Reborn As An Evolving Monster

In front of the wall of fire blocking the exit, Mark and all his Underlings prepared for the mighty attack's impact.

"Mmmm..."

The giant ball of burning fire floated in the air, but it wasn't shot.

As if being pulled out from the wall, part of the Guardian's previous humanoid form appeared.

Its upper body was now visible.

The Guardian stared at Mark.

"You. You're the other one's 'Lord', huh? Then you must be 'Lord' for the rest too, right?" It asked.

Mark, unlike Levi, could not speak.

He stared at the Guardian.

"You let the previous big one die. Even though it was much stronger than these guys...." The Guardian's eyes wandered, studying every one of Mark's Underlings.

'So what?' Mark thought.

"You let that one die without lifting a finger, and yet, now, you stand in front of these extras."

Mark's eyes widened.

"Why?" The Guardian asked with great interest.

A smile on its burning face.

But that smile disappeared, as no answer came.

"I'm still surprised that the so-called Lord, like an animal, can't even talk... Anyway, why are you putting your body on the line for these weaklings?"

Mark could only greet his teeth at his enemy's inquisitive remarks.

A devilish smile appeared on the Guardian's face.

"Don't tell me... Hahaha! Don't tell me... You're protecting one of them?"

A great amount of pressure befell Mark.

The Guardian was already tough to fight.

Could he do so while protecting his Underling?

The Boss Monster's smile widened.

"It seems I'm right. Well then, which one is it?" The Guardian asked as it moved its arm around. "The kitty cat, or the abomination it rests upon?"

Calling Fiery an abomination was no overstatement.

After all, the Underling was made by fusing a Mutated Fire Ant Queen and a Mutated Spider Queen.

Silence-

"Hahahaha! I'm right, aren't I? I'm right, huh?" The Guardian enthusiastically shouted.

The next second, more flames surrounded the already huge fireball and fused with it.

Without missing a beat, Mark activated his "Impenetrable Barrier[C]" Magic Skill.

It immediately covered not only himself, but also Fiery, and therefore, the Moonlit Feline.

Meanwhile, a burning barrier appeared around Fiery.

"Two layers of protection, huh? Think it'll be enough? I hope it'll hold up!" The Guardian Shouted sarcastically before snickering.

'We definitely won't escape unscathed but-!'

The Guardian raised its other arm.

It spread apart both its arms, leaving the giant blazing sphere of flames between them.

"I'll show you a new trick I picked up from that small lizard."

As the Guardian brought its arms closer and closer.

'Is that... Mana Condensation?'

"Condensation?" Levi mumbled.

"Condensation, huh? Is that what this is called?" The Guardian asked with shiny eyes.

The giant sphere grew smaller and smaller.

Until it was the size of a human skull.

The attack was so thoroughly condensed, that it had become entirely red.

Mark could feel shivers down his back.

'Shit!'

His muscles twitched.

The deadly attack could be fired at any time.

But it wasn't.

Instead,

'Seriously...?'

The attack was condensed even further.

"Let's see... Who'll survive this, I wonder? Hahaha!" The Guardian said as its hands were brought closer and closer.

The fireball now had the appearance of a small tennis ball, exuding a blinding light.

Mark couldn't help but take a step back.

It was obvious that the great amount of energy could not be condensed any further.

Only a couple of centimeters separated the Guardian's hands.

"DIE!" The Boss Monster shouted

'We're about to-!'

Immediately, every one of Mark's Underlings trembled as their Master tightened his muscles to prepare for the impact.

Clap-

The Guardian's hands touched.

Mark's mind went blank, as the insane amount of energy had suddenly disappeared.

"Hahahaha!"

The Guardian's laugh resonated throughout the Boss Room.

All the tension in Mark's muscles dissipated.

It felt like his nerves wanted nothing more but to make his body collapse.

The extremely high heat produced by the Guardian's attack faded too.

'Is he... Laughing at...?'

"Oh, my. Looked like you were all scared to death. Hahaha! Well, I guess you were facing death, weren't you?" The Guardian asked mockingly.

The expression on Mark's face changed.

'Is this guy... Having fun?'

Crack-

The ground below Mark was fractured as his ferocious Aura covered his body.

"Would you look at that? Looks like you have a Fire of your own." The Guardian noted.

Veins appeared all over Mark's arms.

He felt enraged.

Just when Mark was about to attack,

"How about I offer you a deal? Call it a favor, really."

Mark showed his sharp fangs, as growls left his mouth.

'Levi.'

"What is this 'deal' you're talking about?" Levi asked.

"Oh." The Guardian turned his sight from Mark to Levi. "You'll translate for the Beast? I guess that would do."

Levi, just like all the other Underlings, felt enraged that their Master was insulted.

"What deal?" Levi pressed.

"It's a favor I'm offering your 'Lord'. Shouldn't you act a bit more grateful?" The Guardian asked.

Levi's solemn gaze darkened.

"What. Deal?"

"Hahaha. Well, let's see..." The Guardian took its time explaining. "Seems like your 'Lord' doesn't care much about you. Or the others really. But it's different for the kitty or the insect. One of them is special. Maybe it's the insect. I wonder if it made the swarm of weaklings that had entered earlier. Mmmm... Tsk-"

Mark's growls got louder, showing his impatience.

"The beast needs to be on a leash. Anyways, I'll let both of them leave. The cat and the abomination under it. How does it sound?" The Guardian asked candidly.

"And why would you do that?" Levi asked.

"Mmmm... Doesn't look like the lizard will attack any longer. And that would be a shame. You see, I like its Fire. It's different from mine. It's... Anyways. I'll let them go, and you'll give me four or five of the lizard's attacks. Just like earlier. Let's just say the Fire it has isn't one I have complete control over so-"

"Why?" Levi interrupted.

"Why?" The Guardian asked itself.

It wore a wide smile.

"Because it's fun, obviously."

Mark, who was left out of the conversation, felt his rage grow.

It wasn't the first time that a Guardian didn't register him as a threat.

It wasn't the first time he left belittled or underestimated.

But it was different this time.

As a being brought from another world, Mark was, of course, part of someone else's plan.

And Mark was acutely aware of that fact.

He was nothing more than a tool to those who brought him here.

It enraged him.

But, even tools have value.

After all, they can't be used carelessly, lest they break.

Standing in front of this Guardian was different though.

The Guardian didn't see him as a threat.

It didn't see him as an ally, an enemy, or a tool.

No.

In front of the Guardian, Mark's entire being, his entire existence, was but a...

'Shoot him six times.' Mark thought.

The Chaos Salamander obeyed its Master.

The Guardian extended its hand towards the incoming attacks.

"Hahahaha! You trust me this much, huh?"

One after the other, the Chaos Fire Bullets were changed into red flames that fused with the Guardian's body.

"Ahhh... These flames... I can't get enough of them." The Boss Monster muttered, overjoyed.

The next second, the wall of flames quickly faded.

'Get out.' Mark ordered.

Fiery walked outside of the Boss Room.

Light, who was much more agile and stealthy, had left before the wall of flames could block the exit.

Yawn-

The Moonlit Feline felt sleepy, bored by the situation.

It couldn't tell why Mark had trouble defeating the enemy.

The Moonlit Feline laid down for a nap on Fiery's back.

The Guardian reappeared in the middle of the room.

"Foolish? Arrogant? Which is it?" The Boss Monster asked as it stared at its palm.

The Guardian's right arm was now made up of "Flames Of Chaos".

'Thinking of me as a toy, huh? Just you wait.'

Mark turned towards the Guardian.

'I'll quickly extinguish those flames you're longing for.'