Reborn As An Evolving Monster

"Depending on the Monster, the Sign is drawn at different locations. Inside the Skull for Skeletons, between the ribs for the Wolf Skeletons, back paw for the Bear-looking ones, and on the tail for those standing on two feet... The Sign gets bigger and gets more noticeable as the Monster's strength increases. Balance, huh?" The white-scaled Monster whispered, surrounded by small hills of shattered bones. "The Ritual involves Demonic Blood and drawing the Sign. Anything else? For my Skill... Does it have an Innate Ritual or do I have to come up with my own?"

[Your Title "Potential Demon King Candidate" peeks at you through its slumber.]

The white-scaled Monster tilted its head slightly.

"Well?"

[Your Title "Potential Demon King Candidate" mumbles that you should find your own answer.]

"My own answer? So I have to come up with a Ritual. Or is that just your way of telling me to look for the answer myself?"

[Your Title "Potential Demon King Candidate" grumbles in its slumber.]

"First time you've talked this much."

[Your Title "Potential Demon King Candidate" explains that an arrival disturbs its slumber.]

"An arrival? Oh... That one will probably be quiet."

[Your Title "Potential Demon King Candidate" grumbles.]

[Your Title "Potential Demon King Candidate" closes its eyes and falls back into a slumber.]

"Starting to talk more now that there are others?" The white-scaled Monster whispered with a chuckle.

Mark scratched his chin.

'The higher the Grade, the less they talk. And the less often they show their effects. Those effects also grow with the Grade. Mythical Grade... I'll have to try using the Magic Skill to figure out whether it'll react to it or not. The other Titles are also Epic-Grade, but they haven't let their presence known yet. [A] Ranked Skills aren't equal. The same must be true for Epic-Grade Titles... Or maybe I'm just more suited to being a "Potential Demon King Candidate" now. In any case...' 𝙛𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝓮𝒃𝓷𝓸𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝒄𝓸𝓶

The white-scaled Monster looked around.

'Nothing too dangerous for now. If these are supposed to protect the Undead Lich or, at least, keep intruders at bay, then this is definitely strange. [B] Ranked Dungeon. Does this mean stronger Monsters will show up, or is the Boss Monster just that strong and able to carry the Dungeon's Rank practically by itself?'

Mark walked deeper into the underground Dungeon and,

"Ah. Now that's familiar."

Three paths.

'They're different from those in that Dungeon in the sense that the ground, walls, and ceilings are polished. It's not just three caves... I'd rather not find the Undead Lich yet.'

Mark stared into each of the three paths.

'No torches in there. Will they be lit once I step in, or-'

The white-scaled Monster suddenly turned around.

"Oh..." It walked towards the closest torch. "A different Sign... Pretty cool. Safe to assume they weren't actively lit by something then. Good."

Mark walked back towards the paths and,

[Your Title "Potential Demon King Candidate" smells something through its slumber.]

'Do you now?'

[Your Title "Potential Demon King Candidate" says that the path in the middle leads to the Undead Lich.]

"Are you sure?"

[Your Title "Potential Demon King Candidate" forbids you from doubting it.]

[Your Title "Evolving Monster" peeks at your "Potential Demon King Candidate" Title.]

[Your Title "Devourer" brings its snout closer to your "Potential Demon King Candidate" Title.]

'You smelling him or something?'

[Your Title "Potential Demon King Candidate" winces.]

[Your Title "Devourer" sneers.]

[Your Title "Evolving Monster" chuckles.]

[Your Title "Potential Demon King Candidate" falls back into a slumber.]

'Bullied to sleep, huh?' Mark chuckled.

He brought his hands together and stretched his arms forward as he walked towards the path on the right.

"Let's start with this one-"

The instant Mark stepped in,

Woosh- Woosh- Woosh-

Dozens of torches were lit one by one.

His eyes widened and he walked towards the closest torch.

[Your Title "Fire Seeker" stares with sparkling eyes.]

"That... Looks pretty cool."

[Your Title "Fire Seeker" nods enthusiastically.]

[Your Title "Devourer" falls into a slumber.]

[Your Title "Flame Devourer" opens its eyes.]

"A switch, huh?"

[Your Title "Fire Seeker" stares at the peculiar Flames.]

[Your Title "Fire Seeker" extracts information from the Flames.]

[Undying Flames: Flames often associated with the 'Undead'. The Undying Flames will continue burning until they are put out.]

"Associated with the Undead? Hence the blue color, huh? That's good information but..."

The white-scaled Monster's eye sparkled.

'Blue flames! How fucking cool is that?!'

Mark couldn't fight against his tingling right hand anymore.

"Let's try it." He whispered as he extended his right arm towards the torch and the burning blue flames.

[Your Title "Flame Devourer" attempts to Devour the Undying Flames!]

'It's fighting back? Feels just like it did when my Manipulation Skill was-'

[Your Title "Flame Devourer" asks for help!]

'Huh? I can't do much more than this-'

[Your Title "Potential Demon King Candidate" sighs.]

"Oho..."

The next second, a small flame separated from the rest, and moved towards Mark's palm before laying on it.

He stared at the dancing blue flame, before closing his palm.

"That all you could get me?"

The next second, the white-scaled Monster's body froze as a torrent of blue flames approached its body rapidly.

Mark's instincts made his body froze, despite his feeling that it was not an enemy attack.

The wave of blue flames stopped approaching once it was a meter away.

A great raging fire.

The next second, the blue flames started spinning around the white-scaled Monster's body.

They got closer and closer to Mark's body.

Just when they were about to enter it,

[Your Title "Potential Wielder of the Primordial Flame" peeks through its slumber.]

Instantly, Mark's throat and body started burning slightly while the Undying Flames shrank away.

"Tsk..." He clicked his tongue through the pain.

[Your Title "Potential Wielder of the Primordial Flame" looks at you through a half-open eye.]

"Saying I should only use your Flame?" The white-scaled Monster whispered with a muffled chuckle.

[Your Title "Potential Wielder of the Primordial Flame" falls back into a slumber.]

The Undying Flames approached once more, passed through Mark's scales, and were absorbed.

'Reminding me not to forget about you, huh?'

[Your Title "Flame Devourer" stands awkwardly.]

[Your Title "Fire Seeker" stands awkwardly.]

[Your Title "Evolving Monster" stands awkwardly.]

'Like children afraid of their teacher...'

Sigh-

"Well? Get on with it."

[You have acquired the Magic Skill...]