Reborn As An Evolving Monster

[You have acquired the Magic Skill "Undying Fire Ball[D]"!]

[Affinity with the "Undying Flames" increases.]

'Primordial Flame... I'm guessing that means the Flame from which all other Flames are derived. The Original Flame, so to speak. Are the Undying Flames incompatible with that?'

Mark stared down the path.

"Taking a bit from each, huh? Yeah. That's better than taking the light out. Though these don't produce much light around them strangely enough..."

He walked forward.

'I'll take the rest of the Flames once I've dealt with whatever is inside this pathway-'

Mark turned around suddenly.

Ice Manipulation-

In a second, a wall of ice was created, blocking off his exit.

"This isn't that Dungeon. I'll block the entry. This way, at least, I'll know if something approaches from behind. Taking that down is bound to make some noise."

Mark stepped forward as he thought out loud.

"Burning Ray Evolved into Purging Ray. Purging... The Flame also tried to Purify my Blood, Heart, and Soul. Purify it from... Corruption Magic? The word Purify does lead to that conclusion. Then the Undying Flames are like an unwanted child, huh?"

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

"So I'm right? Sorry to say, but I'm planning on using everything I can. Especially when my Affinity with it is high."

[Your Title "Potential Wielder of the Primordial Flame" shrugs indifferently.]

"Indifferently...? Oh. Cause you judged me already, huh? Well, works for me I guess."

The white-scaled Monster took three additional steps forward before stopping.

'Getting close.'

Splat-

Splat-

Splat-

"Ughhhh... Uhhhh... Wuuuu..."

The white-scaled Monster immediately crouched, trying its best not to be noticed by the approaching...

'Half torn skin, decaying body... It can barely walk. That's...!'

"Wuuu... Wuuu..." It circled around while reaching forward with its decaying arms.

Its elbow and forearm bones were visible.

'A Zombie!'

Mark opened his left hand.

Ice Manipulation-

A second later, a small sphere of ice was thrown forward.

It hit the wall next to the Monster and,

"Wuuu!"

'They can hear sounds at least. Now, can they see?'

Ice Manipulation-

The small sphere of ice was made to float towards the walking Zombie.

It hung in the air right in front of its eyes.

Five seconds later,

"Wuuu!" The Zombie swung its arm at the sphere.

'They can see. Although... Just barely.'

Mark brought his hands together.

'With those movements, they get their strength from their numbers... Or perhaps their bites have special properties? Either way, this is a good test.'

Flames started rising between the white-scaled Monster's palms.

'Purging Ray. If what it Purges and Purifies is related to Corruption, then it must be effective against the Undead too. Something that refuses to die is unnatural... And, therefore, Corrupted.'

The Flames were concentrated into a single point.

The next second, they shot out with an arrow's speed in a single line, piercing through the Zombie's decaying stomach.

Mark had expected its body to fall to the ground.

Instead, the flames spread, and its body caught fire.

"Yeah... It's Purging alright." He whispered with a chuckle as the Zombie fell to the ground burning while waving its arms helplessly.

[You have defeated 1 Lower Zombie.]

[You have acquired 50Experience Points.]

[You have defeated 1 Lower Zombie.]

[You have acquired 50Experience Points.]

[You have defeated 1 Lower Zombie.]

[You have acquired 50Experience Points.]

"Three in one hit, huh? Let's purge this place quickly."

...

About thirty Zombies later, the end of the path.

It didn't lead to anything, and was simply a decoy for the Undead Lich, the Dungeon's Master and Boss Monster.

A wall at the end of the path.

Separating Mark from that wall,

"Wuuu... Awuawuawu! Awu-"

BLEUGHH-

"Fucking gross." Mark chuckled.

In front of him, a gigantic mass with a huge bulging and decaying stomach.

It had multiple arms and legs, no doubt made by putting together numerous Zombies.

'I could end it like the rest... But I do want to find out if there's something special about Zombies. Like if their bite can turn others into Zombies or something. Plus, there's nothing to Devour because of those Flames. They turn them to ash right away.'

Bleughh-

The ground surrounding the grotesque Monster was wet and covered by whatever was exiting its mouth.

'Body parts and...?'

Mark brought a hand to his mouth.

"Pfff! Don't tell me you can't digest them? Did you eat a bunch of Zombies and now have a tummy ache? Pfhahahaha! That's too funny! Throwing up parts of their bodies and guts!"

"Meeeeeh!! Waaa!!"

The grotesque mass walked forward-

No, it didn't walk.

"Rolling towards me? BFAHHAHAHA!! I CAN'T!! THIS IS TOO FUNNY!!"

The white-scaled Monster laughed and laughed as the grotesque being tried closing the distance.

Its eyesight was just as bad as that of the Zombies, but its sense of hearing seemed to be more developed.

"Now, let's get you on a training regimen, alright?" Mark took a step back. "Come on, let's keep you moving."

The white-scaled Monster took six steps back before,

"Pfffft! Stopping already? Man, you really have to work on that Endurance. Skeletons usually have Higher Endurance. It's the opposite for Zombies, huh?"

With an amused smile, Mark stared at the grotesque creature that was, due to its own mass, struggling to breathe.

"Hope you're resistant to slashes or something at least." Mark whispered as he walked forward. "Cause you don't look appetizing at all right now."

The white-scaled Monster moved its right foot back.

The instant it touched the ground,

Crack-

Mark launched himself forward as fast as he could.

His clench fist landed on the bulging stomach with full force!

Mark couldn't help but chuckle internally. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝗯𝐧𝐨𝘃𝐞𝐥.𝐜𝐨𝐦

'If I were as strong as that Commander, I'm sure the stomach would have exploded-'

His thoughts were interrupted.

No sound? No sign of pain?

The Monster was about six meters tall, despite its legs being very short.

Mark moved his gaze upwards.

'Oh, no.'

A facial expression that could only be described as "constipated".

It had done its best but,

BLEUGHH-

A tail flick landed on the Monster's cheek, turning its mouth, and therefore what it was about to throw up, away.

Mark's "Combative Eye" Passive Skill allowed him to notice it though.

A portion of a decaying stomach was falling.

So what? It's just a decaying stomach.

It wasn't.

And Mark's every instinct told him what it truly was.

Poison.

A fearsome, fearsome poison.

It was too late to step back.

As the decaying matter was about to deposit itself on Mark's arm, raging flames sprung forth, turning that matter to ash.

"Fuck..." Mark whispered as he jumped back.

"Wuuuu... Bleughhh!"

"Gave me a real scare there. Didn't expect it. And despite you being so disgusting it..."

His lips curled up into a twisted smile.

"Makes me wanna eat ya!"