To make matters more complicated, Ajatar's physical body underwent partial evolution while circulating mana and Life Maelstrom, and the changes became more evident as his experiments progressed.
His neck grew longer, small stumps appeared on his back, and his figure became slenderer.
With each atrophied mana organ he identified and stimulated, Ajatar experienced more bloodline abilities, like Origin Flames and Dragon Eyes, and his size increased. His mind reveled in exaltation for his new powers, yet his body screamed in hunger and pain.
All those changes required sustenance, and so did breaking past the physical limits of a Drake's mass. Ajatar couldn't eat without losing his focus, and even if he did, the dramatic increase in size and mass would have killed him.
The process was too fast, putting a huge strain on his organs, which failed to keep up with the evolution.
