Chapter 481: At The Queen’s Courtyard (1st Bonus)

[Regeneration has undergone evolutionary enhancement in its speed and potency]

[Amplification has not undergone any evolutionary change.]

Ethan nodded slowly. "And what about Inverse? Did my evolution affect my Dragon Trait?"

[Negative.]

[The Dragon Trait: Inverse has not undergone any change.]

[However, the host's overall draconic growth has increased as a result of the evolutionary process.]

"Hmm…" Ethan frowned slightly, something felt off.

Based on what he had learned about demonic evolution, the strength of the life force absorbed generally depended on the strength of the demon killed.

The stronger the demon, the greater the evolutionary benefit.

And the life-force of the demon he had absorbed was from a Grade 8 berserker.

Considering that, Ethan had expected the changes to be somewhat greater. A grade 8 berserker was practically Second-tier Grand Class Level.

The System seemed to recognize his dissatisfaction.

[Your expectations are based primarily on the evolutionary progression of conventional demons.]

[Unlike conventional demons, you possesses both demonic and draconic natures.]

[For other demons, evolutionary energy primarily affects a single racial nature. Your evolutionary process must instead affect a body possessing two distinct racial natures.]

[As a result, a greater quantity of life force is required for evolutionary energy to produce significant changes across the host's entire physiology.]

Ethan's expression softened as he understood.

His evolution had actually been significant. It only had to spread across more than what a conventional demon's evolution would need to affect.

His demonic and draconic natures were both growing together.

The System then reminded Ethan once more

[You are yet to assign a name to the newly acquired Saber skill.]

The message on the interface changed, displaying the skill's description once more.

[Unnamed Skill]: Creates a delayed copy of the user's sword swing. The user can choose a specific point along the full trajectory of the original swing where the delayed copy is recorded, determining where it will begin and how much of the remaining swing it reproduces.

Ethan stared at the description for a moment, considering what to call it.

Then a name came to mind.

"Trailing Edge."

[Would you like to reconsider this name before confirmation?]

"Yes. That's the name."

[Skill name confirmed.]

The words appeared across the screen.

[Trailing Edge]

Ethan smiled a bit to himself. He now had something new to test with Ragnarok.

It had actually been a long time since he properly used his legendary weapon, and this new skill gave him a good reason to bring it out again.

Right then, a knock came from the door.

Ethan glanced toward it. "Come in."

The door opened, and a demon servant entered the room, bowing her head immediately.

"My Queen has requested an audience with you and the rest of your team. You are to meet her in the courtyard."

Ethan narrowed his eyes a bit, then asked. "Did she say what the specific reason was?"

The servant shook her head. "No, sir. I was only instructed to deliver the message."

Ethan sighed and nodded. "Alright."

The team eventually gathered in the courtyard, slowly coming together as they waited.

Pan was also there, although he had stepped behind the others, choosing to watch from this position rather than stand with the rest of the group.

Bella and Bettie were still not there yet, leaving just the others, including Nathan.

A few more minutes passed before Morgana began walking into the courtyard with a confident smile on her face as she approached them.

She stopped a few meters away.

None of them bowed their heads in reverence to the Queen.

Instead, everyone simply stared at her, their expressions ranging from apprehension to caution.

They knew Morgana was the one who had masterminded the entire thing, which had ultimately led to the attack at the quarters.

And although Bella had assured them that they were completely safe when they came to the castle, it had not exactly taken the edge off their uneasiness.

Morgana merely rolled her eyes and cursed under her breath. She found their looks disrespectful but on the other hand, was not in the mood for another scuffle or disagreement with the Mistress.

"I called you all here because I wanted to see for myself the people the Mistress expects me to work with. And if I may be honest…"

She paused, looking over the group. "I am utterly disappointed."

Several of them immediately reacted to the remark, their expressions changing.

Morgana paid them little attention. Instead, she turned toward Nathan. "Izzgur. Was this the team you intended to take against the Dragon Emperor?"

She laughed lightly and shook her head.

Then her attention moved toward another corner of the courtyard, where Pan, the panda folk, stood some distance behind the others.

Morgana went on to approach him, a mild look of surprise appearing on her face. "Hmm? A druid?"

She studied him for a moment. "Isn't your kind averse to fighting dragons?"

Pan turned toward her and answered calmly, "I'm only here to teach them the way of True Magic. The fight is not for me."

Morgana regarded him curiously for a moment before shaking her head with an amused smile. "You would not fight dragons, but you would arm those who intend to fight them?"

She laughed again, but said nothing more, leaving the contradiction to speak for itself.

Morgana slowly walked back toward the front of the group, still addressing Pan as she went. "Even if you intend to deceive yourself with all that, you should at least tell those under your tutelage about the futility they face."

Morgana stopped in front of them.

Hayley who could no longer take in, spoke up immediately, her tone bordering on vexed. "Can we get to the reason you called us here? Because the last five minutes is time I'll never get back."

Morgana's eyes widened at the sheer insolence in her tone.

Ethan immediately cut in. "She's right, Morgana. We didn't come here at your behest just for you to belittle our efforts. If there's another reason you called us here, then it's best you get on with it."

Morgana's expression hardened even further. A vein seemed to bulge at the side of her head.

Nathan grew more fearful. He had never seen anyone speak to the Demon Queen this way.

Morgana stared at them for several seconds.

She sighed and deliberately turned her head away, forcing herself to calm down. "I have killed people a lot stronger for much less."

She paused. Then, to everyone's surprise, a smile slowly appeared on her face.

"You know what?" She turned back toward them. "Let's all play a game."

Everyone stared at her strangely.