The volcanic basin had transformed into a vision of hellish transcendence. The air itself was a screaming testament to the pain and power concentrated within the magma pool. Sebastian and Kael stood firm behind the rock formation, the collective power of their companions struggling to maintain a shield against the chaotic elemental storm unleashed by the Ignarok's forced mutation.
The roar of the Ignarok had devolved into a continuous, primal bellow, a sound that conveyed absolute, soul-shredding agony. The Potion of Ascendant Hearth was doing its work—it was dismantling the dragon's current form and forcing the spontaneous evolution of its very core.
The magma pool was no longer just a pool; it was a furious cauldron of white-hot energy. Veins of concentrated fire and earth mana pulsed violently within the liquid. The Ignarok's massive body was at the epicenter, its outline barely visible through the shimmering thermal distortion.
Sebastian, his face grim, focused the entirety of his Beast Whisper talent, sending a powerful, telepathic anchor to the struggling dragon. "Focus! Hold the thought of mastery! The pain is not the end, it is the fire that forges the new self! Remember the Challenger! Remember the goal!"
Within the magma, the mutation was a process of terrifying destructive creation. The Ignarok's outer scales, the sturdy Tier IV obsidian armor, were dissolving, melting away into the surrounding magma. This was the most agonizing phase: the loss of its very identity. The elemental fire was attacking its own host, burning away the old constraints.
Suddenly, a massive surge of power erupted from the pool. The liquid magma itself was violently ejected into the air, creating a momentary molten plume. The Ignarok rose fully from the pool, its body no longer covered in solid rock scales, but in a sheath of pure, glowing, incandescent lava. It looked like a living star, its form unstable, shimmering, and terrifyingly hot.
Kael cried out, instinctively raising his arm to shield his eyes. Even the Duskmane's spiritual shield seemed to buckle under the sheer, raw heat. Sebastian ordered Kael to unleash the maximum power of his Boulder Fang and Stoneclaw Grizzly to reinforce their position. The two earth-aligned beasts slammed their paws down, channeling their mana to create a thick, temporary earth-and-rock barricade.
The creature's struggle was internal, a battle waged within its own core. Sebastian's Book of Beast Records had warned him: the new, Ascendant Trait that granted the dragon higher intelligence was demanding a commensurate increase in its elemental capacity. The Tier IV core was struggling to accommodate the Tier V requirements.
The true breakthrough came when the focus of the transformation shifted inward, to the dragon's head. Its molten gold eyes were squeezed shut, and the powerful, agonizing roar peaked in intensity. Sebastian could sense the precise moment the creature's dormant intellect was being forcibly expanded and integrated with its elemental mana matrix.
The Ignarok had been rated 6/10 for Intelligence; the mutation was forcing it toward an 8 or 9. The sudden influx of cognitive capacity, combined with the extreme pain, was shattering its previous mental barriers. The dragon's mind was being violently upgraded, giving it the capacity for strategy, planning, and control it had previously lacked.
As its mental barrier shattered, Sebastian felt a tidal wave of elemental power slam against his own consciousness. It was a raw, unfiltered expression of the Ignarok's newly awakened Tier V core. The air turned heavy, not just with heat, but with a profound sense of dominance and ancient power—the unmistakable aura of a Soul Sentinel.
The transformation was taking hold. The sheer power of the fused Fire and Earth mana was immense, but it needed to coalesce into the stable, new form.
Slowly, agonizingly, the brilliant white-hot glow began to dim, replaced by a deep, powerful red. The unstable, liquid lava skin began to contract, harden, and reform. The result was not the old, dull obsidian armor, but a new, magnificent set of scales: Magma-Infused Adamantine. These new scales were a deep, metallic crimson, streaked with shimmering lines of liquid gold, radiating a controlled, internal heat far exceeding its previous level.
Its overall size increased dramatically, gaining several feet in height and length, pushing it closer to a true Titan status. The jagged obsidian spikes along its spine had solidified into a crown of burning, red crystal, which pulsed with a regulated, conscious power. The most profound change, however, was in its eyes. The confused, instinct-driven molten gold had been replaced by two steady pools of controlled, intelligent fire.
The moment the final scale solidified, the roar ceased. The immense energy focused and drew inward, settling into a deep, steady hum that spoke of limitless power held in reserve. The Ignarok opened its new eyes, and they fixed on the boulder it had failed to shatter hours earlier. This time, there was no frustration, only cold, strategic assessment.
A wave of pure, triumphant certainty washed over Sebastian's mind. The mutation was complete.
The Book of Beast Records, which Sebastian had kept open, slammed shut, its pages flipping wildly before settling on the new entry:
[DATA REVISION]
[ Rune-Beast Tier Reached ]
[ Name: Ignarok – Volcanic Tyrant Dragon ]
- Tier V: Soul Sentinel
• Ascendant Trait Achieved: Cinder-Mind Supremacy (Cognitive function greatly enhanced; capable of complex strategic thought and self-improvement.)
• Element Fusion Complete: Fused Igneous Heart (Mana now operates as a singular, highly efficient Fire/Earth energy source.)
• Rune Power Level: 1,854 (Massive increase achieved)
• New Abilities Unlocked: Volcanic Singularity, Adamantine Fortification
• Bonding Difficulty: Extreme (9 Rune Requirements)
[DATA ENTRY COMPLETE]
The former Challenger was gone, replaced by a true Soul Sentinel, a dragon whose new power level of 1,854 far surpassed the dominant male's 1,287.
Sebastian felt a profound sense of relief and accomplishment. He had successfully orchestrated the evolution of a Mythical Rune-Beast, a feat that would be impossible for any non-Grandmaster without his unique talents.
The newly Ascended Ignarok slowly lowered its massive head, its immense new form filling the entire basin. It looked directly at Sebastian, its intelligent gaze conveying a powerful mix of gratitude, respect, and challenge. It had received the power it craved, and now, it was ready to fulfill its end of the pact.
Sebastian, despite the overwhelming aura, remained perfectly composed. He simply nodded, acknowledging the successful transformation. The fire in the basin was gone, replaced by a controlled, purposeful heat. The Ignarok was no longer the defeated challenger; it was the rightful emperor of the volcano.