The morning sunlight filtered through the window lattices, spilling onto the wooden floor and reflecting a gentle warmth. Leylo's gaze fell toward his feet. Moonlight was currently curled up, her breathing steady and rhythmic.
In recent days, almost all the monster meat hunted within the territory—especially the essence portions of those Tier 3 monsters—had ended up in Moonlight's stomach. For a dragon in its growth phase, the vast energy contained within the flesh and blood of high-tier magic beasts was undoubtedly the best tonic. Leylo could clearly feel the life aura within Moonlight, linked to his own, becoming more majestic by the day. Her growth speed had not slowed down upon entering the growth phase; instead, it had become even more rapid.
Drawing his thoughts back, Leylo refocused his attention on himself. He stood up and stretched his limbs, his joints emitting a series of crisp, crackling sounds. The combat qi within his body flowed like a babbling brook through his meridians, needing only a single catalyst to break through its shackles and open a new world.
"Someone, come in."
An attendant pushed the door open at the sound and bowed respectfully. "What are your orders, My Lord?"
"I am going into seclusion for a period of time," Leylo stated. "Until I emerge, no one is permitted to enter my room or disturb me. If there are urgent matters in the territory, Ed will handle them on my behalf."
The attendant's heart tightened as he quickly replied, "Yes, My Lord! I understand. I will guard the door personally to ensure no one disturbs you."
Leylo nodded slightly. Once the attendant withdrew and closed the door, he walked to the center of the room. Moonlight seemed to sense something and lazily opened one eye. Sitting cross-legged, Leylo adjusted his breathing, and his consciousness gradually sank deep into his body.
Combat qi—the fundamental power upon which a knight relies. The "combat qi seed" located within his sea of qi was originally like a hard seed, radiating an emerald glow. Leylo guided the vigorous combat qi within him, flushing against the seed over and over following a specific trajectory. Slowly, under the impact of the qi, faint cracks began to appear on the seed. Every impact caused the cracks to widen, bringing with it a tearing pain. Yet, within this pain was an indescribable thrill—the omen that his power was about to undergo a metamorphosis.
Time passed unnoticed. The sunlight outside grew intense, shifting from a slant to direct overhead rays.
Suddenly, when the impact of the combat qi reached a critical point, Leylo felt a soft sound like shattering glass echo from within his sea of qi!
Crack!
The combat qi seed that served as his source of power finally shattered completely! But this was not the end; it was a new beginning. The broken shards did not dissipate; instead, they turned into countless tiny specks of energy light. These specks, drawn by an invisible force, began to rotate at an incredible speed. They attracted and fused with one another, forming a tiny cyclone.
This cyclone was tender at first, rotating slowly, but as more shards fused and external qi continued to pour in, it grew at a visible rate. Its rotation became increasingly rapid and powerful. A combat qi that was purer, more condensed, and more majestic than ever before was birthed from the center of the cyclone, surging toward Leylo's limbs like a flood breaking a dam.
Every inch of his muscle and every bone issued a joyful groan under the nourishment of this newborn qi. Fatigue vanished, replaced by an unprecedented sense of fullness and strength. If his previous combat qi was a stream, then this newborn qi was a rushing river!
Leylo could clearly perceive that this newly formed combat qi cyclone could not only store a much larger volume of energy than before but could also recover and purify qi at a much faster rate. This meant his endurance and explosive power would undergo a qualitative leap.
He slowly opened his eyes, and a sharp glint flashed through them. The room remained quiet, save for Moonlight's snoring. The gluttonous little fellow would usually be in the kitchen "supervising" the cook, Marlene, by now. Perhaps sensing Leylo was at a critical stage of breakthrough, the little dragon had stayed in the room all morning, silently providing support.
Leylo stood up, feeling the surging power within him, and the corners of his mouth curled up. Tier 2 Great Knight—achieved!
As he immersed himself in the joy of the breakthrough, a strange energy, entirely different from combat qi, emerged without warning from the life contract connecting him to Moonlight. This energy was cool with a slight numbing sensation, like fine electrical currents flowing through his body.
He "saw" clearly that this energy did not originate from his sea of qi, but directly from Moonlight. The bloodline power of the Silver Dragon seemed to have produced a deeper resonance with his soul the moment he ascended to Great Knight. Subsequently, a flood of complex and profound runes and information poured into his mind. It wasn't text; it was an instinctive realization, as if he were born to know this—much like the innate talents a dragon awakens as it matures.
Lightning Magic Mastery!
When he first became a knight, Leylo gained physical and magical attribute enhancements from the Silver Dragon. Upon reaching Great Knight, he awakened Lightning Magic Mastery! He could feel his affinity for the lightning element reaching a staggering level, as if those dancing arcs were an extension of his own body. In the future, learning lightning spells would yield twice the result with half the effort.
"Aowu?" Moonlight lazily lifted her eyelids, sensing the sudden presence of a familiar yet strange aura on Leylo. Her pale gold dragon eyes flashed with confusion, then realization. She tilted her large head, eyeing Leylo with great interest.
Leylo focused his mind, attempting to mobilize this newborn lightning power.
Crackle!
A thin, silver-blue arc of electricity leaped from his fingertip, emitting a soft popping sound. It worked! Leylo's eyes flashed with pleasant surprise. Not only had he awakened the magic talent, but three specific spells had also appeared in his mind, ready for use.
The first: "Lightning Bolt."
He raised his hand, aiming at an unused coat rack in the corner. His mental focus sharpened, and the lightning energy within him converged rapidly in his palm.
Zzzzt!
A bolt of lightning, several times thicker than the previous spark, shot from his palm and struck the coat rack with precision. In an instant, wood splinters flew, leaving a fist-sized charred hole in the wood, with lingering arcs of electricity smelling of ozone and burnt timber.
Moonlight was startled by the sudden noise, her fur standing on end. She hadn't expected her master to be able to wield the same power she was familiar with. Leylo himself was a bit stunned; the power was even stronger than he had anticipated. If used as a surprise attack, even a typical Earth Knight might find it difficult to withstand.