Thousand-Faced Dragon

Chapter 78 Tiamat
Kuku had a vague idea of ​​why she had been summoned.

The order of the heroes this time should be to maximize Rean's ability to face crises.

When the demonic tide truly descends, the ancient beasts awaken from their seals, and the ancient gods and outer gods gradually return, Rean will inevitably be unable to escape.

He needs to adapt to the environment as soon as possible.

Sue can give Rean a firm will and the courage to draw his sword, allowing him to transform from an ordinary person into a warrior.

Rex will turn courage into a chance to win in desperate situations. The more desperate the situation, the stronger the hero becomes. If Rean can truly inherit this potential, he will have a sliver of hope in any situation.

However, merely dealing with desperate situations is not enough; when facing a true global crisis, one's own strength is the key.

So, it was Kuku's turn.
"Bad Dragon! Very strong! The power of the Bad Dragon! It's useful!"

Although he may not want to admit it, Kuku is probably the expert among experts when it comes to developing dragon-type abilities.

After all, while loathing dragons, Kuku spent his life trying to free the kobold race from their influence. So, at least he should know the origin of this bondage.

Kuku continuously studies the power of dragons and dragon veins, and uses the power of dragons to his advantage.

Insecticide experts are often also experts on insect habits, and dragons' mortal enemies are basically dragon scholars.

As a weak dragon descendant, he relied on the dragon vein for survival. His long experience in low- to mid-level battlefields also honed his skills in progressing from nothing to something, from weak to strong.
He is the best mentor, who can provide him with the most readily available combat power (dragon magic) and also help him plan for the long term.

In the end, he decided to give Rean a source of power that would accompany him for life, during Rean's weakest period.

"Dragon Evolution! An Achievement of Our Time! An Opportunity!"

Species evolution is a mature technology that has been proven in this era, enhanced bloodlines and physical bodies, and complements the professional system.

In the past few days, Kuku has further improved its technology.

Of course, there are still risks involved, but I don't need to tell Rean that.
"The potential is very high! Extremely high! Very high!" Let's start by talking about the advantages.

"Hydra, the nine-headed dragon of Greece! Xiangliu! Yamata no Orochi!" Multi-headed dragons and multi-headed serpents have been top-tier beings in mythology since ancient times.

Rean had long known that the evolution of biological levels in this world was the evolution of individuals, and it was best to use a dominant mythical species as a reference point to avoid getting lost and out of control.

Rean fell silent. Something felt off. Kuku was talking about multi-headed dragons from Earth. Did they really exist? Wouldn't it be problematic to evolve according to a mythological blueprint? It felt like a fantasy novel setting.
"This world has one too! A dragon from another dimension! A super evil dragon!"

In an instant, Rean remembered that there really was a famous (infamous) multi-headed dragon god in this multiverse.

"Tiamat, the Mother of Five Dragons, Goddess of Dragons."

That was an evil dragon god with five dragon heads. Even outside this plane, he frequently caused trouble and was considered the mastermind and final boss in many rumors and stories.

Heroes and adventurers have come and gone, yet she continues to appear in various new-era legends, playing the role of the final boss and wreaking havoc on the world, which is enough to prove her power.

Believe it or not, Rean is a red dragon, one of the five colors. If he were to evolve by imitating its form, it seems he might actually achieve great things.

"I'll think about how to do it," Rean agreed.

Seeing that Rean hesitated, Kuku immediately switched to teaching mode, striking while the iron was hot.

"You cannot use my mind because you have the software but not the physical hardware to run it. It's like you have installed a graphics card driver but no graphics card. So, I will install a graphics card for you, acting as a secondary processor for a multi-core processor."

Rean had inquired about normal "species evolution" patterns, but he had never heard of this one.

From raw stone to colored gold (bronze, silver, brass), it often begins with the fusion of extraordinary properties and an increase in physical strength; I've never heard of anyone putting on a head.
"It's not a head! That's a useless accessory! The head is just for show!"

Clearly, Kuku was somewhat disdainful of Rean's obsession with the material aspect of a head.

Okay, the head is just for show; the important thing is what's inside.

"The graphics card, the pseudo-brain, requires dragon crystals! Also, dragon souls and some brain cells!"

Dragons are children of the elements. Their most precious parts are not their dragon teeth, skin, or claws, but their elemental soul and the dragon crystal, which is the aggregate (source) of the elements.

As long as you can provide Dragon Crystals and Dragon Souls, Kuku can help create another "Dragon Head" for it, allowing it to directly evolve to the peak of the colored gold stage (Gold). At that time, progressing all the way to the fourth tier will be effortless.

As for other hardware growth, it's not a big deal as the leading companies mature.

"Uh, dragon head, there won't be an extra dragon head." Rean thought being human was pretty good, especially considering the kingdom's widespread aversion to dragons.

"I told you, the head is just for show! As long as you don't turn into a full dragon, no one will be able to tell." What Kuku is actually creating is an "elemental dragon head," which won't be visible in its normal state. Instead, it can be used as "equipment and tools."

It sounded good, but Rean still said he needed to think about it, since it would be like having an extra head.
"Could he be developing a mental disorder?" That was the biggest question. Rean suspected that Kuku's occasional self-talk was due to his mind-body ability.

"No. Others might, but you won't. No matter how many lines of thought branch out from you, you are still you."

Is the technology really that advanced? Rean was a little surprised. He felt something was off, but his knowledge wasn't enough to justify questioning the experts.

Kuku just pursed her lips, looking disdainful.

If someone is already insane, even if they go a little more insane, you wouldn't be able to tell. Back then, all of Kuku's experiments with other organisms failed, but he succeeded alone. At the time, everyone thought it was a miracle, a breakthrough brought about by a spiritual awakening during a moment of despair.

Looking back now, it's still the uniqueness of the Thousand-Faced Dragon's "soul" that matters; the separated consciousness is still the Thousand-Faced Dragon.

The soul of the Thousand-Faced Dragon is destined to be "unique." Even if more "extra heads" are added, they will only be tools and aids, branches and tentacles under the soul network.

Since only one Kuku was ever made, this research result ultimately became the exclusive property of "Li Ensu".

"Uh, I don't think I can find a reason to refuse."

It sounds tempting, but since it's such a big deal, Rean naturally wants to ask more questions.

I must say, it seems pretty good. If we imitate the evolutionary path of the Five-Colored Dragon God and add a Dragon's Skull, we can even add an elemental affinity.

But what attracted Rean the most wasn't even what Kuku mentioned, but the fact that he had a secondary brain that could analyze and imitate at any time to assist him in casting spells.

"Uh, when my main body uses the Paladin's abilities, my secondary brain can also use the abilities of other classes?" This is a dreamlike ability.

Rean's characteristics as the Thousand-Faced Dragon mean that his abilities will definitely be numerous and varied in the future.

No matter how many skills an ordinary person possesses, they can only use one at a time. However, if one can truly multitask, the improvement in their skills will be exponential.

"I'll think about it some more." Rean was still putting up a stubborn resistance; he felt that something was not quite right.

Although Kuku saw that Rean was still being stubborn, he was not in a hurry and simply began preparing for the surgery and ceremony.

Kuku already knew that Rean would eventually agree.

Li Ensu was never someone who clung to constraints. On the contrary, he was not only very good at adapting to his environment, but also extremely greedy for unknown supernatural powers and magic. Especially under the premise of being possessed by the spirit of Kuku, this greed was simply uncontrollable.

"How do I get dragon souls and dragon crystals? Can I even buy them?" After agonizing over this for so long, Rean still asked this question, indicating that he had probably already fallen for it.

"Kill the dragon." The materials that can serve as the core of the deputy leader must be fresh, and the dragon crystals bought are all completely dead.

"A fake dragon?" Rean already had a bad feeling.

"Sure! If you're willing to have a transitional product, a leading company that grows up and then becomes obsolete."

Rean fell silent. With his current level, how could he possibly cause trouble for a true dragon? The enemy wouldn't even need to use dragon breath; their minions could overwhelm him.

And according to this logic, it would be best to kill a fresh five-colored dragon? Is that a boss that a new recruit like me can challenge?!

Rean glanced at Kuku silently. He knew that this "little guy" wouldn't waste time saying so much, and Kuku would definitely have something to say next.

"Is there any other way?" Rean asked, a hint of resentment in his voice, but he had no choice but to respond.

This tactic of first making empty promises, then clearly stating that it's impossible (due to cost issues), followed by presenting a prepared alternative and asking for your choice—I'm all too familiar with it. Isn't this the same PPT tactic I used to fool my superiors before?

"Okay. I'll make do with a fake one for you first. But within six months, find the real one and complete the advancement! Otherwise..."

Kuku casually pulled out a bright red crystal that looked familiar. Wasn't this the crystal from when he extracted Rean's blood?! He was ready.

“Otherwise…” Rean sighed; everything had been arranged perfectly.

"It will degenerate. It will really degenerate. It will degenerate without stopping."

This time, Kuku didn't exaggerate.

The "fake dragon crystal" was destined to be unable to withstand the ever-growing Rean Dragon Soul. When it completely collapsed, it naturally began to degenerate from an evolved species. And once this collapse began, it could not be stopped.

Looking at the deep red "pseudo-dragon crystal" in Kuku's hand, Rean sighed.

"Come on, before I regret it."

Just as Kuku walked over with the scalpel (the same knife from before) and the Blood Dragon Crystal, Rean hesitated.

"Um, do you have any anesthetic?!" There's cake frosting on this knife; at least disinfect it.

"No!" Kuku was a little annoyed. Why was she being so delicate? It was just a simple craniotomy.

"Um, it really won't grow a head. It won't suddenly turn ugly." Thinking of that volcano head, Rean felt a little uneasy again.

"You can't tell! Trust my skills!" These are indeed troublesome experimental animals and patients. Kuku tries to remain patient.

"Um, I'm squeamish about blood, could you...?" Rean silently backed away, moving closer to the door. He seemed to need a little more time.

Next time, definitely next time!
"No!" Kuku cast a sleep spell, and Rean, unable to resist, immediately fainted and collapsed to the ground.

Then, the little guy chuckled and dragged himself onto the operating table at the dining table.

"At least... at least wipe the table clean! Don't put me on cream and cookies, at least put a tablecloth down." This was Rean's last desperate statement.

(End of this chapter)