Name: Luciassax
Race: Ancient Dragon (Royal)
Level: 75
Available Rune Points: 2
Attributes: Vigor 40, Mind 15, Endurance 15, Strength 30, Dexterity 20, Intelligence 9, Faith 15, Arcane 10
Skills: Ancient Dragon Combat Techniques (Unskilled), Storm Swordsmanship (Unskilled)
Legendary Abilities: Dragon Bloodline Inheritance (Locked), Memory Battlefield (Unlocked)
That night, Lucia sat in his tent and summoned the data panel once more. He stared in astonishment at the newly added Rune Points. After a long, silent beat, he muttered, "No way."
He had assumed that points were only awarded for defeating "boss-tier" enemies. After all, he had gained fifteen points and unlocked the Memory Battlefield only after the encounter with Samuel. But the events of the afternoon had completely overturned that theory.
On the way back to the main envoy after his secret meeting with Clavell, Lucia had led his guards on a legitimate hunting trip to maintain their cover. Between his secret maneuvers, he had personally put down three wolves and a massive Runebear. Perhaps it was the muscle memory of "farming souls" from his previous life, but he had checked the panel on a whim—and the points were there.
"So, it doesn't matter if they are 'powerful enemies.' As long as I am the active agent of death, I accumulate Runes." He paced the tent, thinking. "But I didn't kill Samuel with my own hands. And the thousands I had Aegis and Guilel slaughter at Sunset Pass didn't grant me a single point."
He meticulously recalled the details of every gain. The answer finally emerged: Direct Battle. As long as he personally caused the killing through direct combat—regardless of whether he performed the final execution—he earned the points.
It reminded him of his past life, luring the stray crows at the cliffside near the Mohgwyn Palace. Back then, he had countless "phantom brothers" alongside him; now, he was a solitary predator in a world of flesh and blood.
He let out a sigh to gather his thoughts. Like a miserly landlord, he weighed his stats. Mind was sufficient for now, as he had yet to learn any high-level Incantations that would drain his reservoir. Faith and Arcane were useless at his current skill level. After a brief struggle, he invested the two points into Strength and Dexterity.
"Next time," he promised the void. "Next time, I am getting my Intelligence into the double digits."
He hated the way the panel labeled it. Calling it "Intelligence" made it sound like a IQ test rather than magical aptitude. Having a '9' made him feel like an idiot, even if he was playing 4D chess with the local governors. It was a personal insult from the system.
That night, at Level 77, Lucia re-entered the Memory Battlefield to challenge Samuel. After being beaten into the dirt twenty more times, he pushed the analysis progress to 19% and finally collapsed into a dreamless sleep.
The next morning, the mission resumed its trek toward Dectus. Lucia settled into the carriage, contemplating his next moves. Once they ascended the Altus Plateau via the Great Lift, the Royal Capital of Leyndell would be less than three days away. Altus was the heart of the Golden Dynasty—a land of unparalleled prosperity and absolute security. There, the chaos of the borderlands was a distant rumor.
The priority is skill, he thought. I cannot rely on raw stats in the capital.
His draconic bloodline was a monstrous talent, allowing him to punch far above his weight class once he transformed. In the remote corners of the world, he was a titan. But he was heading to the Golden Royal Capital, a place where "heroes" were as common as grass and "knights" were worth less than the horses they rode.
In contrast, the demigods of his generation were already terrifying. Godrick, though a fool in personality, had been recognized as having Hero-level strength at sixteen. Among the Carian demigods invited to the capital, the fourteen-year-old Radahn was already a legend for his bravery.
And then there was the Golden Prince, Godwyn.
He was the perfect fusion of Marika's divinity and Godfrey's martial might. His wisdom and strength were unparalleled. A decade ago, when Caria and Farum Azula had besieged the Dynasty, Godwyn had almost single-handedly held the line while Radagon and Godfrey were campaigning elsewhere. He was the one destined to end the era of war and usher in the New Order.
Compared to these legends, Lucia felt like he was just filling a seat.
I need to lie low, he mused. Master the Memory Battlefield. Find a way to farm levels safely. And then...
He looked at his legendary abilities. His gaze lingered on the Dragon Bloodline Inheritance.
He could feel the seal deep within his soul—a lock placed there by the Dragon God Halaris and the Dragon King Placidusax. The power within the bloodline was too vast for a hatchling; it was designed to unlock only as the dragon's spirit matured.
But Lucia's mental strength, bolstered by the Memory Battlefield, was already approaching the level of a peak demigod. Once I settle in Leyndell, I'm breaking that seal, he decided.
The carriage began to slow. The rhythmic thud of hooves turned into a confused shuffling.
Guilel's voice, sharp with annoyance, drifted in through the window.
"Your Highness, we have arrived at Dectus. But it seems someone is blocking the road ahead."