Another Evolution

"We want to expand." Michael grinned widely.

Ever since he had laid eyes on the two, the thought of killing them never came across his mind. Instead, he would rather befriend them and get them to help him in building the Lizardmen Kingdom he hoped to build. Although it would be time consuming, and the resources that they could find around the caves were wholly insufficient, if them managed to get some outside help, then their development would progress rapidly!

"Expand?" Eudora asked cautiously. Unlike the lizardmen around them who let their instincts cover the forefront of their minds, this lizardman before her acted a hundred times more deviously!

"Yes, expand." Michael waved his hand around him, getting up from his perch. "As you can see, my tribe currently lives in a cave. The resources here are wholly insufficient to support our growth. If we truly want to develop, then we would need many more resources. That's where you come in. With your backgrounds, you no doubt have a network that allows you get supplies and other necessities. In exchange for your freedom, we just require your help." Michael stepped before her, reaching a scaled arm forward.

Eudora raised her hand hesitantly. She wasn't so sure about this.

"Don't listen to it, Dora. It's just a damn lizard." Brutus suddenly grunted out, struggling to get himself into a seating position.

"Just a lizard, eh?" Michael's eyes narrowed to slits. He shook his head before turning back to Eudora. "Think about it, I won't force you. You may leave whenever you feel fit." Michael gave a small wave before turning to leave.

"Wait!" Eudora hastily reached out and grabbed Michael's wrist. Her slim fingers wrapped around the smooth scales that spread over his arm.

"Yes?" Michael turned back.

"We can help, but only if you help us in return." Her eyes gleamed in the dark lighting of the cave. If Michael wanted to exploit her and Brutus, then she would also exploit him in turn.

"What exactly do you need our help for? We know no magic, not martial arts. The only thing we have going for us is our poison and physiques."

"Even if that's all you and your people have, it's enough to get us what we want. An E rank is an E rank, no matter what." Eudora was determined to get the lizardmen on her side.

"Go on, I'm listening." He sat back down, propping his head up with his hand.

"If we help you, you have to join our mercenary group for two months." She threw up her offer.

"No. I won't risk the lives of my people for a job that barely pays and is too dangerous."

"Then you can forget about our help." She retorted, fixing him with a flat stare.

Michael receded into his mind to think about her offer. Although it wasn't that bad to go into the mercenary business, his forces were too weak, and he didn't plan on dragging them about with him. He didn't plan on making them a nomadic tribe in the first place. A nomadic life would be too unstable for the freshly evolved Lizardmen, plus the fact that there were children in the tribe.

"Let me think about it. You should do the same. If you wish to co-operate with us, return in three days." Michael walked away after speaking the last word. He had better things to do than babbling about with a bunch of adventurers. He didn't pay much attention after he left the area where the adventurers were.

Soon enough, he walked into the area that had been cordoned off for him and his guards. When he stepped into the enclosed area, the first thing he noticed was that all four of the other lizardmen had gathered around Aiden, fretting and looking worried. Ryan was the first to notice his presence. He forward to meet him.

"Father, Aiden is... changing!" His slightly childish face was scrunched up in worry, showing just how serious it was.

Hearing Ryan, the remaining lizardmen turned to face Michael, making way for him to see Aiden. Michael knelt down beside Aiden's shivering form. His face was taut with pain as he held onto his arms tight enough to make them lose their color ever so slightly.

"F-father... It hurts." Aiden groaned and reached up to Michael. Michael took Aiden's hand in his as he looked over Aiden's stats through the game system.

[Yellow Scaled Lizardman.]

-Rank - E - Peak

-Growth Stage - 3/3

-Overall Energy Level - 490

-Undergoing Bloodline Evolution.

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Michael's mind ran marathons as he rapidly deduced what was going on. The Lizardman phase of their evolution was not the final stage. If his guess was right, then every single lizardman would most likely undergo yet another qualitative change in the bloodline. This change basically made their bloodlines purer and more powerful.

What really surprised him was the fact that Aiden was going through the process before him. Shouldn't the protagonist be the one to make groundbreaking developments?

Michael continues to watch as Aiden's scales slowly lost their color. This continued until every one of his scales had turned pale. The scales then suddenly started falling off, seemingly unable to stick to his body again.

"Alright, alright, get out." Michael turned to the other lizards that were watching the process with fascination. When they saw him trying to chase them out, they were slightly disappointed but still followed his instructions.

After the lizardmen cleared out, Michael turned his attention back to Aiden. Most of his scales had fallen out at this point. Pale skin covered the areas where scales had been a few moments earlier.

Eventually, al of Aiden's scales fell out, except for a few vibrant golden scales that adorned his forehead. His head had rapidly grown a lush mat of gold hair. The hair was still growing with every passing second.

"Father..." Aiden whispered, tightening his grip on Michael's hand.

"Shh... It'll be fine." Michael patted his head. "Rest here. I'll call your brothers to watch over you." With a reassuring smile, Michael pulled his hand free and stepped out of the enclosure. The four young lizardmen who were standing outside shot up to their feet at once when they saw him.

"Is Aiden alright?" Ryan spearheaded the bombardment of questions. Several more questions followed right behind.

"He's fine, he's fine. You guys can keep watching over him. I'll be right back." Michael left the young lizards to their devices and left to look for the adventurer duo that left the cave earlier.

As soon as he was out of sight of the ever curious lizardmen, he burst into a sprint, quickly covering a large amount of ground. Very soon, he spotted the flowing river that he had passed in order to get into the deeper confines of the cave. In one smooth leap, he jumped over it and carried on.

Before long, he managed to reach the entrance of the cave, but still hadn't caught sight of the duo.

'Seems like I'll have to venture out...' He thought before taking off in pursuit of the pair of adventurers.