NOVEL NEXT Chapter 88: DRACONIC OVERLORD!
Mana and blood, flowing as one. A perfect system. A perfect rhythm. A perfect storm waiting to be unleashed.
Ethan exhaled slowly, eyes closed, letting himself sink deeper into the sensation.
Most Rank 2 beasts wouldn't survive a single strike from him—not now.
And he was still Rank 1. If he was this strong now how strong will he be in the future.
The thought stirred something in his chest. A thrill. A hunger. If he could grow this powerful now… what would he become when he advanced further? When his bloodline matured? When Kaeryx stood beside him not just as a summon, but as an extension of his will?
He couldn't imagine it.
And that was what made it so exhilarating.
The cocoon trembled slightly.
Then again.
His breath sharpened.
He opened his eyes.
The heat began to rise—quiet at first, then suddenly swelling with fury.
The cocoon around him pulsed as cracks began to web across its surface. The heat inside surged, fire licking through the gaps, desperate to escape.
Ethan pulled his arm back.
And then he punched.
The blow landed with a deafening boom.
A blinding shockwave exploded outward, cracking the cocoon like glass under a hammer. A blinding orange light spilled from the fracture lines, and the cocoon began to splinter apart.
Another strike.
BOOM!
The air shrieked. Dust and flame erupted from the breaking shell, and a roaring pressure pushed outward in all directions. It was as though a god was being born.
Within the haze, Ethan's eyes were wide open—burning gold, locked on his own arm with an expression of disbelief and quiet awe.
His body radiated steam.
Every muscle flexed in rhythm with the glow of his Blood Node.
And then—
CRACK!
The cocoon shattered completely.
A thunderous explosion rocked the surroundings as the shell erupted outward in fragments, and Ethan emerged, standing amidst the rising smoke and ash, framed by fire.
The cocoon was gone. And he had arrived. His height hadn't changed—but his presence had. Dramatically.
Where once stood a boy brimming with untapped potential, now stood something more. Something sharpened, refined. His body, once lean and youthful, was now sculpted like ancient marble—flawless, radiant, brimming with raw vitality that shimmered faintly beneath his skin like barely contained fire.
His chest rose and fell with slow, deliberate breaths, each one filled with immense energy. Shoulders broader, his arms coiled with dense muscle like iron cables wrapped in flesh. Every line of his frame whispered power, discipline, and an aura that spoke of silent dominance.
He looked… complete.
Like he had become who he was always meant to be.
His skin carried a faint glow, as though touched by the lingering embers of the flame that birthed him. Light orange veins pulsed subtly across his arms, hinting at the refined mana and blood that now coursed within him.
He opened and closed his hands slowly, flexing his fingers, feeling everything anew. Even the simple act of movement felt exhilarating—graceful, deadly, perfect.
And then—
her eyes met his.
Mia.
She was still fighting—barely. Her breath ragged, hair clinging to her sweat-soaked face. The Drake was relentless, its claws tearing through the air as it pursued her without pause.
She was drained, her mana thinned, her stamina nearly spent. But even in her exhaustion, her gaze flickered toward him—drawn by instinct.
Time seemed to pause.
Though only a moment had passed in Nexa, in her eyes, it was as if an eternity had gone by.
And when she looked at him… something within her stilled.
She didn't know how, she didn't know why—but she knew.
Ethan was different.
Stronger. Unimaginably stronger.
Her chest tightened, not from fear—but relief. Gratitude. Hope.
Even as the Drake let out another furious roar, something in Mia's heart allowed her to finally breathe again.
And at that moment—
<Ding!>
A soft chime echoed in Ethan's mind like a whisper of destiny.
[You've gained the Title: DRACONIC OVERLORD]
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[Title Acquired: DRACONIC OVERLORD]
•─────⋅☾ DESCRIPTION ☽⋅─────•
[A title bestowed only upon those who have proven absolute dominion over the blood of dragons. You have formed a living bond with a Dragon God, transcended bloodlines, and inherited the will of flame that bends even kings to kneel. Your very existence is a command—your gaze, a chain.]
[You are not just connected to dragons.
You command them.]
•─────⋅☾EFFECTS ☽⋅─────•
• ABSOLUTE DRAGON AUTHORITY:
[Any creature with dragon blood, regardless of purity or dilution, instinctively recognizes your superiority.]
[Lower-ranked dragons and draconic beasts will feel overwhelming submission.]
[Mid-ranked dragons will hesitate, unable to resist direct commands without significant effort.]
[High-ranked dragons may resist verbally—but their bodies and instincts will still falter under your presence.]
• DRACONIC SUBJUGATION AURA:
[Passive aura emitted at all times. Causes all dragons and draconic hybrids within a certain range to experience:
Increased fear and awe.
Decreased resistance to mental and soul-based attacks.
An urge to kneel or avoid conflict unless extremely provoked.]
• DOMINION OVER FLAME:
[Fire-based attacks from dragons or dragon-blooded beings are 50% less effective on you.]
[You can absorb, redirect, or snuff out flames that originate from dragonkin, depending on your mana.]
• COMMAND THE LESSER:
[You may issue commands to any Rank 2 or lower beast with dragon lineage. If their will is weaker than yours, they will obey without resistance.
This ability evolves as you grow stronger.]
• ANCESTRAL REVERENCE:
[Dragons with ancient bloodlines (Primordial, God-kin, or Royal) instinctively recognize you as an heir of the First Flame.
Even if they don't obey, they will never treat you as lesser.]
• EVOLUTION CATALYST:
[Your presence accelerates the growth and evolution of dragon-blooded allies.]
[Allies gain increased regeneration, faster breakthrough chances, and resistance to mental chaos while in your presence.]
• FLAME GOD'S PACT (Locked - Requires Dragon Sovereign Title):
[A pact formed through Kaeryx. Grants you the ability to call upon a fragment of his true divine essence once per day, burning all obstacles before you.]
(Usage limited to extreme threats.)
•───⋅☾ DRACONIC OVERLORD ☽⋅───•
"You wear the flame not as a shackle… but as a crown. Let the blood of dragons remember the one who commands their soul."
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