Bloodline Evolution: I Can Choose Opposing Paths-Chapter 48: Grand Tempest Dragon

Aren didn’t get to ask Professor Mirelle much more, as she had to go to an academic meeting, but the conversation they had stuck in his head.

He walked slowly down the corridor leading back out, looking at past preserved relic samples.

If it was truly a world law...then how am I not affected?

He wasn’t special, not at all. He hadn’t been born into a special family nor was he some kind of secret hidden prince. Aren wasn’t the first Dragon-type Bloodline in history either. They were exceedingly rare and scattered, yes—but not unheard of.

If the Dragon Bloodline existed during and after the Demonic Era, then they too lived under the same Law as everyone else.

So why did his branches remain undimmed?

The only factor he could think of was his regression. He’d lived once before and returned somehow. Perhaps his life was considered ’finished’ so the world’s laws didn’t apply to him anymore?

Even as the thought formed, Aren found himself dissatisfied with it.

Maybe he was misunderstanding something...or humanity’s understanding of Bloodlines was incomplete.

That was when a single line the professor said made him question something.

"Until finally...a single Bloodline conquered them all."

That Bloodline...could it be the Dragons—? Aren had been under the assumption that the rules applied to everyone.

But what if it was the Dragon’s that created it?

I mean...who creates a cage and puts themselves inside it?

There was only one explanation that made sense. If the Dragons truly stood outside the Law, it wasn’t because they were exempt.

It was because they didn’t need it.

Aren sighed, more or less, answering his worries. It was still a risk, as everything was just a deduction. However...it seemed to fit every possible seam.

Aren stopped walking and drew his attention inward. The Canvas unfolded immediately without resistance.

The Brush appeared in his hand as he pulled up his Evolutionary Tree. The second slot stayed empty, patiently waiting for him to make his choice.

He hovered his paintbrush around the Lightning Element, hands shaking a tiny bit.

Right...Let’s not second-guess myself. Please don’t explode!

Aren dipped his Brush into the Lightning element. Purple ink stuck to his Brush as static electricity crackled all over.

Immediately, Aren got to his Canvas. With a single sweep of his Brush, he drew raging storms overhead and large thunderbolts devastating both sky and ground alike.

He could finally see the changes, as small zaps moved quickly across his ether channels. But the final confirmation came when he saw his Bloodline’s form.

Electricity crackled all over the dragon as it rose from its resting place. Its horns grew outward, almost in the shape of thunderbolts as its scales shifted from an azure blue to a more indigo purple. Storms raged overhead as it let out a deafening roar.

[Bloodline Evolved: Azure Flood Dragon → Grand Tempest Dragon]

Aren sighed a breath of relief. He was half expecting to explode or turn Demonic somehow, afraid he’d become a Defiler in the blink of an eye.

But everything seemed...fine? Perhaps his theory was correct.

Aren pulled up his Records just to confirm and sure enough:

[Element: Water (Stage 3), Lightning (Stage 1)]

Yet something felt strange, it was like things were going even smoother than he thought. Lightning was a volatile element, so he was expecting at least some turbulence, even more so with his Water element.

But nothing of the sort seemed to happen. Aren frowned and started walking within his Canvas World.

With each step across the reflective surface, he observed the way his lightning circulated. They were moving quickly but all in one direction...as if they were drawn by something.

Then he saw it.

Just sitting out in the open was a glowing purple mote no greater than his palm.

Aren approached it slowly and cautiously. But the closer he got the more he could see it in its entirety.

He inhaled sharply, recognizing what it was...there was no mistaking it:

A Pure Lightning Seed.

It was just about the size of his thumb, yet the power emitting from it was immense.

A Seed was an exceedingly rare treasure that could be found in rich environments. Mystics were like generators that converted raw energy into refinable ether. And just like a generator, a lot of energy would be lost.

However, a Seed would be to increase that efficiency, and they were ranked by how good they were at that job—

From Impure, to Clean, to Shining, and finally Pure. A Pure Seed was the pinnacle, capable of converting absorbed energy without a single fraction lost in the process.

Aren’s mind went completely blank.

He’d never owned a Seed in his previous life, hadn’t even come close. Just obtaining one was like winning the lottery, and Pure seeds?

They were like winning the biggest prize.

But how did I even—?

The answer surfaced a heartbeat later, his memories dragging back to the night beneath the storm. And the small unidentified foreign object the doctors had talked about within his body.

No...freaking way. It was because of that thunder strike! It actually had a seed inside!

Seeds formed at sources, fire seeds inside volcanoes, water seeds in the deepest trenches. But a Lightning Seed? Those were the hardest to find, requiring someone to dive straight into the eye of a storm and come out alive. And even then, there was no guarantee the Seed would be Pure.

A grin started to form on Aren’s face.

I really did hit the jackpot!

Aren let the image of the Seed linger for a moment longer before slowly stepping back. Satisfied, he withdrew from his Canvas.

He stepped out of the Research College, cool air greeting him once more. For a second, he simply stood there, a faint smile tugging at his lips, like he’d simply forgotten all his troubles.

He pulled up his student portal through phone, the element slot still remained unregistered on his profile.

Aren quickly chose Lightning and confirmed the selection. He withdrew his student ID from his pocket and stared at it expectantly.

The interface processed briefly before updating.

Student: Aren Cross

Bloodline: Snake-type

Major Element: Lightning

Aren exhaled softly.

Everything was in place and ready. If this was the beginning of his time at Imperial City Mystic College...

Then he had started far better than he ever had in his previous life. And this time—

He wasn’t holding back.