Pioneer of The Elements
As Enzo plunged into the Lake of Icy Hell, his body seized up instantly. The cold pierced through his flesh, muscles, and bones, reaching deep into his very core. His mind screamed in agony, every nerve ending on fire despite the freezing temperature.
He struggled to move, his limbs feeling like lead weights. The water around him was so cold it burned, searing his skin with an icy touch. Enzo's lungs seemed to breathe in the cold, turning it into energy that sunk into every cell of his being.
In the depths of the lake, Enzo's consciousness began to slip away. The cold numbed his senses, and darkness crept in at the edges of his vision. But something within him refused to give up. A spark of determination ignited in his soul, pushing back against the encroaching darkness.
Enzo focused on that spark, nurturing it with every ounce of willpower he possessed. He thought of his sister, of the future he experienced in his last life that he needed to change, of the power he sought so he could complete his quest and be free.
Free from other's control.
Free from anyone else's demands.
He realized that he had just scratched the surface of the vast multiverse in his previous life and he wanted more.
He wanted to explore, grow the Dragon Clan, and use his new powers to carve out a place for himself and his loved ones in the multiverse. Although he was thrust into this spot as the Prince of the Dragon Clan, he found himself accepting his identity more and more every day.
He was Enzo, a human from Earth.
Yet he was also Enzo, a Void Dragon and Prince of the Dragon Clan.
He would rebuild his Clan and restore its glory. Damned all the enemies he had, and damn all those who said he couldn't.
The spark grew into a flame, burning bright against the crushing cold.
As Enzo fought to stay conscious, he felt a change beginning within him. The icy water no longer felt like an enemy, but a teacher. His body began to adapt, cells shifting and rearranging to withstand the extreme cold. The pain subsided, replaced by a strange sense of calm.
The lake's essence seeped into Enzo's very being. He felt his mastery for water growing stronger, but it was his connection to ice that truly blossomed. The cold became a part of him, no longer an external force but an extension of his own power.
Hours passed, though time held little meaning in the depths of the Lake of Icy Hell. Enzo's transformation continued, and his body and soul were forever altered by the experience. The warmth that once resided in his heart was replaced by a cool, calculating resolve.
As the process neared its completion, Enzo received a notification from the system:
[Congratulations! You are the first player in Beast Evolution to upgrade an elemental mastery from (High Seed) to (Early Sprout). You have been awarded the following bonuses:
Unique Title: Pioneer of The Elements
Title Effects: +10% to all Elemental Stat Bonuses
Unique Skill Unlocked: Ice Void Armor (Beginner)
Skill Effect: Create armor that clings to your skin and sends any elemental attacks into the Void]
Enzo's eyes snapped open, no longer bothered by the icy water. He flexed his fingers, feeling the power of ice running through his body. With a thought, he propelled himself upward, breaking through the surface of the lake.
As he emerged, more grateful for oxygen than he ever had been, Enzo took a moment to check his elemental mastery page.
------------------
Elemental Masteries: Ice, Earth, Water, Space, Fire
Early Sprout: Ice (+60 Defense +20 Intellect)
Late Seed: Earth (+30 Vitality +10 Strength), Water (+30 Intellect +10 Agility)
Middle Seed: None
Early Seed: Space, Fire
------------------
Enzo climbed out of the lake, his body dry despite having been submerged for hours. He stood tall, a new air of indifference and cold calculation surrounding him. The Lake of Icy Hell had done more than improve his elemental affinities; it had reshaped who he was.
He had goals and ambitions, and this lake had shown him he could let nothing stop him if he wanted to achieve his goals.
Enzo emerges from the lake, changed in more ways than one. Enzo reviews his gains with Port who whistles and takes a swig of his drink. Port says that while Enzo was able to go from nothing to Early Sprout, Enzo should be warned that afterwards would be much more difficult. Even with Enzo's unique body. Enzo then tells Port about the Pioneer of The Elements title and asks if Port knows any titles that he can earn that will help Enzo.
Port Swolder, the head and only butler of the Dragon Clan stood waiting for him. The midget's eyes widened as he took in Enzo's changed appearance.
"Well, well. It looks like you gained something from the Lake of Icy Hell. I can't say I'm surprised. Mind telling me what exactly it did, young master?"
Enzo nodded, his face impassive.
He proceeded to recount his experience and the gains he had made. As Enzo described his new elemental mastery and skills, Port let out a low whistle and took a long swig from his ever-present flask.
"From nothing to Early Sprout, eh? That's impressive, I'll give you that. But don't let it go to your head."
Port's tone grew serious. "You should know, young master, that while you've made remarkable progress, the road ahead will be much more difficult. Even with your unique body, advancing further in elemental mastery will be a challenge like nothing you've faced before."
'I know. Getting my wind mastery to Early Tree, which comes after the Sprout stage, took me a full 10 years!'
Enzo nodded and thanked Port for the advice. He could see his butler cared and didn't want him to get too full of himself.
Thankfully, Enzo had experienced 10 years of getting all that beaten out of him. He wouldn't make the same mistakes a rookie did, simply because he wasn't one.
"The other thing I gained was a title. It's called the [Pioneer of The Elements]."
Port's eyebrows shot up. "Now that's interesting. Titles can be powerful things in this world."
"Do you know of any other titles I could earn? Ones that might help me on my path?"
A sly grin spread across Port's face. "As a matter of fact, I might know just the thing. But it'll have to wait until after we're done with your training inside the tower."
As they began to leave the area surrounding the Lake of Icy Hell, Enzo decided to review his status page. He called up the translucent screen with a thought, eager to see how his battle in the tower and his trip in the icy lake had affected his stats.
------------------
Name: Enzo
Gender: Male
Condition: Dragon (Infant)
Bloodline: Void Dragon
Level: 42 [912/28,925]
Title: Pioneer of The Elements
Health: 1790/1790
Mana: 2010/2010
------------------
Stamina: 146
Intellect: 201
Strength: 157
Defense: 212
Vitality: 179
Agility: 157
Luck: 0
------------------
Quests: 3
------------------