The dungeon gates closed behind him with a sound like rolling thunder.
The outside world was quiet, almost peaceful compared to the inferno he had survived. Snow-capped mountains stretched as far as he could see, rivers glittered like silver threads, and forests swayed gently in the wind.
It almost felt… ordinary.
But he knew better.
He stepped out in human form. His golden eyes scanned the horizon, calm, controlled. Every muscle in his body was taut, alive, humming with power that no one could sense—but everyone would feel.
[Level: 27 | Human Form Mastery: Stage 2]
[Abilities Usable in Human Form: Full Dragon Output at Controlled Levels]
He flexed his fingers, and faint heat shimmered across his palms. He could feel the raw strength coiling inside him, restrained perfectly.
"So… this is what it feels like," he murmured. "Not just surviving… but controlling myself completely."
The wind shifted.
Far below, in the northern valleys, humans moved cautiously. Hunters, soldiers, and merchants paused as they felt a strange pressure settle over the land. A ripple, subtle but undeniable.
Whispers began to spread instantly:
"Did you feel that?"
"Something… strong is nearby."
"A dragon… no, a human with the strength of a dragon!"
He didn't look back. He didn't need to. He already knew what they were sensing.
Not fame. Not power. Just presence.
He started walking, his pace slow but deliberate. Every step left traces of energy in the air—a faint golden shimmer that would only be visible to those sensitive to mana.
[Alert: High-Level Presence Detected by Nearby Mana Sensors]
Rumors traveled fast. By the time he reached a small village at the edge of the northern plains, the villagers were already whispering, gathering in small clusters, pointing fingers, fear and awe in equal measure.
A hunter stepped forward, bow trembling. "Who… who are you?"
He looked down at the man casually. Golden eyes calm, his wings folded discreetly behind his back, not yet visible. "A traveler," he said simply.
The hunter faltered. His legs shook. "You… your mana…"
He ignored the comment, stepping past the group. Their panic didn't interest him. He was no king. He was no hero. He was a solitary force moving through the world—nothing more, nothing less.
Still, the reactions followed him.
Across the mountains, across forests and valleys, a network of hunters and mages felt his presence. Even small kingdoms noticed the sudden spike in raw power. Scrolls were made, rumors passed, and names began to circulate:
"The Dragon Man."
"The One Who Survived the Ashen Core."
He heard none of it.
He didn't care.
What mattered was the next challenge. The next step in strength. The next unknown.
And as night fell, the stars above mirrored the glow in his eyes.
[System Notification: Human Form Mastery – Stage 2 Active]
[Next Target: Unknown]
Somewhere, far beyond the mountains, he could sense it—the faint stir of another presence. Powerful. Intelligent. Observing.
A thrill ran through him.
Good, he thought. Finally. Something worth my attention.
With a calm stride, he disappeared into the shadows of the forest, leaving the villagers staring after him, terrified and awed.
The world had noticed.
But he didn't care.
He only cared about what he would become.