The wolf died.
Just as Lin Sei was about to collapse after killing the wolf, a paralyzing pain jolted him awake. The pain sharpened his senses, and though he was relieved to have survived, he realized with horror that he had lost his right arm.
Now Lin Sei was beginning to feel the consequences of his actions.
The tattoo at the center of his chest began to emit a faint golden glow, as if responding to some invisible force. A wave of warmth surged through his body—not a searing fire, but the gentle caress of dawn's first light. Before he could react, the world around him dissolved into a blinding flash of light.
When his vision returned, he found himself in a vast, floating palace suspended among the stars. The sky was a tapestry of purple and gold hues, adorned with constellations that constantly shifted, as though alive. Before him, a colossal throne stood at the center of the hall, carved from obsidian crystal and encrusted with gems radiating dazzling energy. Seated upon it, with a presence so overwhelming it seemed capable of crushing mountains with a mere thought, was a **dragon**.
Its head, majestic and imposing, was shaped like that of a classical dragon, yet bore unique features that marked it as extraordinary. Golden horns arched back, twisting like lightning frozen in time, radiating an energy that made the air around them hum. Its eyes were two perfect spheres of liquid gold, luminous and brimming with unfathomable wisdom. Gazing into them felt as though time itself stopped, as if its gaze encompassed the past, present, and future in a single moment.
Its jaws, seemingly capable of devouring entire suns, were lined with diamond-sharp teeth that gleamed with a brilliance capable of cutting through the fabric of space itself. When it exhaled, it did not release air but a radiant mist charged with primordial energy—like the breath of a creator shaping worlds.
The dragon's long, majestic neck was adorned with iridescent crests that seemed forged from solidified auroras. Each movement it made reshaped the space around it, as though the universe bent to its will. Its massive chest, as solid as a mountain range, glowed with arcane runes etched into its scales, pulsing in rhythm with a heart that felt like the core of a dying star.
Two immense wings, crafted from pure energy, stretched from its back, vast enough to eclipse the horizon. The membranes of the wings were not solid but translucent, revealing within them a whirlwind of constantly shifting galaxies. Each beat of its wings produced a sound akin to the celestial song of the spheres—a melody capable of inspiring awe or terror in equal measure.
Its tail was a masterpiece of strength and grace, ending in a sharp tip seemingly designed to tear through the fabric of the cosmos. As it moved, it left trails of starlight that slowly faded, drawing ephemeral constellations in the void.
Around it floated shards of crystal, asteroids, and cosmic dust swirls, as though the dragon itself were a living solar system. Its presence dominated not only the physical realm but also the spiritual one. The air grew dense around it, charged with the sensation of limitless power—a force capable of creating and destroying realities with a single thought.
The Dragon Emperor was not merely a physical being but an entity embodying the balance between creation and destruction, the flow of time, and eternity. When it spoke, its voice thundered like a cosmic storm, carrying the authority of one who had witnessed the birth and death of countless universes.
"Your time has come." The Dragon's voice echoed like thunder in a silent sky, reverberating through the palace's very foundations. In its claws, it held a translucent crystal that shimmered with eternal light. It released the crystal, letting it float gently into Lin Sei's hands.
"This crystal contains the *Eternal Monarch Body* Technique. Your body will be transformed into an immortal vessel, capable of withstanding the ravages of time and destruction. However, achieving its full potential will demand a monumental sacrifice."
Before Lin Sei could process the magnitude of what he had been given, the Dragon Emperor extended a claw toward the tattoo on his chest. With a flash of light, the crystal's energies were absorbed into him, flooding his being with a torrent of knowledge and power. Pain and ecstasy collided in his mind as his body and spirit were reconfigured.
When Lin Sei opened his eyes again, he was back in the dungeon, as if nothing had happened. Yet he knew everything had changed. His chest burned with a comforting heat; his body felt fundamentally altered. His right arm had returned, as if it had never been severed, and there was a mysterious burning sensation in his eye sockets—though no matter how he tried, he couldn't discern its nature.
"Huh? Where was I? What was that palace, that dragon, my tattoo…" Lin Sei muttered, his head throbbing from the whirlwind of events. The only thing he knew for certain was that he had to press on and survive.
Since killing the wolf, he was aware that he had leveled up several times, though he couldn't focus on the holographic screens that had appeared before him.
Within Lin Sei's body, mana erupted as his organs healed, only to be crushed into pulp and rebuilt again in a relentless cycle.
It wasn't only his organs that underwent this transformation—his skin, bones, and even his blood were refined in the process. Through it all, Lin Sei remained conscious, forced to endure the sensation of his body being broken down and reformed over and over.
Hours passed like days in the suffocating darkness, and Lin Sei thought he might have been sent to hell.
Unbeknownst to him, his Monarch Body activated, devouring every form of energy nearby. The wolf's corpse vanished in seconds.
Eventually, Lin Sei felt the pain subside to a tolerable level.
"Ha…haha…" Lin Sei chuckled weakly, catching his breath. The torture he endured had nearly driven him insane, but now, with the pain dulled, he could feel the gains he had made.
His vision and hearing had sharpened immensely, and his body was on an entirely different level than before. He now possessed the aura of an emperor, capable of destroying entire regions with a single glance.
Excited, Lin Sei accessed his system notifications.
> [You have slain a Level 15 Wolf and earned 7,000 EXP.]
> [Level up.]
> [Level up.]
> [Level up.]
> [Level up.]
> [Congratulations! You have successfully evolved. For this monumental achievement, you have been awarded the title of [Evolver]. Your legend has advanced.]
Seeing these messages, Lin Sei felt a rush of exhilaration. Whatever lay ahead, he knew he had been forever changed.
[You have leveled up for the first time. If your legend grows, you will be able to obtain a class.]
[Choose a class]
[1. Swordsman]
[2. Spatial Mage]
[3. Healer]
[4. Berserker]
[Congratulations! You have successfully evolved. Due to this immense achievement, you have been granted the title of [Evolver]. Your legend has advanced.]
Lin was stunned as he read the messages. Words like "league" and "legend" were completely unfamiliar to him, but he assumed they were the foundation upon which the system classified strength.
Looking at the list of classes, Lin felt he didn't even need to think about his options. His greatest strength was his teleportation, and becoming a Spatial Mage seemed like the way to expand similar powers. With this in mind, he didn't hesitate and chose his first class.
[You have become a Spatial Mage. During the creation of the universe, the first concepts to exist were creation and destruction, followed by space and time, and then life and death. Space is an essential concept in maintaining the fabric of reality. You have embarked on a path to uncover its secrets.]
Although he didn't notice any major changes, Lin Sei felt his horizons had broadened. Concepts he had never been able to grasp and new ideas about how to use his spatial affinity flooded his mind.
The choice of class had enlightened him somewhat, but how he decided to use this information depended entirely on him.
Unable to contain his anticipation any longer, he decided to check his status.
"Status."
[Status]
Male - Age 15
Level 14 - [Spatial Mage]
Experience Points: 50/4500
Titles: [Cold-Blooded, Evolver]
Affinities: Space
Physique: Akhala Physique
Element: Space
Mana: 740
Strength: 60
Agility: 90
Defense: 60
MP: 90
Stamina: 83
Skills: [Dragon Visual Projection Level 2, Enhanced Perception Level 3, Medium Teleportation Level 1], [Minor Telekinesis Level 5], [Regeneration Level 2], [Sword Mastery Level 3], [Danger Sense Level 1]
Lin was ecstatic. Seeing that his stats had increased more than tenfold, he realized the benefits of evolution.
His teleportation ability was no longer limited to short distances, as he could clearly feel a connection to spatial layers within a 5-kilometer radius. He also felt he could now abuse teleportation effortlessly for extended periods.
**DINGGGG**
[YOU HAVE ACQUIRED A DOMAIN]