Volume 2: Rise of the Vessel
Chapter 2: Power in Silence
The night had quieted.
The corpses of the assassins were already being handled by the Tower's cleanup system—hidden agents from the Tower Authority who watched over Earth, maintaining balance between chaos and survival.
Lee Hwan sat alone at the edge of the rooftop, gazing at the data window hovering in front of him.
[Status Window – Lee Hwan]
Level: 26
Title: Vessel of the Dragon Monarch
Available Attribute Points: 25
HP: 14,400
MP: 1,120
Strength: 43 (+5)
Agility: 36 (+5)
Endurance: 38
Intelligence: 50
Perception: 45
Charisma: 10
Lee narrowed his eyes. He had long known he was different. When others fought for drops of power, he had oceans flowing within him.
"Mana is the least of my concerns…" he muttered.
His base mana pool had crossed a thousand naturally. Most players didn't even see that number until they reached Level 70 or higher. That was the Dragon Monarch's gift—a body forged to hold divine power.
[You have added +5 to Strength.]
[You have added +5 to Agility.]
[Current Strength: 48]
[Current Agility: 41]
He stood up, testing his new balance.
Whoosh!
In the blink of an eye, he disappeared from his spot—reappearing at the other side of the rooftop with a mere step.
"Much better," he whispered.
The speed was unreal. With agility past 40 and his Dragon Aura reinforcing his movements, even bullets might not track him anymore.
He tightened his fist, and the air distorted around his knuckles.
"Now this… this is what I need."
Power that didn't just come from raw mana or spells—but raw, physical dominance. The kind that could punch through walls or crush high-rank monsters with one blow.
The world thought magic users were elite.
But he was a hybrid—a vessel of mana, a beast in close combat, and the summoner of a dragon.
The wind shifted. A system message appeared.
[You have completed stat allocation.]
[Your body is adapting to the changes.]
[Speed-based passive unlocked: Phantom Step Lv.1]
Lee's eyes widened slightly.
[Phantom Step – Passive]
Your movements leave afterimages, making it difficult for enemies to react or land a hit. Speed increases slightly with each dodge. Can be upgraded.
"That's new," he said, a small grin forming.
Every upgrade brought more surprises. Every step deeper into his evolution reminded him: he wasn't just a Player anymore.
He was a Monarch's Vessel.
"Lee Hwan," came Minjae's voice behind him. "They've taken the bodies. The Tower Authority wants to question you later. What do you want to do now?"
Lee didn't look back. "I'm going back."
"Back? To where?"
Lee turned, his expression calm—but with a flame in his eyes.
"To the Tower. I don't have time to waste. Whoever put the bounty on me… they'll pay. But first, I need to get stronger."
Minjae nodded slowly, watching his friend walk toward the edge of the building.
"And when you do?" he asked.
Lee stopped, facing the moonlight.
"Then I'll burn everything in my path with the flames of the Dragon Monarch."