Year 1?

  Isaac was torn; all choices offered something worthwhile. But what did he want to become in this new life?

  He wanted to be unique and grow into something, right?

  He was one of the first to witness the world when it was full of color and teeming with spawning monsters.

  He still had unresolved questions about the mana levels lowering, but he decided he needed to focus on evolving first before solving that mystery.

  But the question remained: what was he going to be?

  The Dragon of Azure Flame seemed like a choice that could open many paths and introduce something new, as his current life felt repetitive. But was that something he wanted in life? To see the world beyond. 'not really' he taught to him self.

  Abyss Dragon was also appealing and would grant him the entire ocean and the depths of the earth, but Isaac didn’t enjoy being underground that much. His above-ground cave felt comfortable and cozy enough.

  Dragon of Molten Core looked like it would change Isaac fundamentally into a new type of dragon entirely, and that wasn’t what he was looking for...

  Hmmm, ‘The last three it is then,‘ Isaac's eye, metaphorically narrowed. It was the Highborn Arcane Dragon, the Sigil Dragon, and the Dragon of True Flame. And the latter one of them was the only one he was unsure about... the other was about magic, and that was what he thrived in... wasn’t it?

  He really did like magic, the Sigil Dragon, and Highborn Arcane Dragon was speaking to him... on a human level?!

  ‘Maybe the problem...’ Isaac realized, he was still thinking as a human, not a dragon... and that seemed to snap something into place, as a burden that had weighed down his soul, he hadn’t realized was weighing him down.

  His soul that had been still human-shaped now turned into something bigger... much bigger, and it grew into the size of a dragon...

  And something clicked—an ability he’d almost gained before was finally within reach.

  You have, for the betterment of all dragons, realized you are a dragon... You have acquired the skill; Draconic Soul.

  You have leveled Draconic Soul to level 1

  ...

  You have leveled Draconic Soul to level 3

  Isaac could feel that roaring of a dragon cry in his ears... and it took him a few seconds to realize it was him roaring.

  He was the dragon.

  The first dragon.

  The choice was kinda made for him.

  He would be a true dragon of fire.

  'Dragon of true flame, it is then,' Isaac thought, looking at the screen.

  He sent the mental yes and prepared for sleep. But as he did, another message appeared before him.

  Congratulations on surviving your youngling days.

  Your evolution from Dragon Youngling < Dragon Adolescent has started - Time remaining.

  Year 0 of 200 has begun,

  ‘The hell, ’ Isaac mentally screamed, he would sleep for longer than he had been alive, ten times over... he had been in his twenties as a human... maybe. ‘Well, that’s not the problem’. This would take ages; literally.

  Do you wish to go to hibernate?

  The new choice brought knowledge: if he said yes, he would sleep in a drowsy state the whole time, and the years would pass more quickly. It would use up some Dragon nourishment and Mana nourishment, but that’s what those were for anyway.

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  He said yes, felt his mind slow down, and got a status bar for it.

  Evolution from Dragon Yungling < Dragon adolescent : Years 0 of 78

  It would still take some time... he would sleep most of it.

  Spirit of Leaves and Wind watched silently from the edge of the jungle, her gaze fixed on the dry, hot desert beyond. She remained alert. The desert was as parched as ever, and the worms had grown more aggressive since the Awakening.

  She looked down at her new skin and hair. The wind tickled where bark had once been, and smooth skin now replaced it. Where leaf had been, hair now flowed. It was a new feeling. Most of her kin had accepted the gift of the high one, and they were grateful.

  Her eyes narrowed as she saw movement in the sands: another worm was trying to enter the jungle. Spirit of Leaves and Wind would not accept that. She stretched out her arm, spoke the words of magic, and the tree gave her a bow; she shaped an arrow from wind and leaves.

  She lowered the arrow with practice, shot, and it hit the surfacing worm. It was still one of the smaller ones, but they were numerous.

  The killing, however, made Spirit of leaves and wind grimace. She did not like the killing, nor did any of her kin. But it was them or their home. And so far, the High One told of a great worm that would soon attack them and their home.

  Spirit of Leaves and Wind wasn't sure what she believed, but her home and kin were what she needed to protect, and she knew her body and soul believed in them...

  And as the worm bled out on the sands, she gained power..

  You have defeated Worm (youngling) level 5

  You have leveled Nature Bond to level 4

  You have leveled Elven eyes to level 8

  You have leveled Nature's Bow to level 4

  Congratulations, you are now a Level 10 (Young) Elf.

  Your class Druid is now level 5

  Her power had grown, and it would continue so as long as she lived or killed.

  Her eyes were still looking over the desert, but she wasn't surprised to hear Heart of Tree and Bark come up behind her.

  “Sister,” his voice was low, his tone still growing accustomed to their new forms of speech.

  She looked back and replied, “Brother.” Her voice was higher, and she bowed her head, acknowledging that his attempt had been noticed.

  “Your watch goes well, I can see.” Their eyes met for a second, and Spirit of Leaves and Wind looked back to the desert. The many worms she had killed spoke of her skill.

  “Yes, it has, Heart of Tree and Bark,” she accepted the praise, even if he could have killed them all in seconds compared to her.

  Heart of Tree and Bark was one of the few that had been given the high ones' First gift, and could tap into her power. He was on the path to becoming an Arch Druid.

  “You should come back to the High one; it's getting late,” he sounded worried as he made the request, and Spirit of Leaves and Wind knew he was right. She had been there for over a hundred moons.

  As the quiet stretched, he continued, “Sister branch will take over your watch“ She smiled at that, ‘Yes, sister branch would have fun here.’

  She would have refused the request, but her body needed rest. Many worms had been killed over the moons. It had started as a few a day... but it was now getting to the hundreds. The number was worrying, just as the high one had said. She looked back at her kin. They were few compared to the worms, but they had the power of the high one and the jungle.

  Hopefully, that would be enough.