"I can ask him.
He is a dragon god, so he knows about magic. "
Leon doesn't move an inch. He just looks at the beautiful sky, but his feet are standing in a pool of blood.
" Well, I'm going to ask him," Leon thought. "Pride doesn't matter. But his way of speaking is really annoying. No—no matter what happens, I'll just agree to it. I need magic. That's right. Pride? Let's throw it away. A man needs to know what to do next. Yes, that's important. I'll ask him."
Even though Leon had more to say, he hesitated to ask the dragon god. At the same time, the dragon god heard everything but pretended not to. He just wanted to tease him—no, he wanted to make him look like even more of a fool.
"Dragon God... can you hear me?" Leon , his heart hammering against his ribs.
" Is he ignoring me? "
"How does one get a god's attention? Prayer. I have to pray!"
Leon threw himself to the terrain, his forehead pressing into the dirt. "O Great Dragon, Zenith of all Creation! Most supreme and eternal one, I beg of thee—please heed my humble words!"
The Dragon God maintained a stony silence, savoring Leon's desperation. Yet, he sensed the boy's resolve beginning to fracture; if he pushed any further, Leon might abandon the plea entirely. To prevent such a futility, the deity finally deigned to speak, intervening just before the boy's spirit broke.
The Dragon God burst into a boisterous laugh that shook the very air.
"Who knew humans could be this interesting?" he mused, his voice booming. "I've only met two of your kind, but this one is by far the most amusing. Is the world you came from truly this ancient? Who prays to a god like that anymore? It's so cliché..."
He let out another guffaw before clearing his throat, suddenly composing himself as if he hadn't heard a word or laughed at all.
"Human, was that a prayer? I heard you loud and clear, though I'll advise you never to grovel like that again; I have no appetite for such dull rituals."
"You're impressed, aren't you? I am a far cry from the lesser deities you've encountered. You were right about one thing, however—I am indeed the strongest, the true pinnacle of existence. Now, cut to the chase: what is it you desire?"
"Am I doing this right? Why am I getting chills all over my body?" Leon took a deep breath to steady himself. "I can do it. Magic, here I come."
"I want to master magic," Leon stated firmly. "Teach me."
The Dragon God scoffed, his golden eyes narrowing. "You? How audacious! Magic isn't a hobby you pick up in a day, boy. Besides, I don't share my secrets with passing strangers. You aren't even worthy of the notion."
"Fine. How do I become worthy?"
"By becoming my disciple, obviously."
Leon shrugged. "Pass. I'm not interested."
"You... you aren't interested?" the God stammered before regaining his composure. "Good! Because the idea of a human disciple is revolting. I am a deity; you are a mere speck of dust. I wouldn't dream of it."
"Well, "the choice is yours."
"Wait—did I overplay my hand? the Dragon God panicked as he watched the boy walk away." I need this kid! He's a prodigy; with him, I could finally dethrone the fools who exiled me. Come on, you little brat, just say yes! Why is he hesitating now?"
"I'll be fine, won't I? "Leon wondered, a strange, hollow numbness settling in his chest." Nothing feels right anymore. Why am I so cold?"
He shook the dread away and looked up.
"Fine. I'll be your disciple."
The silence that followed was deafening. The God didn't move; he didn't even breathe. Panicking, Leon dropped to one knee. "Please... accept me as your disciple, O Greatest of Dragon Gods!"
"Very well," the God replied, his voice suddenly resonant and heavy with authority. "I accept your plea. From this moment forth—"
"I am honored you accepted me," Leon said, bowing low. "Where does my training begin?"
"What do I look like to you, a nursery school teacher?" the Dragon God spat, his voice crackling like thunder. "Magic demands a lifetime of absolute devotion, yet here you are, begging to crawl before you can even stand! Before anything else, you must expand your Dragon Heart."
"My... Dragon Heart?" Leon stammered.
"You must train to contain and amplify its power. Now, begone! Descend to the 149th floor—a boundless expanse of forest. Find the highest peak in that wilderness, but do not provoke the floor boss. Once you reach the summit, I shall grant you further instructions."
Leon faltered, a flicker of confusion crossing his face." Nursery? Where would an ancient deity pick up such a modern term?" The more he learned of this being, the more incongruous it all became. It felt as though he were pleading with the Grim Reaper for a stay of execution.
With a surgical precision, Leon suppressed his emotions, stifling his terror so the Dragon God wouldn't scent his weakness. Yet, this was merely a delusion of control; Leon had just stepped onto a threshold where even Fate itself was blind.
You have been cleared..
You have been cleared..
You have been cleared..
Entering floor 149.....
" Wow! even the air is refreshing. "
You have stepped into a shattered remnant of the world ravaged by the Nameless One...
' Anyasia—The hallowed cradle of the Nature Dragons.' [Divine Voice ]
Anyasia was unlike any floor Leon had ever seen.
"Was its vibrant energy due to its affinity with nature? Yet, even this paradise bore the scars of ruin—a breathtaking world shattered by the whims of mad gods."
Wasting no time, Leon began his search for the landmark the Dragon God had mentioned. "The highest peak... where is it?" he muttered. Then, his eyes locked onto a monolithic summit piercing the clouds. "There!"
With a burst of supernatural speed, he ascended the slopes, reaching the summit in a matter of minutes. As he stepped onto the crest, the view took his breath away. "Beautiful..."
"You're finally here."
"Good. Let's begin," the Dragon God interjected, his voice curt. "We don't have time for idle chatter. You understand, don't you?"
Leon looked at the jagged cliffs. "So, what's the task? Am I supposed to cleave this mountain in two, or what?"
Leon quivered with anticipation, his eyes alight as he hung on the Dragon God's every word. He was brimming with fervor, ready to absorb the ancient secrets of magic that had been denied to him for so long.
"You need to die."
"What? Die? What is that supposed to mean?"
"Exactly what I said," the deity sneered. "Hurl yourself from the summit and die."
Leon's heart lurched. "Is this some kind of sick joke?"
"A joke? Do I look like I have time for frivolity? I know you won't truly perish because of that rune you carry, so drop the act."
"Even so, don't you think this is utterly absurd?"
The God's presence felt suffocating. "Do I need to throw you, or will you jump? Choose now."
Leon was dumbfounded." Insane. This is pure insanity." He had never heard anything so deranged.
"Fine," Leon muttered, his legs trembling. "I'll do it myself. "Just hearing your voice makes me shudder, and I'd hate to be a burden."
"It's just a jump," Leon whispered, his voice trembling as he stared into the abyss. "Dying isn't the hard part."
With a final, desperate breath, Leon hurled himself from the pinnacle, plummeting from a height so staggering that he had already forgotten where it's began.
The Dragon God is debuffing you....
All Runes are disabled, excluding the Rune of Immortality...
"What!?" Leon roared, the wind whipping his words away. "You maniacal god! You couldn't have mentioned that before I jumped? You're insane! I'll never forget this—I'll never—!"
Before he could finish his curse, the ground rushed up to meet him.
You have died...
You have died...
You have died...
You have died...
Each time Leon perished, he found himself back at the mountain's peak, trapped in a relentless cycle. There was no time to curse or scream; he died, and he was thrown again. After countless deaths, his Dragon Heart finally began to distend. The sheer agony of that expansion was enough to kill him on its own. Yet, through the torment, Leon could feel it—the ambient magic of the world was no longer blocked. It flowed into his body, pulsating through his veins with terrifying clarity.
"How many times have I died? I started counting at first, but now... I've lost track. It feels as though I've been dying for centuries. I almost wish I didn't have this cursed Rune. That sadistic god is enjoying this—I can feel it. He's using his magic just to hurl me off the edge like a toy. How can he be so callous? I know magic is important, but I'm going to retch."
'You crazy god! At least give me a second to puke!'"
You have died...
You have died...
[Ancient Dragon God's "Specialized Training"
Current Day: I
Mission : The Leap of Faith]