon Henry and fifteen knights came towards me.

"Oh, sir dragon from the Myriad Palace. I am Henry Darnas, currently representing Duke Darnas at this encampment. How may I honor you?" He said. I noticed I was now a head larger than him, neat.

"Good evening" I said after putting the crystals on my hands. Not confirming nor denying his claim that I was from this Myriad Palace that I still didn't know what it was. "I would like to not share much of my personal situation. I've come here to trade some crystals I've acquired during my travels for some human food, and maybe some sort of item for me to carry things"

After spending at least three months with these guys I knew how to talk, at least a little, like a noble. Of course, I was combining the knowledge I gained during the loops and things I watched in my old world.

"But certainly. Would you mind if one of my soldiers examined some of the crystals so we could offer you the correct amount of goods?" Henry said.

I nodded and passed a few of the magicules crystals to the knight who came forth. He took them in his hands and immediately his eyes widened and went to whisper in Henry's ear. The exact same reaction from the loops, maybe a little bit exaggerated, though.

"Sir. The purity of the crystals are one of the highest I ever felt. With only one of those you could acquire a small fortune equivalent to your brother's allowance" I heard the knight saying to Henry. Huh, I guess my higher level and status increased my senses. I definitely couldn't hear this small tiny bit of conversation before.

Henry then invited me to dinner and then to pass the night as they couldn't offer me enough goods to cover the value of the crystals I gave them, which were only two. I countered saying I couldn't spend the night because I was busy and needed to be elsewhere in the morning.

Unfortunately I ended up eating too much, again, during the dinner and almost passed out right there on the table. I had to accept Henry's offer and managed to sleep on his bed, which was smaller only in size, being just as comfortable to sleep in.

I ended up waking up in the morning with the witch poking my head.

"Hello, sleepyhead. Did you have good dreams?" Was the first thing she asked me when my eyes opened. I didn't even have the time to answer before she kept talking. "I didn't expected to find a dragon here of all places. Mainly because it's not yet time for the hatchlings or their moms to come. So from where are you? Athor didn't tell me about any other dragon on his territory. Was he lying to me? I will need to have a serious conversation with him. How dare he exclude me, his best friend from stuff like this! I only cause some of the white dragons to become wyverns, just some!"

"Whaaaa?" I couldn't help but say it. She had lost me after asking if I had good dreams.

"Huh?" She looked at me, as if she suddenly remembered my existence. "Oh right! So, from where are you? I don't recognize you. Do you have a name? I can name you if you don't. I'm very good with names" She nodded to herself as she made the offer.

"Ehmm. I already have a name" I said. "I'm Denaru Theris"

"Oh. Hi, Denaru. I'm Amity" She said, then she closed her eyes, murmuring something to herself. "Yep, I never met you. Let's go. I will show my castle to you and then you can tell me all about yourself"

"Wait, wha-" I was cut short when she suddenly grabbed me by my body and lifted up like I weighed nothing. It was so sudden my head was dragged behind it and I saw that I had shed dozens upon dozens of scales on the ground from another growth sleep. Before I could do anything else, though, I felt something right beneath us and when I looked over I saw a magic circle appearing and flashing blue.

The next thing I knew I was falling from the sky, spiralling out of control, the witch nowhere close to me. I was near a mountain range and I could see buildings on the horizon. I tried to flap my wings, but the only thing I did was throw myself even more out of control.

I was so desperate that I tried to activate everything, and then everything stopped.