"Ready yourself," Lumberling warned.
Karnark gave a short nod and stepped forward.
As the essence poured into him, his whole body stiffened. Unlike the others, his struggle wasn't just endurance, it was transformation.
His frame convulsed, muscles knotting and twisting as though reshaping themselves. His bones popped audibly, claws lengthening, his scales darkening to a deeper shade with a faint metallic sheen.
"Ghh-rrraaaagh!" Karnark roared, dropping to one knee, his breath ragged. Sparks of aura lashed out from him, wild and unstable.
The other kobolds tensed, but Lumberling raised a hand. "No one move." His eyes sharpened. "This is his breakthrough."
For several long moments it seemed as though Karnark might rip apart from the inside. Then suddenly, the energy snapped into place. His aura expanded, no longer like a wild blaze but a heavy, pulsing force that filled the clearing.
