The city was quiet in the early morning, sunlight spilling lazily across the rooftops. Jin Kael walked alone, the golden warmth in his chest pulsing steadily. It had grown stronger over the past week, more insistent—a heartbeat guiding him toward discovery.
He flexed his fingers as he walked, letting the warmth respond. Subtle sparks danced along his skin, soft and faint, almost invisible, yet undeniable.
It's time… he thought. I need to see what this core can truly do.
---
The guild hall buzzed with activity, but Kael ignored it. Today's assignment didn't matter. Today was about him, about testing the Dragon Core, and understanding the power growing quietly inside him.
He slipped out the back and headed toward a secluded training area near the city outskirts—a small, abandoned warehouse that hunters sometimes used for practice. Empty, silent, perfect.
---
Kael stepped inside, breathing slowly, letting the golden warmth pulse through him. He crouched, focusing inward. The system responded almost immediately.
[Dragon Core Skill Detected: Dragon Sense Lv.5]
[New Ability Available: Dragon Core Activation]
A faint window appeared, soft golden text shimmering in the corner of his vision. Kael's pulse quickened. He had never seen the system react so directly before.
Dragon Core Activation… he whispered.
He flexed his fingers slowly, letting the warmth respond. Tiny sparks of golden energy appeared around his hands, faint but tangible. The system pulsed in acknowledgment.
[Dragon Core Skill Progress: Observation Lv.6]
[Dragon Core Passive: Awareness Expansion Lv.4]
Kael's senses sharpened instantly. He could feel the tiniest vibrations in the warehouse floor, the faintest draft of air, the slightest shift of dust particles. Every corner, every shadow, every creak was amplified in his perception.
---
He decided to experiment further. Extending his hand, he focused the warmth on a small stack of crates. Golden sparks danced faintly along the wood as the crates shifted slightly, almost as if responding to his intent.
[New Ability Unlocked: Minor Manipulation Lv.1]
Kael exhaled slowly, a small smile forming. This wasn't brute force or flashy power. It was subtle, precise, and controlled. The Dragon Core wasn't just a weapon—it was a guide, a lens through which he could observe and influence the world.
---
Testing his calm influence, Kael imagined a nearby rat in the shadows. The creature froze as he extended his focus. Slowly, deliberately, the rat retreated instead of attacking. The warmth in his chest pulsed, guiding the effect.
[Calm Influence Lv.5 Achieved]
Kael realized something: the Dragon Core didn't just react to danger—it reacted to him. His awareness, focus, and intent shaped its power.
I've been surviving by chance until now… but this… this is control.
---
Hours passed as Kael experimented, cautiously stretching the limits of the Dragon Core. He discovered that subtle gestures could shift small objects, that his pulse could influence creatures, and that his senses could extend far beyond normal perception.
Yet, beneath the excitement, a low, distant vibration ran through the city streets—a warning? Kael felt it faintly, a ripple of danger beneath the golden warmth. Something… stronger.
The S-rank threats are coming. I can feel them.
Kael flexed his fingers one last time, the warmth surging softly, comforting yet insistent.
I'm ready. Slowly, quietly… I'm growing stronger. And when the real challenges come, I'll be prepared.
The golden pulse lingered at the edge of his vision, a heartbeat, a guide, and a promise.
The world doesn't know me yet… but it will.