Thunder Spirit King (2)
Wyvern. One of the top-tier monsters. Starting at basic S-rank, wyverns were even harder to deal with because they could fly.
A being of pure lightning in the form of such a wyvern—the calamity of the skies—sat squarely in the middle of the fourth floor.
Crackle.
Before the electric energy surging from its entire body, Kim Jehyun felt his breath catch in his throat.
Dragon Eye.
Without leaving the entrance, he scanned the entity before him.
'An elite spirit...!'
It wasn't ordinary, but to think it was an elite spirit. Kim Jehyun swallowed hard as he stared at the Thunder Wyvern.
Just grazing an attack from that thing could deal near-fatal damage in his current state.
'Can't even compare it to the Thunder Drake from the previous floor.'
The rank difference was just one level, but the overwhelming pressure was on another dimension entirely.
Kim Jehyun stepped away from the entrance more cautiously than ever before. There was no guarantee it wouldn't attack like the Thunder Drake had, so every movement was deliberate.
Crackle-crackle.
The moment he left the entrance, a suffocating wave of lightning washed over him. The vast space itself was filled with the thunderous power emanating from the Thunder Wyvern.
'Damn... and this is just after taking one step?'
For the first time, Kim Jehyun thought he might fail to pass through here.
The Thunder Wyvern's electric power was that immense.
That was when it happened.
'...!'
Whoosh.
The Thunder Wyvern raised its head and fixed its gaze on Kim Jehyun. An enormous power radiated from it.
He could easily picture it toppling an entire city single-handedly.
'If an elite spirit is this strong... just how powerful are the Spirit Kings?'
He hadn't felt the full brunt of Ifrit or Rollin's power before. Part of it was that their levels had transcended even transcendence itself, but mostly because they kept their power tightly reined in.
Crackle-crackle.
Another surge of thunderous energy flowed from the Thunder Wyvern's body. Kim Jehyun tensed, bracing for the incoming wave of power.
'...Huh?'
But something was off. The crushing pressure that had been bearing down on him vanished completely.
And that wasn't the end of it.
'...!'
Kim Jehyun's eyes widened. The Thunder Wyvern rose to its feet and lowered its head toward him—as if paying respects.
For some reason, the sight made his chest tingle with a strange warmth.
The Thunder Wyvern had sensed the dragon blood in Kim Jehyun and was showing obeisance.
"Thank you."
After offering his gratitude, he passed the Thunder Wyvern and headed for the fifth-floor entrance.
As he ascended to the fifth floor, Kim Jehyun felt something entirely different from before. The aura from the fourth floor had been a joke in comparison.
'This feels like it could tear the world apart.'
He wasn't even fully on the fifth floor yet, but his whole body was already prickling.
He couldn't even imagine how ferocious the energy filling the fifth floor must be.
"Huuu."
Kim Jehyun activated the authority of Dragon Scale to its maximum. Climbing up to the fourth floor had boosted its proficiency tremendously—already past the early 20% mark.
On top of that, his lightning-related stats had skyrocketed compared to before entering this place.
Thanks to that, he could even entertain the idea of stepping onto the fifth floor.
—So you've finally reached this place.
As he arrived on the fifth floor, a voice boomed with an immense presence.
Kim Jehyun looked toward its source. The entity took up half the fifth-floor space with its massive bulk. And its silhouette was familiar.
Three horns. Two pairs of wings. A long tail.
'A dragon?'
Indeed. The being before him took the form of a dragon made entirely of thunderbolts.
—Up close, it's even clearer. You are the #suc$cessor. Kahaha. I never imagined I'd meet #suc$ like this.
The entity, presumed to be the Thunder Spirit King, rambled on with cryptic words. Some parts crackled with static, garbled and unintelligible.
"What? What did you say I am?"
Kim Jehyun shot back with a puzzled expression.
The entity's mouth curved upward.
—Hm. I see. Your level isn't high enough yet, huh? Well, no matter. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Raidoo, the Thunder Spirit King.
'Raidoo.'
The moment Raidoo's name etched itself into Kim Jehyun's mind,
Lightning Affinity greatly increased.
A message appeared before his eyes. With it, the thunderous energy prickling his body felt somewhat weaker.
His Lightning Affinity had risen that much.
It was Raidoo's gift for making it this far.
"I'm Kim Jehyun. Nice to meet you."
—Kim Jehyun... I see. Very well. Then you've come here to contract with me, right? Hatchling—or rather, the being who is not quite a hatchling.
'...!'
Raidoo's words made Kim Jehyun's pupils dilate. It had pierced right through to his essence.
'What the hell?'
Kim Jehyun stared at Raidoo with questioning eyes. The dragon form, its knowledge of him—everything was a riddle.
Sensing his puzzled gaze, Raidoo grinned.
—I know what you're wondering. But your level is still too low. You'll learn in time, so be patient.
"Hmm."
Kim Jehyun nodded at that. Setting aside the mysteries for now, this was his chance to contract with Raidoo.
"As you said, I want to contract with you. Is that possible?"
—Hahaha. Good. Though your level is still a bit lacking... a provisional contract is more than feasible. Let's do it right now.
With those words, a brilliant blue lightning erupted from Raidoo's body. Bluer than any lightning Kim Jehyun had ever seen.
It pierced straight through him.
'...!'
Surprisingly, there was no impact. Instead, a massive surge of electric power filled his body.
Mana Core absorbing Thunder Spirit Force.
Blue mana awakens as Thunder Mana.
Raidoo's Acknowledgment received.
Thunderous energy exploded from his entire body.
'My god.'
Kim Jehyun stared at Raidoo with wide eyes. This power... it rivaled Rollin's.
Lightning was an attribute comparable to the supreme light and darkness.
It matched the power of Rollin, the Light Spirit King.
A question flickered through his mind: Was thunder an attribute on par with light?
—Once you prove worthy, you'll be able to draw out my full power one day.
With Raidoo's words, a contract completion message appeared.
At the same time, [Raidoo's Provisional Contractor (SSS). Lv. 1] was added to his status window.
He hadn't been mistaken about Raidoo's power. Like Rollin, it was SSS-grade.
The moment the provisional contract formed, the thunder filling the space felt familiar to Kim Jehyun. It no longer hostile toward him.
His Lightning Affinity and attribute stats had surged that dramatically.
This was Raidoo's arrangement. Kim Jehyun had received an immense gift.
And Raidoo's generosity didn't end there.
—You still have a little time left. If you have questions or requests, speak them.
Kim Jehyun pondered for a moment before looking at Raidoo and opening his mouth.
"Well... could you maybe zap me with some lightning?"
—...?
Raidoo tilted its head, staring at him. Did this young contractor have a taste for pain?
"No, not like that. This place is great for boosting lightning stats and Dragon Scale proficiency—the training efficiency is insane."
Raidoo burst into roaring laughter at the explanation.
—What? Kkkkuk. You're insane! Kahaha! I like it. A wise choice, in a way. But it'll hurt like hell. Let's see if you can endure without dying.
With Raidoo's words,
A massive bolt of brilliant blue lightning struck Kim Jehyun's crown.
Kaboom.
* * *
Fwoosh.
Kim Jehyun's vision flickered, and he returned to reality.
"Hah... hah..."
He gasped for breath raggedly.
—What's wrong? Something go awry?
Alkasha asked in surprise from beside him.
Kim Jehyun didn't have the mental bandwidth to answer right away.
'Crazy. I really almost died.'
Raidoo hadn't been bluffing. The moment that massive bolt hit his head, he thought his consciousness was shredding apart.
If he'd blacked out then, he might have actually died.
'Damn, I asked for it, but... that destructive power is no joke.'
He grumbled inwardly. Still, the effect was outstanding.
Dragon Scale proficiency had jumped from early 20% to late 20% in one go.
'Check info.'
Dragon Scale proficiency now at 27.52%. Just 2.5% more, and he could strengthen it.
"Ah, if only I'd had a bit more time."
He might have hit 30% and exited. Smacking his lips in regret, Alkasha's astonished voice rang out beside him.
—Wh-what is this? Why has Dragon Scale proficiency shot up like this?
No wonder Alkasha was shocked. It had gone from under 10% to nearly 30% in an instant. Absurd growth.
Kim Jehyun chuckled and told Alkasha about meeting the Thunder Spirit King and what happened.
—Heh. Took the form of a dragon, you say?
"Yeah."
—Hmm. A Thunder Spirit King in dragon form... Feels like I've heard of it somewhere... Can't recall right now. I'll tell you when it comes to me.
Alkasha trailed off ambiguously, as if something was on the tip of its tongue.
Kim Jehyun was curious about Raidoo's true nature. Among the Spirit Kings he'd met—Ifrit and Rollin—this had been the most unusual encounter.
"Yeah, let me know when you remember."
With that, he immediately summoned the new thunder spirit he'd contracted.
"Electron."
Crackle.
A soccer-ball-sized orb of lightning formed in midair. It resembled a wisp at a glance, but it was different.
Zzt, crackle.
It conveyed its joy at being summoned.
Kim Jehyun reached out and stroked Electron. Though made of lightning, it felt warm.
"This is Electron, Raidoo's lower soldier that I just got."
—Oho. I sense considerable power. No match for your average lower spirit.
"Right?"
Grinning, Kim Jehyun summoned the next one.
"And this is... mid-tier soldier, Thunder Bird."
Crackle-crackle.
Intense sparks flew in the air, and a bird of pure lightning appeared.
Thunder Bird, Raidoo's mid-tier soldier, was as big as Kim Jehyun himself.
Crackle-crackle.
Thunder Bird dripped lightning from its body and lightly flapped its wings.
—Whoa, this one's even more impressive.
Alkasha sounded stunned. A mid-tier soldier, yet it surpassed mid-tier spirits. Its power straddled the line between mid and upper-tier—equivalent to the peak of 6th Circle.
"Now, even if I face that Black Snake Clan's Jang Gwangsu again, I could give him a real fight."
Thunder Bird's power was that intense. His previous win over Jang Gwangsu had been luck—thanks to the opponent's carelessness, attribute advantage, and artifacts.
He couldn't guarantee victory in a rematch. But now, with Thunder Bird, he felt he could hold his own head-on.
"The spirits' power is feeling more and more incredible."
Kim Jehyun realized that the spirit power he gained alongside his dragon heritage was no small matter. Beyond dragon powers and advancing his magic circles, he needed to study spirit handling more seriously.
'If I combine elevated magic circles with dragon authorities and add spirit power...'
He couldn't imagine the synergy from those three forces uniting properly.
"I should be able to contract other attributes' spirits soon too..."
After acquiring Dragon Blood, his affinity for each attribute had surged. He felt confident about contracting more spirits soon.
'Might as well see if the Nature Clan can help with that.'
He decided to contact Shin Yerim soon. It had been a while since he'd seen her face, so it would kill two birds with one stone.
'But first...'
Kim Jehyun stood up.
The fifth-floor Ascension Tower exam was coming up soon. He'd gotten the seal, so he could freely move between floors without taking it.
But 'I need those special mission rewards.'
The missions for setting new records on each floor's exam were still active.
Kim Jehyun turned toward the Ascension Tower exam registration desk.
And in the fifth-floor Ascension Tower exam, he got to feel Thunder Bird's formidable power firsthand.
"No way...!"