Reborn As An Evolving Monster

'A door? Did it attack and then go back in? Or was there some kind of Sign that I missed on the blocks, similar to those on the torches? That's possible. It could have also attacked through the door. I can only shoot Magic Skills from my body. I can't make an Ice Spike or a Corrupting Javelin appear dozens of meters away from me. I can only make them, then control them to move away. The Undead Lich inside the Dungeon could do it too. Remote... Activation? Or Remote Casting? I'm sure it has an actual name. I'll try to figure that out too. Being able to Cast attacks, not from around my body, but from an enemy's blindspot... That would have been trouble for Lin, who relied on his Eyes to detect attacks. Well, it would be trouble for anyone and anything really.'

Mark stood in front of the dark doors made of metal as he envisioned it.

'Not shooting a Great Fire Ball towards the enemy, but making it appear behind that enemy, making it explode right away. Sounds too good to be true, but that Undead Lich was capable of it. And I'm sure this one is too. Additionally, the Undying Flames... For the Dungeon to be Ranked [B], it'll summon Monsters like the one inside the Dungeon did. Or maybe, it'll have hundreds of Zombies and Ghouls waiting inside. I can't hear anything, so that's unlikely. It'll summon Monsters later.'

The white-scaled Monster thought about pushing those doors open.

It wasn't used to waiting before fighting a Boss Monster after all.

But too many things filled its mind to fight right away, so it opted to think for a bit longer.

'Gaavah, a Demon Lord. Raven, a Demon King Candidate... Though that's an assumption. The Undead Lich inside the Dungeon, part of the Dark Triad that served the First Demon King... That's an assumption too. Zephyr, a Descendant of the Giants... Fuck! Too many assumptions! And Nia, a Dragon...? Did she tell me that, or was it Yarnha who let it slip when I used Nia as a bluff? Tsk. I can't remember. But if I take all those assumptions together, then a Demon lord, a Demon King Candidate, a Lich from the Dark Triad, a Giant, and a Dragon. That's... Practically all the parties from that war. This time... On one side. Not only that, but Gaavah is the one who orchestrated all of us Candidates being Reborn. Is he looking for a war like that again? The Giants are extinct now. Who would oppose it, if it happened again? Wait... That attack that came from behind. Did it come from a Human? They looked Human but I couldn't see them clearly...'

Pieces were coming together.

But it still left a vague sense of distrust.

"How come?"

After leaving the Dungeon, Mark had moved in a way that defied what Gaavah or Raven wanted.

He didn't go find Draconia, or the spot marked on the map he had been handed.

Why does this place, that he found and to which he arrived randomly, Link him to that world?

Are such places a common thing? Mark couldn't say that they weren't, as there was much he hadn't seen yet. Still, he was doubtful.

The fact that this Link existed might have been enough to make him turn around and leave once.

The white-scaled Monster pushed the doors open, hungry for answers.

He was slightly surprised by the Boss Room.

Mark half expected it to resemble the Boss Room inside that Dungeon. He half expected the Undead Lich to be seated on a throne, just like that one was.

The Boss Room wasn't empty in the least.

It was a study.

Large bookcases covered the walls. Many desks, some covered by papers and books. On others, rested Urns, devices, and instruments.

In front of the wall opposite the doors Mark had pushed, a metallic structure across the room, from which unmoving or whispering Ghouls hung, their wrists tied, their feet off the ground, and their bodies mutilated.

Some of their wounds had been filled with powders.

Others, had Urns below them. Mark thought it a way of collecting blood.

Countless Pots and Urns covered the ground, especially at the Boss Room's corners.

Stones, Powders, Ghoul Ears, Eyes, and Gems, were laid on the desks haphazardly.

Mark found it all...

"The Intruder! Perfect timing. I am in dire need of new Materials."

Incredibly interesting.

"What are you working on?" Mark asked as he stepped into the study.

The Undead Lich stared for a bit, before turning back towards the Ghoul it had carefully laid on the desk in front of it.

"Ghouls have peculiar brains." 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝘯𝘰𝘷ℯ𝘭.𝑐𝘰𝑚

"Tasty too."

"Their brains are the closest to that of Creatures like Humans or Elves, but they don't show the same level of intelligence."

"And why are you studying that?" Mark asked as he looked around the Boss Room.

On the ceiling and ground, countless Signs had been drawn. There was no doubt in his mind that they were drawn using blood.

"The brain is where the Soul resides, or so it is thought. Damage to the brain can make the Soul flee."

"Do Ghouls even have Souls?"

"Don't you have one? You don't look so different from a Ghoul."

"Just because I can talk you assume I have a Soul?"

The Undead Lich stared silently for a bit.

"You're an interesting one."

"I'd like to think so. I think you're interesting too."

"Interesting for a Monster."

"Interesting for a Lich."

Both stared at one another, before breaking out into laughter.

"Too bad I'll be killing you soon. I need more Materials, for research purposes."

"Oh, don't you worry, I totally get that. I..." The white-scaled Monster pointed at its mouth with a thumb. "Need Materials too. Not for research though. Let's call it development."

"I can't wait to study your brain. Monsters with Souls are rare. Most of those with one are only half Monster, and half something else."

"Mmmm... I don't think my brain will tell you much."

"Which do you think comes first, the Body or the Soul?"

"The Soul." Mark answered.

"Haaa..." The Undead Lich sighed. "The arrogance of those who haven't lived long. The question is-"

"It's the Soul." The white-scaled Monster interrupted sharply. The Undead Lich stared. "I know that for a fact."

"Why don't you enlighten me?"

"Curious?"

"Very."

Mark stepped forward and stopped before the nearest desk.

"There's something I need your help with. At least, I think you can help." He said as he dipped his finger into the blueish liquid that filled the Urn on the desk. "Think you can do that? Before we get to the killing?"

"Well, well... Why not, I suppose. Do tell."

Mark remained silent for a bit as he placed his index finger on his tongue.

"Ugh... It's bitter."

"And toxic."

"Doesn't seem to affect me. Anyways, I've seen your Zombies and Skeletons. You're a Necromancer, right?"

"I am many things."

"Same." Mark took a seat on the stool next to the desk. "So I have this Skill, right..."