Chapter 9 The Power of Evolution 2

[Race: Goblin (M)]

[Main Element: Earth]

[Main Stats: Strength / Stamina]

[Evolution Rate: 100/100]

[Strength Specialisation | ★☆ (1.5)]

[Stamina Specialisation | ★☆ (1.5)]

After officially registering the goblins as dungeon spirits, he could now see all the evolutionary information that he couldn't see back at the market. Furthermore, luckily, both of them had already reached an evolution rate of 100. It was most likely because they were already the weakest spirits so they couldn't go much lower.

Eligor and Catalina continued to look at Yong-Ho with dry saliva in their mouths. Yong-Ho raised his hands in the air, instead of explaining it to them again. Boxes of light appeared over both of the goblins' heads.

The power of evolution was the demon king's power.

It was a power that awakened from Yong-Ho's soul and was closely intertwined with his very being.

So, of course, activating it felt natural. Flames rose from Yong-Ho's green eyes, as mana was released from his fingertips.

The goblins began to tremble. Eligor held his breath as he felt the mana from Yong-Ho inject into the goblins. Catalina stared at Yong-Ho with an anxious face.

Moments later.

A green aura began to envelop the goblins. The goblins' cries filled the room.

"Ahem!"

Yong-Ho hurriedly stepped back while coughing roughly. It was difficult. He felt as if all his energy had been drained out of him.

However, Yong-Ho still had a grin on his face. Eligor covered his mouth with both of his hands, his eyes turning red like usual. Whereas, Catalina quickly went over to help Yong-Ho. Her eyes widened when she looked back to the goblins.

The goblins had transformed.

The goblin with a strength specialty had grown more than 15cm taller. Its frail shoulders were twice as large as before, and its upper body had formed into a perfectly inverted triangle.

Even though its legs were short, its arms were large and sturdy. It was like looking at a baby gorilla.

Meanwhile, the goblin with the stamina specialty had also transformed. Both it's upper and lower body had developed in balance, with muscles appearing on its thin arms and legs.

It initially seemed shorter than the other goblin, but after it fully extended its bent waist, it suddenly became taller.

"This, this is the power of evolution!"

Eligor was elated. While Catalina was still staring at the goblins with a shocked expression on her face.

Yong-ho smiled and gathered the remaining mana. He wanted to lie down and fall asleep right away, but instead, he activated the power of evolution again to look at the goblin with strength specialization.

[Race: Goblin (M)] [Level One Spirit]

[Main Element: Earth]

[Main Stats: Strength / Stamina]

[Evolution Rate: 0/100]

[Strength Specialisation | ★☆ (1.5)]

[Stamina Specialization | ★ (1)]

[Intelligence Specialization | ☆ (0.5)]

A new 'Intelligence' stat had appeared. Moreover, that wasn't the only change. A large box of light had appeared above the goblin's stats. Yong-Ho felt great excitement as he read what was inside.

[Promotion: Hobgoblin]

Promotion. Transcendence. Class change, no, class promotion.

Everything was good. If they evolved once more, then the Goblins in front of him would transcend even further along the goblin race. It was clear that the very nature of their existence would rise.

'Though in the end, they're just a couple of evolved goblins.'

Despite being cynical, he couldn't wipe the smile off his face.

So what's next after Hobgoblins? Goblin King? High Goblin? Was it possible for Catalina and Eligor to be promoted like that?

'Come to think of it.'

That was when Yong-Ho suddenly realized, with a worried look on his face, that Catalina was hugging him halfway. Perhaps because he only just came to a realization, but he could really feel Catalina's presence, through his arms, waist, and chest, suddenly awash over him.

Despite being reborn as a demon king, Yong-Ho was still unable to overcome his shyness around women.

'It is nice, however...'

He didn't have any energy left. He naturally leaned his body against Catalina's.

That's what Yong-Ho thought anyway. He decided, without hesitation, to just lean against her even more. Suddenly, Catalina yelled.

"Oh, my god! Is that a horn?"

Yong-Ho jumped at Catalina's sudden cry, Eligor also screamed.

Small horns were visible on the Goblins' foreheads, almost like small rocks jutting out of a cliff. Eligor stared at them with tears filling his eyes. He was so moved that he had been brought to tears.

"Oh oh... mighty Mammon."

Now, he was just bawling his eyes out. Yong-Ho decided that Catalina was probably a better person to ask at the moment.

"Is it that great, Catalina, that the Goblins have horns?"

At Yong-Ho's question, Catalina gawked at him with a dumbfounded expression on her face. They were standing right next to each other, so Catalina's beautiful face was right in front of him.

She started to breathe roughly. After staring at Yong-Ho's face with a bewildered look for a while, Catalina yelled gleefully.

"It's amazing! Fantastic! N-no. You're amazing."

After yelling with excitement, she tried to calm herself down and control her excited tone. Instead of teasing her, Yong-Ho asked her once again.

"So, why is it so amazing?"

Catalina once again became dumbfounded. But, only for a moment. To demons, it was common knowledge, but she realized that for Yong-Ho however, it was completely unknown, since this was only his third day as a demon.

After helping Yong-Ho sit down on the throne, she tried to catch her breath. She then started to explain in a calm manner as possible.

"For demons, horns are a symbol of strength. A demon's horn is a type of organ that draws in the mana that exists in the world. The stronger your mana, the greater and larger your horns will become. Of course, having a lot of large horns would become uncomfortable so most demons use magic to conceal them. But, uh, anyway, that's why horns are so important. It's also possible to get a rough idea on the strength of a demon based on the number of horns they have."

Even though her visible excitement had died down a bit, her voice was still traveling at high speed. As if she was running out of the air, she kept on having to stop talking and take a breath. After taking another couple of breaths, her explanation continued.

"It's not that easy to increase the size or number of horns. Most demons live the rest of their life with the same horns they were born with. Strengthening your mana is the only way to increase the size or number of horns you possess. It's different for each case. B-but."

"But?"

In response to Yong-Ho's question, Catalina closed her eyes. She took a deep breath and said with a relatively calm face.

"Goblins don't originally have horns. Though there is an occasional rare case with a goblin being born with a very small horn, it's still very rare. Goblins don't have much mana in the first place, so it's almost impossible for them to increase their number of horns."

"But master, you gave those goblins horns. Those goblins have horns..."

Eligor spoke again with reverence. His voice was trembling with emotion.

Yong-Ho now understood.

Why Catalina had been so excited, and why Eligor had been so moved by what he had done.

'The power of evolution.'

He remembered the sparkle in Sitri's eyes. He understood now why she seemed impressed by him, despite her introducing herself as an influential figure.

Yong-Ho looked at the Goblins again. Perhaps it was the effect of their evolution, or maybe because they now had horns, but they looked more intelligent now. When their eyes met, the Goblins quickly knelt down and spoke in a stammering tone.

"Master, master."

"We, we. Pledge our allegiance. To you."

Catalina suddenly opened her mouth wide with joy, while Eligor started to weep again.

Yong-Ho guessed by their reactions that goblins talking was considered pretty amazing as well.

Yong-Ho sat back down on his throne again. He asked Catalina once again, who was still overcoming her shock.

It was about the horns.