[ Strength 21, Agility 20, Vitality 19 ]
[ Mana 200 ]
____
[ Na: Ryuzen De Manus ]
[ Bloodline: Solarfrost Imperial Dragon (S) ]
[ Age: 6 Years ]
[ Lifespan: 300 Years ]
[ Level: 13 ]
[ Strength: 180 ]
[ Agility: 179 ]
[ Vitality: 183 ]
[ Mana: 1307 ]
[ Skills: Frost Armor (E), Twin Eclipse Ascent (E), Sunflare Glacier Roar (E), Night Berserker (E), Phantom Claw (E), Windleap Dash (E), Tunnel Gore Strike (E), Shell Sense (F), Water Resistance (F) ]
[ Skill Tree: Manus (D) ]
The satisfaction of seeing his stats rise couldn’t wash away the awe blooming in his chest.
"So that’s how the strong feel. The feeling of absolute domination is pretty addicting," he murmured, his golden slit eyes gleaming.
Beside him, Grakar slowly rose from the snow-lted ground, his massive crocodilian head lowered in sha.
"Don’t make that face again, Grakar. You did the best you could," Ryuzen said, walking over and placing a clawed hand gently on the creature’s thick snout.
Grakar’s voice trembled.
"But My Lord... are you not angry that I always claim I’ll protect you, yet fail to fulfill that vow when it matters most?"
Ryuzen shook his head without hesitation.
"No. Because I know both your weakness and your loyalty, Grakar. Even if you can’t help now, one day... you’ll shake the sky. I believe that."
His words were simple, but they ca from a place of deep trust and sincerity.
Grakar looked up, and for a mont, the pain in his eyes lted away. A smile slowly ford—genuine and untainted. In that frozen battlefield, amidst the steam and the silence, he was truly glad to have been chosen by such a kind and noble lord.
Next, Ryu quickly transford into human form, learning from the mistake he made previous ti.
As the smoke cleared and the snow settled, Ryuzen stepped forward with heavy, frost-coated boots. The remnants of the explosion still sizzled in the air, leaving behind molten streaks and shattered ice fragnts across the battlefield.
At the center of the crater, sothing pulsed faintly.
Ryuzen crouched and reached into the ruin, retrieving a crystalline organ shimring with both icy blue and silvery white veins. It radiated power and cold, beating slowly like a living heart.
[ Ice Queen Cicada’s Core (E ) ]
He narrowed his eyes as he examined the core.
"A rare elental Core... this can be used to trade so more coins. Ah, no. I should give this one Grakar instead."
But that wasn’t all.
Beside the core, partially buried in the ash and slush, lay two glowing books bound in monster hide. Their covers pulsed faintly with runes, and when Ryuzen touched them, system notifications echoed in his mind.
[ Skill Book: Arctic Cyclone Wingblade (E) ]
> Unleashes a storm of razor-sharp windblades mixed with arctic frost from the user’s wings or arms. Each blade carries freezing properties, capable of slowing enemies and tearing through armor. In midair, the skill allows montary hovering and boosts maneuverability.
[ Skill Book: Cicada Veil Mirage (E) ]
> Creates a translucent mirage afterimage of the user that mimics movents for 3 seconds before vanishing. During this ti, the real body becos semi-invisible, allowing evasive maneuvers or ambush setups.
"Wind and ice," he muttered after reading through the description.
Grakar tilted his head and growled softly.
"My Lord, are these human things useful to you as well?"
"Yes. They make powerful like humans. But you can take this one," Ryu said, handing him the Cicada’s Core.
Grakar took the pulsating core with trembling hands.
His Lord cared so much about him. He needed to make himself useful to him, lest he be discarded.
Next, Ryu raised his hand and transferred him into the Fusion Lab. Although he was in hurry, he was more excited to see the improvents Grakar would have next ti.
Just a few seconds later, his surroundings changed.
Outside, everything was peaceful and serene, as if the chaos inside the dungeon had never happened at all.
It was afternoon now. So much ti had passed, yet he hadn’t noticed a thing.
"Huh! You’re still alive!"
A disbelieving remark cut through the silence, coming from one of the guards nearby.
The other guards turned to look, eyes wide with surprise.
Seeing their baffled expressions, Ryu thought to himself, "Did I miss sothing?"
Still, he replied calmly, "Yes, I am very much alive. Is there any problem?"
His tone sounded a little more mature than before—deeper, more grounded.
The burly man slapped his own cheeks in shock before muttering, "So, I was wrong..."
"Hehe... Muscle Head, see? I told you. Not all are greenhorns are the sa. This one has talent and courage. Just like a lion."
A beautiful, mature woman dressed in a blue guard uniform stepped forward with a laugh, her voice laced with amusent.
She walked closer, her boots crunching against the gravel. Her sharp amber eyes scanned Ryuzen up and down.
"You cleared up the Extre Difficulty in Solo mode, sothing even us failed to achieve. What’s your na?"
Ryu understood. ’So they can see what mode I am choosing. I’ll have to be mindful of thay from now on.’
"Ryuzen," he replied.
Her brow arched. "Ryuzen? Have I pronounced it correctly?"
"Yes. You did, mrs?"
"It’s Miss. My na Elyssa Ambrose."
Ryuzen nodded, rembering the na. There were so strange glint in her eyes, sothing he never seen on a woman before.
So for now he chose to be careful.
Just them, One of the younger guards, barely in his teens, leaned toward another and whispered, "He’s almost the sa age as . So, how can he survive sothing like that and co back... looking even stronger?"
Elyssa chuckled. "Stop whispering, newbie. Not everyone have to ordinary like you."
"Hey, Elyssa, now you’re being rude to your junior."
She shrugged at her friend’s remark, and glance back at Ryu. "Anyway, what did you find inside, Ryuzen?"
He shrugged. "A lot of things. Danger. Pain. Power."
The burly guard crossed his arms and grunted. "I still don’t buy it. You’re telling a newbie cleared Extrem difficulty of a E-Rank dungeon in solo?"
Ryu didn’t reply. He just smiled slightly and turned his gaze toward the sky, where the sun had begun to dip just slightly.
Elyssa raised her hand, stopping the argunt. "Enough, guys. We’re not here to question what’s already done. He ca out alive, stronger, and unhard. That’s more than any of us expected."
Then she turned back to Ryuzen.
"If you ever feel like applying, the Northern Watch could use soone like you, Ryuzen."
"I see... I’ll consider it," Ryu said, his tone polite but distant.
As he walked past them, heading toward the city, all the guards quietly stepped aside.
But he could feel the woman’s intense gaze on his back.
A creepy sensation crawled over him, as if his body had been stripped of all clothing.
He instinctively glanced down, only to rember—he had definitely worn his clothes this ti.
So... what was this creepy feeling?
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