The festival had ended, leaving the academy bathed in the soft light of dusk. Lucien had returned to his dorm, blue flames flickering faintly over his hands, reflecting the excitement in his eyes.
He carefully placed the treasures from the hidden trial on the desk. The Azure Core Crystal pulsed faintly with a rhythm almost alive, like a heartbeat.
Lucien tilted his head.
"Huh… that's… not just a crystal."
He leaned closer. His otaku knowledge whispered a familiar thrill: this wasn't a normal mana crystal. Its pulsing energy was ancient, almost primordial, resonating with power far beyond normal dungeon loot.
SYSTEM NOTICE:
Item Identified: Azure Core Crystal
Rank: Mythical
Type: Dragon Core
Effect: Enhances elemental affinity, minor talent manipulation
Special Rule: Requires attunement to unlock full potential
Lucien grinned widely.
"A dragon core… first hidden trial and I stumble onto a mythical dragon's essence. This is exactly why solo trials are superior."
THE HIDDEN RUNE SCROLL
Next, he unrolled the Hidden Rune Scroll. Its inscriptions shimmered faintly, revealing a complex pattern of runes, unlike anything he had studied before.
SYSTEM NOTICE:
Hidden Rune Scroll Detected
Skill Potential: Unlockable at A-Rank
Effect: Unknown until rank requirement met
Special Rule: Learning process available for observation and preparation
Lucien's eyes narrowed thoughtfully.
"Ah… so I can study it, plan combos, and observe. But I can't use it yet… classic system gating. Patience is part of strategy."
He ran a finger along the runes, watching them respond to his blue flame affinity. The fire traced the runes like ink, revealing subtle connections between elemental channels and physical movement.
Lucien muttered,
"If I link this with my bond system later… oh, this will be devastating once I hit A-Rank."
SOLO TRAINING WITH TREASURES
Lucien spent hours experimenting with the dragon core. Even without full attunement, the core responded to his blue flames, allowing him to:
Enhance elemental precision
Slightly extend fire range
Slightly increase damage efficiency
Reduce mana consumption by a small margin
SYSTEM NOTICE:
Azure Core Crystal: Partial attunement successful
Blue Flame Affinity: +5% enhanced control
Talent Efficiency: +3%
He laughed softly.
"Even partial attunement… that's insane. The moment I bond with it fully, it'll multiply everything tenfold."
Next, he studied the Hidden Rune Scroll, tracing the runes with his fingertips and memorizing patterns of movement and fire combinations.
Lucien muttered,
"By the time I hit A-Rank… I'll already know exactly what to do. Instant mastery."
System Notice:
Rune Observation Progress: 25%
Skill Readiness: Observing (Unlockable at A-Rank)
STRATEGIC PLANNING
Lucien leaned back in his chair, blue flames flickering lazily over his palms.
Dragon core attuned, Hidden Rune Scroll memorized… solo training progressing… bonds multiplying… festival experience boosting coordination…
He smiled.
"Everything is lining up perfectly. By the time I hit C-Rank dungeons, I'll have enough foresight to not just survive—but dominate."
He traced the aura of the Azure Core Crystal again, feeling a faint hum echo in his chest.
Lucien whispered to himself,
"A dragon's heart in my hands… and this scroll… this is only the beginning. By A-Rank, I won't just be strong. I'll be unstoppable."
FORESHADOWING FUTURE EVENTS
From a quiet corner of the academy, a minor villainous noble observed the glow from Lucien's dorm window.
"So… the human has found the core. Interesting. That could… complicate things."
The aura of the hidden treasures pulsed faintly. Their secrets were far from revealed. Lucien had claimed them first, but others were watching.