I Level Up Dragons with My Evolution System-Chapter 32: Fire Butterfly

Edward shuddered.

’Were they human?’ he thought, in shock.

How could that be? He didn’t remember humans being capable of turning into such terrifying beings, although when he thought about it, wasn’t that what the fantasy novels on Earth said?

That every living race could be transformed into the undead under certain circumstances...

"Surprised?" The death knight seemed to laugh. "They were transformed by me and our power into new forms of life. Into true undead."

Edward frowned and accepted that story for the moment, although he knew he needed more information.

"I don’t believe they did it willingly," he said.

"Some did," replied the death knight. "That brave swordsman you faced a while ago was among that group."

"Why would he do that?" Edward asked. "He would become the target of all humans."

"And if he didn’t transform, he would be the target of all of us," the knight sneered. "Although that wasn’t why he did it, he was brave and wanted to delve deeper into swordsmanship. Unfortunately, his body was weak. He couldn’t withstand many evolutions."

"And he decided to become undead because of that?"

That was hard to believe.

But the knight nodded. "After all, the undead in a dungeon cannot die."

"I still killed him," Edward recalled.

"Well, his body will be rebuilt when the dungeon restarts. As long as I live, none of them will die. And as they kill other humans, they will be able to level up. Eventually, they’ll become Wights or... Death Knights. Even more."

"Level up?" Edward frowned. Setting aside the fact that those fragile little bones could evolve, do they do so through levels?

"Do you have levels?" he asked, shocked.

"And you don’t?"

’Humans don’t have levels...’ Edward thought.

One of the reasons evolution is so difficult is because you can’t just go around killing beasts to evolve. The process of evolution is a process of cultivating the beast.

You must cultivate it slowly, giving it resources. Natural resources, depending on the type of beast. A large amount of energy, coming from the bodies of slain beasts. Cores...

It’s a very long process.

It’s not done by leveling up, unless you’re Edward and have an Evolution System that allows it.

’Now I understand why humans are losing to the Cursed Lands. So these guys can level up,’ he thought.

The Death Knight smiled. His wounded mouth moved horribly, like a caricature of horror.

"That’s why it’s in your best interest to join us, human. With our level increase, do you think you guys will be able to resist? We’ll make you part of our troops sooner or later. Either through enslavement or death."

"So, your suggestion is to turn me into one of those piles of bones up there."

"Well, you’re the first to hurt me so badly and bring me to this state, being so weak. I can give you the opportunity to be reborn as an undead and become a Wight directly. Your path to evolution will be easier."

A tempting proposition for any human greedy for power.

Too bad...

Edward suddenly smiled.

"You know, if I were someone else, I might accept your proposal," he said.

The Knight shrugged with a sigh. "So you intend to refuse? It’s a pity that someone so talented has to die."

"It’s not just you who can level up, cursed races," Edward said suddenly.

"Hm?" The Death Knight retracted his sword and frowned. "What do you mean?"

"Haven’t you noticed?" Edward gripped his sword and rushed toward him. "I’ve been getting stronger these past few minutes. Didn’t you feel it?"

The Death Knight made a strange grimace with his mouth, still confused. But his sword struck forward with terrifying precision, in a horizontal attack. The speed had increased dramatically, to the point that Edward had to move his sword to defend himself.

CLANK!

Not only was he pushed back by the impact, but a wall of fire threatened to engulf him.

The fire approached and engulfed him in a matter of seconds.

"Fool." The Death Knight sighed. "I would have liked to have you in my ranks for the battle ahead," he whispered.

Although he could now turn him into an undead... the problem was that he would not retain his ego. Much less his ability.

The death knight advanced toward Edward... or his corpse at a leisurely pace. Perhaps he was thinking. No one could guess the thoughts of an undead.

SWOSH!

The fire surrounding Edward was suddenly split apart, and a sword reemerged from the flames, like a phoenix rising from the ashes. The sword pierced the undead’s right eye with surgical precision, shattering his other eye socket.

"What you don’t understand is that I can level up too," whispered Edward, smiling.

The death knight was briefly stunned.

But... "Even if you destroy my eyes, you cannot blind me," he sneered. Suddenly, two new red sockets appeared on his face.

’They can’t be destroyed?’ Even Edward was shocked to feel the stare piercing through his sword.

"Didn’t you know? The eyes of a death knight are not physical." He sneered once more, before swinging his sword at him.

Edward moved back...

[Fire Caterpillar has reached Level 10.]

[Evolution in progress...]

[Fire Caterpillar has completed its first evolution > Fire Butterfly.]

He hadn’t even finished reading the round of messages coming to him when a distinctive figure rose up behind the Death Knight.

No one else noticed it but him.

Its body was like that of an elongated worm. It was about a meter long. It was red with black stripes, while strange golden blood ran inside it.

Its beautiful wings, bright red with golden stripes and black embellishments, extended two meters to the sides. It was enormous. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

The butterfly flapped its wings toward the Death Knight, and a strange dust fell on him.

[Fire Butterfly has used its ability: Incinerating Pollen.]

[Incinerating Pollen.]

| Any enemy that inhales or comes into contact with the pollen:

-Receives Continuous Fire Damage.

Damage Amount: 1.5% of their maximum health per second.

Duration: 30 seconds.

-Cancels all regeneration/healing.

Duration: 15 seconds.

-Undead creatures receive multiplied damage.

Total damage to undead creatures: 5% of their maximum health per second.

[Additional Effect]

| All bodies consumed by Incinerating Pollen are turned into Ashes of the End.

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