I Regressed and Gained the Power of a Dragon (58) - Fourth Dragon Legacy (2)
Dragons. The undisputed strongest beings on the planet. Their power was said to rival even the gods.
And that wasn't all.
—A dragon's defense is no less formidable than its offense.
Continental swordsmen unanimously agreed that to leave even a scratch on a dragon's body, one had to surpass the realm of Sword Union—where blade and wielder become one—and reach the Grand Master level, comprehending and accepting all things.
The reason for this conclusion was simple.
Dragon Scale.
A dragon's scales possessed hardness surpassing any material on the planet. Proportionally, their defensive power was beyond imagination.
Krunch-crunch.
With a deafening sound, such impenetrable dragon scales began sprouting across Kim Jehyun's entire body.
This should have been accompanied by excruciating pain.
'……?'
But Kim Jehyun felt nothing of the sort.
On the contrary, the scales emerging from his body felt utterly natural.
"This is…… Dragon Scale."
Gazing at the golden scales covering his body, Kim Jehyun felt a profound ecstasy.
Though merely at hatchling level, his instincts told him he could now block most attacks with his body alone.
And that wasn't all.
Through the scales, his mana sensitivity—resonating with the surrounding mana—had dramatically improved.
If he fought Kim Man-seok again in this state, he felt confident he could overwhelm the man.
But that ecstasy was short-lived.
Your soul has been imprinted with Dragon Scale.
Level insufficient to manifest complete Dragon Scale. Physical manifestation replaced with Mimetic manifestation.
Tss-tss-tss.
The scales that had sprouted on Kim Jehyun's body turned transparent and vanished.
The mana fullness enveloping his body and the euphoric sense of omnipotence faded away.
It was like frolicking atop heavenly clouds only to plummet back to earth.
"Ah……."
A regretful sigh escaped Kim Jehyun's lips.
If he could feel that omnipotence once more, he felt he could do anything.
Tss-tss.
Kim Jehyun examined the thin mana membrane now cloaking his body, shaped like dragon scales and covering him entirely.
'This is the Mimetic manifestation…….'
Not quite as potent as the real scales from before, but he could tell his defense had skyrocketed.
It was then.
A burst of multicolored light exploded before Kim Jehyun's eyes.
"……!"
His pupils dilated at the bizarre phenomenon.
Amid the multicolored radiance, he sensed immense elemental powers.
'Spirits?'
Fire, water, wind, earth, thunder, light, darkness, and more. Kim Jehyun realized these forces closely resembled those wielded by spirits.
Fwaaah.
The multicolored light surged even brighter from the space ahead.
At the same time, a form began to take shape within the glow.
"……!"
Kim Jehyun's pupils trembled like an earthquake as he beheld the emerging figure.
'A dragon……!'
Indeed. The form manifesting was none other than a dragon.
A dragon emanating multicolored light from its entire body. One exuding an absolute presence surpassing even Arkanios.
The moment their eyes met.
Kim Jehyun felt his consciousness being sucked into an abyss.
At the same time, a system message rang in his ears.
Perfect compatibility shown during Fourth Legacy inheritance process.
Mighty feat! Mental Power +20 inc……
…….
…….
With that final sound, Kim Jehyun's consciousness flickered and cut off.
Dazzling sunlight fell upon Kim Jehyun's face.
"Mm."
He let out a low groan as he opened his eyes.
—Awakened, are you?
"Where……."
Kim Jehyun propped himself up and looked around.
It was the gravel field where he had arrived before acquiring the Fourth Legacy.
"Feels like I pass out every time I get a dragon legacy."
Chuckling softly, he stood and used Clean magic to brush the dirt and dust from his robe.
Alkasha addressed him.
—You seem in even better shape than expected. Any difficulties during the legacy acquisition this time?
"Difficulties…… Hmm. There was a test before inheriting it? At the end, that 'Polluted Intermediate Tree Spirit' from last time showed up. Aside from struggling against it, nothing much."
—A test…… That wasn't what I asked.
During the process of accepting the Fourth Legacy into your body, did you feel no pain like before?
"Oh, yeah. No pain at all. It just naturally integrated."
—Hah…….
Alkasha fell silent, staring at him.
With its vast knowledge, it couldn't comprehend how Kim Jehyun acquired these transcendent dragon powers so effortlessly.
—This defies understanding. Inheriting a transcendent species' power without pain…… It's almost like…….
Alkasha trailed off, but Kim Jehyun suddenly spoke up as if recalling something.
"Oh, right…… At the end of the inheritance, I think I saw a dragon."
—A dragon? Did you see Lord Arkanios again?
"No, different one. It was emitting multicolored light from its whole body…… The moment I recognized it, my memory cut off."
—Multicolored light? You said multicolored light?
"Yeah."
Alkasha's reaction was more intense than expected, leaving Kim Jehyun bewildered.
—Hah. Could it be…….
Alkasha fell deep into thought.
Kim Jehyun tilted his head at the sight.
"What? Know something?"
—No, nothing certain. If it happens again, tell me immediately.
"Got it."
It had been ages since Alkasha exuded such gravity. Kim Jehyun nodded without protest.
Still, he had to check one thing.
"But nothing wrong or bad, right?"
—Hmm. Not sure yet. Not even sure if my guess is right. It shouldn't harm you…… Hah. Truth be told, even I don't know.
"Hmm. Alright then."
Kim Jehyun nodded at Alkasha's response.
In truth, the multicolored dragon had felt incredibly familiar and welcoming. His instincts assured him it meant no harm, but he kept that to himself.
'Better to hear more from Alkasha later and decide then.'
He lacked enough info to judge the phenomenon.
With a nod to Alkasha, he checked his new Dragon Scale.
Manifesting Dragon Scale.
Shhrrrrk.
A thin layer of mana-formed scales sprouted across Kim Jehyun's body.
At a glance, it looked like a thin protective barrier rather than scales.
"So this is Dragon Scale."
In this state, he figured he could tank a 5th Circle spell barehanded.
Currently infused with fire attribute, it should handle even superior-attribute attacks.
"This should block that tree spirit's attacks too, huh?"
Kim Jehyun grinned.
"Check status window."
Remaining Stat Points: 0
Points: 145,200
[Hatchling's Basic Mana Art (S) Lv. 7], [Subspace (A) Lv. 3], [Alkasha (EX) Lv. 4], [Perfect Clarity (S) Lv. 4], [Ifrit's Pre-Contractor (SS) Lv. 4], [High Elf Spirit Arts (S) Lv. 5], [Spirit Magic (S) Lv. 5]
1. Dragon Eye (18.55%)
2. Dragon Heart (19.23%)
3. Dragon Scale (0.01%)
1. Dragon Fear (19.91%)
"Huh, why'd Mental Power jump by 20?"
Kim Jehyun tilted his head while scanning the status.
His consciousness had cut off at the end, so he'd missed the post-inheritance achievement reward.
"No wonder Mental Power drain felt low even manifesting Dragon Scale."
He immediately manifested Dragon Horn as well.
"Whoa…… The Mental Power boost is huge."
Manifesting dragon flesh usually drained Mental Power rapidly, but now, even with two active, it barely registered.
This meant he could weave in Dragon Fear mid-battle.
"Nice. Love it."
The corners of his mouth curved up.
Polluted Spirit Forest.
Time to resume the conquest.
Fwaah.
Kim Jehyun stepped through the portal back to the outskirts of the Polluted Spirit Forest.
An eerie chill permeated the air.
"Still gives me the creeps."
He scanned the surroundings.
A short distance away, a Polluted Intermediate Tree Spirit lurked.
"Alright, let's go."
Fwaaah.
Dragon Scale surged across his body, Dragon Horn sprouting from his head.
ZZing.
His eyes glowed amber, pulling up the enemy's info.
Two levels higher than last time.
And as expected, fractured text indicating purple orb energy.
Once a tough foe, but not anymore.
Grrraaah.
The spirit attacked upon spotting him, roots erupting from the ground.
Kim Jehyun dodged with the robe's built-in jumping function, manifesting Fire Wave in his hand.
Shoooaaak!
As he evaded into the air, branches fired a barrage of leaves.
Normally, he'd dodge or cast a defense spell.
But not now.
Ting-ting-ting!
The leaves hitting his body failed to pierce the mana defense from Dragon Scale and fell away.
Gr-grr.
The tree spirit seemed flustered.
'As expected.'
Kim Jehyun hurled the fiery wave at it.
Ziiing!
The amplifier on his gauntlet glowed, boosting Fire Wave.
Fwoooosh!
Krrrngh.
Direct hit. The spirit flailed its branches.
With gear equipped, his attack power was vastly superior.
Higher level, new legacy—its defenses crumbled easily now.
'It works.'
Conviction gleamed in his eyes.
'Summon Kasas.'
He summoned two Kasas and activated his new Spirit Magic.
Spirit Magic: Rain of Raging Flames (A)
Shooooaaaaah!
A shower of golden flames rained from the sky.
The tree spirit couldn't withstand it.
Grraaah.
It collapsed with a death cry.
Easier than before.
Kim Jehyun collected the Polluted Tree Spirit Remains from its body.
Looking around, he saw more tree spirits everywhere.
They seemed to flinch whenever he glanced their way.
"Time to power-level."
His lips curved as he charged.
"Whoa, these things give massive EXP."
After clearing the surrounding tree spirits, his level shot up by 2.
Post-30, leveling had slowed dramatically—or so he'd thought.
Turns out, not here.
"Clear the whole forest, and I'll hit 40?"
Very possible. The forest proper was even larger.
Without hesitation, he headed deeper.
Entering Polluted Spirit Forest.
Unlike the outskirts, this was the true polluted depths.
"Pretty dark."
Little light penetrated the towering apartment-sized trees. No notable lifeforms besides them.
But deeper in, multiple energies pulsed—similar to tree spirits.
Polluted spirits, no doubt.
"Hm?"
Kim Jehyun halted abruptly.
An unprecedented energy was coalescing ahead.
Drdrdrdrumble.
The ground ahead heaved.
Kaboooom!
The energy erupted skyward in an explosion.
Kim Jehyun's eyes widened at the entity bursting from the earth.
—Rooaaar.
A bizarre cry echoed from the squat, earth-composed dwarf that emerged.