The Spirit Realm no longer felt like an enemy.
But it didn't feel safe either.
---
It watched.
---
Not with hostility—
But with awareness.
---
Zephyr stood still, adjusting to his new senses.
Everything looked… different.
---
Lines of energy flowed through the air.
Invisible currents moved between objects.
Even Rex and Elara—
Were surrounded by faint auras.
---
"…This is… Spirit Sight?" Zephyr muttered.
---
Elara noticed immediately.
"…You're seeing it, aren't you?"
---
Zephyr nodded slowly.
"…Everything."
---
Rex waved his hand in front of Zephyr's face.
"…Can you see how amazing I am too?"
---
Zephyr glanced at him.
---
"…Yeah."
Pause.
---
"…Mostly noise."
---
"…Wow. Rude."
---
Elara ignored them.
Her gaze remained serious.
---
"…If you can see energy now…"
"…Then you can also see danger earlier."
---
Zephyr looked around again.
---
And then—
He froze.
---
"…Something's coming."
---
The air shifted.
---
A deep vibration echoed through the realm.
---
Not violent.
---
But ancient.
---
Rex tensed.
"…Again?!"
---
Elara's voice dropped.
"…No…"
---
"…This feels different."
---
The sky above them began to crack.
---
Not like before.
---
This time—
It opened.
---
A massive tear formed in the purple sky.
---
And from it—
---
A presence descended.
---
Heavy.
Overwhelming.
Unquestionable.
---
Zephyr's body went still.
---
His heart started racing.
---
"…This feeling…"
---
The dragon mark on his chest burned.
---
Reacting.
---
The system appeared.
---
[Ancient Entity Detected]
[Dragon-Class Presence Confirmed]
---
Rex's face went pale.
"…You've gotta be kidding me…"
---
Elara stepped back slightly.
---
"…That's not a spirit…"
---
The tear in the sky widened.
---
And from the void—
---
A massive eye opened.
---
Golden.
Burning.
Ancient beyond comprehension.
---
The entire realm trembled.
---
Zephyr couldn't move.
---
"…That's…"
---
The voice echoed.
---
Not in the air—
---
But inside his soul.
---
"…Heir…"
---
His eyes widened.
---
"…That voice…"
---
It was the same one.
---
The dragon.
---
The one from the academy.
---
The eye stared directly at him.
---
"…You have grown…"
---
Zephyr clenched his fists.
---
"…Show yourself."
---
Silence.
---
Then—
---
The sky shattered.
---
And it descended.
---
A colossal dragon.
---
Far larger than before.
---
Its body covered in black-gold scales.
Wings like torn dimensions.
Eyes like burning suns.
---
Its mere presence crushed the air.
---
Rex fell to one knee instantly.
"…I can't… breathe…"
---
Elara struggled to stand.
"…This pressure… is insane…"
---
Zephyr stood.
Barely.
---
His dragon mark glowed intensely.
---
Resonating.
---
The dragon landed.
---
The ground didn't shake—
---
It collapsed.
---
Reality bent under its weight.
---
It lowered its massive head.
---
Stopping in front of Zephyr.
---
"…You carry my blood…"
---
Silence.
---
Zephyr looked up.
---
"…Then stop talking in riddles…"
---
"…Tell me who I am."
---
The dragon's eyes narrowed slightly.
---
Then—
---
"…You are the successor…"
---
"…Of the one who defied the heavens."
---
The air went still.
---
Elara's eyes widened.
---
"…Defied… the heavens…?"
---
Rex whispered.
"…That sounds like a bad idea…"
---
Zephyr didn't react.
---
"…And who was that?"
---
The dragon stared deeply into him.
---
Then spoke a name.
---
A name that echoed across the Spirit Realm.
---
A name that carried power.
History.
Fear.
---
"…Azhareth Veyl Drakharis."
---
The moment the name was spoken—
---
The world reacted.
---
The sky trembled.
The air cracked.
---
Zephyr's chest burned violently.
---
"AAAGH—!"
---
The dragon mark flared.
---
The system went wild.
---
[Name Recognized]
[Ancient Bloodline Confirmed]
[Hidden Protocol Activated]
---
Zephyr dropped to one knee.
---
"…What… is happening…?!"
---
The dragon watched silently.
---
"…That name…"
---
"…is your origin."
---
Elara whispered in disbelief.
---
"…That's not just a dragon name…"
---
"…That's a legend…"
---
Rex looked confused.
"…What legend?!"
---
Elara's voice trembled slightly.
---
"…The Dragon who fought the gods…"
---
Silence.
---
Zephyr's breathing stopped.
---
"…Fought… the gods…?"
---
The dragon nodded slowly.
---
"…And nearly destroyed them."
---
The words hit like thunder.
---
The system flashed again.
---
[New Title Unlocked: Heir of Drakharis]
[Passive Skill Unlocked: Dragon Dominion (Locked)]
---
Zephyr looked up.
---
"…Then where is he now?"
---
Silence.
---
The dragon's expression darkened.
---
"…Dead."
---
The word echoed heavily.
---
"…Killed by the gods he challenged."
---
The air grew colder.
---
"…And now…"
---
Its gaze sharpened.
---
"…they will come for you."
---
Zephyr stood slowly.
---
"…Good."
---
Rex blinked.
"…Why do you keep saying that?!"
---
Zephyr's eyes burned with determination.
---
"…Because if they killed him…"
---
He clenched his fists.
---
"…Then I'll finish what he started."
---
Silence.
---
The dragon stared at him.
---
Then—
---
It smiled.
---
A terrifying, proud expression.
---
"…Then grow stronger."
---
It began to rise.
---
"…Because the next time we meet…"
---
Its voice echoed like a warning.
---
"…you will face a god."
---
And with that—
---
It disappeared into the sky.
---
Leaving behind silence.
---
Shock.
---
And one undeniable truth—
---
Zephyr Kaelion—
---
Was no longer just a student.
---
He was the heir—
---
Of a god-slayer.