[Strength +12000], [Agility +9500], [Endurance +11500], [Constitution +13000], [Combat Experience against Dragonslayers +60], [Combat Experience against Lesser Dragons +80], [Combat Experience against Ancient Beasts +70], [Inherited Knowledge of Nyxtharion's Battles +90], [Mastery of Draconic Aerial Combat +85], [Absolute Flight Control +75], [Adaptive Wing Maneuvering +70], [Draconic Physical Prowess +95], [Enhanced Claw and Fang Mastery +80], [Tail Strike Devastation +75], [Nyxtharion the Evernight Dragon Roar +100], [Ragnarok Exhalation Dragon Breath +120], [Adamant Aegis – Absolute Defense +110], [Elder Dragon Magic Resistance +90], [Titanic Draconic Strength +100], [Colossal Wing Power +95], [Unfathomable Durability +100], [Adamantine Bone Structure +90], [Abyss-Forged Musculature +95], [Supreme Stamina – Limitless Endurance +100], [Elder Dragon Reflexes +90], [Unbreakable Fang and Claw Density +95], [God-Slaying Tail Force +90], [Aetheric Pulse Circulation – Power Beyond the Physical Realm +100], [Primordial Fear Induction +85], [Abyssal Pressure – Presence of an Elder Dragon +90], [Territorial Dominion – Absolute Supremacy +80], [Elder Dragon Bloodline Resilience +95], [Eternal Vitality – Near-Immortality +90], [Regeneration Beyond Mortality +85], [Cosmic Memory of the Elder Dragons +100], [Astral Perception – Seeing Beyond Realms +90], [Unbreakable Scale Reinforcement +95], [Celestial Annihilation Claws +95], [Aetheric Flame Baptism +85], [Forbidden Draconic Arcana +80], [Nyxtharion's Will – Legacy of the Evernight +100], [Infernal Dragon Heart – Unquenchable Power +110], [Aetheric Echoes – Resonance of the Ancient Ones +90], [Black Star's Wrath – Calamity Manifestation +120], [Endless Night Descends – World Enshrouding Darkness +100], [Fragmented memories of Nyxtharion the Evernight], [Flame Affinity +100], [Darkness Affinity +110], [Void Affinity +90], [Death Affinity +80] [Energy +100,000].
[Adamant Aegis (Rank: Stage 1, Mastery: Apprentice → Adept)]
Madness surged into his head like a vengeful tsunami.
It took him a moment to realize the dragon, Nyxtharion the Evernight, was not part of a nightmare. It was a being who came to Tartarus like Neo and Kane. He could gain its stats and physical abilities.
Fragmented memories drowned Neo.
Elder Dragon Nyxtharion the Evernight. First dragon to come to Tartarus. The only Elder Dragon on Tartarus. Leader of the first Grand Expedition. Defeated the three Protectors of Floor 1 single-handedly. Met Tartarus—
A mind-numbing pain tore through Neo. The memories suddenly stopped.
They resumed, but Neo was not able to see the meeting of Elder Dragon Nyxtharion the Evernight and Tartarus.
Elder Dragon Nyxtharion the Evernight went rogue. Slaughtered the first Grand Expedition. Became the sole Protector of the First Floor.
Named as the First Great Disaster. Protected the three Zones on the First Floor for centuries.
Second Grand Expedition, led by Erza Williams, the contractor of the Demon named Severant the Merciful, defeated Elder Dragon Nyxtharion the Evernight—
The memories glitched again.
Blanks appeared in Neo's mind before the memories resumed.
No one was strong enough to kill Elder Dragon Nyxtharion the Evernight, even though he was defeated. The best they could do was cut him into five hundred and thirty-seven pieces with the power of Severant the Merciful.
Each of these pieces regenerated into a smaller Nyxtharion due to his exceptional vitality.
These 'smaller' versions were not equally strong. Their strength depended on the size of the piece they regenerated from.
Now, the Grand Expeditions could move toward the lower Floors without being slaughtered by the original Nyxtharion.
The smaller versions were strong, but far weaker than the original. As long as the Expedition was careful, they could avoid fighting them and progress unhindered—
But the pain continued. It increased with each passing seconds.
Neo felt as if he himself was Nyxtharion the Evernight. He subdued the Elder Dragon's consciousness, only to find out that the smaller Nyxtharions were a hivemind.
While they could not take over Neo's mind, they bombarded his consciousness with mental attacks.
Neo could feel dozens of Nyxtharions moving toward him. They had not attacked him before because he was the prey of Nyxtharion #478 and Nyxtharion #456.
After Neo killed Nyxtharion #456, they recognized him as a threat.
Threat that needed to be eliminated swiftly.
Neo was in no condition to fight.
He was on his knees, burning under Ragnarok Exhalation Dragon Breath, his mind being stabbed, torn apart, and crushed.
The dragon in the sky, Nyxtharion #478, stared at Neo in horror.
Neo's body was undergoing earth-shattering changes.
His bones darkened like adamantium, his vitality skyrocketed, his muscle fibers transformed.
Neo was becoming a hybrid between a human demigod and an Elder Dragon.
His skeleton restructured into a four-limbed draconic form, wings sprouted from his back, his hands became claws, and his teeth grew robust.
The unwanted transformation made Neo look like an abomination—neither human nor dragon.
His genes were forcibly merged with Nyxtharion #456's.
Suddenly, Neo's Monarch of Death bloodline reacted. It boiled like lava and attacked the foreign genes.
The bloodline devoured Nyxtharion's genetic legacy.
[Bloodline ??? devoured. Gained Bloodline ??? (damaged).]
[Your dormant Draconic attributes are being strengthened.]
Neo's body began reverting to human form, but some changes remained.
Dragon-like pupils. Glossy skin, and barely visible scales. Hair dark as a starless night
The physical prowess he gained remained, now condensed into his human physique rather than spread across a monstrous form.
Neo was on his knees, coughing blood.
He was barely aware of the changes.
The madness was consuming him.
Suddenly, a roar echoed through the large hall.
Nyxtharion #478 spewed purple flames, intent on killing Neo before his transformation completed.
Neo opened his mouth.
Countless tiny magic circles appeared in his throat.
Death combined with Void to form Chaos, which mixed with the Fire Affinity gained from devouring Nyxtharion #456.
Purple flames erupted from his mouth.
They grew larger as they traveled, clashing against Nyxtharion's own flames.
A catalytic explosion burst forth. Neo was flung away by the shockwaves. He, unable to even stand due to the mental pain, was bare to the shockwaves.
The cave trembled as Nyxtharion the Evernight emerged.
The closest one attacked Neo without giving him a chance to recover.
His instincts kicked in.
He punched toward the dragon that was about to spew flames.
Shockwaves erupted from Neo's fist and hit the dragon.
Its gigantic body was smashed into the ceiling.
Neo roared as if warning the dragons.
The attacking Nyxtharion the Evernight froze from fear. Their instincts blared alarms at them.