"Haaah! So this is how it feels like to be a draconic creature. No wonder these overhyped lizards act all cocky around everyone."
Leo Longblade, AKA Eren, had refined his Hex Armor Set in the second iteration.
He had made optimal use of the Shallot's Mirror and other convenient tools available at Baelin's smithy to create this artifact for himself. It could be said that he was pretty satisfied with the results.
Unlike before, he didn't completely turn into a bear or a wyvern. He achieved a remarkable balance that preserved his human-like visage while seamlessly channeling the raw physical prowess and attributes of the beast's soul encapsulated within the armor.
Eren's transformation into his Dragonoid form, granted by the formidable Wyvern Hex Armor set, was a spectacle that struck awe and fear into the hearts of those who beheld it.
His forehead bore the imposing presence of two draconic horns, curving with a blend of regality and menace. From his broad shoulders sprouted massive gray wings, reminiscent of the majestic creature, their membrane adorned with intricate patterns that spoke of draconic lineage.
His once human form now adorned the scales of the very draconic beings he harnessed, each scale a testament to his newfound power. While still maintaining his humanoid structure with four limbs, Eren's physique had transformed into a monument of strength and might. His muscles were compressed, rippling beneath his skin, the definition of his abs chiseled with precision. His arms and legs, though brawny, exuded a lean gracefulness, crafted for both lethal precision and raw force.
His hands had morphed into formidable talons, echoing the lethal grasp of a wyvern. Yet it was his legs that truly commanded attention. His mighty leg muscles allowed him to stomp the earth with titanic force, creating craters with a single strike. This was not magic, but pure, unadulterated physical strength.
Eren's mana reserves surged to new heights at the time of battling with Carvel and Akass, empowering him with explosive spellcasting capabilities.
His senses heightened to an extraordinary degree, allowing him to perceive the world around him with an uncanny clarity. His emerald green eyes, once full of human depth, now bore the beastly irises of his draconic lineage. These beasty eyes held an intensity that could send shivers down the spine of any regular Ranker, channeling an aura of primal dominance.
The very visage of his face was transformed, covered by a layer of thick scales that made him appear inhuman, almost monstrous. Standing at an imposing 6.8 feet, his stature exuded command.
Yet, amidst this hybrid manifestation of human and wyvern, Eren's mana signatures emitted an aura of wrath, a being that defied categorization as either wyvern or human. He had turned into a creation of unbridled power, a force that could neither be ignored nor underestimated, a living embodiment of wrathful abomination.
Only within the scope of the Berserker Class, available to Eren, could the true potential of the Dragonoid Form bestowed by his latest Hex Armor Set be unlocked in its full potential. And it was the utilization of the Wrath Mana that truly channeled this draconic might into devastating attacks. Without the physical metamorphosis offered by the Berserker Class or the formidable nature of the Wrath Mana, this form could have proven perilous, potentially crumbling under its own potency and harming Eren.
In fact, Eren's audacious alterations to the Hex Armor Set were only possible due to the presence of these options. He would never have dared to tamper with something so potent and hazardous if he lacked confidence in his prowess as both a Berserker and a wielder of Wrath Mana.
Eren found solace in the fact that he had adeptly harnessed the wyvern's soul and seamlessly integrated it into his Hex Armor Set, all under the guidance of Shallot's Mirror. Shallot herself materialized to provide Eren with guidance throughout the intricate process, ensuring the wyvern's essence remained unscathed. This resulted in Eren's dragonoid form being not only exceptional but also imbued with a sense of power that made him akin to a half-blood of dragons, a being who had delved into their ancestral abilities to achieve a remarkable transformation.
As he dissipated his dragonoid form, Eren's voice quietly resonated.
"This armor has surpassed my expectations. So, this is the genuine potential of a fine-tuned Hex Artifact, huh? Quite impressive, I must say." The Wyvern Hex Armor Set, the guardian of his form, faded into the ether, revealing the butcher's unblemished state despite the intense combat he had just been engaged in against Carvel and Akass.
***
In the heart of a desolate battlefield, Eren stood amidst a landscape transformed into a molten expanse due to the compound elemental forces unleashed by Carvel and Akass.
Unlike Carvel's previous encounter with deceased Birmond, Eren had not extensively used his ice-element spells, opting instead to engage Carvel and Akass with a relentless blaze of his own Fire Element Attainments.
He met fire with fire, scorching his adversaries before unleashing the primal force of his dragonoid form, a manifestation of his sheer physical dominance.
Carvel's demise proved swift and relatively effortless for Eren. Even with Akass's efforts to shield the elf, Eren's berserk state, fueled by the heightened might of the Berserker Class and his upgraded Hex artifact, enabled him to vanquish Carvel in a matter of minutes. Despite Carvel's numerous defensive trump cards, they crumbled before Eren's agile and overpowering onslaught.
Eren strategically employed the ice-element spells he had gained from absorbing Birmond, primarily using them defensively whenever he sensed the Elemental Attainments of Akass threatening to overcome him. This approach didn't necessarily grant him an upper hand against Akass, but it provided an effective means of self-defense.
Unlike the field where Birmond and Carvel had clashed, this battleground lacked the stark contrast of opposing elements. Any lingering ice and snow patches amidst the fiery landscape were solely attributed to Naya's intervention.
With her ice-element attainments, she managed to hinder the might of Carvel and Akass. Naya's efforts acted as a crucial buffer, preventing Akass's dominance from entirely subduing Eren, effectively supporting his defense whenever the need arose.
Thus, Naya became Eren's vital ally as he confronted the elf and wyvern head-on.
