He sat in deep thought, staring at the glowing choices before him.
Becoming a True Hero meant losing [Gluttony], something he wasn't willing to do.Becoming a True Demon Lord was the easier path, but he despised the idea of ruling through destruction alone.
There had to be another way.
Taking a deep breath, he asked the voice in his mind:
"[Wise One], are there any other evolution paths I can undergo?"
For a moment, there was silence—then, the voice of [Wise One] responded.
"Affirmative. There is one additional evolution path: The True Dragon Path."
His heart pounded. True Dragon?
He had heard legends of the True Dragons—beings of absolute existence, neither good nor evil, standing above gods, demons, and mortals alike. Rimuru Tempest, the most powerful god of the Cardinal World, had inherited such power.
If he could become a True Dragon, he wouldn't have to sacrifice his [Gluttony] or his own beliefs.
It was perfect.
But before he could get too excited, [Wise One] continued.
"Warning: The user does not meet the requirements for the True Dragon Path."
His heart sank. "What are the requirements?"
"Requirements for True Dragon Evolution:"
A Divine Core – A True Dragon must possess a core infused with divine energy, a concept of existence that transcends mortality.A Stable Origin – The user must have a natural connection to the world's laws, something even gods struggle to achieve.Recognition from a True Dragon – Evolution requires the acknowledgment of an existing True Dragon, proving the user is worthy.
He clenched his fists. He had none of these.
For now, it was impossible.
But that didn't mean it would always be.
Moving Forward – The Journey Continues
Though frustrated, he knew one thing:
He would not give up.
If the True Dragon path was locked, he would find a way.If the requirements were out of reach, he would make them achievable.
But for now, he had to continue moving forward.
With renewed determination, he dismissed the Hero and Demon Lord evolution options and stood up.
He had no master, no god, and no ruler.
He was his own being.
And one day, he would surpass them all.
Thus, his journey continued—not as a hero, nor a demon lord—but as the one who would forge his own legend.