BOOM!
A deafening roar cracked through the sky.
Storm clouds churned violently above, magic energy surging like a tidal wave. The dark, swirling tempest that had been coiling around Cicero suddenly exploded outward, expanding at a terrifying speed.
In re monts, the storm had already stretched to a staggering 500,000 feet in diater—and it wasn’t slowing down. It kept growing, fast—700,000 feet... a million... 1.2 million...
Even 1.5 million feet—and still climbing.
"What the hell..."
"So fast! I can’t believe it’s already broken past 1.5 million feet... Looks like Cicero’s awakening is gonna blow Seraphina’s out of the water," Ethan muttered, eyes narrowing before a wide grin spread across his face.
The stronger Cicero beca, the better it was for him. More power, more potential—it all played into Ethan’s plans. Of course he was thrilled.
Honestly, if he could get a few dozen more awakenings like this, he’d welco them with open arms.
Bring it on.
anwhile, the massive shift in the magical atmosphere didn’t go unnoticed.
On the western side of Erald Castle...
Seraphina was helping Elynn and the others clean up the battlefield—clearing debris, reshaping the terrain, tying up loose ends.
But the mont she felt the surge of magic from Cicero’s awakening, she froze. Her eyes lit up with excitent and joy...
Then her expression darkened.
She let out a dramatic sigh, puffing her cheeks in frustration. "Ugh, he caught up to again! So annoying..."
Elynn, standing beside her, couldn’t help but laugh. "Co on, Princess Seraphina, don’t be mad. Don’t forget—Cicero’s your brother! Even if he’s stronger than you, it’s not like he’d dare beat you in a fight, right? I an, I doubt he’s got the guts! Hahaha..."
"Mind your own business!" Seraphina snapped, her cheeks flushing red as she playfully shoved Elynn. The two of them broke into a lighthearted scuffle, teasing and laughing like old friends.
It was clear—these two were tight. As part of Ethan’s elite Hero Unit, they were more than just comrades. They were like sisters.
This playful, girlish side of Seraphina? She rarely showed it, even around Ethan. But with Elynn, it ca out naturally—like it had many tis before. That said everything about how close they really were.
...
Elsewhere, in the serene, flower-filled glade known as Unicorn Glade...
Thandor, a powerful elder of the Green Dragon clan, suddenly looked up, eyes flashing with sharp light.
He’d felt it.
"What in the world...?" he murmured, brows furrowing. "Why is the pressure from this magical surge so intense? And the range—it’s already past 1.5 million feet? Is Cicero’s potential really that high?!"
He was clearly stunned.
Even a little impressed.
Thandor had seen more than anyone in Erald Castle. He knew exactly what it ant for soone’s Divine Power to reach that kind of range during a second awakening.
No exaggeration—geniuses like this were rare, even among the elite of the Forest Faction.
"I thought those two siblings were just your average Green Dragon Hero Units... but damn, they just keep surprising ."
"What a sha they were raised outside our clan. If they’d been born among us, they’d be rising stars in the Forest Faction by now..."
He sighed, shaking his head.
"But still, I should talk to them. Let them know it’s ti to fully commit to the faction. That’s the only real path forward. Better that than wasting their talents—or worse, dying in vain."
"These days, everyone wants to challenge the factions, to beco the next king..."
"But how many actually make it?"
"Even we—Crimson Ultimate heroes—have to face reality eventually."
...
At the sa ti—
As the minutes ticked by, Cicero’s second awakening was finally reaching its climax.
RUMMMMMBLE...
The storm overhead began to die down, the howling winds easing into a low, ominous hum.
Then, a massive vortex ford in the sky.
At its center, sothing began to take shape—a colossal, crystal-clear erald, glowing with an otherworldly light.
It was nearly identical to what had happened during Seraphina’s awakening.
VMMM—
Monts later, the swirling magical energy in the sky—thick as fog and crackling with power—suddenly surged toward the erald, pouring into it like a tidal wave.
Cracks began to spiderweb across its surface, glowing with blinding intensity.
BOOM!
With a thunderous crack, the erald shattered.
And from within it—
A monstrous dragon claw tore through the shards.
Then ca a pair of wings—massive, dark green, and wide enough to blot out the sun.
And finally, the full form of a titanic beast burst forth.
A dragon.
A true, ancient, terrifying dragon.
"Hell yeah!" Ethan’s eyes lit up, his voice full of awe and excitent.
Hovering in the sky now was a massive dark green dragon, easily over 10,000 feet long. Its wings stretched wide, casting a shadow that swallowed the land below. The sheer pressure rolling off it was suffocating—like gravity itself had doubled. Just looking at it made your skin crawl and your soul tremble.
It didn’t just look powerful.
It looked divine.
Like a god of destruction had descended from the heavens.
FWOOOSH!
Suddenly, the dragon’s massive body shuddered. A soft glow enveloped it, and its form began to shrink, folding in on itself as if being drawn inward by the light.
Then—
With a flicker of space, the dragon vanished from the sky.
A heartbeat later, it reappeared—rushing down toward Ethan like a teor.
And then, with perfect control, it landed gracefully on the open ground right in front of him.
BOOM!
The light faded.
Standing in its place was a man—his short, erald-green hair shimred with a radiant glow, pulsing with raw magical energy. Orbs of pure magic, like miniature stars, floated around him, orbiting his body in slow, deliberate arcs. Each one radiated a divine presence, as if the very essence of the arcane had taken physical form.
He looked almost holy.
This was Cicero.
From a human perspective, he was tall—just over 6’5"—and his physique was flawless, like it had been sculpted by the gods themselves. Every line, every proportion, was perfect. Golden ratio kind of perfect.
But more than that—he was different now. Completely different from the Cicero of before. This wasn’t just a power-up. This was a transformation.
And when Ethan t his eyes—
He froze.
A chill ran down his spine. His breath caught in his throat. Those eyes... they weren’t just powerful. They were transcendent. Looking into them felt like staring into the heart of the universe—beautiful, infinite, and utterly overwhelming. For a mont, the world itself seed to dim around him.
"Cicero... is this really your power now?" Ethan whispered, his voice dry, barely audible.
He swallowed hard.
This was... insane.
Unreal.
Goddamn, he thought. He’s on a whole other level now...
"I apologize, Master," Cicero said quickly, his voice calm and respectful. "I’ve only just completed my second awakening. I’m still not in full control of this power. Please forgive the disturbance."
Then, without hesitation, he stepped forward.
Lowered his head.
And dropped to one knee before Ethan.
"Green Dragon Cicero, at your service," he said solemnly. "Your strength... your kindness... they humble . From this day forward, I stand with you."
Ethan blinked, caught off guard for a second.
Then he chuckled and reached out his hand. "Alright, alright. Get up already."
He pulled Cicero to his feet with a grin.
At the sa ti, he opened up Cicero’s new status panel—his fingers moving instinctively as the interface shimred into view. His eyes scanned the data, sharp and focused, eager to see just how far Cicero had co.
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