Munching on the Terracore Goliath Bear's corpse, Elenei was quickly filled with an absurd amount of energy! Her body kept expanding and contracting as if she were going to implode at any moment, but such a thing never came.
Instead, that energy channeled straight into her bloodline, slowly awakening both her Fire Dragon and Ice Phoenix aspects. Since she wasn't even a Rank 1 beast, she couldn't use Qi. Meaning that the only abilities she could use were those that were either innate or used her blood/stamina as fuel.
However, as more energy poured into her body, she began to feel the chains on her Frozen Ash Draco-Phoenix bloodline loosen.
*Crack!* *Crack!*
"Urgh!" Elenei grunted as her bones and skin splintered, but she didn't stop eating, nor would she stop until she was full.
The scales on her serpentine body slowly began to peel off, only to be replaced by a new set of lustrous ruby scales that were so hot that they evaporated the moisture in the air. Alongside that, the feathers on her wings began to fall off, disintegrating from the heat emanating from her scales. But they, too, were replaced with a brand new set of larger, thicker, and tougher feathers.
They looked similar to before, an icy-white tapering off to a crimson color near the edges, but they seemed much more alive, like delicate clouds ablaze with twilight's palette.
Elenei's body continued to undergo a massive transformation, her power growing exponentially as she consumed more of the Terracore Goliath Bear. Her seemingly dormant bloodline surged with newfound life, propelling her ever closer to reaching Rank 1.
As Elenei's body expanded and contracted with the immense energy she consumed, the air around her crackled with a mixture of heat and cold, creating a strange, ethereal mist that swirled around her form. Her eyes, once a deep vermillion, now flickered between hues of fiery red and icy blue before merging into a dark purple that shone through the mist like two gemstones.
Her tail, once covered in fiery scales, now had a small flame burst from underneath her skin. However, strangely enough, this fire didn't cause any damage to her surroundings.
Elenei's power continued to grow as she ate more of the corpse until she finally reached her limit.
*Crack!*
*Crack!*
*BOOM!*
Elenei's body burst with power as she officially stepped onto the path of cultivation, becoming a Mid-Stage Rank 1 beast immediately. The Ice Phoenix and Fire Dragon aspects of her bloodline burst to life as waves of Fire and Ice spewed out of her body, destroying the surrounding area. The two worked together in perfect harmony, often combining with one another into something new, something more powerful.
This was unlike what she had experienced before, where her two bloodlines fought each other for dominance, not wanting to be overtaken by the other. However, that wasn't the only difference!
The blood pumping through her veins quickly restored any damage the breakthrough may have caused, showcasing the Phoenix's superior regeneration. While her physical strength dramatically increased as well due to the Fire Dragon's influence.
So far, those were the only significant changes, but her breakthrough wasn't over. Having a talent surpassing even Dragons, she could take full advantage of the amount of energy this bear contained.
After those two breakthroughs began settling down, Elenei didn't hesitate to eat more of the Terracore Goliath Bear's corpse.
More energy and vitality flooded her body, but this time, instead of increasing her body's size and physical strength, it headed straight for her heart. The same went for all the Fire and ice leaking from her body.
...Though, a tiny stream of Qi, imperceptible to Elenei, headed in a different direction.
This stage in her cultivation would be the lifeblood throughout her entire cultivation journey. It would be the foundation on which she, as a Draco-Phoenix, would rise from.
Dragons and Phoenixes are often known as beings that stood at the pinnacle of power. However, why is that?
Is it because they're strong? Is it because of their wisdom? Their physical strength? Or maybe their regeneration and immortality?
The answer to all those questions and many more like it is yes, but that doesn't tell the full story.
A Dragon sits at the peak because it's strong, but why is it strong?
One of the factors is their hearts, the infamous Dragon Heart. Dragon Hearts have many functions. They give immense power, provide endless energy and vitality, grant Elemental Affinities, enhance the user's Qi elemental capabilities, and so much more.
A Dragon Heart provides a Dragon so much that it wouldn't be wrong to say that without it, a Dragon would be nothing but a slightly bigger snake.
The same goes for Phoenixes, albeit for a different reason.
The ultimate ability for all Phoenixes is their ability to undergo Nirvana, making them literally immortal. Even if they die, they can just be reborn again due to a unique flame that they're all born with.
Some call it the Phoenix Flame, but its actual name is the Eternal Flame. For Ice Phoenixes, it's called the Everfrost Crystal. These unique elements reside in the core of their existences, giving them endless regeneration, one of the highest elemental control in the entire universe, and insane strength. It's also what allows them to be reborn again.
Prior to her evolution, Elenei only had the Everfrost Crystal. However, now that she was a Draco-Phoenix, she could obtain both a Dragon Heart and an Everfrost Crystal, albeit slightly different versions, given that she is a combination of both beasts.
Elemental Nexus.
That's what her unique "Dragon Heart" was called.
As Elenei continued to consume the Terracore Goliath Bear, the Fire and Ice energies within her began to converge in her heart. It was a strange feeling as these two opposing forces merged within her chest, creating a unique combination that was uniquely her own.
In the center of her heart, all of her Ice Qi converged onto one point, creating a crystal in the shape of an octohedron.
On the outside, her heart transformed from an ordinary-looking heart with superior capabilities to a bright red, almost metallic exterior. It was wreathed in flames, pumping endless amounts of power through her veins.
Her flames and all her Fire Dragon aspects would stem from the exterior of her heart. In contrast, the Ice Crystal in the center would be where all her Ice Phoenix aspects originate.
However, filling in the gaps between the two entities, tendrils of white and black intertwined, linking both entities and mediating the contrasting elements to ensure they don't collide.
Elenei examined these tendrils closely, but even with her knowledge and her body's instincts, she didn't know what they were.
'How peculiar.' She mused, 'I wonder where those came from.'
She continued investigating, but even after a minute, she sensed nothing odd with them. In fact, she could barely sense them at all! It was almost as if they weren't even there.
Still, Elenei wasn't worried. Despite the fact that she didn't know what they were or where they came from, she knew they wouldn't hurt her.
Something inside her told her just to leave it be. The mysteries surrounding those tendrils will reveal themselves sooner or later.
As Elenei's heart transformed into the Elemental Nexus, she felt a surge of power, unlike anything she had ever experienced before. It was as if she suddenly became whole! Like she had found a missing piece of herself.
Her mastery over the elements, regenerative abilities, physical strength, and innate power as a Draco-Phoenix were all amplified!
Elenei's breakthrough continued as she absorbed more energy from the Terracore Goliath Bear, her body growing stronger and her abilities more refined.
*BOOM!*
An explosion went off inside Elenei's body as her aura rose, officially becoming a Late-Stage Rank 1 Beast!
*BOOM!*
*BOOM!*
Then another two explosions went off, and she became a Low-Stage Rank 2 Beast!
'Huh? What just happened?' She didn't feel any increase in power from those last two breakthroughs, nor did she understand how she broke through another two times.
She shouldn't have consumed enough energy for that!
'What's going on?' Elenei frowned as she examined her body.
Although it was significantly larger than before, other than her new heart, there was nothing different. No changes were made after the Elemental Nexus was formed.
'Did forming my Elemental Nexus consume so much energy and provide so much strength that it counted as three breakthroughs?' Elenei found this theory plausible as the amount of energy she absorbed from both the bear and the atmosphere was enough for most beasts to reach Rank 4, or at the very least, Rank 3.
She checked her body again and again but still found nothing wrong. Not even the slightest thing.
Her frown deepened, but it seemed like she had no choice but to push this anomaly to the back of her mind.
'During my next breakthrough, I'll keep a sharp eye on everything to ensure I don't miss anything important.'
With that decision, Elenei refocused her attention on her surroundings. The bear's corpse was now nothing more than skin and bones, and the grass around her was charred by her flames.
Elenei sighed, knowing she had to leave this place behind. The immense power she had unleashed would undoubtedly attract other powerful beasts, and she needed to find a safer location to continue her cultivation.
While she enjoyed the thrill of a good challenge, she needed time to adapt to her new strength.
As she stretched her new wings and flexed her strengthened muscles, Elenei felt an overwhelming sense of freedom and exhilaration. For the first time in her life, she felt truly alive, like she could take on the world.
With a final glance at the remains of the Terracore Goliath Bear, Elenei spread her wings wide and took flight, her majestic form cutting through the sky like a comet.
