The Dragon God's Shop

The Dwarf ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠tribe's Dragon God Shop offered items that shattered all common sense.

Dragon God Temple Entry Ticket. Dragon Vein Land Entry Ticket. Stat Enhancement Ticket. Dragon Authority Proficiency Acceleration Ticket. Skill Proficiency Acceleration Ticket. Experience Gain Multiplier. Point Gain Multiplier. Magic Tool Option Grant Ticket, and more.

Everything on sale was one-of-a-kind rarities impossible to find anywhere else.

"Jackpot."

Each item directly bolstered Kim Jehyun's own power. Especially the Proficiency Acceleration Tickets and Experience Gain Multipliers—they were essentially buying time, the most precious resource of all. Faster growth snowballed into even quicker advancement, creating a perfect virtuous cycle.

—Hah, opening the Dragon God's Shop already? Alkasha clicked her tongue as she watched Jehyun browse, her multicolored glow flickering.

Normally, a user at Jehyun's level shouldn't even dream of accessing ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠it.

"But why are these prices so insane?"

A single Dragon God Temple Entry Ticket cost 1 million points. Most were consumables, yet everything started at that base price.

—Of course. This shop unlocks at Stage 8. By then, you'd generate points like this easily... but at Stage 6, even one purchase will strain you.

"Damn... really?"

Jehyun smacked his lips in disappointment. He had just over 1.1 million points—barely enough for one Temple ticket.

'Feels steep right now... but the Temple ticket's the best buy.'

One ticket could bump his level by at least one or two stages. At Stage 6, normal leveling took months, maybe years per stage.

'Temple Training Rooms are essential for fast ups.'

Shortening months or years? Not expensive at all.

'The shop opening is pure luck for me.'

Without it, another ticket would've been a pipe dream, stalling his growth.

'Gotta farm points and spam Temple tickets to hit Stage 7 fast.'

With steady points, Stage 7 was within reach. Jehyun turned to Alkasha.

"Alkasha!"

—What?

"Say it quick."

—...Say what?

Alkasha floated in confusion at the random demand.

"You know, your usual line. 'Hah, think points grow on trees? Dream big, kid.' That vibe."

—W-why would I say that?!

"Because whenever you do, I score big points."

—...

Alkasha froze mid-air, her cover trembling before she snapped back.

—Hah, ridiculous. Think my words summon points? Fine, let's test it. 'Greedy leech, dreaming of free rides! Your level can't farm easy points!'

Jehyun grinned. "Thanks for the lucky blessing."

* * *

Whoosh!

Jehyun's vision shifted as he re-entered the Dragon God Temple. The majestic dragon ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠statue greeted him, feeling oddly warmer today.

"Hmm."

He eyed the Point Room among accessible chambers, pondering.

Use it to:

1. Farm points for another ticket.

2. Repeat, stacking points.

3. Bulk-buy tickets later.

He shook his head. 'Unknown efficiency—Training Room first.'

Point yields unknown; save for later. Stage 7 granted periodic tickets anyway—priority was reaching it.

"Entering Training Room."

A massive translucent hourglass materialized overhead. Time limit: until sand ran out.

'Time Attack, huh.'

Looks like 24 hours minimum.

Last time, full clear took days.

'Total loss?'

Jehyun frowned—until monsters swarmed.

Kyaaah!

Slaying one revealed the twist: previously B-rank (Stage 5) dominant, now A-rank (Stage 6) mains. They grouped in small packs, not ant swarms.

Boom!

"Kyaa, kyaaak!"

They tanked his spells without instant death.

'That defense?'

Tougher than standard A-ranks. But the XP...

'Th-thirty thousand?!'

Jehyun's eyes widened. Ten thousand A-ranks yielded ~6,000 XP total. This was 5x per kill.

'Last time was average... now?'

Game-changer. Faster clears = higher efficiency than full annihilation.

'Got it.'

His eyes sparkled.

"Thunder Bird, summon! Casa, Vulcan, Electron, Wisp! All out!"

Mana drained as his spirit squad materialized.

"Full throttle from the start!"

He charged the oncoming horde.

* * *

Whew.

Jehyun smirked as the hourglass neared empty—exactly 24 hours, full throttle clears.

'Leveled up twice.'

Post-Stage 6, XP needs exploded exponentially per level—yet he hit mid-Stage 6.

Steady tickets? Stage 7 soon.

'One-shots would've been faster.'

Stronger attack power = better efficiency.

"Gear's the weak link."

Spirit Magic or stacked spells one-shot, but basic spells should've too—with more power.

'Not your average mobs.'

A/S-rank hybrids, explaining fat XP. Perfect for him.

'Soul Collect leveled too—nice.'

Clayte shone, upgrading Soul Collect. Now +1 summon capacity.

Stronger forces = faster levels.

Sand depleted; Jehyun returned.

Alkasha nodded at his recap.

—Indeed. Temple rewards ability. Higher skill = higher yields. Don't slack on magic training.

"Obviously. But... need quick point farms. Any missions? System, got spares? Hook a guy up?"

Missions scaled up lately— a few could refill 1 million.

Jehyun joked skyward.

—Haha, System won't bite. No matter how mu—

"Whoa!"

—Wh-what?! Now?!

"Knew it, Alkasha! Thanks—your curse worked."

—In-insane... how...

Alkasha's cover flapped in shock. It worked? Unthinkable.

"Let's see what my Alkasha hooked me up with..."

Jehyun hummed, checking.

His eyes widened.

"...Find the dwarves?"

His phone buzzed. Screen: 'Cheonrian Clan'—the info guild he'd tasked.

* * *

"Whoa, didn't expect a lead this fast."

Jehyun eyed the parchment from Cheonrian Clan.

—Heh, unreal luck.

Alkasha muttered, half-deadpan. Jehyun's fortune defied her—if Luck was a stat, it'd be 999.

"Even I'm shocked."

He'd shared dwarf tribe marks: report any sightings.

Needle-in-sand-dune odds—no expectations.

Yet instant contact.

'Just locating for 100k? Sweet.'

Dwarves owed him anyway—Stage 6 legendary gear incoming.

Gear + points? Win-win.

'Chain quests? Points flood.'

—Doubt it.

Alkasha muttered, but Jehyun's luck screamed possible.

He arrived at the site—and froze at the sight.

"...Dwarves here?"

A toxic miasma-choked canyon entrance loomed.