A… A skill?!

  This isn't a skill—it’s a goddamn natural disaster!

  House Sterling was a prominent family in Riverport City, boasting many high-level Mage experts among their ranks.

  There were even several high-level Mages who had already completed their 2nd Class Advancement.

  Yet, the skills those Mages learned after their second advancement couldn't hold a candle to the raw power of this dragon's breath!

  They called this thing a Level 9 pet?!

  This was more devastating than a Mage who had undergone their 3rd Class Advancement!

  In an instant, every member of House Sterling began to question their very reality.

  The Holy Blight’s Malice Impact had seemed unstoppable, but the moment Magma Breath erupted, the Malice Impact was instantly swallowed by a deluge of fire and molten lava.

  After tearing through the Malice Impact, the Magma Breath surged forward, completely engulfing The Holy Blight.

  Steam billowed as the surrounding air vaporized, punctuated by the agonizing screeches of The Holy Blight.

  Caught in the torrent of Magma Breath, The Holy Blight didn't stand a chance.

  It tried to flee the searing heat, but Nyx wasn't about to let her prey escape.

  Wherever it dodged, she tracked it with a turn of her head, ensuring the Magma Breath rained down relentlessly on its crown.

  It was a total, one-sided slaughter.

  A Level 9, crushing a Level 25.

  Lucian and the others watched the Secret Realms panel as his Damage Output skyrocketed at a terrifying speed, quickly surpassing their combined total from clearing Village of Despair 1.

  It spoke volumes of The Holy Blight’s massive health pool.

  Yet, under Nyx’s Magma Breath, it was nothing more than a lamb to the slaughter.

  Within a mere minute, The Holy Blight let out one last mournful wail as its lingering resentment was incinerated by the magma.

  Feeling the creature’s presence vanish, Nyx knew she had fulfilled Lucian’s command. She cut off the Magma Breath and began a triumphant circle in the sky.

  A golden light flared around her, and her body surged in size once more, growing even larger than before.

  Lucian was delighted; the timing of The Holy Blight’s appearance was perfect—the massive experience gain had pushed Nyx to Level 10.

  He wondered if reaching Level 10 would trigger a qualitative leap in her strength.

  After finishing off The Holy Blight, Nyx finally descended, landing beside Lucian with an expectant look, practically begging for praise.

  Lucian chuckled and fished a large slab of beast meat from his inventory, tossing it to her. "Great job, Nyx. Here's your reward!"

  Overjoyed, she swallowed the meat in a single gulp before nuzzling against him and curling up on the ground, acting as docile as a kitten.

  With the boss defeated, the Village of Despair 2 quest notification on everyone's panels shifted to 'Completed' before vanishing.

  Where The Holy Blight had fallen, a ripple of light appeared. A single piece of equipment, encased in a glowing halo, drifted toward Lucian.

  It seemed this was the clear reward for the Hidden Stage. Though there was only one item, it had come from a Level 30 Nightmare Secret Realm—it wouldn't be anything less than extraordinary.

  Lucian stepped forward and caught it. In his palm lay a ring, ancient in design and pitch-black from end to end.

  Ring of Malice (Gold Tier)

  Level Requirement: 15

  Spirit: +57

  Endurance: +21

  Strength: +12

  Attached Skill: Aura of Malice (Active skill. Can be cast on a teammate or yourself. While active, attacks or skills are infused with resentment, inflicting enemies with negative status effects such as Poison, Weakness, Continuous Bleed, Stun, or Berserk.)

  A Gold Tier item—and a top-tier one at that!

  Lucian was stunned by this unexpected windfall, then overwhelmed with joy.

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  This Level 15 Gold Tier ring provided ninety attribute points in total, nearly rivaling the Obsidian Dragonscale Greatsword.

  Furthermore, the Aura of Malice active skill was a massive boon that would make him even more formidable!

  Imagine him using Dragon Fang Strike, or Nyx unleashing Magma Breath—even if the enemy survived the hit, they’d be buried under a mountain of debuffs.

  It was the ultimate force multiplier, like coating a blade in lethal venom.

  Lucian had no intention of handing over such a masterpiece.

  He turned to the others. "By the rules, the one with the highest Damage Output gets first pick of the loot. So this belongs to me. Any objections?"

  Objections? They didn't dare.

  All the damage had been dealt by Lucian's dragon; they were lucky to be alive.

  While some greedy fools might have tried to argue for a share, the members of House Sterling had too much breeding for that.

  "Why would we have any objections? This equipment was always meant for you." Having narrowly escaped death, the color had finally begun to return to Chloe's face.

  She gave Lucian a small smile, her tone now even more respectful—bearing a humility that was entirely uncharacteristic of a high-born lady.

  Chloe, the eldest daughter of House Sterling, was far from a fool. She could clearly see the sheer potential radiating from Lucian. If nothing else, that Black Dragon alone was enough to guarantee him a place at the very peak of the world. A man like him would never be confined to a small pond like Riverport City.

  As the daughter of Riverport City’s Lord Mayor, she might have appeared to come from a prestigious and influential background, but compared to Lucian’s future prospects, she felt as insignificant as a speck of dust.

  Consequently, Chloe’s attitude toward Lucian shifted to one of utmost respect. She felt a wave of relief that she had been raised with proper manners; looking back on their time together, she felt she had treated him well enough to avoid making an enemy of him.

  This sudden shift in her demeanor actually made Lucian a bit uncomfortable.

  He waved a hand dismissively. "Since no one has any objections, I’ll take the gear."

  "That aside, we’re both students heading into the Awakening Trials in Riverport City. There's no need for this level of formality. I'm not used to it."

  Chloe was quick on the uptake. Hearing his words, she nodded. "Fair enough. We’ve fought through Dungeons together now, so I’ll just treat you as a friend, like I did before."

  "Good," Lucian replied with a nod.

  With a single sentence, Chloe had bridged the gap, elevating their relationship to "friends." Lucian understood her intentions perfectly well, but he didn't call her out on it. After all, she was the daughter of the Lord Mayor and possessed a high-potential Hidden Class. There were no downsides to being friends with such a gifted woman.

  As Lucian slipped the Ring of Malice onto his finger, a teleportation array finally shimmered into existence before them, marking the exit from the Secret Realm.

  Though the danger had passed, the atmosphere remained oppressive and grim. Celia and the other young Mage were already at their psychological breaking point. Without hesitation, the group stepped into the array and left the Secret Realm behind.

  They emerged back in the familiar, jagged landscape of The Stony Barrens.

  Since Nyx’s existence had already been revealed to Chloe and the others, Lucian saw no reason to hide her anymore. He didn't force the dragon—who was currently letting out soft, chirping whines—back into the pet space. Instead, he let her walk right beside him.

  Once they were back in The Stony Barrens, everyone’s curiosity and attention immediately locked onto Nyx.

  Including Chloe, the entire group stared her up and down as if looking at a mythical creature from a fairytale. In this world, dragons were akin to gods—mysterious, powerful, and legendary. While their existence was a confirmed fact, how many people had actually seen one in the flesh?

  Now, a living, breathing dragon was standing right in front of them. It was impossible not to be fascinated.

  Nyx, however, looked upon the "ants" at her feet with a hint of disdain. She couldn't help but let out a sharp sneeze, venting a puff of scorching flame from her nostrils. The sudden heat sent Chloe stumbling back several steps, her face turning pale with fright.

  Gareth didn't dare get too close either. Keeping a respectful distance, he looked at Lucian with sheer wonder. "Lucian, you’ve really opened our eyes today..."

  "I’ve lived this long and never seen a real dragon. Where on earth did you get a creature like this?"

  Lucian only offered a faint smile, making it clear he had no intention of answering.

  Gareth immediately realized his question had overstepped a boundary. He mentally kicked himself; a secret like this was obviously something that couldn't be leaked. After all, this involved The Dragonflight—a race so powerful it defied the natural order of the world.

  "Sorry, Lucian. I wasn't thinking. Just ignore my rambling." As he spoke, Gareth gave himself a quick slap across the face as a makeshift apology.

  Chloe also understood the massive stir Lucian's secrets would cause if they were ever made public.

  Clutching her Holy Light Seal, she took the initiative to speak. "Um... you can rest easy. I give you my word that House Sterling won't let a word of this dragon leak out. We won't bring any trouble your way."

  Lucian nodded. "Thanks. Just keep it a secret for me. At most, you can let the inner circle of House Sterling know."

  Lucian knew Chloe would likely tell Silas. It didn't matter much; since so many people had already seen her, one more person knowing about Nyx wouldn't hurt, provided the news didn't spread to the general public.

  Besides, once the Awakening Trials began, he wouldn't be able to hide the dragon anyway. By then, he would be heading off to an academy and leaving Riverport City behind. Once he was enrolled, the academy would naturally help him deal with any unwanted attention regarding his dragon.

  Since Nyx had already reached Level 10, there was no reason for Lucian to linger in The Stony Barrens. Jared and Gareth were also heavily injured, so Lucian decided to head back to Riverport City with Chloe’s group.

  After a long day of trekking, the two parties finally arrived at the city gates.

  Gareth and the others pulled out their phones and contacted House Sterling to send transport. They even requested an extra car specifically to drive Lucian home.

  The House Sterling vehicles arrived shortly—a fleet of luxury cars worth millions, a clear testament to the family's immense wealth.

  Before they parted, Chloe walked over to Lucian’s car to say goodbye.

  "Lucian, I'll have someone deliver the reward I promised you by tomorrow at the latest," Chloe said, waving to him through the window. "I’ll see you at the testing grounds for the Awakening Trials. Good luck—I hope you get a top score!"

  Lucian nodded and returned the smile. "Yeah, you too. Give it your best shot during the Trials."

  With that, the car pulled away, heading slowly into the heart of the city.