Chapter 17: The Dragon
"Hoo~"
Leon Grant awoke from a deep meditation, his senses sharper and his body refreshed. With the help of the potential points he had recently gained, the process had been extraordinarily smooth.
The elusive arcane energy, which usually took so much effort to grasp, now felt like docile lambs willingly submitting to his mental control, flowing directly into his body.
Still, he couldn't help but lament. If only I had more potential points.
The speed at which his meditation had progressed with the aid of potential points was worlds apart from his usual slow, laborious efforts.
Taking a moment to collect his thoughts, Leon called forth his attribute panel to check the results of his session:
Name: Leon Grant
Mental Power: 2.6 / 2.6
Mana: 26 / 26
Skills:
• The Breath of Darkness (Meditation Technique)
• Tier-0 Spells: White Fang of Bone, Grim Mist, Touch of Fatigue
Potential Points: 0
Although his potential points were now fully depleted, their effects were undeniable. His mental power had increased by 0.5, and his mana capacity by 5 points—an impressive leap. In practical terms, this enhancement increased his combat power as a mage by almost a quarter.
Seeing his newly improved stats, Leon couldn't suppress the grin spreading across his face. He burst into silent laughter, his chest swelling with satisfaction.
This is so much faster than meditating on my own, he thought.
Estimating the time he'd spent, it seemed this session had only taken two hours, yet its results eclipsed a full night's worth of his usual meditations.
No wonder potential points are so valuable. Even if self-meditation still has its role, the improvement is simply too negligible to see on the panel.
As the idea solidified, a flicker of greed ignited in Leon's heart. He began plotting how to gain more potential points. His earlier experience hunting the undead in the nearby ruins came to mind. The undead were slow, barely capable of resistance under the sun, and as easy to deal with as swatting flies.
"Maybe I should head out again tomorrow," he mused, the flicker of greed growing into a roaring fire of ambition.
Late at night, Leon avoided wasting time and entered a state of shallow meditation. While this didn't accelerate his growth as much, it still allowed him to recover some mana and served as a replacement for sleep.
But his concentration was violently shattered.
"ROAAARRR!"
A thunderous roar reverberated through the night sky, jarring Leon from his meditative state. The force of being yanked out of meditation caused mana backlash; his entire body ached as if it were being crushed, and his heart pounded like a war drum.
Yet Leon had no time to care about the pain. The roar left him trembling in both fear and awe.
Scrambling to his window, he peered out to locate the source of the deafening sound.
The night sky stretched wide and dark, with only the faint moonlight to pierce the gloom.
And there it was—a dragon soaring through the heavens.
Leon's breath caught in his throat. His hands gripped the windowsill tightly as his pulse raced. The sight of the massive beast sent a chill down his spine.
Dragons were legendary creatures from the Spirit Realm, monstrous in size and unparalleled in power. Most adult dragons wielded Saint-tier strength, while even the weakest species of dragon were comparable to Golden-tier combatants.
Their terrifying might extended beyond their physical attributes: thick, impenetrable scales, razor-sharp claws, and devastating strength. What truly made dragons unmatched, however, was their innate magical ability.
Passed down through their bloodlines, dragons naturally inherited spellcasting prowess.
While humans had to painstakingly study and practice, dragons merely slept—and awoke with new spells embedded in their minds.
As Leon stared at the flying colossus, his racing thoughts betrayed his fascination. He couldn't help but think of how valuable the creature was:
• Dragon Scales: Perfect for crafting impenetrable armor.
• Dragonhide: Excellent material for mage robes and advanced scrolls.
• Dragon Blood: Ideal for inscribing powerful magic runes.
• Dragon Meat: Coveted by warriors for its ability to enhance physical strength.
• Dragon Bones: The ultimate crafting material for weapons and staves.
Even dragon saliva and waste held immense magical value, often used as fertilizer for arcane plants.
In Leon's eyes, a dragon wasn't just a creature; it was a walking treasure trove.
Squinting through the dim light, Leon noticed the faint reddish glow emanating from the dragon's scales. Judging from its size, it appeared to be a juvenile dragon, perhaps six or seven meters in length.
Even so, its power was unmistakable. Juvenile dragons often reached Silver-tier, and by the time they matured into young adults, many could rival Golden-tier combatants.
For someone like Leon, engaging a dragon of any age would be suicide. The creature could likely kill him with a mere flick of its tail.
The beast wasn't alone. It seemed to be locked in battle, its roars of rage echoing as it dove and circled. Every so often, the dragon unleashed streams of fiery breath, obliterating whatever lay below.
Leon's curiosity grew. What could possibly provoke a dragon? He speculated wildly.
"Could it be a massive swarm of undead?" he muttered, his thoughts spiraling. But the idea didn't hold much weight. The undead, even those with enhanced abilities, lacked the intelligence or treasure to lure such a creature.
Abandoning his questions, Leon settled by the window to watch the battle unfold like a thrilling movie.
The dragon's massive wings beat against the night air, each stroke sending tremors through the surroundings.
He imagined the commotion must have already attracted hordes of undead.
The undead had extraordinarily sharp hearing, and the dragon's roars could likely carry for miles.
Even now, countless undead were likely shambling toward the chaos, drawn by the noise.
Leon grimaced at the thought. If the dragon's opponent was another living creature, it was likely doomed. While the dragon could simply fly away when overwhelmed, anything grounded would soon be swarmed by the undead.
Although individually weak, the sheer numbers of undead were often enough to overwhelm even the strongest beings.
For now, Leon stayed put, his curiosity mingled with dread. Whatever the outcome, this battle was bound to reshape the balance of power in the region.
All he could do was watch—and hope the dragon wouldn't notice the faint flicker of light from his tiny window.