Fifth Dragon Legacy (2)
Song Jiseok. The Tower Master's fifth disciple. Though his talent fell short of the other disciples, he had one major advantage over them: his family background.
Song Jiseok was the eldest son of the Song family, a clan wielding immense wealth and influence. Even the family head, an outsider to the Magic Tower, had earned the tower's golden pigeon seal—a testament to their staggering prestige. The Song family had poured enormous donations and contributions into the Magic Tower's development. That was why Song Jiseok, despite his slightly lacking talent, had ultimately become the Tower Master's disciple.
Moreover, while he couldn't compare to his father, Song Jiseok held considerable sway within the tower. For instance, he had provided massive financial backing for the museum on the fifth floor. Establishing the Ancient Artifact Museum required astronomical sums, yet the family's coffers handled it effortlessly.
That was the kind of man Song Jiseok was.
"I'll make sure you can enter right away. Actually, since we're here, let me give you this."
Song Jiseok changed tack mid-sentence and pulled a ring from his pocket. It was a signet ring engraved with a tiger and an eagle.
"What's this?"
Kim Jehyun stared at him with question marks in his eyes, and Song Jiseok replied with a refreshing smile.
"It's a token signifying that you're an important external figure honored by our family. Think of it as a Song family VIP pass. With it, you'll receive top-tier treatment not just for Song family-related facilities in the Magic Tower, but anywhere outside as well."
Song Jiseok added with a grin,
"Oh, and just so you know, the Song family's external buildings offer far more satisfying options than anything in the tower."
"Oh, thank you. I gratefully accept."
Kim Jehyun bowed his head in thanks. It was an unexpected boon. In truth, he wasn't well-versed in these matters, but what he'd just received was an enormous privilege. Even Song Jiseok had only distributed it to a handful of people over the years—a truly special qualification.
Fwaaah.
When Kim Jehyun slipped on the ring, a green light flowed from it. Song Jiseok extended his hand toward the glow, and a blue light emerged from another ring on his finger, merging with it. The lights faded, and the tiger and eagle engravings on Kim Jehyun's ring now shimmered blue and green respectively.
"It's registered perfectly. I'm glad you accepted it."
Song Jiseok continued with a pleased curve to his lips.
"I was planning to give it to you when I saw your face anyway, and here you are right on time. Feels like quite the fateful connection. I owe you a debt I can't even put into words."
"......No way."
Sensing the shift in Song Jiseok's aura, Kim Jehyun realized he had crossed a threshold.
'Dragon Eye.'
Kim Jehyun activated Dragon Eye to scan Song Jiseok's information.
'As expected.'
Kim Jehyun's eyes sparkled. Song Jiseok had entered closed-door training and truly reached the 6th Circle.
Song Jiseok smiled warmly and made a proposal.
"If you're not too busy, could you spare some time?"
* * *
They entered a cafe at the heart of the fifth floor. It was extraordinarily luxurious. The interior was lined with all sorts of magic circles, each one costing a fortune to install and maintain.
"Not to brag, but this place is one of my properties too."
Though he downplayed it, pride seeped through his tone. True to his status as the Song family heir, Song Jiseok was an immense tycoon.
"I've put a lot of effort into the interior and decor here. Even those heavyweights upstairs drop by occasionally just to enjoy it."
"I can see why. It's the best cafe I've ever been to."
Song Jiseok led them not just inside, but up to the most premium third-floor private room. Sitting down and glancing at the menu, Kim Jehyun whistled inwardly at teas costing hundreds of thousands of won per cup. Since it was on the house, he picked the priciest one: 1,100,000 points per serving—1.1 million won in cash, absurdly expensive for tea. But it was elixir-brewed, promising mana enhancement.
"First, I'd like to thank you once more."
Despite his high station, Song Jiseok bowed his head to Kim Jehyun. Knowing how stiff-necked the elite could be, Kim Jehyun was quietly impressed by his flexibility.
After that, they chatted amiably, building rapport. Contrary to his cool appearance, Song Jiseok had remarkable affability.
"And what I'm about to say is something I wanted to tell you alongside my thanks."
Song Jiseok pushed aside his half-finished tea and spoke gravely.
"My junior and the Tower Master's third disciple, Ryu Seokhui. Be wary of her."
* * *
After parting with Song Jiseok, Kim Jehyun headed straight back to the museum, then up to the seventh floor.
'Hmm. Ryu Seokhui, huh.'
He mulled over what Song Jiseok had shared moments ago.
—She's ambitious and cunning. Ruthless enough to do anything for her goals. Just recently, she subtly egged me on to keep you in check. So watch out for her.
Song Jiseok had warned him about Ryu Seokhui. In the process, Kim Jehyun sensed his genuine desire to help. He offered to step up anytime aid was needed.
'Not sure I'll need that much help, though.'
Her wariness likely stemmed from fear that this newcomer might displace her established position. But Kim Jehyun had no interest in the Tower Master's seat for now, and she couldn't harm him directly or indirectly anyway. His power already surpassed her 6th Circle prowess. Plus, he had the Tower Master's shadow and seal. With Song Jiseok as his patron, touching him would be nearly impossible.
'Still, she could be a nuisance, so I'll keep it in mind.'
Sorting his thoughts, Kim Jehyun quickened his pace toward the source of the fifth legacy's aura.
The topmost seventh floor was serene, empty save for him. Only a single surveillance stone monitored the interior.
"This is......"
Kim Jehyun stopped before a transparent tube the size of an adult man. Inside lay a blood-red ruby. The label read: Inner Core of an Ancient Species.
—To call this an inner core. How laughable.
Alkasha spoke in a tone dripping with disbelief. What lay before them was no inner core.
'Dragon Eye.'
Kim Jehyun scanned the ruby.
◈ Bloodstone solidified from the blood of the strongest lifeform: a dragon.
◈ Effect: ??
"This is the fifth legacy."
With those words, a brilliant blue light—visible only to Kim Jehyun—burst from the bloodstone. His consciousness was sucked inside.
* * *
Kwarrrung!
The sky was choked with pitch-black storm clouds. Dozens of lightning bolts crashed down from it.
This was a land where thunder struck year-round.
"......!"
Kim Jehyun looked around and spotted something massive as a mountain ahead. Three horns, two pairs of wings. Scales gleaming blue.
A blue dragon.
He stared in shock for a moment before approaching.
'Dead?'
The dragon wasn't breathing. No visible wounds, yet no spark of life.
'No obvious injuries.'
Its body was pristine, without a scratch. Lightning rained down around it, but not a single bolt struck the dragon directly.
Drawn by the eerie sight, Kim Jehyun reached out and touched its torso.
Tak.
The instant his hand met the seemingly lifeless blue dragon's body, a colossal energy surged into him.
Gooooooo.
'Kuh.'
An overwhelming energy swirled around him, clouding his mind. He sensed he might be devoured by it if he wasn't careful.
Fwaaaah!
Blue light exploded from the dragon's body. Even more energy poured into Kim Jehyun.
He tensed, but soon realized it was unnecessary.
'Hm.'
As more energy flooded in, absorbing it became easier. If Alkasha had witnessed this, it would have cried impossibility in shock once more.
Guuuuugu.
Immense mana roiled within Kim Jehyun's body. He hadn't felt mana scarcity much since a major surge midway, but summoning multiple spirits after acquiring the light spirit had strained him, limiting his spirit usage.
Now, his body brimmed with enough mana to handle that effortlessly.
'This is......'
And it didn't end there. Absorbing the blue dragon's power attuned him to lightning-attribute mana, much like the golden mana blessing.
'No way!'
A thought flashed: perhaps he'd gain the lightning mana blessing too. If so, his lightning magic—from the thunder spirit onward—would skyrocket in power.
As Kim Jehyun swallowed hard, focusing on the changes, a low groan escaped him.
'......Ugh.'
An alien energy had mixed into the influx from the blue dragon.
'Kuhk.'
Sweat beaded on his forehead. The foreign energy disrupted his absorption.
It was familiar: 'Purple energy......!'
He gritted his teeth, enduring. Alarm bells rang in his head—danger loomed if he faltered.
Kugrrr.
Vibrations racked his body; circulation faltered.
Then—
Fwaaaaah!
His vision drowned in black. It went dark, then cleared. The space had shifted again.
"Here......"
Pitch-black void, devoid of light. But soon, twinkling lights sparked here and there.
Kim Jehyun realized: "The universe......"
Those weren't mere lights—they were starlight from planets. The sight drew an awed gasp, momentarily forgetting his peril. Beautiful, mystical.
Chaos erupted.
Puhwaaak!
A pea-sized purple energy appeared, devouring a planet. It grew, consuming all around it.
Then, sated, it turned toward Kim Jehyun.
"......!"
He tried summoning mana, but none responded here.
The massive purple mass loomed before him, lunging.
"Kuh."
As he desperately pulled at his inner mana—
Fwaaaaah.
Prismatic light erupted behind him. Its bearer blocked his path.
"......!"
Kim Jehyun's eyes widened. This entity, scattering rainbow light, was the dragon whose eyes alone he'd glimpsed last legacy. Vaster than any in his memory—even grand Arkanios seemed small beside it.
Goooooo.
Immense energy gathered in the prismatic dragon's maw, condensing into blinding radiance that dyed the surroundings. It fired straight at the purple energy.
Puhwaaaak!