Primordial Awakening: Rise of the Legendary Dragon God

The forest had gone quiet again.

A light breeze passed through, ruffling Kael's hair as he stood, lost in thought.

The lingering shimmer of Ronan's mana still hung faintly in the air—like smoke after a fire.

"Alright," Kael murmured, rolling his shoulders. "That'll do."

He gave the wolfman a small nod. "You can head back. I'll be fine here."

Ronan bowed slightly, still feeling the aftertaste of his breathing technique. "Understood, Lord Kael."

And with that, he left, his heavy footsteps fading into the forest's hum.

For a moment, Kael merely stood there, hands in his pockets, golden eyes scanning the clearing.

The mana here felt different now—alive, almost responding to his heartbeat. He let out a quiet chuckle.

"So," he said softly to himself, "what exactly am I using?"

Now that he knew how the breathing technique worked, Kael was curious to learn about the type of breathing technique he had or if he powered up like beasts by eating the cores of other creatures.

He sat cross-legged on the moss, while the sun, slowly moving toward the horizon, poured light yellow light on his face as he closed his eyes.

His breathing slowed, steady and rhythmic. He tried to see it—the way Ronan had drawn in mana, molded it, and devoured it.

He wanted to observe how his breathing technique devoured mana.

So, Kael drew a deep breath.

And then, he exhaled.

However, he felt nothing.

He tried again, focusing on the subtle energy around him, feeling it slide past his skin like wind through open fingers.

The result, however, was again nothing.

He frowned, leaning back slightly. "No reaction. No pull. Am I just… bad at this?"

He paused as that thought flashed past his head.

Then he smirked. "No. That doesn't sound like me."

He inhaled again, deeper this time. And suddenly—something stirred.

Not in the air, but within him.

It wasn't mana entering. It was Mana responding.

Kael's eyes snapped open, faint gold light flickering in their depths.

"Wait a minute…" He touched his chest, feeling the steady rhythm of his breathing. "I've been doing it this whole time."

He chuckled, low and disbelieving. "Of course. I wasn't failing to find the breathing technique—I was already using it."

Every breath he took… drew mana from nature. Above all, it dissolved into his body.

He'd been doing it unconsciously since the day he woke in this body, or maybe even before that.

However, one thing was sure now. Kael didn't need to meditate to absorb mana. He could do it even while sleeping.

His body did all the work for him.

Kael's smile grew faintly sharper, amused and intrigued. "So my normal breathing is a technique in itself…"

The realization widened something inside him—a doorway he hadn't known existed. He sat upright again, closing his eyes once more.

His breathing grew deeper, slower, yet more natural than it had been earlier.

Each inhale stirred the air, and each exhale sent faint ripples through the mana around him.

The forest responded—branches swaying slightly, leaves trembling as if drawn toward him.

He sank deeper into it, calm yet alert, a murmur slipping from his lips. "So this is what I was missing… not control, but understanding."

The golden light pulsed faintly once more, and then—silence.

...................................

Meanwhile, at the village edge, Alenia stood watching the workers pack the dirt around the wooden posts. Her arms were folded, eyes sharp despite the warmth in her smile.

It was coming together slowly, and it was good, but she realized how faster it would be if she were to make the system Kael had asked her to.

After a moment of thought, she sighed softly. "I wanted to take my time with it, but I guess I shouldn't be slacking."

She turned toward the workers. "Everyone, wrap up in ten minutes and return to the center! We're going to do something there."

A few surprised faces turned her way, but her calm authority left no room for question.

Satisfied, Alenia brushed her hair back and began walking toward the house.

"Time to make a system…" she muttered to herself. "I'll figure out the outline on the way."

...................................

Soon, she reached the house, and as soon as she opened the main door and entered, the table was clear—Rue and Rina were bouncing on the bench, playing with Druvarn's paw while the plush bear huffed dramatically.

"Stop pulling, you little rascals! I'm not a toy!"

"You are a toy!" Rue giggled.

"Yeah," Rina whispered shyly, "a cute one."

Selene chuckled softly from the corner, her silver-white feathers fluttering as she tidied up the wooden bowls.

Alenia smiled faintly at the sight. "Looks like everyone's finished eating."

Lyra's long ears perked up as she turned. "Ah, Miss Alenia—where's Kael?"

"He went into the forest," Alenia replied, taking a seat near the hearth. "With a wolfman named Ronan. He said that this wolfman was the one he wanted to learn the breathing technique from."

Evethra, who had been quietly wiping down Kael's chair, paused. Her crimson eyes glimmered faintly.

"Master Kael… learning?" She tilted her head thoughtfully, her tone calm but reverent. "He must be preparing something unpredictable then."

Selene folded her wings neatly. "If it's a breathing technique, he did say he needed to see someone complete the whole cycle. Maybe that Wolfman was the piece he needed to solve his puzzle."

Alenia nodded, resting her chin on her palm. "Perhaps."

For a moment, the room fell into easy quiet—the air warm, the chatter soft. Rue and Rina had started drawing in the dust again, Druvarn pretending to "guard" them like a puffed-up toy soldier.

Finally, Alenia stood, stretching lightly. "Alright, everyone. Time to get some structure in place."

Her gaze moved across the room. "Evethra, Lyra, Selene—you three come with me. We'll start forming groups for work assignments."

Lyra straightened immediately, her soft smile bright. "Yes!"

Evethra nodded with perfect grace. "You just have to tell me what to do."

Selene followed quietly, her wings fluttering. "I'll take notes."

As they followed Alenia out, Rue called from behind, "Can we help too?"

"Later," Alenia said with a smile. "Once you've both finished being Druvarn's nightmares."

Druvarn groaned. "I'm already doomed."

Laughter filled the little house, carrying faintly out into the twilight—blending with the whisper of the forest, where Kael still sat, meditating beneath a golden-orange sky that shimmered with mana.

................................

A while later.

The sun hung low, spreading an orangish golden light into the horizon as the village gathered outside Kael's house.

Alenia stood at the front, her posture calm but firm, hands clasped before her as her brown hair gleamed in the evening light.

Beside her stood Lyra, Evethra, and Selene—each poised, their presence enough to quiet even the murmuring crowd.

Almost every villager was there—beastkin and demihumans of every shape and color.

Only a few were missing, likely the ones who had gone to the river to catch fish. Even so, there were more than two hundred faces turned toward Alenia, expectant and curious.

A few glanced around, noticing who wasn't present.

"Where's Lord Kael?" Someone whispered.

"Shouldn't he be the one talking?" Another murmured.

Alenia caught the shift in attention but did not raise her voice.

Instead, she waited until the murmurs softened into quiet anticipation. Then she spoke, her tone calm and clear, carrying effortlessly through the crowd.

"Lord Kael is in the forest," she began, "trying to invent something that could be of help to all of us. He has asked me to oversee things in his absence."

There were small nods—some uncertain, some approving. After all, many people in the village already thought of Alenia as the second-in-command.

"So," Alenia continued, clasping her hands behind her back, "while he focuses on our growth, it's time we also do the same."

Her gaze swept over the crowd—steady and composed. "This village has come far in a short time. But to survive, we need order. We need everyone working, not just surviving under lord Kael's wings."

She turned slightly, gesturing to the half-built fences and the newly laid foundations nearby. "We've been living freely—and that's good—but freedom without structure leads to chaos. So, after consulting with lord Kael, I've created a system."

A few in the crowd tilted their heads, wary, while the others focused, curious about whatever system she was talking about.

"This system," Alenia said, "ensures that everyone contributes. No one will be called lazy. No one will be left behind. Each person will have a role to play—a job that suits their strengths. And in return, everyone will share equally in food, shelter, and protection."

The crowd murmured again—this time louder. Alenia raised her hand, silencing them with quiet authority.

"This isn't to restrict anyone," she continued, "but to make sure we move forward together. There will be no more hiding behind others' efforts."

Her eyes flicked subtly to a cluster of beastkin near the back—broad-shouldered men who had often been seen resting while others worked. Their brows furrowed, one crossing his arms with a deep frown.

"No one," Alenia said, her tone sharpening just slightly, "will be a deadweight here."

The word struck like a stone dropped into still water. Ripples of discomfort spread through the crowd. Some looked away, while others nodded, grimly understanding.

Then, from that same cluster, a voice rang out—loud and biting.

"Then what's this supposed to be, huh?"

Heads turned toward the speaker—a lion-headed man with thick arms and a glare that could cut stone.

"Didn't Lord Kael say he wouldn't rule over us? That he wasn't our master or king?" He jabbed a clawed finger toward Alenia. "That he only wanted to give us a better life?"

The silence that followed was sharp enough to hear the leaves rustle in the wind.

Lyra's ears twitched, her lips parting slightly, but she stopped herself, her eyes lowering, while Selene's eyes sharpened as she looked at the man.

Evethra, on the other hand, was glaring at the man, her expression cold, as if she were ready to jump on the guy, despite knowing that she wasn't that strong.

'How dare he question Master's decision?!' This was all she thought as she gritted her teeth.

Alenia, who looked calmest among them, met the man's glare without flinching. The setting sun painted half her face in gold, the other in shadow.

For a moment, she said nothing. Only the wind moved—soft, whispering through the trees, carrying the scent of the forest Kael still sat within.

The villagers held their breath, waiting to see what she would say—or if Kael himself would suddenly appear.

After all, they could all still remember how Kael had said that one shouldn't become an annoyance for him.

And the lion-headed man, by going against Kael's second-in-command, was doing just that.

However, even after some seconds of silence, Kael was nowhere to be seen as the forest remained silent.