Dragon Eye

Mana surged wildly through my entire body. A foreign mass of mana suddenly erupted from the Mana Core.

That mana immediately began circulating along my mana road, coursing through my whole body.

Every time the mana mass passed, my mana road expanded and contracted in response, repeating the cycle.

The mana mass had subtly refined my mana road. As a result, my mana purity and output rose just a bit.

Now I could cast slightly higher-quality, stronger spells than before.

The mana mass circulated through my body several times. Then, it suddenly shifted direction.

'Huh?'

I let out a slightly flustered sound. The mana mass had abruptly rushed toward my face.

'Ugh.'

I felt a burning pain in my eyes, as if they were being seared by fire. I dropped to my knees and clutched my face with both hands.

Ziiiiiing.

The mana heading for my eyes began intensely gathering in both eye sockets, as if it meant to burn them away.

"Grrgh."

My groans deepened. I started wondering if I'd go blind like this.

—Stay calm. Steady your breathing and accept it as if it were your own mana from the start.

At those words, I recalled the sensation from Arkanios's trial moments ago.

The alien feeling from experiencing a dragon's body for the first time in my life. Back then, I'd fully assimilated into Arkanios's flesh, erasing that disconnect.

How had I done it? First, I steadied my breathing. There was a saying that everything began with breath. My gut told me it wouldn't fail this time either.

'Calmly. Inhale. Exhale.'

Hatchling's Basic Mana Art. I couldn't underestimate a basic mana art. No supreme human technique could compare to it.

Mana flowed in and out of my body repeatedly, starting a full circulation.

Shaaaa.

The mana that had felt ready to burst from my eyes gradually settled. The excruciating pain vanished. Instead, a cool sensation began to spread.

A golden gleam flashed in my eyes. Amid the pitch-black irises, a faint amber glow began to swirl.

"This is..."

I instinctively knew what I'd gained.

Dragon Eye. When I'd possessed Arkanios's body, my vision of the world had changed. It let me see the mana dwelling in all things, the essence of existence, and discern truth from illusion.

It pierced through all spells and magic that deceived the eyes—phantasms, hallucinations—with omniscient sight that saw through opponents.

That eye had been inherited.

"So... the Dragon Legacies mean inheriting the dragon's very flesh?"

—Indeed. Inheriting a dragon's power is the same as receiving its body intact.

I swallowed hard.

The infinite exaltation I'd felt possessing Arkanios's body moments ago. The omnipotence of having all beings beneath my feet, like becoming a god.

And now, I'd inherit all of that dragon's body.

"I thought it was just dragon powers and maybe a dragon heart..."

I'd misjudged.

I'd expected a dragon heart since the Mana Core formed—Alkasha had hinted at it, and I saw it as preparation for one.

Dragon powers? Not knowing exactly what they were, I'd vaguely assumed immense strength.

Now I understood clearly. Inheriting Dragon Legacies meant receiving everything from a divine being—a dragon.

"I see."

A grin of anticipation curved my lips.

* * *

By the time I'd finished acquiring Dragon Eye, night had fallen deep and dark. The rock mountain's shadows swallowed even the moonlight.

It should have been pitch black, impossible to see, but I had no trouble securing my vision.

"This eyesight is no joke."

Like having infrared goggles strapped to my eyes, everything was crystal clear. Even without light, I perceived it all distinctly.

"And this is with zero proficiency?"

Even near-zero proficiency outstripped human eyes by far.

'Status window.'

I called it up again to check proficiency.

A new entry, Dragon Body, had appeared. It listed Dragon Eye with its proficiency.

—The more you use that eye, the faster its proficiency will rise. Unlocking more of its powers accordingly.

To reach the level of piercing all creation as in Arkanios's body, I'd need proficiency beyond the threshold for specific unlocks.

'Effort's my strong suit.'

Not hard. Just use it a lot for faster gains. Proficiency from pure effort? I had supreme confidence.

Satisfied, I grinned and scanned my upgraded status before closing it.

'Level 8.'

After allocating points from hitting level 8, my mana reached 25 including bonuses.

"Is this even allowed?"

I turned to Alkasha.

Gaining +5 mana from Dragon Eye alone had spiked it to 25 instantly.

Mana churned fiercely through my body. Far more than when I'd hit 2nd Circle—several times over.

'This has to be at least 3rd Circle mana capacity, right?'

Not certain, since I'd never reached 3rd. But at just stage 1, this was absurd.

The gap would only widen with stages.

'Well, considering the dragon heart.'

Infinite mana. Unfathomable. Recalling that shock made my body tremble again.

'And I'll gain that power.'

Zeal burned in my eyes. I itched to train right now.

"By the way, Alkasha. You said level 10 advances to stage 2?"

—Yes. Every 10 levels upgrades the Mana Core stage.

"So, focusing on level-ups instead of core cultivation would be faster for advancing stages?"

I tilted my head.

No need for dedicated training then. Just levels guaranteed the next stage. Insights? Probably minimal need.

Possessing Arkanios had etched great realm realizations into my spirit.

Sealed due to my body rejecting it, but each level-up would let me assimilate them immediately.

'Just level up and done?'

The thought hit me.

Even now, mana control and handling felt vastly improved. Residual insights lingered despite the seal, boosting my growth leaps and bounds.

'Now I could handle 20+ Lightning Bolts from the Ascension Tower without issue.'

No linking needed. Full control under my will—confidence surged.

—For now, focusing on levels as you say will speed growth.

"Hmm. Guess so. Time to grind levels then."

Decision made: Rush stage 2 for the second legacy.

* * *

"Not bad."

I entered the hotel room I'd reserved before the rock mountain. Clean interior, fully equipped for living.

Staying here for a while.

"Saving points for a house is iffy too."

For years at 1st Circle, buying made sense over hotel fees. But I aimed to climb the tower fastest—months at most.

Soon stage 2, then back to Ascension Tower.

—Hmph. Crude to these eyes. Lodging in such a place... feels degrading. We need a lair soon.

"A lair?"

—Yes. Building one brings many benefits.

"Oh?"

Appetizing. Arkanios's memories showed lairs' vast advantages.

"But it's pie in the sky now, right?"

—Kekeke. True enough. So train harder.

"Guess I need a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠dungeon first."

I pondered. At floor 1 access, applications meant more, faster dungeons.

But solo 1st Circle limited to F-rank.

'Dungeons before Ascension Tower felt less efficient over time.'

Without Jinhojang's battle EXP burst, no double level-up.

Real combat aided growth, but when mismatched to my level, efficiency dropped.

"Yeah, Jinhojang was beyond expectations."

Easily beating him wouldn't yield that EXP.

Without 'Reflect,' I'd have lost. Mechanism clicked: Harder paths, higher efficiency.

'Got it.'

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

Life's rule. Growth accelerates through challenges.

"Then..."

I pulled a silver ticket from inventory. Primitive Goblin Dungeon Entry (E) from Jindo's chest.

"E-rank—better use it quick."

—Wise choice. But beware. Primitive goblins differ from what you know.

"Hm."

True, first time hearing of them. Still E-rank—no lies in ranks. Solo viable.

Couldn't party anyway.

"This it is."

Decision: Open the salvo to stage 2.

"..."

—You act raring, yet dawdle why?

"Well, something I forgot."

—What?

"Perfect time to sleep. Wake me early tomorrow."

Plop. I stowed the ticket and flopped onto the bed.

—T-This body as an alarm clock...?!

Alkasha trembled at my words. Teasing it had become daily fun.

* * *

Fwaaah.

A portal ripped open in midair. A figure emerged.

"So that's how it works."

Using Primitive Goblin Dungeon Entry (E) spawned a man-sized portal. Stepping through dropped me right in.

After preset portals, seeing one form felt mystical.

"As suspected—direct dungeon portal. Impressive."

Everything from Alkasha was extraordinary. After dragon-god power, this was trivial.

"Hm, but..."

Surveying, I eyed the alert with an odd look.

Labyrinth-type dungeon.

Dungeons varied in terrain. Labyrinths topped the trickiest.

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

Not just monsters—wrong turns meant endless wandering, traps everywhere.

Matching treasures and secrets existed, but effort outweighed gains. Avoided for poor cost-performance.

"Yet... why does it feel so easy?"

I eyed the new alert.

The scent of sweet honey wafted unexpectedly.