NOVEL NEXT Chapter 133: Little Tycoon
[ Status ]
Name: Ryuzen De Manus
Age: 6 Years
Race/Bloodline: Solarfrost Imperial Dragon (S), Abyssal Cursed Serpent (B)
Lifespan: 700 years
Level: 38
Attributes:
Strength: 830 (+80)
Agility: 813 (+80)
Vitality: 840 (+80)
Mana: 6107 (+600)
Nether: 880 (+150)
Skills (Battle/Utility):
• Temporal Cocoon (C)
• Chrysalis Rebirth (C)
• Lightning Manipulation (D)
• Eclipse Cataclysmic Roar (D)
• Ice Guardian Armour (D)
• Solar Cryo Lance (D)
• Mist Phantom Steps (D)
• Crimson Apex Frenzy (D)
• Abyssal Grasp (D)
• Sun Dragon's Gaze (E)
• Half Dragonification (E)
Skill Trees: Manus (D)
Dark Abilities (Abyssal Cursed Serpent):
• Abyssal Cursed Serpent Transformation
• Cursed Tongue
• Petrification Eyes
The flicker of runic light from the system screen faded from his eyes as dawn spilled through the window.
Ryuzen stretched his arms, feeling the surging vitality in his draconic veins. His aura had sharpened, honed through sleepless nights of combat and fusion. He was already a D-Rank evolver and his foundation felt solid, yet… there was that invisible wall.
His bloodline was the source.
Last night, he had attempted another self-fusion with the Sun Dragon's bloodline, forcing its solar essence to mingle deeper into his Solarfrost core. The result? Nothing. No mutation, no advancement, no shift. The Sun Dragon stood at the apex of his veins already, and his system refused to force a change where no higher lineage existed.
It was frustrating. His instincts told him there had to be a tier beyond S. Something greater, something at the true peak of creation. Until he discovered such a bloodline, the Solarfrost Imperial Dragon would remain stagnant.
His golden slit eyes reflected the morning light. Instead of disappointment, a faint smile tugged at his lips. Obstacles were meant to be broken. If there was a bloodline higher than S-tier, then he would hunt it down, no matter where it hid—in dungeons, in forgotten ruins, or within the veins of ancient beasts.
Ryuzen clenched his fists, his aura surging for a moment before he forced it down.
"I'll reach it. No matter what. My path won't end here."
The day began quietly, but in his heart burned the fire of determination.
Afterwards, he went for a breakfast.
The smell of freshly baked bread and warm broth filled the dining room as the family gathered around the table. John and Maki were already seated, still in their guard uniforms, while Venus eagerly helped her mother set the dishes.
Ryuzen, as usual, sat with calm composure, but Venus kept brushing closer to him—refilling his cup, offering him bread before anyone else, and even whispering something in his ear that made him chuckle quietly.
Evangeline watched the pair, her lips curving into a knowing smile. For the first time since waking from her coma, her eyes held genuine warmth.
"You two…" she said suddenly, voice carrying a playful lilt. "Are you planning to eat breakfast, or just keep feeding each other like an old married couple?"
Venus froze, her cheeks bursting into crimson. "M-Mother! It's not like that!" she stammered, nearly dropping the ladle in her hands.
Ryuzen didn't flinch outwardly. He lifted his cup with a faint smirk. "If it pleases her, I don't mind, Aunty."
But inside, his heartbeat stirred against his chest. He wasn't used to such moments. Battling dungeons and Hollow Waves came naturally to him, yet a single tease at the breakfast table left a warmth spreading through him far harder to control than mana itself.
The table fell silent for a beat before John let out a low whistle, and Maki covered her grin with her hand. Venus buried her face in her palms, groaning.
Evangeline's laughter rang softly through the room. For a woman who had endured loss and pain, it was a rare sound that lightened the atmosphere. "Ah, Venus… you remind me so much of myself at your age. Clumsy, stubborn, and hopelessly smitten."
Venus peeked through her fingers, her eyes darting shyly toward Ryuzen. He pretended to focus on his food, yet the faint curve of his lips betrayed him.
The family meal continued with laughter and chatter, but in the quiet corners of Ryuzen's mind, one thought lingered.
This warmth… it's not so bad.
After that, as today everyone was free, they decided to go on a shopping stroll through the City.
Venus suggested first, but everyone agreed.
Atlas Skycity was alive with colors and sound, its streets lined with floating lanterns and runic trams gliding smoothly above. Merchants called out their wares, magical artifacts shimmered behind glass, and the air carried the scent of roasted meats and sweet fruit wine.
For the first time in what felt like ages, the family walked together without the weight of battle pressing on their shoulders. Evangeline's arm was looped through Venus's, her smile brighter with each step. John and Maki trailed behind, bickering about which stall sold the best fried dumplings.
Ryuzen walked beside Venus, silent as always, but his golden-slit eyes moved across every corner, cataloging the city's grandeur.
They entered a high-class emporium, its crystal chandeliers casting prismatic light. Rows of enchanted fabrics, jewel-encrusted weapons, and rare potion vials decorated the walls.
When Venus spotted a pale-blue dress imbued with frost runes, her eyes sparkled. "It's beautiful…" she whispered.
The shopkeeper, a rotund man with a neatly trimmed beard, approached with a practiced smile. "Ah, fine choice, miss. The Frostsilk Dress—woven from enchanted moth threads. A mere 30,000 gold coins."
John nearly choked. "Thirty thousand? For one dress? That's—"
But before he could finish, Venus shyly reached into her pouch and pulled out her Runic Banking Card. "We'll take it."
The shopkeeper accepted the card and placed it on the glowing reader rune.
[ Balance: 1,000,000 gold coins ]
The entire shop froze. Even the customers browsing nearby turned their heads. The runes flickered once more to confirm, and the number shone again, undeniable.
"On-on-on… one million gold coins…" the shopkeeper stammered, his jaw dropping.
John and Maki stared as though their little sister had just sprouted wings. Evangeline's eyebrows rose, though her lips curved into a faint, knowing smile.
Venus fumbled, blushing. "W-well… it's not just mine. Ryuzen has the same."
All eyes shifted to him. Calmly, without a hint of shame or pride, Ryuzen slid out his own Runic Card and placed it down.
[ Balance: 1,000,222 gold coins ]
The onlookers collectively gasped.
The shopkeeper immediately straightened his posture, bowing slightly lower than before. "O-of course, my lords, my lady! Please, take your time. We can arrange private rooms if you wish to browse without interruption."
John leaned toward Maki, whispering hoarsely, "Since when did our little sister turn into a noble heiress?"
Maki smirked. "Since she started following that Salamander boy around."
Venus flushed again, glancing at Ryuzen, who only gave a faint smile before speaking in his usual steady tone.
"Buy what you want. Coins are meaningless if you don't use them."
The words carried a weight that silenced the store. To him, it was just practical truth. To everyone else, it sounded like the casual arrogance of someone standing on a different peak entirely.