Now it was time to increase his army. His eyes fell on the [Rare Monster Card] he had acquired from Willow. It was a simple card, its face blank not giving a hint of what was within. It could be another Bronze-rank creature, a waste of a rare item. But with his Ultimate Evolution skill, even a weak creature had potential. And with his newfound luck, maybe, b it would be something special.
"This is it," he said to Lilian, who was watching him with wide, curious eyes. "Time to see if our luck has run out."
He held the card in his gauntleted hand and focused his will on it.
"Summon."
A prompt appeared.
[This is a high-potential Rare Monster Card. The summoned being's power will be directly influenced by the amount of Genetic energy you are willing to invest in the summoning ritual. More Genetic energy will attract a stronger soul. How much Genetic energy will you offer?]
Neraxis didn't hesitate. This was no time for half-measures. He was being hunted by the most powerful Lords in the region. He needed an anchor for his army, a true powerhouse.
"Offer 10,000 Genetic energy ," he commanded.
The number was staggering. It was more Genetic energy than most Lords would see in months. A massive chunk of his newfound wealth vanished from his reserves, but he felt no regret. A torrent of energy, far greater than the one that had summoned Lilian, erupted from the card. The small cave was instantly flooded with a brilliant emerald-green light, so vibrant and full of life that the pale roots on the walls began to tremble and uncurl. The air grew warm and smelled of fresh rain, and blooming flowers.
The light twisted and merged. The emerald energy solidified, and before Neraxis stood a creature of breathtaking beauty and immense power.
It was an actual dragon!
Her scales were a mosaic of deep forest greens and rich, earthy brown. Small, harmless-looking flowers and buds were nestled between her scales, and a pair of magnificent horns, shaped like the twisting branches of an ancient oak tree, swept back from her head. Her eyes were pools of molten gold, wise and ancient, radiating a powerful calmness that seemed to soak into the very stones of the cave. She was easily fifteen feet long from snout to tail, her powerful body coiled gracefully in the confined space.
A wave of information flooded Neraxis's mind.
[Summoning Complete!]
[Name: Jasmine]
[Rank: Diamond]
[Type: Ancient Grove Dragon]
[Description: A rare and noble breed of dragon intrinsically linked to the forces of nature and life. They are protectors of ancient forests and sacred groves, wielding powerful life magic that can both nurture and destroy. They are wise, calm, and incredibly powerful.]
[Abilities: Photosynthesis, Nature's Grasp, Sunbeam.]
Diamond-rank. Neraxis's jaw dropped. He had gambled 10,000 Genetic energy and summoned a Diamond-rank dragon. It was a creature on par with the legendary beasts that top-tier Lords boasted about. He had expected, at best, a Gold-rank creature he could evolve later. He had never dreamed of this. His massive investment had paid off beyond his wildest expectations.
Jasmine blinked her large, golden eyes, taking in her new surroundings. Her gaze fell upon Neraxis, clad in his shining silver armor. She lowered her great head, her snout almost touching the floor in a gesture of respect. A voice, ancient and melodic like the rustling of a thousand leaves, echoed not in the air, but directly in his mind.
'I am Jasmine. I have answered your call, Summoner. The scent of a true forest is on you, a will to protect and grow. I will serve you.'
Neraxis was speechless for a moment, simply staring in awe. He had a Fallen Angel warrior and now an Ancient Grove Dragon. His force, though small, was one of incredible quality.
"Welcome, Jasmine," he finally managed to say, his own voice sounding small and young compared to hers. "I am Neraxis."
It was at that moment that a furious roar echoed from the room above them.
"ROOOAR!"
The monster they had trapped themselves to escape was still there, and it was growing impatient.
Heavy thuds began to shake the ceiling again as the beast threw its weight against the stone slab covering their exit. Cracks began to spiderweb across its surface.
"My Lord, it's breaking through!" Lilian cried, positioning herself defensively in front of Neraxis.
Jasmine lifted her head, a low growl rumbling in her chest. 'The air above is fouled by a creature of rot. It offends the balance.'
"It's a monster that trapped us down here," Neraxis explained quickly. "We don't know what it is."
'It matters not,' Jasmine's voice replied in his mind, calm and utterly confident. 'Stand back, my Lord.'
Neraxis and Lilian flattened themselves against the far wall of the cave. Jasmine uncoiled her powerful body, her leafy scales rustling. She took a deep breath, and the small flowers on her back began to glow with a shiny golden light. The air in the cave grew intensely hot.
With a final, shattering crash, the stone slab above them exploded into a thousand pieces, and a massive, hairy form dropped into the cave, landing with a ground-shaking thud. It was a hulking, ape-like beast, easily ten feet tall, with matted, dark fur and long, powerful arms ending in vicious claws. Its eyes glowed with a feral red light. The System identified it as a [Grave-Ape - Gold Rank].
The Grave-Ape saw them, let out a deafening roar and charged.
It never took a second step.
"BOOM"
Jasmine opened her mouth, and a concentrated beam of pure, white-hot sunlight shot forth. It wasn't a fire, but a lance of pure solar energy. The Sunbeam struck the Grave-Ape directly in the chest. There was no gore, no blood. The monster simply vanished in a silent flash of incinerating light, its triumphant roar cut off instantly. A cloud of fine grey ash was all that remained, drifting gently to the cavern floor.
Neraxis and Lilian stared in stunned silence. A Gold-rank monster, a beast that had terrified them and forced them into hiding, had been effortlessly and instantly annihilated. The sheer, overwhelming difference in power was breathtaking.
Before they could even recover, a cacophony of shrieks erupted from the hole in the ceiling. Attracted by the light and power, a new flock of Corvian Shriekers, led by a much larger one with a crown of jagged black feathers, a [Corvian Shrieker King - Silver Rank] dived into the cave.
They were met by Jasmine. She didn't even bother with another Sunbeam. She simply lashed out with her tail, a green-brown blur of motion. Vines, thick as a man's arm, erupted from the ground, snaking around the shrieking birds, crushing them in an instant. The Shrieker King was plucked from the air by a thorny tendril and squeezed until it popped like a rotten fruit.
'BOOM'
In less than ten seconds, the battle was over. The cave was silent once more, littered with the crushed remains of the Shriekers.
Jasmine turned her calm, golden eyes back to Neraxis. 'The pests have been cleansed, my Lord. It is safe to proceed.'
Neraxis could only nod, his mind reeling. He had been worried about hunters, about surviving the end of the protection period. Now, with a Diamond-rank Ancient Grove Dragon at his side, he felt safe and reassured.