Free Web NovelChapter 308: Chapter 296: Becoming the Dragon Descendant
[You touched the brand of a Dragon Soul on the verge of death, and an ancient bloodline surged awake like Magma.]
[Henceforth, a low growl like molten iron echoes in your blood, and the cold light of golden vertical pupils will at times flash across your eyes.]
[This is not the complete Authority of a Giant Dragon, but a seed of potential. If you can nourish this Power with your will, one day, you may gaze directly upon the true glory of the Dragon Race.]
[What a savage gift. However, one who wishes to bear the dragon’s fury must first tame the primal wildness in the depths of their bloodline. As for when you will be devoured by the backlash?]
[The answer lies within the Flame.]
The moment the golden inscriptions appeared, an indescribably scorching torrent erupted from the depths of Roland’s body, sweeping over every inch of his flesh and bone like an awakening Ancient Dragon.
This was no longer the fleeting burn from the Potion. It was a more primal, more profound Power awakening completely, as if a volcano dormant for millennia had finally reached its moment of eruption.
His heart pounded violently. Each beat was like a great hammer striking an anvil, pumping scalding blood, filled with a newfound Power, to every corner of his body.
The roar of his surging blood echoed in his ears, like a river of subterranean Magma.
The most significant change occurred in his eyes.
After a slight sting and a burning sensation, the colors in Roland’s vision suddenly became vivid and sharp.
Even in the dimly lit room, he could clearly make out subtle traces he had never been able to perceive before.
He walked to a silver mirror on the wall and looked at his reflection...
Those were not the eyes of a human.
His original eye color had receded, replaced by vertical pupils of molten gold. They were cold and majestic, holding the scrutinizing gaze unique to a predator.
Beyond that, his face and physique showed no distortion or mutation. He retained his human form, but the eyes lent him an air of mystery and ancientness.
He slowly clenched his fist, clearly perceiving the unprecedented Power thrumming beneath his skin.
His muscles grew tougher, his bones felt as if they had been forged and tempered, and his entire body pulsed with latent power, ready to erupt at a moment’s notice.
"This is... the gift of the Dragon Race Bloodline?"
The substantial boost to three of his Attributes on the Professional Panel confirmed his feelings.
If taking the Knight Profession—ignoring all his Traits and the Extra Benefit—had been his first step through the gates of the Transcendent, leaving him far from comparable to a veteran powerhouse like Graham...
...then now, feeling the Power coursing through his blood, Roland slowly exhaled a breath of hot air and clenched his fists once more.
’My base Power should now be on par with an ordinary Transcendent like Reggie. And if I factor in all my Traits and benefits... I might still be no match for Graham, but I should have an absolute advantage over Reggie.’
After a rough assessment of his condition, Roland stared at the inhuman, golden vertical pupils in the mirror.
After a brief moment of acclimation, he no longer hesitated. He recited the words in his mind.
’Assume the Dragon Descendant Profession.’
A new line of text appeared in his vision.
[Analysis complete. Hidden Profession available: Dragon Descendant]
[Requirement: Dragon Race Bloodline]
[Assume Profession?]
’Confirm!’
[Profession Assumed. Current Profession: Dragon Descendant]
’No Attribute Bonus?’
Just as Roland was wondering, another line of golden text slowly materialized.
[Trait Acquired: Dragon Mighty]
[Dragon Mighty: Without words or actions, your very presence is oppressive, like a Giant Dragon opening its eyes after slumbering for eons. The boundless Dragon Mighty emanates naturally, causing the air to still and all sound to cease. The weak-willed will be gripped by an unseen force, instinctively trembling and recoiling as their will to fight shatters. Even the strong-souled must overcome a dread in their very core to even raise their eyes and look upon you. Those with weak spiritual awareness will feel as if they are facing the Abyss, their minds utterly collapsing. Range and intensity are determined by your Spiritual Attribute Value.]
’Another Spirit-type Trait!’
After carefully reading the description of Dragon Mighty, Roland clenched his fists in excitement.
The Trait he’d awakened when he became a Juggler, Dazzling and Enchanting, was already incredibly potent. It could even beguile the Witch Demon that had been running rampant in the Land of Mist.
However, Dazzling and Enchanting still required the target to be looking at him.
The Spiritual Shock would only take effect if they were watching him perform a Trick.
But this new Trait, Dragon Mighty...
Roland focused, sensing this nascent Power called Dragon Mighty.
It was neither dormant nor fully awake. It was more like a Giant Dragon lying in wait deep within his soul, its breathing low and steady.
The immense pressure surrounded him like an invisible Force Field, yet it was so restrained as to be almost imperceptible.
After a moment, Roland realized this pressure wasn’t uncontrollable.
He could clearly sense its "shape" and "intensity," much like controlling his own breathing and heartbeat. He was still unpracticed, but he could already guide it to some extent.
He could suppress it completely, as if imprisoning a Giant Dragon in the Abyss.
Or he could let it spread slowly, like an undercurrent.
To avoid his Dragon Mighty Trait being detected, Roland didn’t unleash it right away. Instead, he focused his will, attempting to constrain and focus the immense pressure. He let only a single, imperceptible ripple drift forward, covering an area no larger than the tabletop before him.
His targets were the flickering candlelight and a small insect crawling quietly across the desk.
There was no sound, no flash of light.
Yet, in the very instant that invisible ripple spread...
PFFT!
The steadily Burning Flame was snuffed out as if throttled by an invisible hand, extinguished in an instant without so much as a wisp of smoke.
As for the small insect, it abruptly froze, its tiny legs stiffening as if it had been suspended in time.
It wasn’t dead, but an immense, incomprehensible Fear, born from the very essence of life, had completely devoured its minuscule consciousness, plunging it into total paralysis.
As he controlled the spread of Dragon Mighty, Roland had a peculiar experience of his own.
Unleashing Dragon Mighty didn’t consume physical stamina; it was more like a low growl on a spiritual plane, an intent born of bloodline instinct, a declaration of its own existence.
The cold, majestic Power surged and receded from deep within him like a tide, precise and controllable in its ebb and flow.
He gazed at the extinguished candle and the paralyzed insect, a flicker of shock and fervor passing through his molten-gold vertical pupils.
’This Power...’
"No eye contact, no movement, not even any hostile intent... Just a single thought, silent and traceless."
Roland murmured, his fingertip tracing a silent path across the cold, hard surface of the desk.
"This is... a Power that defies all reason."
’Its strength lies in its extreme stealth and its sudden, overwhelming tyranny.’
’An enemy can defend against blades and block Magic, but how could they possibly resist this pressure? It strikes directly at the soul, a crushing force that comes from a higher tier of life itself.’
’Especially at close range. I imagine many people would have their will shattered before they could even react, leaving them with no chance to fight back.’
’What’s even more shocking is how "tame" it is.’
’I can control its range and intensity at will.’
’This means I can apply pressure with precision in a melee, avoid harming allies, and even use it as an invisible tool for deterrence and reconnaissance.’
’Impossible to guard against, and completely under my control.’
’Even against a Transcendent of the same Level, my Spiritual Attribute is still a bit lacking. Even with Dragon Mighty, it would be difficult to completely suppress them and cause them to collapse instantly.’
’However, the true value of Dragon Mighty is that I can release it silently in the heat of battle. Even if it only makes my opponent hesitate for a single instant, that’s enough to break a stalemate and tip the scales of victory in my favor.’
At this thought, Roland slowly drew the Dragon Mighty back into himself.
He felt a faint sting deep in his Spirit and a slight throbbing at his temples. He let out a long sigh.
’The drain on my Spiritual Power isn’t too severe... I should have enough to use it three to five times in a single fight.’
’That’s not a lot, but it’s enough to decide the outcome of a battle. Besides, as my Spiritual Attribute grows, the number of times I can use Dragon Mighty should increase as well...’
Just as he was lost in thought, a completely different sensation erupted from deep within him.
It wasn’t scorching heat, but a deep, searing itch that seemed to originate in his very bone marrow.
It was as if countless tiny, scalding grains of sand were flowing through his blood, trying to pierce through the walls of his veins and embed themselves in his flesh and skin.
The sensation rapidly sharpened, transforming into a pure, tearing agony.
