While Alex was bathing in his room, he looked out the window. His body was in much better condition than before; had it been his former self, he would either be undergoing grueling mana training or playing with his dragon somewhere. He lay back lazily in the bubble-filled bathtub. He wanted to take some time for himself today, as a warm shower after training was his absolute favorite activity.Tessarion sent a telepathic message: "Are you going to stay in there all day?""Are you going to sleep over there all day?" Alex shot back mentally. Tessarion didn't need to train because as Alex grew stronger, the dragon evolved alongside him. Still, he shouldn't let his claws and fangs grow dull. Alex wouldn't allow that, yet the dragon preferred sleeping all day without interfering in anything.Alex took a deep breath and slowly submerged himself beneath the bathwater, remaining underwater for ten minutes, lost in deep thought, when two hands suddenly pulled him out."Huh?" Alex gasped in su

Alex pushed past the hollow trunk of the ancient tree and stepped into the cave. Osiris sat on his stone chair as usual, shrouded in that familiar, heavy air of mystery. Alex tossed his bag onto the ground with a dull thud. Osiris looked down at him, his face unreadable. "You're back early."Alex met his gaze with steady determination. "Yeah. I want to pick up right where we left off. I need to get stronger, as fast as possible."Osiris stood up and walked toward him with calm, deliberate steps. He glanced down at the boy's small frame and raised an eyebrow. "I respect your fire, kid, but your body is still fragile. If you push past your limits right now, you'll end up stunting your growth instead of evolving."The words stung Alex's pride. Mana surged through his veins, coating his skin in the deep crimson flames unique to the Dragonblood line. A sharp, confident smile touched his lips. "I carry dragon blood. My body is ten times tougher than any regular human's... The blood of gods

Silence hung heavy in the study for a long moment before Tessarion broke it in Alex's mind: *(Well... I definitely didn't see that coming.)*Alex stared at his father, confusion and frustration mixing in his eyes. "The Elf Kingdom? Are you saying I'm not going to the Dragon Citadel?"Aenys nodded calmly, leaning back against the edge of his desk. "There's nothing to discuss; the decision is made. You will reside there for a considerable time. I have already spoken with Zephyr, the Elf King. Everything is set, and they are expecting your arrival."Alex felt a tight knot form in his chest. All his meticulous plans had been centered around reaching the Dragon Citadel—where his uncle resided—to gather allies and build leverage. But this unexpected turn completely shattered his roadmap. How was he supposed to adapt to being sent right into the territory of his past life's enemies?Raising his crimson eyes, Alex asked in a low, measured tone, "May I ask on what grounds this decision was mad

Alex stood in the heavy silence of the forest, raising his right wrist to inspect the final gift Osiris had left him. With a swift thought, his mana channels responded; the skin parted seamlessly as a dark forearm guard materialized, extending into a sleek, full-length blade. Three glowing ruby-like orbs were embedded near the hilt, radiating a dark, suffocating energy.The weapon's name was **Greed**—a legendary blade born from pure desire and predation. It possessed the terrifying ability to consume the strength of those it killed and grant its wielder unique traits. In its current state, three distinct slots were unlocked:1. **Slot 1 (Mist Lizard):** Grants passive, continuous high-tier regeneration derived from marsh beasts; any wound heals rapidly as long as the head remains attached.2. **Slot 2 (Abyss Scorpion):** Coats the blade in a lethal neurotoxin drawn from cursed deep-sea scorpions—a poison with no known cure in the continent.3. **Slot 3 (Night Hound):** Absolute prese

The elf soldiers were patrolling the area on their night shift. Among them was a trio of brothers who felt utterly exhausted: Olbug, Gorbug, and Sunbug. Olbug yawned deeply, complaining about the grueling patrol duty right after a full day of training. Gorbug shook his head, reminding him that Sunbug was the one who accepted the shift. Sunbug narrowed his green eyes, blaming their tiredness on their excessive drinking despite his warnings. Olbug pulled a flask from his pocket to take another swig, while Sunbug and Gorbug continued walking ahead.After taking a drink, Olbug wiped his mouth and glanced toward the darker side of the palace. He froze in disbelief; glowing amidst the shadows were two glaring red eyes attached to a figure clinging to the wall, staring directly at him. Olbug rubbed his eyes and looked again, but the entity had vanished. Sighing, he assumed the alcohol was getting to him and turned to catch up with his brothers.Before he could take a step, a blade thrust thr