Chapter 18: Return
The dragon continued its attack for a while longer. It seemed its breath was exhausted, and it circled furiously at the edge of the sky, roaring in frustration.
Unfortunately, Leon Grant couldn't yet understand dragon speech. Otherwise, he might have enjoyed eavesdropping on its tirade.
Still, he had a good guess—whatever the dragon was bellowing probably wasn't very polite.
Its opponent must have been quite formidable to withstand the assault. Otherwise, the dragon wouldn't be stuck in this state of rage.
After a short time, the dragon gave a final huff and flew off, its immense shadow vanishing into the dark horizon.
From his vantage point in the high-rise, Leon could still see the distant battlefield glowing with fires. Unfortunately, the details were obscured by distance and the intervening ruins of the city.
Satisfied with the spectacle, Leon decided to return to his rest.
His meditation had been interrupted, and his body needed time to recover before he could attempt it again.
He lay on his bed, intending to sleep off the strain.
But just as he closed his eyes, before sleep could take him, a faint rustling noise broke the silence of the night.
Leon immediately bolted upright, peering through the window. Outside, an undead horde was shambling past the edges of his neighborhood.
Thankfully, the gaps in the fences and gates surrounding the apartment block had already been blocked during the day. The horde met resistance at these barriers but made no effort to force their way in.
Leon exhaled in relief. The undead were slow and mindless, but their numbers made them a threat. If any sounds or the scent of blood were to emanate from the neighborhood, the flimsy barricades wouldn't hold them for long.
The horde bypassed the area entirely, shambling toward the distant battlefield. Some irresistible pull seemed to guide them—whether it was the sound of battle or the scent of blood, Leon couldn't be sure.
But for Leon, it didn't matter. No treasure, no matter how precious, was worth venturing out into the night.
To step into the city at night would be to offer himself as a meal.
He imagined the scene without looking: hordes of undead from across a 20-kilometer radius all converging on the battlefield.
The dragon's appearance had been a wake-up call for Leon. He immediately abandoned his plans to hunt the undead for potential points.
I'm still too weak, he thought grimly. Even if the undead were sluggish and clumsy under the sun, there was no guarantee they were the only threats in this abandoned city.
After all, a dragon—one of the rarest and most powerful beings in existence—had already made an appearance. What other dangers might be lurking in this forsaken place?
Leon decided it wasn't worth risking his life for potential points. His ambition was too great to gamble everything now.
As he resolved to be cautious, Leon made a promise to himself:
I am the master of potential points, not their slave.
While potential points could accelerate his progress, Leon refused to let himself become dependent on them. He would grow stronger on his terms, even if it meant slower progress.
Time passed quickly, and soon the seventh day arrived.
By all accounts, students undergoing the Awakening Trial typically remained in the Arcane Realm for three to seven days. For Leon, today marked the end of his time here.
The Beacon in his mind, his link to Earth, had been gradually charging. Now, its energy was nearly full. Based on his calculations, it would take another hour or so before it was ready to activate.
Since witnessing the dragon's battle, Leon's earlier overconfidence had vanished entirely. He'd come to terms with his status as a mere Apprentice-tier Mage, wielding only three Tier-0 spells. The Arcane Realm was filled with countless creatures far more powerful than he.
With that sobering realization, Leon had spent the past few days quietly meditating in his high-rise refuge.
Thanks to his diligence, his efforts hadn't been in vain:
Name: Leon Grant
Race: Human
Mental Power: 2.7 / 2.7
Mana: 27 / 27
Skills:
• The Breath of Darkness (Meditation Technique)
• Tier-0 Spells: White Fang of Bone, Grim Mist, Touch of Fatigue
Potential Points: 0
Through consistent meditation, Leon's Mental Power had increased by 0.1, and his Mana had risen by 1.
By his calculations, it took roughly four days of uninterrupted meditation to raise his Mental Power by 0.1. It wasn't fast, but it was progress.
According to his grimoire, an Apprentice Mage needed to increase their Mental Power tenfold to advance to the Iron-tier. For Leon, this meant reaching a Mental Power of 10.
Given his current growth rate, Leon estimated that he could achieve this breakthrough in about a year.
One year!
The thought filled him with excitement. In just one year, he could reach a level that many people could only dream of.
For Leon, this wasn't just a personal achievement. It was a chance to break free from the life he had been born into.
Leon's family back on Earth was ordinary at best. His parents worked long hours in factories, earning barely enough to make ends meet. For decades, they'd struggled without any real chance of advancement.
If Leon failed to Awaken, he would likely follow the same path—enrolling in a technical school, graduating to a modest factory job, and eventually marrying someone equally unremarkable.
It wasn't the life Leon wanted.
His successful Awakening had given him hope, and now his only goal was survival.
As a mage, even an Apprentice-tier one, Leon knew he could earn more than his parents ever had.
He wanted to give them the rest they deserved after years of hard work.
To do that, I have to live.
That was why Leon refused to take unnecessary risks. Steady meditation might be slow, but it was safe.
Finally, the energy in his Beacon reached full capacity. Feeling the pulse of its power in his mind, Leon stood and prepared to leave.
He packed all his belongings, slinging his gear onto his back. Walking to the window, he took one last look at the abandoned city. The overgrown streets, the crumbling buildings, the wild vegetation—all of it was burned into his memory.
"I'll be back," Leon whispered, his voice filled with determination.
He summoned the Beacon from his mind, holding it in his hands. It resembled an hourglass, its energy swirling within.
Taking a deep breath, Leon gripped the Beacon and applied pressure.
"Crack!"
The Beacon shattered, and an oval-shaped portal opened before him. The other side radiated a warm, inviting light.
Leon adjusted his gear, squared his shoulders, and stepped through without hesitation.
As the portal closed behind him, its light faded. The Arcane Realm returned to silence, its mysteries waiting for another day.