The sky no longer belonged to the empire.
It belonged to something older.
Something that had existed long before kingdoms… before magic systems… before even the idea of power had structure.
A dragon.
Not flesh.
Not illusion.
But presence.
—
Lucien Kael von Kurothar stood at its center, his gaze steady as the massive silhouette behind him took form—vast wings of shadow, eyes like molten gold, and an aura that bent reality simply by existing.
The four figures in the sky—
For the first time—
Hesitated.
—
"…That is not possible."
The silent one's voice carried something new.
Not anger.
Not authority.
But uncertainty.
—
Lucien tilted his head slightly.
"…You keep saying that."
A pause.
Then—
"…And yet it keeps happening."
—
The dragon's voice echoed again.
Deep.
Ancient.
—
"…You have broken the chain."
—
Lucien's eyes narrowed.
"…Then answer me."
A brief silence.
Then—
"…What are you?"
—
The presence stirred.
The sky darkened further.
—
"…I am one who was bound… long before your world learned to name power."
A pause.
Then—
"…A Monarch."
—
The word itself carried weight.
Not a title.
A concept.
—
Below—
Elara's breath caught.
"…Monarch…"
Freya grinned wider than ever.
"…So he's summoning monsters now?"
Aurelia shook her head slowly.
"…No…"
Her voice was quiet.
"…That thing isn't summoned."
—
Above—
The Monarch's gaze fell upon Lucien.
—
"…You are not a master."
A pause.
Then—
"…You are a key."
—
The system surged violently.
—
[Monarch-Class Entity Detected]
[Contract Possibility: Available]
[Warning: Outcome Unknown]
—
Lucien exhaled slowly.
"…A contract."
The dragon's voice responded.
—
"…Not forced."
A pause.
Then—
"…Chosen."
—
Silence filled the battlefield.
Even the four enemies did not interfere.
Because they understood—
Something irreversible was about to happen.
—
Lucien closed his eyes for a brief moment.
Not in hesitation—
But in clarity.
—
"I don't need a servant."
He opened them again.
—
"I need power that won't betray me."
—
The Monarch watched him.
Then—
For the first time—
It laughed.
—
A sound like thunder breaking the sky.
—
"…Good."
A pause.
Then—
"…Then take it."
—
Lucien raised his hand.
The dragon lowered its head.
—
And when their presence touched—
—
The world shattered.
—
Light and darkness collided.
Mana surged beyond limits.
The sky cracked open as if unable to contain the force of what was happening.
—
The system screamed.
—
[Contract Initiated]
[Entity: Monarch-Class]
[Synchronization Surge Detected]
—
Lucien's body trembled—
Not from weakness—
But from overflow.
—
Power.
Raw.
Ancient.
Absolute.
—
Flooded into him.
—
His eyes glowed.
Gold.
Matching the Monarch.
—
[Synchronization Progress: 80%]
—
The contract completed.
—
The dragon's form condensed.
Not disappearing—
But becoming part of him.
—
Behind Lucien—
A faint outline remained.
A symbol.
A presence.
Always there.
—
He exhaled slowly.
"…So this is what you are."
—
The Monarch's voice echoed within him now.
—
"…And now… so are you."
—
Silence fell.
Then—
Lucien stepped forward.
—
The battlefield changed.
—
The flame-wielder attacked again—
But this time—
Lucien didn't stop it.
—
He walked through it.
—
The flames bent around him.
Refusing to touch him.
—
"…What—"
—
Lucien appeared in front of the attacker instantly.
—
Too fast.
—
A single strike.
—
No explosion.
No dramatic effect.
—
The attacker's body—
Collapsed.
—
Not defeated.
Not injured.
—
Erased.
—
The sky went silent.
—
One of the four—
Gone.
—
Below—
Aurelia's voice trembled.
"…He just… erased it…"
Freya's grin widened into something almost feral.
"…Now THIS is a fight."
Elara's eyes narrowed, her mind racing.
"…He's already beyond them…"
—
Above—
The remaining three figures pulled back.
For the first time—
Fear.
—
The silent one spoke again.
"…Retreat."
—
No hesitation.
No pride.
—
They vanished.
—
Gone.
—
The battlefield ended.
Just like that.
—
Lucien stood alone in the sky.
The Monarch's presence steady within him.
The world below—
Watching.
—
The system activated once more.
—
"Status Open."
—
Name: Lucien Kael von Kurothar
Level: 1 / ∞
Titles: Reincarnated Soul, Black Dragon Heir, System Anomaly, Monarch Vessel
Skills: All Element Affinity (Advanced Unlock), Infinite Growth, Adaptive Evolution, System Interference, Monarch Authority (Partial)
Magic Affinity: All Elements (Including Rare & Lost)
Stats:
Strength — Transcendent
Speed — Transcendent
Intelligence — Exceptional
Mana — Infinite (Active)
Luck — Unknown
Synchronization: 80%
—
Lucien stared at it for a moment.
Then—
Closed it.
—
"…This is just the beginning."
—
Below—
The empire trembled.
Not from destruction.
But realization.
—
A power had been born.
One that could not be controlled.
—
And far beyond—
In the unseen domains—
Something stirred.
Not fear.
Not concern.
—
But interest.
—
"…He formed a contract."
A pause.
Then—
"…With a Monarch."
Another voice responded.
—
"…Then the game has changed."
—
Back at the academy—
Lucien descended slowly.
Aurelia.
Freya.
Elara.
All waiting.
All watching.
—
Elara stepped forward first.
Her eyes locked onto his.
—
"…You've crossed the line."
—
Lucien met her gaze.
Calm.
Certain.
—
"…No."
A pause.
Then—
"I erased it."
—
Silence.
Then—
Elara smiled.
Just slightly.
—
"…Good."
—
She stepped closer.
—
"…Then I'll stand on your side."
—
Freya laughed.
"…Guess I'm not the only one anymore."
Aurelia exhaled softly.
"…This is getting out of control…"
—
Lucien looked at all three of them.
For the first time—
Not alone.
—
But not finished.
—
Far from it.
—
[Volume has been prepared and we will be able to release it soon]