Lounge Channel (3)

‘EX-grade Privilege Skill Selection Ticket!’

My eyes went straight to it.

An EX-grade privilege skill selection ticket.

I couldn't pass this up.

Before checking the Lounge Channel.

I had to use it right away.

With my will.

The EX-grade Privilege Skill Selection Ticket activated.

A dozen or so privilege skills scrolled up.

All of them were privilege skills related to my Oath of the Dragon (EX) trait.

Every single one is extraordinary.

Dragon Blood Awakening.

True to its name, it awakens dragon blood to transform the body into a draconic constitution.

Dragon Soul Binding.

It binds the soul with a contracted dragon, allowing direct sharing of the dragon's mana and power for a certain duration during battle.

Dragon Scale Armor.

Summons dragon scales to create powerful dragon scale armor over the entire body.

Each one was a privilege skill I wouldn't regret choosing.

And the rest listed after were no less impressive.

“I've decided.”

After a moment of deliberation.

I made my choice.

With the message before my eyes.

An emerald glow enveloped my entire body.

The moment it happened.

A heart-pounding throb echoed through my entire body.

Thump-!

Hot, massive dragon blood.

I could feel it flowing through my veins.

Not mere blood, but a fiery energy blending mana and life's essence, setting my whole body ablaze.

Kuh.

My face flushed red as I suppressed the explosive energy.

“Popo! Popo!”

Popo's startled voice.

It came faintly from beside me.

But I had no time to respond.

I was fully focused on the dragon blood rampaging through my veins like a runaway train.

“Po···Po!”

Another faint voice from Popo.

A cool sensation wrapped around my body.

Zing!

A shiver spread from my spine.

I could feel the Dragon Blood that had fully permeated my body beginning to strengthen it.

My veins expanded and hardened, and a transcendent sensation washed over me, as if I'd shed my human form in an instant.

“Ah!”

Power surged from my fingertips to my toes.

I could sense the fine particles of mana that I'd never noticed before.

Mana waves enveloped me, blessing me now that I'd fully awakened the Dragon Blood.

“Jackpot.”

I contemplated the Dragon Blood flowing within me and let out a deep sigh of admiration.

Infinite potential to transcend everything.

That possibility dwelled within the Dragon Blood.

“Popo!”

I turned at Popo's voice.

Popo had wrapped itself around my body in a round coil.

Green and brown particles.

They poured endlessly from Popo's body.

Ah.

Earlier, when my body heat had risen to the point of scorching my skin, that sudden cool sensation.

It must have been Popo using its Healing Power on me.

“I'm good now. It's fine.”

“Popo.”

At my words, Popo detached from me, making a T_T face. Like it was crying.

Ah.

The little guy had really been worried about me.

“Thanks. I feel better thanks to you, Popo.”

I crouched down and stroked Popo's head.

“Popo!”

Popo leaned into me, rubbing its head against me.

As if telling me never to hurt again.

I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠could feel its sincerity, and a smile crept onto my lips unbidden.

“Thanks.”

I hugged it once more, patting its back.

“Popo!”

Only then did it relax, its face shifting to >_<.

Really, this guy. The more I see him, the cuter he gets.

『Kkyuuu-! Seojun, you got strong! I feel the same power!』

Then Dania's voice reached me too.

Swish!

Around the dragon egg, faint golden particles of mana floated subtly.

Oh···.

Something I couldn't see before.

Mana particles.

Thanks to awakening Dragon Blood, I could now see mana particles.

Mana felt more familiar, like I could wield it at will.

Fire.

I cast the 1st-circle spell Fire almost instinctively.

Whoosh!

A larger, fiercer flame than before erupted.

Mana consumption felt even lower.

No doubt about it. I'd gotten stronger.

Much stronger than before.

I checked Dragon Blood Awakening once more.

“Oh.”

An exclamation burst out.

Dragon Heart? Dragon God Body?

Just from the names, they screamed full draconic power awakening.

“Kuh. I like it.”

I couldn't hide the grin on my face.

『Kkyuung. Seojun? Feeling good?』

“Popo!”

Dania and Popo tilted their heads at my reaction.

“Haha. Yeah. I feel great right now.”

『Kkyu! If Seojun's happy, Dania happy too!』

“Popo-!”

I laughed, and Dania and Popo laughed along.

Dania's egg wobbled.

Popo hopped around with a ∩_∩ grin.

Cheerful laughter filled the lair.

“Alright, kids. Hold on a sec.”

I still had more to check.

The Lounge Channel.

The place I'd only heard about.

I willed myself into the Lounge Channel.

Platinum Lounge first.

Fwaaah!

My vision tinted emerald.

A dozen or so menus lined up.

“Whoa.”

With a short exclamation, I entered the Community.

Nothing here.

Of course.

I was the first user of the Platinum Lounge.

Well then.

Should I leave the first mark here?

I added Dania and Popo's signatures too.

As the post registered, a sense of achievement washed over me, like leaving the first footprint in fresh snow.

Especially, the emerald glow next to "Madoje" with the EX-grade mark caught my eye.

Nice.

I smirked and checked the Platinum Lounge Shop next.

“Whoa. Insane.”

A curse slipped out.

EX-grade items?

No, EX-grade items even existed?

Mind-blowing.

“And the prices are even more insane.”

9.999 billion coins.

In won, that's 99 trillion.

Items that might require looting a national treasury.

“Way out of reach for now.”

I clicked my tongue.

Guess I'd have to sell more elixirs from the Dragon's Lair.

I hadn't planned to grind coins hard, but this changed things.

Next, the Platinum Lounge Skill Shop solidified that resolve.

Why?

They were selling the EX-grade Privilege Skill Selection Ticket I'd just used for Dragon Blood Awakening (EX).

99 billion coins to buy one.

“So what I just got is worth 99 billion coins.”

Meaning I'd just earned 99 billion coins.

Lucky me, huh?

I chuckled and skimmed the rest.

All out of my league for now.

“Still, I get the Lounge ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Channel concept now.”

The Lounge Channel focused on features to nurture users.

While Superhuman Net specialized in personal trades and free interactions.

Enter Gold Lounge.

Now for the Gold Lounge.

Fwaaah!

Golden light swirled, forming text before my eyes.

The layout was much like Platinum's.

But.

I entered the Community, and countless posts appeared.

Still pouring in real-time.

Completely different from the lonely Platinum Lounge Community where I'd posted alone.

Whoa.

Then a familiar nickname caught my eye.

Hong Seolhwa.

It was her post.

“Nice to see this.”

I debated whether to acknowledge it.

I'll reply.

Yeah.

She calls me her lifelong benefactor, so a comment in return is the least I can do.

I hid my rank.

Revealing EX-grade felt premature.

Fortunately, you could opt for ? if you didn't want to show it.

Countless more comments followed.

I slipped out, leaving the flood of replies to my appearance behind.

I browsed the Gold Lounge Shop and Skill Shop too.

SS and S-grade gear and skills mostly.

Got it.

I know the vibe of Gold Lounge now.

I'll use Gold Lounge for a while.

Realistic items and skills I could actually buy.

Perfect.

Lounge Channel exploration complete!

Exiting the channel, hunger hit me.

Already?

I puzzled over it, then realized.

Ah! Because I awakened Dragon Blood?

Lucky again?

Means I can take elixirs right away.

Might even hit level 25 soon.

“Dania, Popo! You guys hungry?”

I called them.

Huh? No reply.

Looking over, Popo was glued to one spot, observing something.

Dania seemed to be watching whatever Popo was too.

“What is it? Something up?”

“Popo!”

As I approached, Popo made a +_+ face.

Like it was amazed.

What the heck? I peeked over.

“Eh!”

A short exclamation escaped me.

Why?

Pong!

Where it stared.

A sprout the size of my index finger poked its head out.

And the seed planted here was.

“Seondo!”

Yes, the infamous ultra-low cultivation rate Seondo seed had sprouted in less than a day!

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Popo, what magic did you work on this soil?!

“Popo?”

+_+.