With the help of Viola's [phantom force], Caesar's figure shuttled through distorted space, finally coming to a halt amidst a thick, pungent stench.
The sewers of Osterburg.
This wasn't the territory of gangs like the "Gutter Rats"; it was purely a place for discharging filth. The air was thick with an unspeakable odor, slimy slimes wriggled in the corners, and occasionally, fragments of high-level materials could be seen.
Caesar couldn't care less about that now.
The self-destruction of the Z-Move [Endless Nights Temptation] was undeniably powerful, but the backlash was equally lethal. To escape, he had proactively transformed into his ghost form, only to take the brunt of his own detonated Ghost-type energy, resulting in heavier damage than expected.
He felt as if every bone in his body was about to fall apart.
However, for the current Caesar, these injuries weren't a major problem.
He opened the System and found a skill he had almost never actively used.
[Sleep].
[Sleep: Through deep Sleep, recovers 10% (current proficiency) of Max HP over 2 turns, with a 10% chance (current proficiency) to cure all status conditions.]
The proficiency was low, but it would suffice.
He had lost nearly eighty percent of his health; in calculation, he only needed to Sleep deeply for sixteen turns, which was just a matter of a few minutes.
But this move had a prerequisite: it consumed a large amount of mana.
Reasonably, after using a Z-Move, he should have been drained dry, finding it difficult to even move a finger.
But he was a Transmigrator; exploiting bugs was standard procedure.
With a thought from Caesar, a crystalline crown instantly surfaced on his body, and a burning crown of flames condensed into form above his head.
Terastalization, activate!
While Terastalization was active, he would slowly recover mana. Though it wasn't much, it was just enough to squeeze out the mana needed to release the [Sleep] skill.
"Sleep!"
Almost the instant he activated Terastalization, Caesar triggered the skill. His massive body toppled over, immediately falling into a deep slumber.
A few minutes later.
Caesar snapped his eyes open, his previously weak aura completely swept away.
He was a hero once again.
He stowed the tattered covert cloak into his storage ring and then stretched out his Dragon body.
—Deep blue skin, a crimson red extending from his jaw to his belly, and serrated white bone spurs on both thighs. The ferocious form of a Garchomp was fully revealed on this rare patch of dry ground in the sewers.
No longer needing to maintain that human disguise, Caesar was in high spirits.
It made him feel like he had finally turned back into a Dragon, rather than some monster wearing human skin.
Just then, a plume of cold soul fire drifted out from the [sharp claw], burning quietly beside Caesar.
Viola appeared, seemingly having been observing him all along.
"That just now... was it a Secret Art Alice taught you?" Viola asked.
"Yes," Caesar replied casually.
"No wonder." Viola's soul fire flickered. "I was wondering what she would teach a fellow like you who has almost no affinity for the Psychic element."
In Viola's view, it was only natural for Alice to teach the two young Dragons. That Silver Dragon named Cecilia was exceptionally talented, so it wasn't surprising she could learn many Psychic Secret Arts. But Caesar clearly wasn't cut out for it.
As for the Terastalization Caesar had just displayed, Viola didn't look into it too deeply.
In his ancient era, almost most powerful beings possessed similar abilities; it was an era of elemental resonance that could create infinite possibilities, a highly diverse age.
While feeling his recovered strength, Caesar pulled up the System panel and began to tally the gains from this venture.
As the saying goes, one doesn't wake up early without profit.
Just from the battle with Fafnir alone, he had gained 3,000 combat experience points.
[True Name: Capulius Caesar (LV.36)]
[Attribute: Dragon/ground]
[HP: 340/340]
[Attack: 116]
[Defense: 100]
[Special Attack: 85]
[Special Defense: 83]
[Speed: 102]
[Experience: 28100/37600]
Seeing the 102 in the Speed column, Caesar chuckled slightly.
For a veteran player like him, this number held a special significance.
Still 12 levels to go before evolving into Garchomp... it's a long road ahead.
Caesar closed the panel and took out the greatest trophy from his storage ring.
It was a gem that had reverted to the appearance of a glass bead, dull and lusterless, but at its core, there was a ring of constantly rotating colored patterns that seemed to be taking shape.
The System's label was direct—[Key Item: Resonance Stone].
Caesar had initially thought this was a MEGA Mega Stone, but now looking closely at it in his hand, he realized it seemed to be a Key Stone.
He had made a mistake before.
According to his experience fighting the Bronze Dragon version of Viola, that so-called MEGA Evolution required two items.
One was the [Resonance Stone], and the other was a [bloodline soul crystal].
These two things should correspond to the "Key Stone" and "Mega Stone" in the pokémon world respectively.
"Viola, do you recognize this?" Caesar handed over the Resonance Stone.
"[Resonance Stone]...?"
Viola's soul fire moved closer. After observing for a moment, he emitted a somewhat surprised ripple: "This is an ancient treasure used to stimulate Bloodline Power for 'Origin Resonance'. It needs to be used in conjunction with a corresponding 'soul crystal'."
"How do I get a soul crystal?" Caesar asked directly.
"There are several ways," Viola explained. "First, excavation of ancient ruins. In the ancient battlefields of the 'Elemental Pact' era, the tombs of fallen heroes, or certain lost alchemy laboratories of ancient dragons, it's possible to find ownerless soul crystals."
"Second, Inheritance. Bestowed by an ancient existence that possesses a soul crystal, such as an ancient dragon or a heroic spirit, who actively grants it to a successor they acknowledge."
Speaking of this, Caesar looked at Viola jokingly: "Then do you have one? Give me one?"
"We'll talk about that after you've fulfilled your promise to me." Viola's soul fire remained unperturbed.
Tch, stingy.
"The third way," Viola continued, "is a Bloodline tracing ritual. In the Holy Lands of various races, such as the Dragon Clan's 'Dragon Grave' or the Elves' 'World Tree', a large-scale ritual is held to use one's Bloodline to sense the world's Origin. There is a certain probability of condensing your own 'Origin soul crystal'."
"The fourth is the method you almost succeeded with just now—killing and plundering."
Viola's tone took on a hint of teasing: "Seizing it from a powerhouse who already possesses a soul crystal. What, do you regret it now? You failed to kill that Red Dragon back then."
"Whatever," Caesar curled his lip.
Based on the previous descriptions, he had already figured it out.
Unlike the universal [Resonance Stone], that [bloodline soul crystal] was strictly bound to the user. Just as a Charizardite X couldn't make a Venusaur evolve. Even if one could use a stolen one, there would likely be big trouble.
Sure enough, Viola commented: "A wise choice. That method has drawbacks. The soul crystal will retain the original owner's will; using it forcibly carries a high risk of backlash."
"As for the last way, it's all down to luck," Viola said. "In extreme natural wonders like the 'Elemental Turbulence Vortex' or the 'Geomantic Core', an ownerless natural soul crystal might be nurtured over long ages. However, such places are usually guarded by powerful factions or elemental creatures."
This world really is amazing. Z-System, Terastal System, MEGA System—he had encountered them all.
Caesar suddenly thought of Gigantamax and asked, "Do you know about 'Gigantification Secret Medicine'?"
Viola: "We'll talk when you actually encounter a Max Mushroom."
Caesar asked no more. The mana in his body had mostly recovered; he could set out again.
The brief respite ended here.
Caesar put on the damaged covert cloak again to hide his Gabite and preparing to return to the surface to scout for information.
He wondered how that idiot Cecilia was doing now.
One could guess with their tail that he was definitely on Osterburg's most-wanted list now. Although Viola said he could no longer feel the aura of that Legendary Red Dragon, Caesar didn't dare to be careless.
He had intended to contact the Osterburg gang he had previously recruited to ask about the situation.
But just then, buzz, buzz, buzz—the black metal disc engraved with a "P" shaped emblem in his breast pocket, the magic communication device, suddenly vibrated.
It was a contact from that lucky guy, Otto.
Caesar activated the magic communication device, and Otto's voice, filled with awe and trepidation, immediately came through.
"Lord of the dark trinity... are you alright?"