The Dragon's Heart (2)
“Gulp.”
Along with the sound of a heart pounding violently.
My Adam’s apple bobbed.
Staring at the Sky Whale’s Scale, an unbearable hunger surged up within me.
“Chuchu!”
Chuchu seemed to have noticed my state.
He immediately placed the Sky Whale’s Scale into my hand.
‘Ah.’
The moment the scale touched my palm.
Everything else vanished from sight.
Thump, thump, thump—
With the sound of my own heartbeat echoing in my ears.
Crunch!
Before I knew it, I had bitten into the Sky Whale’s Scale.
‘Ah!’
Despite its appearance, the scale had an incredibly pleasant texture and taste.
A delicate coolness wrapped around my tongue, followed by a transparent sweetness.
It felt as though I were swallowing a droplet condensed from a clear sky, spreading a refreshing sensation throughout my mouth.
The soft sensation, like a cool breeze brushing past, gave the feeling of tasting the very essence of the heavens.
Chew, chew!
Unable to regain my senses, I quickly devoured the Sky Whale’s Scale.
With every bite, its unique sweet flavor spread across my tongue, evoking the image of both the deep sea and the endless sky at once.
Gulp!
After swallowing the last remnants, a warm aftertaste that seemed to purify my entire body spread through me.
This lingering sensation slowly expanded from within, wrapping my body in the vitality of the sky.
At the same time, a faint shiver ran down my spine, conveying a power that seemed to awaken both my body and soul.
‘Aaaah!’
This was no mere taste—it was an ecstatic state leading me toward a new realm.
Along with the sensation of floating above the clouds.
The Dragon Blood within me began to seethe madly.
『Seojun!』
Dania’s voice reached me faintly.
A moment later, I felt her first horn touch me.
Flash!!!
A blinding white radiance.
Enveloped in that brilliant light, I felt as though my entire body were burning hot.
The instant I thought my whole being might turn to ash from endless flames.
All conditions for completing the Dragon’s Heart have been met.
Rumble rumble rumble—
At the same time, the wildly fluctuating energy of Dragon Blood began to condense near my heart.
Thump—!!
My heart beat louder than ever before.
Once again, a scorching heat, as though I had stepped into lava, wrapped around my entire body.
‘Kugh—’
A low groan escaped my lips.
In that instant, my vision went dark and every sound in the world disappeared.
That was not all.
I could smell nothing, and even the sensation of touch on my skin gradually faded.
It felt as though all five senses were vanishing.
The sensation was as if my very existence were being erased from this world.
‘Am I still alive?’
Only my thoughts remained.
They were the sole proof that I was still alive and not dead.
‘What happened?’
A bizarre situation I had never heard of, experienced, or even imagined.
In the bottomless darkness, I could do nothing but think.
‘Did something go wrong?’
‘To overcome this situation…’
‘……’
‘Let’s find the answer in magic.’
‘Magic…’
‘Come to think of it.’
‘What exactly is magic.’
‘It begins with the mana of nature…’
My thoughts continued endlessly.
They flowed toward one destination: magic.
Though I had studied magic for only a short time.
It was the only miraculous act I could perform.
I sought answers in magic.
That attempt ultimately led me to a deep contemplation of magic itself.
‘……Ah!’
And so I realized.
The essence of mana.
And the true definition of magic.
‘Beginning communication with mana is the first step toward a higher realm.’
A flash of realization struck like lightning in my mind.
Crash!
A tremendous realization surged like a tidal wave, and my lost senses returned one by one.
Touch awakened, and the cool, gentle energy of mana brushed against my skin.
Smell returned, and the refreshing scent of mana tickled my nose.
Taste revived, and a cool, clean flavor spread across my tongue.
Hearing came back, and the faint sound of mana flowing through the air reached my ears.
Finally, sight returned, and mana particles floating throughout the world began to shine brilliantly before my eyes.
Congratulations.
You have experienced a fragment of supreme enlightenment.
You have awakened Dragon’s Heart: Dragon Heart.
Your level has increased.
BOOM!!!!
Fireworks exploded inside my head.
At the same time, an enormous surge of mana erupted from my entire body!
‘It’s done.’
Reaching level 80.
I had achieved the Dragon’s Heart, the Dragon Heart!
“Hahahahahaha!”
A voice filled with ecstasy burst from my mouth.
Confidence that I could do anything welled up.
The wall of level 80 I had reached.
It was not the same wall ordinary superhumans faced at level 80.
I could feel that I had attained a higher-dimensional power from a higher world.
Perhaps because of that.
What I gained upon awakening the Dragon’s Heart was not all.
You have awakened spirituality.
Lightning struck inside my head!
My status window naturally appeared before me.
Finally.
I had stars of my own.
Nine of them, no less.
The same number as Azkai.
However, Dania possessed ten stars.
It was still one short of that.
‘Will the number of stars increase once the Dragon’s Heart fully matures?’
The Dragon’s Heart I now possessed was still only at the seed stage.
I would need to grow it much further before I could possess a Dragon Heart on par with true dragons.
‘Or perhaps…’
The next stage after achieving the Dragon’s Heart.
The Dragon God Body.
Reaching that realm might increase the number of stars.
‘In any case, awakening nine stars even before reaching level 100 is extremely encouraging.’
I had thought I would need to reach level 100 to awaken stars unless I connected with a divine being like Fenril and awakened spirituality through that link.
Yet I had awakened them even sooner.
This was a very positive sign for my growth.
Judging by Azkai, who possessed nine stars, my level cap would likely exceed at least 500.
The higher the level cap, the faster the growth rate.
Fenril, for example, had an awakened potential of eight stars, and he was already on the verge of level 100.
I, too, now had the possibility of reaching level 100 much faster.
“Hoo.”
I exhaled the breath I had been holding.
Then.
The guardians gathered around me began to fuss loudly, offering their congratulations.
『Seojun!!! Congratulations!』
Flap flap! Swoosh—
Dania flew into my arms, her small wings fluttering.
“Master! Congratulations!”
Bellerin offered her congratulations as though she might take flight.
“You succeeded! Congratulations!”
Azkai clenched his fists, eyes sparkling.
『Master, congratulations!!』
Lulumiel congratulated me, her small wings shimmering with rainbow light.
『Keron. Congratulations, and congratulations again.』
Archeron approached despite his still-unhealed body.
“Chuchu chuchu!”
“Popo popo!”
“Awooooo—!”
Chuchu, Popo, and Fenril joined in with their cheers.
Finally.
@Geueo-eoeoeoeoeoe—!
Mandrian lay flat on the ground, waving his roots in a gesture of triple cheers toward me.
Heh.
Being congratulated by everyone at once felt far better than celebrating alone.
“Master! Let’s throw a party today!”
“Indeed. We cannot skip a party on an occasion like this.”
Bellerin and Azkai were the first to suggest a celebration.
“Yeah. We should enjoy ourselves on a day like this.”
When I nodded with a small laugh.
“Popo!”
“Chuchu!”
“Awooooo!”
Chuchu, Popo, and Fenril dashed excitedly toward the garden.
They began harvesting the crops that had grown even fresher than yesterday.
‘Ah, come to think of it, I forgot about using Forest Essence to grow the crops further.’
The situation had been so urgent that it had slipped my mind.
This was a good time to bring out the Forest Essence and sprinkle it over the elixirs, spirit herbs, and crops.
Judging by Mandrian, the spirit herbs, elixirs, and crops would likely level up as well.
‘And let’s try using one of the ★ on myself.’
I currently possessed two ★ gems.
I decided to use one on myself now.
Though I wanted to use both, I thought it wiser to keep one as insurance for whatever might happen next.
‘I really need more ★. I’ll have to find a way to obtain more.’
Not only I, but Dania and Fenril—everyone needed ★ badly.
Setting aside my regret, I resolved to use one while the guardians prepared the party.
Will you accept the ★?
***
“Go!!”
“Kiaaaaaaaaah!”
“Kiriririririt!”
“Grwooooooooor—!”
Rumble rumble rumble rumble!
An enormous army charged forward, shaking the earth.
Facing numbers that exceeded ten thousand, no one dared to block their path.
These were the giant insects.
Vermith’s forces.
“Halt——!”
Upon reaching a certain point.
Karmarks, at the front, stopped the advance of the army.
“Is this the place?”
“Yes. It is.”
“Hmm…”
At the report from the pathfinding insect, Karmarks narrowed his eyes.
The Third Legion Commander, Arachne.
Traces of the battle she had fought here—and her subsequent death—remained.
‘A being that wields fire.’
Fire was the attribute most incompatible with her, a power extremely disadvantageous to her.
Moreover, the power possessed by this being far surpassed hers.
The remaining traces alone made it clear that Arachne had been slain without even having the chance to flee.
‘Even so. That being alone cannot stop us.’
Nearly ten legion commanders had gathered here.
They also commanded an army of ten thousand.
Who could possibly stand in their way?
Therefore.
With the resolve to crush and devour whoever stood against them.
Karmarks spoke in an even colder voice.
“Advance! Pathfinders, follow the enemy’s traces.”
Rumble rumble rumble!
The massive insect legion.
They began closing the distance toward the location of the lair.
***
At that moment.
‘Aaaah!’
Having used the ★, I once again fell into a state of ecstasy.
Countless symbols floated through my mind.
Water, fire, wind, earth, gold, rock, gravity, and more.
I instinctively understood what they were.
‘They enhance traits.’
Just as using ★ on Azkai had strengthened his lava.
Just as using ★ on Archeron had enhanced his mobility.
I realized this was the process of obtaining my own unique trait.
Once I acquired a unique trait, every additional ★ I obtained would further strengthen that same trait.
Therefore.
I needed to obtain a good unique trait this time.
Only then would the direction of my future growth be decided.
‘So please, let it be something related to magic and combat—’
Along with that wish.
Flash!!!
A single symbol appeared before me.
‘This is…!’
My eyes widened as I confirmed what it was.