God, Help Us All [Monster Evolution/Progression/LitRPG]

"Too slow, Challenger," Volcranax's voice rumbled from nowhere and everywhere at once.

Arthur whipped around, claws slashing at empty air. The wyrm reappeared behind him, delivering a devastating tail strike to his back. The force sent Arthur crashing into a nearby cliff, the jagged rock shattering under his weight. He roared in frustration, molten blood dripping from the cracks in his armor.

"You cannot match me," Volcranax taunted, his black-flame wings unfurling as he hovered above Arthur.

Volcranax tilted his head, almost curious. "You wonder how I've become this? How I've transcended my limits?" His black-flame wings spread wide, the flames licking at the skies. "This is my True Form, the peak of fire's evolution, condensed into its ultimate state. A privilege of the third stage."

Arthur's third eye glowed faintly as he analyzed the wyrm's movements. He'd already seen the state before—James and his group had used an imperfect version of it. But this... this was entirely different. The power was sharper, purer, and relentless.

"You're not the first to face me like this," Volcranax continued, his voice almost bored. He raised a claw, flames swirling around it like a cyclone. "There was another like you, long ago. A demi-god who thought himself my equal. His arrogance led him to me, and I showed him what true power looked like."

The air rippled as Volcranax vanished, reappearing in a blur. Arthur barely had time to react before a massive claw raked across his side, sending him sprawling. The impact cracked his obsidian armor, and the Anti-Heat Skin sizzled where the black fire touched it.

Arthur snarled, spinning to swipe back, but Volcranax was already gone, his speed unmatched. A scorching kick slammed into Arthur's jaw, sending him skidding across the molten ground. He groaned, shaking his head to clear the daze.

"I devoured that godling," Volcranax said, his tone conversational. "He gave me much—his essence, his power. It is thanks to him that I've reached this level. And now, you shall provide me with even more."

Arthur's tail lashed out, glowing with destruction energy, but Volcranax leapt over it with ease, landing lightly on a nearby rock. His black-fire wings flared as he folded his arms, watching Arthur with disinterest.

"You amuse me, Challenger. Fighting so desperately, knowing you cannot win," Volcranax said, his grin sharp. "You've given me a fine show, but I grow tired. Soon, I'll peel the Codex of Creation from your wretched form, and then I will leave this forsaken place. That godling who trapped me here will pay dearly."

Arthur's claws scraped against the molten ground as he rose to his full height, glaring at the smug wyrm. "You talk too much," he spat, molten blood dripping from the cracks in his armor.

Volcranax chuckled, the sound like a low rumble of thunder. "And you're too weak."

The wyrm moved again, faster than Arthur could track. This time, Volcranax's claws slammed into his chest, digging deep as the black fire erupted into a searing explosion. Arthur roared in agony, the Anti-Heat Skin sizzling and cracking under the assault. Without hesitation, he swung his tail, forcing Volcranax back.

Arthur roared, swinging his tail in a desperate attempt to disperse the flames. The black fire clung stubbornly, eating away at his defenses. He flexed his wings, launching himself into the air to escape, but Volcranax was already there.

The wyrm appeared above him, claws glowing with black fire. "You think you can run?" Volcranax sneered, slamming his claws down onto Arthur's back.

Arthur plummeted, his massive frame crashing into the molten ground below. The impact sent shockwaves rippling outward, lava splashing in all directions. He groaned, his body aching from the relentless barrage.

Damn it, I can't keep up, he thought, his molten pupils narrowing. I need to do something—anything—to turn this around.

Volcranax landed gracefully a few yards away, his black-flame wings folding behind him. He tilted his head, watching Arthur struggle to rise. "You bore me, Challenger. Where is your destruction? Where is the power that was meant to rival mine?"

Arthur ignored the taunt, his focus shifting inward. Destruction essence swirled within him, coiling tightly in his core. He could feel it, begging to be unleashed. His claws glowed faintly as he began to gather the energy, pooling it into his maw.

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The wyrm's slitted eyes glinted with amusement as he watched. "Ah, finally. Are you preparing something special for me, little Challenger?"

Arthur growled low, his molten veins pulsing as he concentrated. The destruction essence grew denser, compressing into a singular point of raw power. His third eye burned brightly, guiding the energy into shape.

But before he could unleash it, Volcranax was there.

The wyrm moved like a blur, appearing behind Arthur with an almost casual ease. His voice was a low rumble, dripping with condescension. "You done?"

Arthur barely had time to react before Volcranax's claws raked across his back. The black fire ignited once more, spreading rapidly along his armor. Arthur roared in pain, the heat overwhelming even his enhanced defenses.

He swung his tail in retaliation, but Volcranax caught it effortlessly, his grip like a vice. With a flick of his wrist, he sent Arthur hurtling through the air, his massive form crashing into another molten hill. The terrain buckled under the impact, molten rock splattering in all directions.

"You are no match for me," Volcranax said, his voice carrying an edge of boredom. "I've used this form to slay gods, to consume their power and make it my own. And you think you, a fledgling, can challenge me?"

Arthur growled, his claws digging into the molten ground as he pulled himself up once more. His body ached, his energy reserves waning. But he refused to give up. He had to find a way to turn this fight around.

Think, damn it. There has to be a way.

Volcranax spread his wings, the black flames flaring brighter. The heat intensified, the molten ground bubbling and churning beneath them. "You are strong, Challenger," the wyrm admitted, his tone almost respectful. "But strength alone is not enough. You lack purpose. You lack control."

Arthur's third eye flared, analyzing the energy radiating from Volcranax. It was the same power James and his group had used—The State. But this was different. It was perfected, refined to its fullest potential. Arthur growled low, realization dawning on him.

If he can do it, so can I.

The destruction essence within him surged, responding to his determination. Arthur closed his eyes, focusing inward. He could feel it—the energy coiled within him, waiting to be unleashed. It wasn't just about raw power. It was about purpose, about letting his destruction become one with him.

Volcranax paused, watching as Arthur's form began to glow faintly. "What's this?" the wyrm asked, tilting his head. "You think you can mimic me, Challenger? How amusing."

Arthur growled low, his claws trembling as he planted them into the molten ground. Destruction energy coiled within him, a volatile storm threatening to explode at any moment. The battlefield quaked under the immense pressure, the molten terrain shifting and cracking as though the Badlands themselves feared what was about to be unleashed.

I need more… His third eye burned, but his body refused to transform. The destruction essence surged within him, yet his flesh seemed to reject it, twisting and convulsing as he let out a guttural roar. "Come on, damn it!"

THUM.

A hollow, resounding boom echoed across the desolate field. It wasn't a heartbeat—Arthur had none—but the promise of destruction that reverberated through the realm like a warning bell. Lava pits bubbled furiously, and fissures crawled along the earth, spewing steam and molten rock.

Volcranax stood still, his towering form radiating heat that singed even the rocks beneath him. The wyrm's slitted eyes gleamed with faint curiosity as he conjured a fireball, its black-hot flames swirling menacingly. He flicked it forward lazily, the molten orb screaming through the air toward Arthur.

Arthur roared, raising his claws to defend himself. The fireball struck him square in the chest, detonating in a massive explosion of flame and pressure. The ground beneath him cratered, and molten rock splattered in all directions. When the fire and smoke cleared, Arthur stood hunched, his obsidian skin cracked and glowing faintly from the impact.

Volcranax rumbled, his tone mocking. "Still standing, I see. But your struggle is pointless. You cannot ascend further. You are… incomplete."

Arthur's claws dug deeper into the ground, molten blood dripping from his wounds. He snarled, focusing every ounce of his willpower on the essence within him. The destruction energy pushed back, clawing at his insides, refusing to obey. His veins glowed with searing light as he forced more power into his transformation.

THUM. THUM.

The ominous booms grew louder, shaking the very air. Arthur gritted his teeth, his body trembling under the strain. Pain wracked every nerve, and his vision blurred. I can't stop now. I won't stop.

The system's voice chimed, sharp and uncharacteristically urgent.

[WARNING: Transformation threshold exceeded. Structural collapse imminent. Continued attempts will result in termination.]

Arthur growled through the pain, his wings trembling as he forced himself upright. "Shut up," he spat. "I'm not dying here."

The system hesitated, its usual monotone replaced with something almost… human.

[Arthur. You're going to die.]