Chapter 2: The Dragon's Blessing
Lee Hwan gasped as he lay on the cavern floor, drenched in sweat and trembling. The pain had stopped, but the heat still lingered in his veins, as though fire had become a part of his blood.
His heart beat with unfamiliar power. A deep voice echoed faintly within him—silent now, but unforgettable.
"Vessel of the Dragon Monarch."
He slowly sat up, his breath ragged. The golden heart was gone, its energy now coursing through him. With shaking hands, he brought up his Player Status—something he had never seen before.
A thin, glowing screen appeared before his eyes, filled with information that made him freeze.
[Player Status – Lee Hwan]
Level: 1
Title: Vessel of the Dragon Monarch
Class: Unknown Monarch (Sealed)
Attributes:
Strength: 23 Agility: 18 Intelligence: 21 Vitality: 26 Mana: 1000+
Skills:
Eye of the Dragon (Active) – Allows user to see the truth, hidden stats, lies, weaknesses, and intent. Dragon Summon (Active) – Summon one of the Monarch's sealed dragons. (Locked: Requires Monarch's Aura Lv. 2) Dragon Aura (Passive/Active) – Emits pressure of a true Monarch. Causes fear and suppression in weaker beings. Grows stronger with emotional state.
Hidden Potential: SSS+
"...What is this?" he whispered.
These weren't beginner stats. His mana was absurdly high. Even top-ranked Korean players didn't start with more than 200. And he had three skills—dragon skills. Just seeing the names made his heart race.
"Am I really… a player now?"
The thought brought tears to his eyes. For ten years, he had lived as the powerless one. The invisible one. The burden. Now, the Tower had not only accepted him—it had chosen him.
Lee Hwan closed the status window, taking a deep breath. But as he did, he noticed a pressure rising from within. A strange sensation pulled at him from deep inside his core.
The Dragon Aura.
Without thinking, he activated it.
At once, a wave of invisible power surged outward, shaking the cavern walls and sending dust falling from the ceiling. The ground around him cracked. Even the darkness seemed to flinch, retreating from his presence.
Lee Hwan's eyes glowed faintly gold. For a moment, he didn't feel human—he felt like a being from an ancient era, one meant to rule, not follow.
He quickly deactivated the aura, gasping for air.
Too much… he thought. Even a moment of that… it's too much to control.
But in that moment, he understood something: this power wasn't meant to be used recklessly. It was not given to him for pride or revenge. The Dragon Monarch's strength was ancient and absolute—it demanded respect.
And it demanded growth.
"I can't stay here," he muttered. "I need to get stronger. Fast."
He stood and looked around the cave. If he wanted to become Korea's first International Player… if he wanted to rise beyond those who mocked him… then he had to master the power he'd been given.
One step at a time.
Lee Hwan clenched his fist. The fire inside him no longer felt foreign.
It felt like destiny.