A month passed in the blink of an eye.
Inside Valeria Hall, within a training ground reinforced with warding enchantnts, Lucia sat cross-legged. He was deep in a state of internal focus, sensing the rhythmic thrum of his blood and the surging tide of his qi.
With every long, steady breath, the potent demigod blood within him roared through his veins like an inexhaustible river. His bones, muscles, and skin vibrated at a singular frequency, creating a resonance with the pumping of his heart. Inside his chest, he could hear the distinct sound of ethereal smithing—his heart had beco a furnace, tempering his physique through ten thousand refinents.
Wisps of heat escaped his pores, coiling into a white mist. The supre power of the Dragon King and the Dragon God was rging with his Ancient Dragon biology, crystallizing into the unique "Vitality" of the Dragon King's Body.
Suddenly, his muscles coiled and snapped. He erupted from the ground with a speed that tore the air, sending a blurred shockwave through the center of the field.
In the blur of motion, silver-white scales rippled across his skin. In this semi-dragonized state, his hands shifted into savage claws, their talons gleaming with a cold, predatory light. Lucia flickered across the field like a ghost, covering dozens of ters in a heartbeat. He lashed out; ten crimson rifts tore through the air, accompanied by the crackle of black-and-red lightning.
A steel-forged armored golem, reinforced with heavy enchantnts, collapsed with a tallic screech. Its torso had been sliced into segnts as easily as a blade through silk, the cuts as smooth as mirrors.
Lucia didn't slow. He reached back and drew the Dragon-Scale Blade. With a resonant ring, Red Dragon Lightning coiled around the steel. He twisted his fra, his muscles bulging to their limit before releasing like a siege engine. The blade shot from his hand, a streak of black steel and red lightning that pierced the air with a shriek.
Thrum—
The blade buried itself deep into a solid iron wall a hundred ters away. Around the hilt were dozens of similar marks. At first, they had been disorganized, but the most recent group was clustered with mathematical precision, each hit spaced exactly like the last.
"Whew..." Lucia exhaled a stream of scorching air. The scales receded. He paced to the wall, effortlessly pulled the blade from the iron, and sheathed it at his spine.
"Brother, isn't he even more amazing than yesterday?" At the edge of the field, Malenia tugged at Miquella's arm, her eyes shining with excitent.
In Malenia's dark red pupils, Lucia's every body sway and breathing rhythm was integrated into a perfect whole. She possessed an instinctive, keen insight that Miquella called the "Mind's Eye."
"He is," Miquella agreed, his gaze full of admiration. "His progress is visible by the hour. But more than strength, his control is evolving. Even Godwyn likely wasn't this refined at such a young age. He is a true genius."
Shirley, the little fox, perked up. She jumped in front of them, waving her paws and humming her own "battle music." When she finished, she plopped into Malenia's lap, her tail wagging into a blooming white flower.
"Haha, our Shirley is a little genius, too!" Malenia giggled, scratching the fox's chin.
Lucia walked over, wiping sweat from his brow. He habitually patted Malenia and Shirley on the head, then looked at Miquella with a smirk. "So? Not bad, right?"
"You're progressing so fast I can hardly keep up," Miquella joked. "In a few months, when Godwyn returns from the Northern Border, you'll be ready to spar with him."
Lucia's face darkened. He rubbed his nose. "You're getting more wicked by the day. Can't you let enjoy being arrogant for five minutes?"
Miquella laughed. "After you rest, shall we go again?"
"Not today," Lucia stretched his aching shoulders. "I found a new insight in my swordsmanship this morning. I need to organize it. Tomorrow, then."
"Fair enough. But you're providing the al," Miquella shrugged. "The chef Mother gave you is too good; I've dismissed most of the staff at the Haligtree Palace."
"Fine. Since you eat like a bird compared to Shirley and Malenia, I think my budget can survive."
"Lu—ci—a!"
"Awoo!"
The protests from the girl and the fox followed him as he laughed.
After dinner and escorting the siblings ho, Lucia entered his quiet room and plunged back into the mory Battlefield. A month of relentless training had bore fruit.
Na: Luciassax
Level: 148
Attributes: Vigor 40 ( 5), Mind 30, Endurance 15 ( 5), Strength 31 ( 8), Dexterity 21, Intelligence 30, Faith 30, Arcane 30
Skills: Ancient Dragon Combat Techniques (Beginner), Storm Swordsmanship (Beginner), Dragon King's Body (Tier 1), Claw of Ruin (Tier 1), Dragon Lightning Incantation (Beginner)
He discovered that the permanent physical bonuses from his training were now displayed as extra buffs. When he transford, these would surge—his Vigor jumping to 40 ( 15) while his Dexterity dropped to 21 (-6).
But the most significant discovery was a new star in the firmant. He had successfully analyzed enough of his neighbor.
Target: Empyrean Miquella (Childhood Form)
Race: Human (Demigod)
Level: 188
Attributes: Vigor 20, Mind 60, Endurance 10, Strength 15, Dexterity 12, Intelligence 20, Faith 70, Arcane 60
Skills: Golden Tree Incantation (High-tier), Fundantalist Incantation (High-tier)
Legendary Ability: Unalloyed Gold Holy Order (Locked)
Analysis Progress: 7.8%
To unlock the Rembrance combat mode—the ability to spar with a ntal copy of Miquella—he needed to reach 10%. Fighting in reality was the only way to bridge that gap.
But for tonight, he had a different goal. He needed to break the stalemate with Samuel.
Lucia took a deep breath, focusing on the star representing the Godskin Noble. He had pushed the analysis to 19.9%. One more victory, one more insight, and he would break through the threshold.
A black fla crest shaped like a cold, staring pupil erged in the void. A frigid, deathly aura subrged him. Lucia gripped his ntal Dragon-Scale Blade with both hands, his eyes narrowing.
"Let's finish this," he whispered, and stepped into the frost.
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