The dragon's roar split the heavens.
Its massive wings covered the moonlight, plunging the academy into darkness as students screamed and scattered in panic.
Above the academy—
Death itself hovered.
---
Blue flames gathered in the dragon's mouth.
A burning sphere of destruction.
Larger with every passing second.
---
"MOVE!" an instructor screamed.
---
The students ran in every direction.
Some fell.
Some froze.
Others cried in fear.
---
Zephyr stood still.
His eyes locked on the dragon.
His heartbeat thundered in his chest.
---
[WARNING]
[Ancient Entity Detected]
[Dragon Blood Resonance Found]
---
That message repeated in his mind.
---
"…Dragon Blood…?"
What did that even mean?
Why was the system saying that?
---
"Zephyr!"
Elara grabbed his arm and pulled him back.
"Move, idiot!"
---
The dragon unleashed its attack.
---
BOOOOOOM!!
---
Blue fire rained from the sky like divine punishment.
The academy's barrier activated instantly—
A massive golden shield covering the campus.
But the moment the flames touched it—
Cracks spread across the barrier.
---
"No way…" someone whispered.
---
The barrier shattered.
---
The flames exploded downward.
Destroying towers.
Burning buildings.
Turning stone to ash.
---
Students screamed louder.
Chaos erupted.
---
Zephyr and Elara barely dodged as the explosion tore apart the courtyard behind them.
The shockwave threw both of them to the ground.
---
Dust and smoke filled the air.
---
Zephyr coughed violently.
"…What the hell is happening…?"
---
Elara stood beside him, her breathing uneven.
"…That thing isn't a normal dragon…"
---
Suddenly—
A man landed in front of them.
Silver armor.
Golden cape.
A spear glowing with mana.
---
It was the Headmaster.
---
Aldric Voss.
The strongest mage in the kingdom.
---
His expression was grim.
---
"Everyone evacuate immediately!" he roared.
"Instructors protect the students!"
---
The dragon roared again.
Its eyes burning like crimson suns.
---
Aldric pointed his spear upward.
"You dare attack Astra Virel Academy?"
Mana exploded around him.
---
A giant magic circle formed in the sky.
Hundreds of glowing spears manifested.
---
"DIVINE SPEAR RAIN!"
---
The spears shot upward like meteors.
They struck the dragon—
Exploding across its body.
---
Smoke filled the sky.
Students stared in hope.
---
"…Did he kill it?"
---
Then—
The smoke cleared.
---
And the dragon was untouched.
---
Silence.
Pure silence.
---
The dragon looked down.
Almost amused.
---
"…Impossible…" Aldric whispered.
---
The dragon moved.
Fast.
Too fast.
---
It appeared in front of Aldric instantly.
---
Its claw descended.
---
BOOOOM!!
---
Aldric crashed into the ground like a meteor.
Blood spilled from his mouth.
His spear shattered.
---
Everyone froze in horror.
---
The strongest mage in the kingdom—
Had lost in one hit.
---
Fear spread instantly.
---
"This can't be real…"
"We're dead…"
"We're all dead…"
---
Zephyr's fists clenched.
His entire body trembled.
Not from fear—
But from helplessness.
Again.
He was powerless again.
Just like before.
---
Then—
The dragon's gaze shifted.
It looked directly at him.
---
No.
It was staring through him.
At something inside him.
---
[WARNING]
[Bloodline Resonance Increasing]
---
Zephyr's heart stopped.
"…Why me…?"
---
The dragon descended slowly.
Landing in the middle of the destroyed courtyard.
Its presence alone made everyone collapse to their knees.
---
Students couldn't breathe.
Couldn't move.
Couldn't think.
---
The dragon lowered its massive head.
Directly in front of Zephyr.
Its crimson eyes stared deeply into his soul.
---
Then—
It spoke.
---
"…At last…"
Its voice echoed like thunder.
---
"…The heir awakens."
---
Everyone froze.
---
"…What?" Zephyr whispered.
---
The dragon leaned closer.
Its burning gaze narrowed.
---
"…Bearer of the Forbidden Blood…"
---
Zephyr's mind went blank.
---
"What are you talking about?!"
---
Suddenly—
Pain exploded in his chest.
---
"AAAGHHHH!!"
---
Zephyr fell to the ground screaming.
His body glowed violently.
Blue energy erupted from his chest.
---
The ground cracked beneath him.
Students screamed and stepped back.
---
The dragon stared in silence.
---
[Dragon Blood Awakening Initiated]
---
Zephyr's eyes widened.
---
"No—STOP—!"
---
His vision blurred.
Pain consumed his body.
It felt like fire was flowing through his veins.
Like his bones were breaking and reforming.
---
Then—
A symbol appeared on his chest.
A glowing dragon mark.
Burning blue.
---
The pain stopped instantly.
---
Zephyr collapsed to his knees.
Sweating heavily.
Breathing wildly.
---
The dragon smiled.
A terrifying sight.
---
"…Good…"
---
Then—
Without warning—
It spread its wings.
---
And flew away.
---
Everyone stared in disbelief.
---
"…It just left?"
---
Silence consumed the battlefield.
---
No one understood what had happened.
---
But everyone saw it.
Everyone heard it.
---
The dragon had called Zephyr—
Heir.
---
All eyes turned toward him.
Fear.
Confusion.
Suspicion.
---
Zephyr slowly stood up.
Still shaking.
Still confused.
---
Then—
The system appeared again.
---
[Dragon Bloodline Unlocked]
[New Passive Skill Obtained: Dragon's Aura]
[New Quest Generated]
Quest: Discover the truth of your bloodline
Reward: Unknown
---
Zephyr stared at the screen.
His breathing slowed.
His fists tightened.
---
"…What… am I…?"
---
In the distance—
Elara watched him carefully.
Her eyes full of shock.
But also something else—
Curiosity.
---
Because now—
Everything had changed.
And Zephyr Kaelion—
Was no longer just Level 0.