Limitless Evolution: I'm The New Dragon God?-Chapter 65: Boss Of Extreme Mode

Grakar grumbled as soon as he emerged from the Fusion Lab.

"My lord, you didn’t summon me when you were out there fighting alone... and now you call me just to mine these shiny rocks?"

"Yes. Is there a problem?" Ryu asked casually, not even looking back.

Grakar scratched his head with a claw and let out a sigh. "No problem, my lord. I’ll do the hard work." 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

He sounded a little sulky.

Ryu turned to him with a small sigh. "Grakar, don’t take it the wrong way. I didn’t summon you in battle because I didn’t need to. I wanted to test my strength—to push myself to the limit. It’s the only way I’ll grow stronger."

He paused for a moment before adding, "But I might need your help in the next fight. So stay sharp."

Grakar’s eyes lit up as he turned back. A wide smile stretched across his crocodilian face. Despite his fierce appearance, he was still just a twelve-year-old, a child who had once left his swamp village to survive in the wild.

"Then I’m ready, my lord!" he declared proudly, puffing out his chest. "I’ll crush anyone who dares stand in your way!"

Without further complaints, he got to work, using his powerful claws and jaw to tear through the cavern walls and mine the Mana Crystals with surprising speed and precision.

Ryu didn’t stay idle either. With his sword in hand, he chipped away at the glowing crystals embedded in the stone, steadily building a glittering pile beside them.

After a bit of hard work, they finally managed to dig out all the crystals.

Ryu’s eyes gleamed as he counted the Mana Crystals, which now formed a glittering little mountain before him.

"366... 367... and 368."

"370 F-Grade Mana Crystals," he muttered with a wide grin. "What a stroke of fortune. Monster cores and Mana Crystals... After selling all this, I’ll be swimming in silver. I can eat to my heart’s content!"

He burst into laughter, the sound echoing through the cave.

Grakar stood beside him, panting and wiping sweat from his brow. Despite his exhaustion, he couldn’t help but smile. Seeing his lord happy made it all worthwhile.

"Hey Grakar, do you want some?" Ryu asked, scooping a few Mana Crystals into his palm.

Grakar shook his head. "No, my lord. I can’t do anything with those. But... if you really want to give me something, I’d like some of those glowing monster cores from earlier. They help us beasts grow stronger."

Ryu paused mid-motion. "Really? Monster cores can make you stronger?" he asked, genuinely surprised.

Grakar nodded firmly. "That’s right, my lord. We beasts can consume them. It’s how we grow and evolve. Wait... you didn’t know? Then how have you been getting stronger so fast?"

Ryu blinked in disbelief. "Hold on... You’re saying you can actually consume them?"

"Yes," Grakar confirmed. "All magical species have a core inside our chest. It holds our magical essence. If we absorb the cores of others, our power grows rapidly. Of course, digesting them depends on the purity of the core and our own bloodline."

Ryu’s eyes widened. "I see... that explains a lot."

Curious, he took out a glowing F-grade monster core and brought it closer. "Let me try it myself..."

But just as he was about to consume it—

[ Warning: Unpurified energy source. Consuming it will corrupt your physique even more, Host. ]

Ryu raised his eyebrows. "So, consuming it will taint my physique? Is that what you mean, Dracina?"

[ Affirmative. ]

[ Your physique has already been corrupted after fusing with those monsters... and Chester. Consuming more raw energy will worsen the condition. ]

’I see... But what are the consequences of a corrupted physique?’ he asked mentally.

[ Answer: Your attribute growth will decrease significantly, and your mana will become unstable. ]

Ryu sighed. ’That’s such a disappointment. Is there no way I can avoid this corruption?’

[ Currently, none, Host. But in the future, if you discover a method to refine or purify your physique, then consumption will be possible. For now, it would only harm your development. ]

’I understand... So I need to search for something like that. I can’t waste any method of growing stronger. Until then, I won’t consume any cores.’

[ It’s good to see you becoming more rational, Host. Keep this up. One day, you’ll become the strongest Dragon God—in body, magic, and mind. ]

Dracina’s voice turned a little more cheerful.

[ As a reward, I would like to inform you that the Quest Function has been repaired. Your first quest has been issued. You may now check the Quest Tab. ]

’Oh? Really? That’s great! I’ve been waiting for that!’ Ryu replied, his excitement barely contained.

But before Ryu could open the Quest Tab, a sudden shift in the air made his instincts scream.

Clatter, Clatter...

The ground trembled beneath his feet.

A sharp gust of frigid wind burst from deep inside the cave, howling like a banshee.

The temperature dropped violently, enough to turn his breath into thick mist.

Then, he finally heard it.

SKREEEEEEEEE—!!

A shrill, echoing cry that resonated through the entire dungeon like glass being torn apart.

"WHUMM!"

From the deepest part of the cave, it emerged.

A towering figure of icy elegance and terror.

Six crystalline wings hummed with unnatural frost energy, scattering shards of snow with every flap. Her body was sleek and armored in translucent blue chitin, embedded with jagged frost veins that pulsed with cold light. Her compound eyes glowed pale violet, devoid of emotion—yet filled with malice.

Her limbs were long and spindly, yet razor-sharp. And atop her head was a frozen crown embedded into her skull like it had grown from her own flesh.

[ Dungeon Boss Detected! ]

[ Ice Queen Cicada (Level 17) ]

[ Warning: This enemy is far above your current level. Proceed with extreme caution. ]

Ryu’s face tensed.

"So the Boss finally shows herself..." he muttered, sliding one foot back as he summoned his sword into his hand. "She is a Level 17 boss monster... and I just reached Level 12."

Behind him, Grakar let out a low growl. "My lord... her aura is dense. She’s unlike anything I’ve faced before."

"I know," Ryu replied, his draconic eyes narrowing. "But that also means... she’s worth a lot."

Whuppp, Whuppp...

"SKREEEE!"

The Queen’s wings spread wide as she let out another screech, her presence overwhelming the entire cavern.

Frost began to swirl unnaturally around her as dense mana pressure filled the cave.

Then she moved.

"Swooosh!"

Fast.

She vanished in a blur of blue light—reappearing mid-air above them, icy magic already building between her mandibles.

"Brace yourself, Grakar!" Ryu shouted.

Because the battle had just begun.