The crowd erupted into a deafening roar, but Zeke barely registered it. He was consumed by the storm raging within his own body, his mind nearly overwhelmed by the torrent of sensations. The large dose of Stonefist brew he had ingested at the end was merging with his blood, its effects rapidly taking hold.

    The concoction seemed to have reached a critical threshold, completely beyond his ability to control. For now, Zeke was entirely at the mercy of whatever transformation the brew had in store for him.

    Relegated to the role of a passive observer in his own body, he could only grit his teeth and endure, hoping for the best.

    The first target of the brew''s rampage was his head. It seeped into his brain, triggering a headache so severe that his vision swam. His eyes and teeth came next. His eyes burned as if strained far beyond their limits, while the pain in his teeth was just as uncomfortable. It felt as though he was a newborn teething for the first time—every tooth shifting and creaking as the brew worked its way through his system, reshaping his entire dental structure.

    The transformation surged downward, scorching his throat before spreading to his major organs. By this point, Zeke''s entire existence was consumed by pain. The torrent of sensations overwhelmed him, a chaotic mixture of agony and discomfort that defied his ability to track the changes occurring within his body.

    For a fleeting moment, he considered ejecting his Soul to escape the torment, but an instinctual warning stopped him cold. This process felt deeply personal, as though it was designed specifically for him. He had the unshakable sense that detaching himself from it would disrupt something crucial, something that couldn''t be undone.

    Beyond that instinct, Zeke recognized another truth: using his Soul as an escape from pain could become a dangerous habit. While the technique was a lifeline for emergencies, he knew relying on it too often would make him weak, dependent, and incapable of enduring even minor discomforts on his own. That was a fate he refused to accept. Gritting his teeth, Zeke resolved to endure.

    Zeke dimly noted that Drogar and Eldrin, seated on either side of him, were similarly consumed by their own experiences. It seemed the contestants had been granted time to process their gains—a respite for which Zeke was deeply thankful. If the next round had started immediately, he might have been forced to bow out.

    Relieved of that pressure, Zeke turned his focus inward, bracing himself as his body continued to adapt. The searing agony that had wracked him earlier had now diminished into something more bearable. The sharp, lancing pain had ebbed into a dull ache, one he could endure without much difficulty.

    Then, unexpectedly, a new sensation emerged. A faint, tingling warmth began to radiate across his skin, soothing and invigorating in equal measure. It spread gently, like a lover''s soft touch, banishing the remnants of discomfort.

    The shift was so stark, so profoundly different from the torment he''d endured, that Zeke had to steel himself to keep from voicing the pleasure aloud. His jaw tightened as he fought to maintain his composure, determined not to draw unnecessary attention.

    After several waves of energy coursed through his body, the sensations abruptly ceased, leaving Zeke in a peculiar state. Despite the intensity of the experience, he felt remarkably refreshed. The pain was gone, completely erased, as though it had never existed. It was difficult to believe anything strenuous had just occurred. If anything, Zeke felt better than he had in years.

    It was akin to waking from a perfect night''s sleep—alert, energized, and ready to face the day.

    For a while, Zeke lingered in the sensation, content to remain in this tranquil state. He wasn''t in any rush to open his eyes and confront reality. Instead, he lazily directed a question inward. "What just happened?"

    [Answer.]

    The alterations to Host''s physical structure have been significant and nearly total. The process may be described as a minor evolution, in a manner of speaking.

    A smirk tugged at Zeke''s lips as he envisioned himself soaring through the skies with wings of his own. "Did I grow horns or something?" he asked with a playful tone.

    [Answer]

    Negative. The modifications to Host''s appearance are not that thorough, though certain adjustments have occurred.

    Most likely, the fact that the merger between their bloodlines had worked at all was also due to his unusually high Blood Affinity. It made him more adaptable and resistant to the overpowering effects of foreign influences. If he was right, the success of the fusion also depended on both of them being willing participants. It seemed highly probable that such a bloodline merger could only occur if their wills were perfectly in sync.

    However, none of these insights were particularly helpful when trying to figure out how much time he had before he couldn''t hide his bodies abnormalities anymore. Thankfully, he had an expert analyst at hand.

    [Notice]

    If the changes continue to occur at the precious rate without any further exalarations. Then it will likely still take decades before the signs of an alternative bloodline become to pronounced to hide.

    Zeke breathed a sigh of relief. He had absolute confidence in Akasha''s prediction, fully aware that the Spirit wouldn''t voice her opinion if she wasn''t confident.

    Now, with an open mind, Zeke was finally able to fully inspect the changes. What he discovered both amazed and made him reflect cautiously. There were no dramatic, external signs—no horns or wings marking a draconinc influence. Yet beneath his skin, his very structure had been transformed and fine-tuned in ways that were hard to believe.

    His bones, for instance, felt denser, more resilient. The brittle fragility of mortal bone had given way to something far sturdier, akin to the material of a creature built for survival at the highest level. He could almost sense the microscopic changes, the layering of rich deposits within his skeletal structure that gave him enhanced durability. The shift was so precise, so natural, that Zeke found it hard to believe that only moments ago, his body had been wracked with agonizing pain.

    His organs had evolved too. His heart now beat steadily, as if it had been tempered to endure anything. His lungs felt clearer, more efficient. Each breath felt deeper, more powerful, filling him with energy that he could channel at will. Even his digestion seemed to have improved, working with almost predatory precision to extract and utilize nutrients, making him feel lighter and more energized. Without testing it, Zeke was confident his stomach could now process even raw meat with ease.

    The most obvious change, though, was to his eyesight. Where once Zeke''s vision had been sharp, it was now nothing short of extraordinary. Colors seemed brighter, more vivid, and he could perceive the tiniest of details with startling clarity. Every flicker of movement, no matter how small, caught his attention.

    His mind, too, had undergone a sharp improvement. Thoughts that once felt foggy now surfaced with startling clarity. Concepts that would have taken him hours to work through now unfolded in his mind like a well-structured map.

    He marveled at his teeth next. His canines had become ever so slightly longer and sharper, a faint reminder of his newfound, more dangerous form. Even without the distinct appearance of a dragon''s fangs, they were undeniably more suited for tearing into flesh. His jaw felt stronger too, as if it had been redesigned for crushing harder substances.

    Perhaps the most unsettling discovery was the subtle shift in his mind. He couldn''t place it exactly, but Zeke was almost certain that there was something different in the way his thoughts processed. A clarity, yes, but also a slight undercurrent of something more primal. It was as if the edges of his personality had been shaped ever so slightly, bent just enough to make him more attuned to the world around him—more focused, more alert, and more predatory in his instincts.

    It wasn''t enough to cause immediate concern, but Zeke could feel the quiet stirrings of change within himself.

    As he continued to inspect his transformed body, Zeke couldn''t ignore the overwhelming strength now coursing through him. He flexed his muscles, feeling the power that pulsed beneath his skin. As he moved, a restlessness began to build—a surge of energy demanding an outlet, an exuberant vitality that urged him to take action.

    He felt powerful, almost invincible.

    He was undeniably stronger than before. His body felt compact and solid, and his physical abilities had been enhanced in ways he couldn''t yet fully understand. He felt like he could face off against a Chimeroi in a contest of might without fear of being overwhelmed. If one of those brutish fighters charged at him now, Zeke wasn''t sure he''d be at such a disadvantage anymore.

    As he was reveling in the sensation of his transformed body, the announcer''s voice crackled to life once more, cutting through the silence.

    "Th'' recuperation period''s ended! Contestants, brace yerselves fer th'' next round!"

    Zeke let out a soft sigh, the reality of the situation swiftly descending upon him. Despite the incredible changes to his body, there was no time to fully explore them now. The next round was about to begin, and he had to be ready.