There was a vague sense of stagnation—like his growth had stopped.
He could feel it through his life force; ordinary people couldn't do that.
Perfect timing. This floor was basically cleared anyway.
It was time to head back.
On Floor 19, with enemies not too dense, they avoided unnecessary fights and prepared to return. But—
As they crossed an open area, the ground suddenly shook.
A massive shadow hatched out of the earth.
A juvenile dragon—and not a normal one.
Its size was abnormal, and the oppressive presence alone was enough to intimidate the surroundings.
A strengthened variant.
"Xien, run—now! This isn't something you can handle!"
Ryuu snapped instantly, pulling him behind her.
To her, this wasn't "training." It was a lethal mismatch.
A normal juvenile dragon was around Level 3, but a strengthened variant typically fought above its grade.
Meaning this one was effectively Level 4.
Not quite Goliath—but still beyond what Xien could reasonably face right now.
Even Ryuu felt it would be troublesome.
But Xien didn't retreat.
He started preparing to fight.
"No, Ryuu. Let's kill it together."
"As the finale of this trial—there's nothing more fitting."
"What…?"
Ryuu turned back in disbelief.
Xien's gaze was locked on the dragon—steady, hungry, determined to surpass it.
For a moment, she was actually shaken by his resolve.
"What, does the famed Gale really not dare to clash with a strengthened juvenile dragon?"
"How could I be afraid? But—Xien, the way you say it really ticks me off…!"
"Haha. I'm just trying to fire up your fighting spirit."
"…Then don't you dare get careless."
"Against something like this, you cannot underestimate it."
"Keep up with my pace."
"Understood. Then… let's go."
"Good."
Two Winds Against a Dragon
Xien formed his long spear.
His breathing deepened, and as his life force followed the rhythm, his body state adjusted to peak.
Flames wound around the weapon.
His eyes—Sharingan—surfaced.
Ryuu drew her weapon: a wooden blade, the elf's pale glimmer.
She layered her own skills onto herself.
Then she moved first—becoming a streak of green gale as she dashed toward the dragon.
Xien followed, breathing technique reinforcing his body.
The dragon's entire body was protected by hard scales.
Its only real weak point…
was the eyes.
So Ryuu leapt, light and precise, wooden blade stabbing straight for its vision.
The dragon wasn't going to take that.
Angered by the "little pest" provoking it, it began charging a breath attack.
But Ryuu didn't dodge.
Because Xien was there.
And as she predicted—Xien intervened.
He shot forward like a rocket and swung his spear in a fierce sweep.
"Sun Breathing: Round Dance (Modified) — Breaking Army!"
The flame-laced sweep smashed into the dragon's foreleg joint.
It tore open a wound and knocked the beast off balance.
A strike that would have bisected a Minotaur only created a single deep cut here.
That was the difference a strengthened variant made.
The breath attack scythed past Ryuu—missing her cleanly.
Her wooden blade, covered in magic, drove forward.
Even as the dragon tried to shut its eye—
under a veteran Level 3's prepared thrust, one eye was still ruined.
Pain tore a shriek from its throat.
To stop Xien, the dragon stomped with all four limbs.
A quake-wave burst outward.
Xien read the motion in advance and jumped, evading the tremor.
But that was the trap.
A massive tail swept in immediately after.
In midair, there was nowhere to dodge.
Both were struck and flung away.
Even with weapons raised to block, the shock still rattled bones.
"Tch… damn tough. A strengthened variant, no question."
Xien's New Healing Method
Xien began a slow-release heal on Ryuu.
A new application: continuous output that boosts the body's own recovery.
It improves healing while also reducing the "body collapse" risk that can come from repeated burst-healing in a short time.
Xien didn't need it himself.
His innate regeneration was even stronger than the magic he was feeding Ryuu.
This method—along with other small tricks—was the result of Xien's recent experiments with his life force.
After only a few breaths, their injuries were repaired.
"Careful. We keep going."
"Right."
Ryuu stepped forward to re-engage and pin the enemy.
Xien, however, didn't move.
He was… preparing.
His breathing frequency changed.
Pain tightened his face.
Breathing techniques forced the human body toward its limit.
And Sun Breathing, in particular, was the most violent, most demanding form—"made by geniuses, for geniuses."
If you weren't fully mastered, using it at full power would shred the body.
That was why the requirements were so high.
But for Xien—
the burden wasn't an issue.
His lungs felt like they were filled with fire.
The burning sensation twisted his expression.
But it was worth it.
Life force surged and mobilized strength across his entire body, compressing it into a single point.
He layered in an additional trick—reinforcing the body directly with life force.
He took a standard throwing posture.
His altered mana turned the silver spear tip into something like a branding iron.
A long step, a deep bend, power drawn to the limit.
His Sharingan tracked the smallest opening.
And "One Thought, God or Demon" ignited, granting the strike a decisive faith.
At this moment, he intended to surpass the obstacle blocking his path—
The dragon sensed the danger and tried to evade.
Too late.
"Wind of Light."
Ryuu's battle chanting landed at the exact timing.
Even without true high-speed chanting, she had mastered combat casting.
Her magic struck, forcing the dragon into a moment of stiffness.
No route to escape.
This was the moment they'd been waiting for—
"Breakthrough — Soaring Skyfire Dragon!"
The spear launched like an arrow.
An "inferno dragon" howled as it tore through the air, crashing into the counterfeit dragon's head—straight into the already blinded eye.
There was no suspense.
A full-force strike into the weak point pierced through the strengthened variant's skull and ended its "glorious" life instantly.
Xien finally filled the hole in his heart—
the regret of never having personally defeated a truly strong enemy.
Back to the Surface
The return path was strangely easy.
They barely encountered anything worth calling a monster.
Weird.
But better "weird and safe" than "weird and another disaster."
By afternoon, they exited Babel.
Back at the familia base, their goddess welcomed them like a wife waiting for her husband's return—
yet also like a mother.
Xien's brain shorted out from the moral dissonance.
He felt a nosebleed coming if he didn't run.
His embarrassment made the two women laugh—without malice, but enough to make him want to vanish into the floor.
Status Updates — And the Skill That Exposed Ryuu's Heart
Afterward, Ryuu and Xien received their status updates.
But when Astraea looked at Ryuu's updated sheet—
she fell silent.
For the first time, she felt she truly understood what "that child's power" meant.
Was the so-called "life force" just a cover?
If so…
As a veteran goddess of justice, she recalled certain words spoken by Zeus—about the traits carried by those who become an era's leader.
What provoked this reaction wasn't the numbers.
It was the new skill Ryuu had awakened.
Ryuu Lion Ryuu Lion
Level: 3
Strength: C617 | Endurance: F398 | Dexterity: S974 | Agility: S989 | Magic: S907
Development Abilities: Hunter H, Abnormal Resistance I
Magic: Wind of Light, Noah's Healing
Skills: Fairy Star Chant, Mental Loading, Gale Fervor, Chasing Wind
Everything else was the result of Ryuu's consistent effort.
But that last skill—
"Chasing Wind."
Its effect:
Born from an inner longing to become the wind and follow the one she cares about—yearning to keep pace with his steps.
Boosts growth rate of ability values and skill training
Unlocks attribute caps
The more坚定 the will to follow, the stronger the effect
When acting together with the person she cares about, it can convert into an actively triggered all-stats amplification, roughly equivalent to one level up, but it doubles mental energy consumption while active
A skill like that—
could only awaken in someone with heroic qualities, and it was extremely rare.
Comparable to the "Silent" one's certain skill—only this had no side effects.
And what it represented was Ryuu's heart.
The person Ryuu had spent the most time with recently—
was only that child.
And from Ryuu's recent behavior, Astraea didn't need to "guess" anymore.
This skill was born under whose influence?
The answer was obvious.
She hadn't expected Ryuu's will to reach this point.
Or was it that child's unique nature?
If it was the former, it meant another high-potential member had undergone extraordinary growth.
But if it was the latter—
then that child was the center.
A star that would ignite an era.
Astraea decided she had to nudge Ryuu.
In a city that worships heroes, if Ryuu remained unaware—
someone else might "pick the fruit" first.
So she handed the sheet to the elf, who looked confused.
Ryuu's face went through an unbelievable sequence:
Calm → Joy → Shock → Shy confusion → …Relief.
That kind of expression storm on Ryuu's normally steady face was almost surreal.
"Astraea-sama… this is…?"
"Yes. As you can see, it's a new skill."
"But… how could this…"
Ryuu couldn't believe it.
So this was her true heart?
…When she thought about it, it fit.
Because she'd already made her decision long ago.
"Ryuu," Astraea pressed, "at a time like this, are you going to hide your heart?"
"Are you trying to run from your real feelings?"
"How could I!"
Ryuu denied it decisively.
She wasn't going to run anymore.
"Still don't understand?" Astraea said.
"A skill like this is telling you what your heart truly desires."
"And that child… is a good child."
"Your heart craves staying by his side—becoming his strength, protecting him."
"It's time to face yourself."
"Don't let yourself regret it later."
"This is love that's been acknowledged."
"L-love—?!"
Ryuu's face turned bright red.
"Find an opportunity," Astraea warned, suddenly stern.
"In this city, there are plenty of people watching that child."
Ryuu swallowed and nodded.
"Yes, Goddess. I will."
Astraea blinked.
Ryuu… was different.
And then she saw it—the steady gaze that didn't dodge.
So that's what it was.
Ryuu wasn't running.
She was… waiting.
With a faint smile, Astraea said:
"Good. Now go tidy up and head out."
"Xien is waiting outside."
"Mm."
Xien's Confusion — And a Glimmer of Hope
Outside, Xien watched Ryuu bolt like a startled deer, tossing him a single line telling him to go inside.
Then she vanished almost like she'd teleported.
"…?"
Did I make her mad again?
He scratched his head, baffled.
Then a thought flickered—
Wait… that "vibe."
No way it's what I'm thinking…
Cough. Don't jump to conclusions.
Next time, I'll ask.
Still—if that was it—
Did the goddess just… assist?
If so, Astraea-sama is the best.
He knocked, got permission, and entered.
His beautiful goddess sat on the bed, smiling softly, patting the space beside her.
For no reason at all—
he suddenly felt a strange sense of "coming home."
Minutes later, Xien's update came out, as expected.
Xien
Level: 1
Strength: SSS1499 | Endurance: SSS1499 | Dexterity: SSS1499 | Agility: SSS1499 | Magic: SSS1499
Development Abilities: None
Magic: Touch of Abundance, One Thought, God or Demon
Skills: Blazing Heart Revealed, Body of Abundance, Way of Life
....
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